Letters
Cyclist Terrorists
Would Police Commissioner Scipione please note that there is evidence to suggest that what Sydneysiders fear most is not the bikie gangs of allegedly gun-toting, drug-manufacturing repute, but the seemingly ever-increasing legions of suburban cyclists who, whatever their keep-fit or other objectives, seem oblivious of the safety of pedestrians and convinced that they have prime rights to the usage of the pavements of Sydney and its suburbs. In my experience these city and suburban cyclists can’t even be bothered to ring a cycle bell, to warn pedestrians of their approach, often at high speed along pavements. I have also personally witnessed a cyclist not only felling an elderly pedestrian, but riding on regardless and making obscene gestures at witnesses shouting protests.
So when are the premier, Mr Rees, and the Police Commissioner, Mr Scipione, going to do something about the increasing menace cyclists pose to pedestrians in Sydney? When are cyclists going to be forced to be registered and wear identification? When are we going to see more policemen and council rangers booking cyclists who, for so long now, have been permitted to ride with reckless impunity on pavements designated for pedestrians? When is the media going to publish figures that indicate how many pedestrians have been felled by unidentified cyclists and how many pedestrians, including elderly pedestrians, have eventually lost their lives as a result?
Please no more headlines about bikies until the NSW Government, its police force and our media tackle the problem of cyclist terrorists on our footpaths.
Bill Hubble,
Pyrmont.
Fundraising Thanks
On behalf of the Starlight Children’s Foundation, I would like to thank the community for supporting Starlight Day, our major annual fundraising day held on Friday 1st May.
Starlight relies on the generosity of individuals, corporations and community groups to ensure that Starlight can bring love, laughter and support to more seriously ill children and their families.
The harsh reality is that Starlight can currently only reach “1 in 3” of the 600,000 child admissions to Australian hospitals every year. The economic downturn has meant a decline in incoming funds; the public support was so vital this Starlight Day to ensure that Starlight can reach more children.
Thank you to our volunteers, corporate sponsors, retail partners, the media and the public for your generous support of Starlight Day this year. We look forward to your continued support to help bring happiness to more seriously ill children and their families.
Warm regards,
Jemma Hawksford
Starlight Children’s Foundation
