CYCLISTS who ride dangerously on pedestrian walkways should be taken to task. Otherwise more people are going to get hurt.
Retiree Stephen Tham called The New Paper on Sunday to express this view because he is fed up with irresponsible cyclists.
We featured his views in a Mr Let Fly column in May.
Then, Mr Tham, 65, had recounted how he himself had been hit twice by such cyclists.
In one of those incidents, a heavily tattooed young man had not only refused to apologise after hitting him, he had even shouted at Mr Tham, saying: 'You not happy?' and allegedly even wanted to hit him.
However, the last straw came three weeks ago, when MrTham's grandson, 2-year-old Ryan, was allegedly hit by a cyclist without warning, causing him to fall and sustain scratches and bruises on his elbows and legs.
Although riding bicycles on pedestrian footpaths is prohibited, with fines of $20 imposed, Mr Tham feels that more enforcement is needed, lest these errant cyclists start setting bad examples for foreigners and children.
Mr Tham said: 'The rules are there, but they are not imposed. We should start having higher fines of at least $50 for those who refuse to dismount and push their bicycles across pedestrian footpaths.
'If they are repeat offenders, the authorities should confiscate their bikes.'
A police spokesman said that cyclists who ride on any public way in a rash or negligent manner will also be punished with a jail term of up to one year, or a fine of up to $5,000, or both.
In the event of an accident, the spokesman added, the cyclist may be charged with the offence of causing hurt by an act which endangers life or the personal safety of others under Section 337 of the Penal Code.
If convicted, the offender shall be liable for a jail term of up to one year, or a fine of up to $5,000, or both.
