Rant #1 – governments love drivers

Anyone who has known me for a little while will be more than aware of my ability to get a bee in my bonnet about, well, just about anything, often leading to long, expletive-laden and overly aggressive monologues of epic proportions.

Time then for my first blog-rant.

I just came across THIS story on EverymanTri.com (great website), about a wealthy, Merc-driving fund manager who hit and run a cyclist in the US, leaving him almost for dead, and the ludicrously light punishment that has been doled out.

As someone who not only does longish, early morning training sessions at the weekends, but also enjoys commuting the 10k or so to work/swimming/gym during the week on Dubai’s notoriously crazy roads (Indian driving test: “go forwards, go backwards…don’t worry, you only clipped it…good, here’s your licence.” Emirati driving test: “Where were you born? Dubai? Good, here’s your licence), I guess these stories resonate with me a little.

This decision is an absolute disgrace but, frankly, these incidents are going to happen again and again and again. Erzinger receiving little more than slapped wrists simply reaffirms the fact that the powers-that-be see cyclists as second-class citizens on the roads. If authorities see us that way, then can we really blame motorists for doing so, as well?

This in spite of the fact that cyclists take all manner of precautions to be safe and seen, almost always riding sensibly and considerately and, most significantly, employing a device that increases fitness and has zero, yes zero, adverse effects on the environment.

But no, let's go easy on the fella in the gas-guzzling business-wank-mobile.

If authorities are genuinely serious about a) encouraging a fitter and more active population and b) protecting the environment, then it's time to put their money where their mouth is. Throw the book at this guy – the hit is bad enough, the run is unforgivable and, let’s face it, had the cyclist died (he only suffered spinal cord injuries, bleeding from his brain, damage to his knee and scapula...he how suffers disabling spinal headaches and faces multiple surgeries for a herniated disc and plastic surgery to fix the scars he suffered in the accident) then it's manslaughter, no less…cyclists need to be protected by more than helmets.

Phew...and breathe out...rant over.