Spare a thought for cyclists

I would like the drivers of Shrewsbury to give a little thought to the cyclist on the roads of Shrewsbury.

I appreciate that cycles are not the favourite things on the road and they do, to a certain extent, hold up traffic. But in the absence of cycle paths we have to go on the roads. Drivers do on the whole give you a wide berth while they pass but then cut straight back in front.

On July 4 at 4.14pm I had the misfortune to be in contact with a driver of a white van, who, while on his mobile, phone decided to turn left into Long Row without any indication and his wing mirror hit me in the hip.

He did stop but only to give me verbal abuse - he had said "sorry" but the fact that I had the audacity to point out he was carelessly driving and talking on his mobile at the same time - I was told to "shove it".

The Highway Code states as a cyclist I should wear high-visual clothing - I was wearing a high-visual vest, rule 45. My cycle conforms to rule 46 although this only pertains to night time, but because of my past experience of the drivers on the roads of Shrewsbury I follow this rule day and night.

As I understand it the driver contravened rules 126, 146 and 158 of the Highway Code. I am a driver myself and understand the peril cyclist pose on our roads.

Drivers need to accept they are not kings of the road and do not own it. I have had drivers, after I have looked behind me and signalled my intention to change direction, speed up to over take me.

Everybody needs to exercise some patience and eventually we will all get where we are going.

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