Rebecca Baker: Stop the bikes-on-footpaths hysteria and give us scaredy cats a chance

COULD we puh-leeze stop all the hysteria about bikes on footpaths — and just give the slow-paced scaredy cats among us a chance to dust off our deadly treadlies and enjoy the sunshine without fear of a fiery look, or two?

COULD we puh-leeze stop all the hysteria about bikes on footpaths — and just give the slow-paced scaredy cats among us a chance to dust off our deadly treadlies and enjoy the sunshine without fear of a fiery look, or two?

I am not talking about the oh-so-serious Lycra-wearing cyclists who hit the streets as colour-co-ordinated packs.

I’m talking about the mum-and-dad occasional riders and those who, despite being a little unsteady on two wheels, are feeling emboldened to try and ride to work, now they’re able to avoid the busiest stretches of roads.

It’s been just over a week since the controversial bike laws which allow cyclists on footpaths — and motorists to cross double lines to overtake riders on the road — came into effect but that hasn’t stopped the wild, over-the-top hollers.

There are the howls of the dire risks to public safety.

In one story I read how an outraged local mayor feared for people’s safety, if cyclists were allowed on footpaths.

“It’s impractical to think that safely, we’re going to have cyclists moving down footpaths while people are holding hot coffees and shopping bags,” Unley Mayor Lachlan Clyne was quoted as saying.

There have been shrieks our city’s image is under threat.

BikeSA chief executive Christian Haag has warned: “South Australia’s reputation as a cycling tourist destination is being damaged.”

Seriously, it’s time everyone took a chill pill and tried using a bit of common sense and basic courtesy on our roads, as in all shared spaces.

How about we just show a bit of respect to others and see how it goes?

Of course cyclists should have to give way to pedestrians.

Of course cyclists shouldn’t hoon up behind a walker and scare the bejeezus out of them.

Of course any two-wheeled speed freak shouldn’t be on our footpaths.

Of course, we should give a cyclist on a road a wide — and safe — berth.

But I am pretty sure, with a bit of respect and thought for others, we can make it work.

There are always going to be those who live in their self-centred bubbles, but, in case you haven’t noticed, there is no such thing as exclusivity when it come to twits on our roads: They come in all forms, on bikes, in cars — and on two feet.

Who hasn’t had to wait at a pedestrian crossing for a painfully slow walker to cross as they tap away on their smartphone, proceeding in an infuriatingly slow-motion saunter?

Who hasn’t been blocked by a car stopped firmly in the middle of an intersection during peak hour? The driver smugly refusing to leave space for you, or those behind you, to fit through even though they can’t actually go anywhere as the light in front of them is red.

Who hasn’t shaken their head as a daredevil bike rider weaves dangerously in and out of traffic or runs a red light?

The truth is, just like everywhere we go, there are many generous, thoughtful people — and then there are the self-absorbed, self-righteous tossers.

Last year my youngest son, then aged 7, was verbally abused by a dog-walking couple — who, strolling on either side of their beloved pooch, took up the entire breadth of the footpath.

It was when he rode up behind them and rang his Captain America bell, they turned and gave him a mouthful, saying he oughtn’t be on the footpath.

And earlier this year we had to get off the shared cycle/walking track in the Parklands when, during the Clipsal, several Holden T-shirt wearing chaps who’d perfected a Neanderthal-type stomp refused to move out of their pack as we approached them, in single file.

(A reminder to my boys these are NOT the type of men they should aspire to grow into.)

I welcome some clarification — and promotion — on what is allowed and what isn’t: I didn’t realise until recently that I was actually allowed on the footpath when riding with my children, aged under 12.

But I can’t help thinking we have our priorities wrong.

The Opposition has come out firing, pledging to strike down the changes if consultation finds there is public support to do so.

Still, I would have thought there were far more important things for our pollies to focus on.

We’ve got the nation’s highest unemployment with one in six South Australians in the labour force either wanting a job, or wanting more work.

This year we’ve watched in horror as a series of stories have unfolded showing how our system has failed to protect our youngest and most vulnerable — take for example, Chloe Valentine and baby Ebony.

Surely, our focus should be on creating a safe and vibrant future for our young people.

And, as crazy an idea as it seems, by embracing a few basic good manners, the majority of problems on our roads would fix themselves.

As for me, I plan to get the cobwebs off my old bike — and hit the footpath.

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