The Editor,

Something happened the other day that was the last straw when it comes to dealing with cyclists who ride on the sidewalk.

I was walking my two little dogs along the narrow sidewalk on 156th Street in Guildford and was hanging onto my umbrella when this young woman cycled toward me and refused to give way, forcing me to go onto the grass verge and off the sidewalk.

She did the same thing to a woman walking with her two little children further along the same sidewalk.

This is not an unusual occurrence by any means, as I am frequently faced with cyclists on the sidewalk with them sometimes coming up silently behind me with no warning and at dangerous speeds.

I do understand that cyclists are nervous being on the road with some of the dangerous drivers we seem to have increasingly on the streets, but then there are cycling lanes on both sides of 156th Street.

In fairness, I have to say that many cyclists give way to the pedestrians, but why are they on the sidewalks when it is against the law?

In the past few months, I have also seen someone on a motorcycle on the sidewalk and twice a motorcycle/scooter on the sidewalk. We hear every day of pedestrians being killed by careless drivers and I wonder - where can pedestrians walk and be safe?

I do understand that pedestrians also are guilty of being careless and they do have a responsibility to look before they cross the road.

One last beef - why do cyclists in cycling lanes go against the traffic?

Does it not occur to them that they may collide with another cyclist coming the correct way in the same lane?

I even saw a cyclist go the wrong way in a cycling lane round a corner on an intersection - what were they thinking?

On a positive note, I do support the idea of cyclists having cycling lanes so they can more safely negotiate the roads. Not everyone can afford a car and cycling is a healthier mode of travel, weather permitting.

However, learn the rules and laws regarding cyclists, abide by them and get off the sidewalk please.

Jinty Reid, Surrey