Cycling’s path

It is clear on reading the letters (20 June) in response to Brenda Mitchell that there remain stubborn misconceptions around our arguments for the introduction of presumed liability for road traffic accidents.

David Mackenzie’s attempt to dismiss the dire state of cyclist safety in Scotland on the basis of who pays what tax simply beggars belief. He is clearly happy with the road safety status quo, a position which puts him firmly in the minority.

Andrew Fraser comments on the Scottish Government’s underwhelming research, though he should perhaps be made aware that transport minister Keith Brown may not have placed such faith in its findings, as he said at a parliamentary debate on strict liability in October 2013 that he is “more than willing to look at other evidence”.

Such a robust research exercise is something Road Share is currently undertaking so as to better inform his position on this issue.

Perhaps most disappointing was Malcolm Parkin’s letter, which sought to cast aspersions on Ms Mitchell’s legal background. He would do well to note that Road Share is a large group composed of members drawn from key cycling and vulnerable road user groups.

We all stand united both in the belief that Scotland’s roads are too dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians alike and in presumed liability’s role to make a significant and lasting improvement in our road safety.

Chris Oliver 

Chair

Road Share Campaign for Presumed Liability

Consultant trauma
 orthopaedic surgeon

Morningside

Edinburgh

May I add one further point to the three letters (20 Letters) critical of Brenda Mitchell and her demands for the presumed liability of motorists involved in accidents with cyclists?

That is the question of identifying a rogue cyclist. In Linlithgow the traffic was stopped at a pedestrian crossing, so this arrogant cyclist took to the pavement, narrowly missing me and my granddaughter.

When I shouted he stopped and belligerently told me he was trying to get ahead of the cars. The good news was that when he stopped his chain came off.

Two days later I was in a queue of traffic, again in Linlithgow, and a cyclist careered up the middle of the road and went through not one red light at a pedestrian crossing but all 
three, narrowly missing two pensioners. We need compulsory identification of cyclists. Will Brenda Mitchell support this?

Clark Cross

Springfield Road

Linlithgow