Heath and bikes don’t mix

Published: 7 April, 2011

• I WISH to reply to the letter from the anonymous “doctor dealing with emergencies at the Royal Free” (Beware the bunker mentality of the older killjoys on Heath, March 31).  

In connection with “supposedly dangerous cyclists on the Heath” he/she asserts that “actual injuries are exceedingly rare” but does not make clear whether the victims of these “exceedingly rare” injuries are cyclists or pedestrians.  

He/she accuses complainants of being “elderly people, for whom any vigorous activity carried out by young people is seen as threatening”; I’m not sure whether, at 65, I count as “elderly” but I certainly feel threatened by “any vigorous activity” of the type he/she refers to, no matter who is carrying it out, because I’m always afraid of being run into by a cyclist riding – illegally – on the pavement and I feel the same way about children on scooters, people on skateboards, etcetera.  

Why is it that whenever anyone expresses a perfectly legitimate objection to something they feel is dangerous – even if other people think it’s “fun” – they are always stigmatised as “killjoys”; and why is my right – and by extension everyone else’s – to walk safely and confidently apparently seen as less important than young people’s “freedom” to ride around on these dangerous wheels? 

MARGARET KING, Belsize Grove, NW3

No to maniacs

• THE sad letter (March 31) from the anonymous doctor reflects badly but unfairly on the Royal Free Hospital in that a practitioner with such immature views should be operating in the emergencies department, though he is wise enough to try to avoid the ridicule and scorn of colleagues.  

Injury can be other than blood-letting. Hampstead Heath would not be safe in his hands.

To say that elderly people would ban all under-50s from the Heath shows lack of judgment.  

Seeing the young (and everyone else for that matter) enjoying vigorous and safe activity, following the rules of civilised behaviour, brings pleasure and happy memories, even revitalisation.  

It is the older visitors in particular who wish to pass on a quality Heath not riven by mechanised maniacs.

I suspect the author of being a frustrated Heath cyclist venting annoyance at now being unable to roam anywhere and everywhere at speed.  

BILL WAUGH 
Highgate Road
NW5