Cyclists frightening elderly

I would like to commend Jim Bunny on his article (page 15, The Weekend Sun, March 9) regarding bicycle bells.

My mother and two of her mates walk every Saturday morning in different places round Tauranga. They are all elderly women who want to enjoy our beautiful city by walking it. Unfortunately, even though they are courteous and walk two abreast with one behind or in front, they are constantly abused by cyclists because they don't hear them coming and get in their way. They are not trying to be ignorant: they simply cannot hear the cyclists coming and get such a fright. They are not young and are not able to move quickly.

A bell changes the situation because they can get out of the way without panicking.

Some cyclists are very nice and some abuse elderly women to the point where mum and her friends avoid certain walks because they are afraid of the cyclists. These are shared spaces but the arrogant cyclists abuse the privilege.

I am constantly watching cyclists ride through red lights and ignoring the road code yet they get upset when someone runs them over.

It is about time cycles were registered. If they had an identity number they could be made more accountable.

S Bryan, Bellevue (Abridged).

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