HAVEYOURSAY
S H A R E YOU R THOUGHTS ON THE DR IVI NG AND R IDING ISSUES THAT MAT TER
STAR LETTER Share the road responsibly I read with dismay the letter from Keith MacNamara suggesting legislation to protect motorists from the actions of inept cyclists (RoadSmart, Spring 2021). I’m a retired police traffic patrol officer so feel qualified to comment on this. I’m also a lifelong cyclist, covering 150-plus miles every week. I accept that some cyclists are inept and inconsiderate, and they annoy me as much as anyone else. However, in any conflict between motor vehicle and cyclist, the cyclist will always fare worst. Poor driving, particularly close overtaking, is a potentially life-threatening feature of virtually every ride I undertake. IAM RoadSmart should not become involved in widening the gulf between motor vehicle users and cyclists, but use education and skill development to protect all road users and narrow that gap. Advanced drivers shouldn’t feel ire towards other road users, merely treat each situation as just another hazard to negotiate and an opportunity to demonstrate their superior skills. The bike is a freedom-enabling mode of transport for all ages and must not be subject to regulation and licensing constraints. There is ample legislation in place already to enforce careless or dangerous cycle use. Michael Dunn
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/ SUMMER 2021
Below Will a lack of charging infrastructure hamper the roll-out of electric vehicles? Or might there be more fundamental problems in terms of generating enough electricty?
Reading about electric vehicles (RoadSmart, Spring 2021), I wonder if it’s viable to buy one at the moment – or at all. The cost difference between an electric and internal combustion (IC) engine car doesn’t make economical sense. And electric car drivers often seem to experience considerable stress with respect to charging facilities when driving long distances. It seems they’re overcomplicated, with so many companies involved, and often out of service. I also feel the environmental credibility is suspect when you consider the materials used in their batteries and the human element involved with mining these materials. Equally, I’ve read about the potential problems regarding sufficient generation of electricity should everyone drive electric cars. In my opinion, there’s also been a serious knock-on effect for the motor industry due to the haste of banning sales of all IC vehicles by 2030. Normally, I’d change cars every few years but it simply doesn’t make sense to spend so much money with so much uncertainty. A simple question: are we sure that electric cars are the right way to improve the environment? Are there alternatives,
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Electric uncertainty