As mentioned recently, my hernia (and subsequent repair via surgery) left me rather less fit than before. Not being up to returning to the miles of road running, I bought a bicycle. Yes, I know, push bikes on the road and all that. However, I couldn’t resist. It does have wheels after all – albeit ones that only turned under my own steam.
Personally, I feel that with enough riding, it actually makes you a better driver. It makes you more aware of other road users and gives you an understanding of why cyclists do what they do. Of course, it then annoys you when you realise that, at times, they could use a little more roadcraft themselves. Let me give you an example.
When on my bike recently, there was clearly a car behind me and another coming the other way, with cars parked on either side. I did the right thing and stopped deep in behind a car, allowing both others to pass. Some other cyclists I’ve seen would quite happily charge on through, snarling up the road. Extremely unnecessary I say!
Whilst I’m in the mood to give advice, let me dispense some more:
If you’re in a group of cyclists, make sure to ride single file
When you’re on a bicycle, you’re arguably more at risk than other modes of transport (except for a motorbike, when you tend to go faster). As such, you’ll need to be doubly aware – that even goes as far as the road surface
You must NOT cycle on a pavement (dangerous for pedestrians)
You MUST remain in control of your bicycle at all times
So, there you go. An actual, genuine merit of being a cyclist (not to mention the fact that it will help to keep you fit). Really though? Yes, of course there are far more cars on the road and there’s definitely some animosity between the two groups. I’d like to hold out an olive branch though, as motorists and cyclists are clearly not always the very separate entities that they would have you believe, as I can attest. The roads are, after all, there to be used safely by us all.
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