Respect must be shown for all

Bendigo Weekly | Bendigo Weekly | 20-Jan-2012

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SHANE Warne used to be known as the master of spin, and it seems little may have changed this week with the Tweeting tweaker venting his frustrations about a heated incident with a cyclist in Melbourne.
As is always the case, there are two sides to a story. Warne and his alleged lycra-clad attacker begged to differ about who said or did what to the other.
But it seems Warne may have been caught out by a third party who claims to have witnessed the mysterious incident and is backing the aggrieved cyclist’s version of events.
Regardless, there’s a couple of points to note here.
 There are bad drivers on the road and there are bad cyclists on the road who fail to respect the rules and other road users of all shapes and sizes.
The pity of it all is that the actions of a minority of idiots can impact upon the reputation of the majority who try to do the right thing.
And I’m talking idiots on four wheels and two.
The worrying thing about Shane Warne’s Twitter tantrum though is that it appears to have given other frustrated motorists more courage to vent verbally, and physically, against cyclists.
Think about it. An idiot on an eight kilo carbon fibre bicycle frame poses far less of a threat to other road users than an idiot behind the wheel of a 1-2 tonne vehicle.
But it also does not give them the right to do the wrong thing.
Sadly, I read on Facebook this week of a local cyclist who is also a member of this city’s legal fraternity who was run off the road and into the gutter within a day of the now infamous Shane Warne rant.
Thankfully, that person is okay, which is more than can be said for their expensive bike.
And in their words…. ‘’He (Shane Warne) might want to feel what it’s like to be riding along in the bike lane minding your own business and have a car swerve deliberately into the bike lane to “push” you into the gutter’’.
Clearly, there’s no excuse or need for idiocy on or off the roads from anyone. Ever.
If there’s anything to be learnt from the Shane Warne incident, it’s that we all need to show a lot more respect for the law, and
for the other road users
with whom we share the roads.
A moment of fury can have expensive and serious consequences for anyone who does the wrong thing. And is it really worth it?
   
 pk@bendigoweekly.com.au
TLPB - selling now
Stewart commented on 20-Jan-2012 02:01 PM5 out of 5 stars
I agree entirely, Peter. I cycle a bit around the place and must say that I feel very safe doing so in Bendigo. Thank you to those drivers (including trucks) who give a bit of width when they can - It is greatly appreciated. I try to do the same for them
on roundabouts and at lights etc (and vice versa when im driving a car). Enciting hatred is the worst thing that anyone can do. Ive lost alot of respect for Warne because of it. Anyway...keep happy, safe and healthy! It's a great place to ride!

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