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
registered all bicycles.