A FED-UP Knightswood man has begged “inconsiderate” cyclists to think about what they are doing after a few close calls with his sick wife on the canal path near his home.
Robert Cupples, 68, claims his wife Marjory has nearly been hit by speeding bikes on more than one occasion during their daily walks along the water recently and revealed the thought of colliding with a cyclist has left her “nervous, upset and agitated".
Cruelly, Marjory was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, which has left her housebound for months having dropped a lot of weight and leaving her unsteady on her feet.
And, speaking exclusively to the Clydebank Post, Robert admits he fears a coming together with a passing bike could put his wife off getting some much-needed fresh air and exercise.
He said: “Just recently, the cyclists have been annoying me. I don’t know if I am just turning into a grumpy old man, but they are beginning to annoy me somewhat.
“I wouldn’t say it’s the majority of cyclists, but it’s a big minority and they just fly up behind you.
The 68-year-old has asked bikers to use bells when approaching walkers (Image: Tom Grant)
“Now, you can’t walk with your head at a 90-degree angle.
“The path at the canal isn’t that wide, it’s probably about six to eight feet wide, and you are swerving from side to side.
“These cyclists, it’s okay the ones that are coming towards you as you can see them, you can make manoeuvres, it’s the ones flying up the back of you.”
He added: “All it takes is my wife to take a slight stagger to one side, or to come out and dodge a bit of dog poo, and that’s us right in the middle of the path.
“And if they are coming up behind you, they are right into you.”
Robert insists his irk isn’t just reserved for those on pedal bikes, explaining takeaway delivery drivers such as those in electric bikes are just as dangerous to pedestrians if not more so.
He described one confrontation with a female cyclist who told him she didn’t want to use her bell to warn the married couple she was passing in case it “frightened” them.
He finished: “A little bit of courtesy is all it takes.
“Just have a bit of consideration and good manners.”
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