Safe Speed Forums

Victoria Pendleton
Drivers make my life hell'
Nicola Dowling
28/ 8/2008

OLYMPIC champion cyclist Victoria Pendleton has revealed how Manchester road-hogs put her life at risk and shout abuse at her when she trains on the city's streets.

Pendleton, who struck gold in the women's sprint final in Beijing, said she found it `depressing' that motorists would put her in danger at least once an hour.

"It is hard to deal with," she said. "I am trying to do my training - it is my job. In Manchester when it's fairly busy I can guarantee there will be one occasion per hour where somebody takes a stupid risk and basically puts me in danger.

"You are not trying to hold them up. I don't go out with my bike at rush hour just to **** people off, I wait until it is over. People are very proud, but I wish they were a little more considerate for our cyclists.

"It can get you down, it can get quite depressing when people are shouting abuse at you."

Pendleton, who is based in Wythenshawe and trains with the rest of the record-breaking British cycling squad at the Velodrome in Manchester, was speaking days after her stunning gold-medal winning victory over Australia's Anna Meares.

Her comments will come as no surprise to brave cycling medallist Emma Davies-Jones, left with a broken back after being knocked off her bike on the way to the Velodrome in 2005.

The 28-year-old was millimetres from having to spend life in a wheelchair after the accident in Pottery Lane, which happened as she headed along a marked cycle path. Before the smash, she had been tipped for gold in the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, but was left in a back brace and unable to dress herself after a sliver of bone threatened to sever her spinal column. Davies-Jones spent weeks in the care of surgeons at Salford's Hope Hospital before working her way back to fitness.

Against all odds, she won bronze in the Melbourne Games.

Manchester magistrates' court was told she would never again be able to compete at the same level as before, couldn't ride without strong painkillers and could face complications.

The motorist was convicted of failing to stop after an accident, failing to report an accident and careless driving. He was banned for six months and given a 12-month community order and 150 hours' community service.

In defence of Manchester's norm... I must make some comment over the fact that Victoria practises in Wythenshawe which area is hardly typical of Manchester as a city.

I do not like driving in this area of the big 'burb. I do visit as some of my patients are referrals to a very excellent cardiac unit.. one of the best in the UK. But whilst I enjoy most of my driving.. I have to admit that I do not enjoy driving in that area of Manchester.

I do not consider this area epitomises the average Mancunian behind the wheel of a car. This area of the city has a certain notoriety .. like its near equally "down town" neighbours.. as in "avoid if possible"


A shame really as some parts of Wythenshawe reflect and stil reflect past genteel affluence.


However,


I can honestly state that I do not .. nor does anyone in our family.. hurl abuse at any other road user. Theyt are there.. and even if they make errors .. I have a responbility first of all to ME and THOSE IN MY CAR WITH ME.. whom are usually MY NEAREST AND DEAREST ..followed closelyby a duty of care to other road users.. so how they travel... and my job .. as the driver is to diffuse the danger and try to make it safe for all of us present there.


I think all COAST-led out there hold and abide by the same values. Most of those who are regulars to safespeed and the PH site are generally keen.. courteous who take pride in driving and anything on wheels and always seeking to improve all the time.
It means we all have to pay attention to our COAST skills though. COAST.. and an acceptance by ALL road users that they have responsibilities for their own safety... can mean meeting an elusive target and not meeting it. Speed cams are not working ./. so let's use the tried .. tested and PROVEN.. of police plus education with empahsis on COAST for all and Green Cross for all .// aloongwith a good dollop of realistic road engineering.. surfacing and appropriate but not over-facing/over -egging signage.

Not a lot of difference...

I think we mean that a good racing driver is not necessarily as good a driver on a public road


I think a good racing cyclist has perhaps similar problems.

In that their road wareness may not be the same as that of the cycling commuter who deals with traffic each day .. as the commuter driver does


I think I am making a valid point and trust it offends the lurks who are offended by nothing in partcular in reality.

the only reason for a racing driver to 'train' is to hone their skills, clearly not a good idea on a public road.
a cyclist training on the road may only be training the engine.

"Training" for someone like VP involves aerobic mileage. As a track specialist, she would ride at a moderate pace to keep in trim and burn off excess calories. She may, of course, just go out for the heck of it and enjoy a spin, possibly with her father, who is an accomplished rider in his own right.

However, in common with most other sporting and recreational cyclists, she would attract the attention of the "yahoo element", eg. Jeremy the estate agent from Hell, or the Barbour-capped, Saxo-driving numbnut, or even the Beemer driving young exec, whose Secretary would not drop 'em for him and is therefore a mite miffed off. They would of course view this Lycra clad impediment to their unfeterred progress as some form of "untermensch" and vent their spleen in any form they seem approriate. I'm sure the fragrant Victoria is used to it and unphased, like we all are.