At the risk of becoming a blog solely concerned with bonkers letter writers to the local rag, here’s a bonkers letter to the local rag from some chump called Jack Ruben:
Your story Heedless pedestrians push up crash stats (April 21) omits one vital reason for the increasing crash statistics – cyclists.
I suggest they are the cause of many accidents which go unreported because they wear no form of identification, and, having caused an accident, simply ride off at high speed, leaving the driver and pedestrian to sort it out.
I state this from personal experience. How can the public report such an incident? And who would take action and how?
I try not to be anti-cyclist, but they are their own worst enemies. They speed on pavements, putting pedestrians in danger, ignore traffic signals and road signs, ride up one-way streets the wrong way, and weave among traffic, causing damage to cars and simply ride off. I suggest you place a reporter and photographer in the CBD for just one day and then report.
Let’s not always blame only the pedestrians and drivers. Some of my best friends are cyclists, flashy lycra and all.
JACK RUBEN
Karori
I’m not going to waste time addressing the claims in this other than to say that Jack makes completely unsubstantiated claims with zero data to back them up. Lack of facts doesn’t stop it getting published in the Dom though.
Incidentally, our mate Jack is a former Wellington councillor who thinks squeezing more cars into the CBD is a brilliant idea and who seems to spend most of his time throwing his opinion around by writing letters to newspapers and commenting on articles. Sounds like he could really do with some fresh air – perhaps he could join “some of his (cycling) friends” on a bike ride?
Cycle Wire 