I HAD a close shave recently when a cyclist beat a red light at
a cross junction. I had to swerve onto an oncoming lane to avoid
him, nearly getting into a head-on collision with an oncoming
vehicle. Thankfully, all parties managed to react in time and avoid
an accident.
The cyclist, without any registration plates, would have got
away without any liability had there been an accident.
I am a cyclist myself, and most serious cyclists wear helmets
and abide by traffic rules; the few who flout the rules are a
minority. I strongly advocate protecting cyclists on the road as
well due to their smaller size and slower speeds.
However, more must be done to hold errant cyclists accountable
for their actions the way motorists are liable for summonses if
they flout traffic rules.
If cyclists want to be given equal rights and respect on the
road, they must abide by the same rules and regulations. The
Traffic Police should treat cyclists as equal road users and issue
summonses when traffic rules are flouted. Wearing a helmet when
cycling on the road should also be made mandatory.
Ultimately, creating a bicycle-friendly environment boils down
to graciousness and compromise on both sides.
Tan Wei Liang