On this anniversary of the Bard’s birth, our correspondents discuss the perils of cycling both on and off the pavement, the threat posed by biomass technology and the need for politicians to start accepting responsibility.
Police must act to prevent pavement cycling Sir, Like every right-minded person who merely wants to have the law observed, I totally agree with your correspondents concerning cycling on the pavement.
In the course of time, however, letters on the subject will disappear from this column and nothing will have been achieved.
The only people who can put an end to the infringement are the police and councillors who read about the complaint but remain silent.
This is what is known as democracy.
Ian M. Malcolm.2 Morton Crescent,St Andrews.
Uphold law on footpaths
Sir, I wholeheartedly agree with Mr Addison’s letter (January 22) in which he takes the police to task for allowing persons over 16 to cycle on public pavements where no re-determination order exists.
Under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, Section129 (c 54) the one cycling offence that falls within the remit of the Scottish Parliament is that of cycling on pavements or footpaths.
Local authorities can make use of a “re-determination order” to allow cyclists the use of pavements in part or in whole, and, these pavements should be visibly identified.
The police are being purely subjective in deciding that it is safer for cyclists to cycle on pavements.
If they would, first and foremost, apply the law, then we pedestrians would not be exposed to collisions and bully-boy tactics.
I cycle on the roads as do many cyclists. We obviously have taken the safety aspect into account.
The police are there to uphold the law that parliament makes.
John Macmillan.40 Ferry Road,Monifieth.
UK roads too risky for cyclists
Sir, Recent correspondence on the subject of cycling on pavements highlighted an alleged police response stating that it was safer for cyclists to cycle there.
This generated some strong adverse comment from Robert Addison (January 22).
However, there is some merit to this alleged police response in as much that Japan introduced cycling on pavements in 1978 as an urgent measure to preserve the safety of cyclists due to the increased volume of traffic on the country’s roads.
Indeed, they are encouraged to do so.
In the course of my career, I spent many months at various locations in Japan and commuted on foot on a daily basis on pavements which were shared by both pedestrians and cyclists alike.
Like most things in Japan, this was a well-disciplined interaction and the two worked in harmony without any problem.
I owned a cycle in this country for several years and, like the majority of cyclists, was subjected to several near misses by motorists who were seemingly unaware of how to address a cyclist on the road, particularly when overtaking.
In the interests of self-preservation, my cycling activities soon became restricted to the cycleways of Tentsmuir Forest.
I fully appreciate the benefits of cycling and the joy it brings to so many but, based on my own experience in conjunction with the behaviour of an alarming percentage of motorists, it is my firm belief that anyone who takes to a public road on a pedal cycle is putting their personal safety seriously at risk.
Roy R. Russell.1c Smithy Road,Balmullo.
Wide threat from biomass
Sir, From the content of Mr Allan’s letter (January 22) he has obviously chosen to miss the relevant points of Mr Marshall’s Mid Week article (January 19) regarding the public’s justified concern over the proposed biomass plant at Dundee waterfront.
Judging by previous correspondence to this column, there is obvious great concern not only by Dundee citizens but by people from the adjacent areas and so it is thanks to Mr Marshall for producing a professional summary on the subject.
This is in contrast to the final paragraph of Mr Allan’s letter that accuses Mr Marshall of pushing a party-political agenda.
I would suggest that Mr Allan properly studies the full background of the proposed biomass plant which is not exactly a benefit for the residents of Dundee but will be an environmental concern for years to come.
Harry Lawrie.35 Abbots Mill,Kirkcaldy.
Politicians ducking blame
Sir, One wonders how the general mood must be amongst the public now that the happy new year does not seem to be turning out to be so happy.
The VAT rise, higher and still-rising petrol prices, rising United Kingdom unemployment and imminent rises in interest rates to curb the scourge of high inflation, all add to the gloom.
Many of the real hard-working people in society pay a heavy price while our politicians flounder and hide behind the general smokescreen of the phrase it is not our fault.
However, in reality, many of the problems our country is facing at the moment are the fault of politicians but we do not have a leader of stature to stand up and actually take some blame or even display a degree of humility.
The fact of the matter is we only see them at election time when we get a knock on the door from a candidate or two begging for our vote.
After that they disappear, never to be seen again until the next scraps are thrown out at the next election.
Gary Thomson.42 Beechwood Road,Arbroath.
Get involved: to have your say on these or any other topics, email your letter to letters@thecourier.co.uk or send to Letters Editor, The Courier, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL.