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Cyclists in Traffic.

7th October 1919
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Page 2, 7th October 1919 — Cyclists in Traffic.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

IF PROOF were needed of the folly of the abandonment of the regulation requiring rear lights or reflectors to be carried on all cycles it has, we feel, been fully provided during the past few days.

Now that the regulation has been reimposed we hope it *ill never again be removed. The pedal cycle is not in any case a really suitable means of conveyance for -large numbers of people on roads already cumbered -Nith a great volume of heavier traffic. The movements of the average cyclist are too much akin to those Of a three-quarter back on a Rugby football field. The cyclist reveals much ingenuity in dodging to and fro and finding openings, with the result that, from the pedestrian's standpoint., he turns up in the most .unexpected places at the most unexpected times. For the same reason the presence of a large number of cyclists ina hurry makes the driving of any, motor vehicle in crowded traffic a nerve-straining business. This• is the case even in the full glare of broad daylight, and when the motor diliver is not fatigued by a long spell of work. Aa night draws on the presence of numerous cyclists in heavy traffic becomes more and more objectionable. Anyone who has walked and driven from the City to the suburbs of Latnion on recent evenings will realize that many accidents

must. have occurred, the whole responsibility of which really ought to be laid at the door of the cyclists who,in many cases have themselves evaded participation in the accidents. When lighting-up time arrives, the motor driver—tired after a long day's work —is given the additional worry of having to attempt to locate cyclists arriving, as it were, from nowhere, in front of his vehicle, and carrying no rear light to serve as a warning to him. Under congested strike traffic conditions the cyclist is at some places slower and at other places faster than the motor vehicle.

Much passing, repassing and swerving has to take place and, in such circumstances, it is obvious more than fair that every vehicle of whatever kind should be compelled to carry a rear light in the interests (.f the public safety. It is not sufficient to argue that if a cyclist chooses to take risks it is his own affair and he must take the consequences. The trouble is that the original cause of an accident is not necessarily the subject of that accident. A sudden swerve, necessitated for the purpose of avoiding a cyclist, invisible until a collision is imminent, may very well cause a far snore serious collision between two heavily loaded motor vehicles, while the cyclist who was the cause of it all goes scot f roe.

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