Letter: Cyclists at great risk

I take on board the comments of Harry Morris, of Shrewsbury, (Star Mail, November 23) and accept that a minority of cyclists do not present themselves well to other road users.

But I cannot understand how motorists translate this into some form of permission for them to administer their own punishment.

These people will intimidate the cyclist by such methods as aggressive horn sounding at close quarters, driving past within inches and generally cutting riders up.

Surely the hallmark of a good motorist is to understand and be aware of the problems of other road users – and also to make allowances for their occasional failings.

The cyclist is one of the most vulnerable of all road users along with motorcyclists, horse riders and pedestrians.

All of these road users deserve special consideration from drivers of bigger vehicles.

Until you have experienced a car overtaking at 60mph within inches of your shoulder or been squashed into the kerb by a huge lorry, you cannot understand how terrifying these incidents can be.

In France it is unlawful to pass by a cyclist without leaving a clear one metre around them.

Perhaps this should be adopted as best practise in the UK.

It is worth remembering that more cyclists are using helmet cameras to record incidents of bad driving and intimidation, which can be used by police in court and may result in the loss of a driving licence.

May I reply to Clive Brogan, of Telford, (Star Mail November 24) and advise him that he is wrong in believing that I am not a motorist.

I have nearly 46 years' driving experience on motorcycles and on four wheels and, like Clive, pay my road taxes and insurance through gritted teeth.

I can see little to be gained by imposing the same misery on the cyclist who, at the end of the day, is more sinned against than sinner.

Jon Lakin, Shrewsbury