It is with great sadness that I keep reading articles with show such antagonism towards cyclists, and I am not a cyclist myself!

Yes, if the group of senior cyclists did do what was stated then that was silly and dangerous. But why was there a need to bring in the old 'abusing the privilege to ride tax and toll free” adage which seems to be bandied about a lot by car users recently?

Car drivers do lots of their own silly and dangerous things, and cyclists do pay their car tax. They just choose not to use their car sometimes, thereby lowering carbon emissions and increasing the overall fitness of the population with resulting reduction in health costs blah blah…..I could go on but then I would not be practising what I am about to preach!

I just don't understand why there has become such an 'us and them” culture with regards car users and cyclists. Can't we just all live together on the roads? Is it impossible for NZ ers to be a caring and sharing society?

'Posers in tight lycra” or similar seems to be another favourite description of road cyclists!

Athletic bodies, skin tight shirts. Hmmm that reminds me of someone else, oh yes …the All Blacks! They seem to get a lot of respect. Maybe if we put All Blacks on road bikes ..what about a parade 'Beef on Bikes” to Rival Boobs on Bikes. Maybe then all this antagonism could stop; or would that just open up another subject to argue about!

Jackie Mahon, Pyes Pa.