the maoster:
Hmmm, mixed feelings on this tbh (leaving aside that the source is The Sun, so it’s probably all ■■■■■■■■ anyway).Should cyclists be accountable? Absolutely yes, just the same as any other human whether they be piloting an aircraft, steering a supertanker, or driving a bin lorry, it matters not. As for number plates and insurance I’m not so sure; what about your five year old grand/daughter on her tricycle outside her house, should she have insurance etc?
I’ll also say that I think that we should actually encourage cycling (despite them being a right royal PITA) for the simple health benefits alone. I have no idea what one prevented heart attack is worth, but I’ll guess that it’s not a figure to be sniffed at.
The 5yr old on thier tricycle should be being supervised if near a road and if they caused damage to a car or property i hope the parents would be responcable enough to own up. That is a compleatly different ball game to the suicide jockeys that will think nothing of taking your mirror off or kicking the side of your car and cycling off.
Years ago i was doing a sponcered walk at school it was a yearly event raising money for some charity and one of the guys i was with got run over by a cyclist in a group that came flying down the hill shouting out of our way. He suffered seriouse injuries needing facial reconstruction and skin grafts as well as broken bones and internal injuries. Half the group were more than happy to carry on and ride off. We also found out that they had the exact same attitude with groups behind us and in front so not a care in the world for the carnage they had caused.