[Nor]

I'm a driver and a cyclist. Its kinda wierd but the feelings I have when I'm in my car I hate cyclists and when I'm on my bike I hate car drivers. Being extreme to make a point but I'll explain in abit.

I agree with alot of what people have said earlier. As a cyclist I agree with us having to pass proficiency tests, getting insurance and licences and mot's. I don't think we should pay road fund licence though as we should be encouraging more people to cycle. There needs to be an incentive to cycle and to put severe financial obstacles in the way won't do that.

When I'm in my car I see things from a drivers perspective. I see cyclists going through red lights, I see them bashing wing mirrors as they squeeze up the inside at traffic lights. I see them fly off pavements accross roads and go up one way streets the wrong way. As a car driver I've parked up at red lights close to the kerb to prevent bikes getting past. My thinking is I'd rather he was behind me as that way he'll not scratch my paint (which I can't do anything about) when he tries to sqeeze past. Plus when I turn left at the lights I won't have him ****ing about going straight on coming up my inside. The fact is many cyclists are dangerous and shouldn't be on the road.

When I'm on my bike I see things from a cyclists perspective. I see cars going through red lights, I see cars turning left in front of me, I see cars pulling out of junctions right in front of me, I see cars passing me so close that the wing mirrors fractionally miss me, I see car drivers shouting abuse at me cos it takes them longer to get past. The fact is many drivers are dangerous and shouldn't be on the road.

So.... my point I guess is that the roads are full of people who shouldn't be on it. Its all very well saying cyclists should be tested and given mot's but the fact is drivers have to pass a test and they are loads of them who are still dangerous. Having a test won't work, it has to be a good test. Drivers have to be tested properly too and the current driving test is far too easy, add to that that people only get tested once and then drive for the rest of their life.

Being both a driver and cyclist I like to think I'm able to be objective about things on the road. As a cyclist I try never to go through red lights, don't sneak up the inside of cars and try to go straight in the road as opposed to weaving in and out of parked cars. I try to be the cyclist I'd like to overtake if I was a driver. As a driver I try and give cyclists loads of room, understand that its difficult for them to get into the right hand lane to turn when they are in a slow vehicle. The one thing I do as a cyclist which I shouldn't is go on the pavement. Its only briefly though travelling through underpasses to get onto another road or the little bit of pavement just before going into a park. I know I shouldn't but it really is too much hassle to get off the bike whenever you want to go into a park or cross between 2 roads. I try to be cognizant of pedestrians though and always give them the right of way. If there are any elderly people I'll make sure I stop way away from them and let them past safely giving them a smile and a hello.

What I'd like to see though is people being objective. There are bad cyclists out there and bad drivers and we can't just blame one party. Ideally we should all be cycling as its good for us and good for the environment. What I'd like to see though is quiter roads, because only those who've passed stringent tests are able to drive, not just every tom dick and harry who can afford a cheapo banger. Moral of the story is test cyclists and re-test drivers. Every 5 years make people resit their driving tests. Will create more jobs, reduce congestion, reduce accidents and better still those people who are driving on our roads are those who are best equipped to do so.