Liz Purcell, Success
MY husband and I took a leisurely bike ride along the bike/pedestrian pathway along the freeway. We encountered a group of eight or 10 speeding cyclists who came around a bend in the path.
I saw them and stopped as I could see they were coming at an extreme speed and I was concerned for my safety. I heard the pack leader yell to notify the others, who were two or three abreast.
What I saw next appeared to be in slow motion. My husband was in front of me and a rider clipped his saddlebag with such a force that it tore from the mounting and twisted the carrier and metal frame. The rider fell off and hit the ground with enough force to split his helmet.
As a health professional I was able to assess him and, although he said he was all right, I did recommend he seek medical assistance as concussion could be a result. He assured us he would.
My point is no one even inquired how my husband was as he too had fallen off his bike.
Why do these individuals have to treat this public access as a bike freeway by travelling at such a speed?
Is there an unlimited speed along this pathway or did I just miss the sign?
My understanding is that the pathway is used for both pedestrians and bike riding, although now I would reconsider walking along it due to the risks involved.
Published in the Fremantle Gazettee Tuesday September 25, 2012 and online at inmycommunity.com.au
Andrew