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.
Tweet
'Drivers make my life hell'
August 28, 2008
Victoria Pendleton
Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
manchester of course, salford (28/08/2008 at 13:46)
Ace Shakepseare, manchester (28/08/2008 at 13:56)
Black Flag (28/08/2008 at 14:05)
Do you carry a visible form of registration when you are walking in case you bump into someome?
Bean B4, manchester (28/08/2008 at 14:07)
Use the velodrome love, that's why me and the tax payers bought it you!
el bandido, Dewsbronx, West Yorkshire (28/08/2008 at 14:15)
You can't expect all cyclists to ride only in the Velodrome, how will they get their bikes there, by carrying them?! Some of you idiot motorists should take up cycling. The exercise will make you happier and less likely to be an irate moron once behind the wheel of your car.
I'm glad Victoria Pendleton has spoken out about this issue while the spotlight is deservedly on our successful Olympic cyclists.
Ace Shakepseare, manchester (28/08/2008 at 14:30)
I see lots of people who have cycle racks on their car roof and tailgates etc. Im sure if she hasnt a car with a rack she could get one of the "Team" to take her bike to the stadium? I live around the corner from the stadium and i cannot see why they train on the roads after spending millions on a place for them to train...
AH, Manchester (28/08/2008 at 14:36)
Bigfish (28/08/2008 at 14:38)
Mancrider, Mancehster (28/08/2008 at 14:40)
Bean i would like to point out it is perfectly legal to ride two abreast so read the highway code. I wont defend Cyclists who jump lights or ignore signs but there are cyclists and cyclists just like there are considerate drivers and selfish drivers.
i suppose you are one of the hollier than though drivers who goes 40mph in a 30 zone who speeds up when the lights go amber , who doesnt indicate and thinks they own the road while driving one handed on thier mobile.
Cyclists have as much right to use the public highway as anyone else and we pay taxes too which contrbute to the upkeep of the roads. Most of us are also insured either via the British cycling federation of CTC cyclists touring club.
and dont say "use the velodrome love" its like saying if youve got a car use it on racing track.
With the price of petrol and amount of congestion cycling is a more and more feesable mode of transport it takes me 15 mins by bike to get to work (obeying all traffic laws ) compered to up to 45mins by car stuck in traffic.
Most near misses come from stupidity rather than aggression, alot of drivers are not aware of there surroundings and dont use mirrors or think about other road users (incuding other cars)
Well done Victoria for bringing this to peoples attention.
Grief Tourist (28/08/2008 at 14:50)
Bigfish (28/08/2008 at 14:52)
L L Fontelroy (28/08/2008 at 14:52)
I would suggest also that all cyclists leave their brains at home and think they are Invincible, well sorry, you rude arrogant lot, start paying road tax and insurance, learn the highway code, dont ride two abreast and jolly well keep out of my way, you foul mouthed lot!
Mark, South Manchester (28/08/2008 at 15:01)
Maybe it would be better if the velodrome & Man Utd etc - were all moved down South?
Once again (28/08/2008 at 15:17)
Do you carry a visible form of registration when you are walking in case you bump into someome?"
Black Flag this doesn't hold true, you know that I know that and common sence dictates this yet you continue with an argument that you cannot back up.
Once again (28/08/2008 at 15:18)
Once again (28/08/2008 at 15:21)
Well she manage to get it all the way to China, I'm sure the velodrome won't be too much trouble unless she actually biked it to China aswell.
toast (28/08/2008 at 15:24)
People deserve to be able to move around the city as they want, and if they are doing so in a low impact way, be it walking or cycling then all the better, but such notions cannot be entertained by people like those on here who already have a preconceived notion of who or what a cyclist is, its not an Olympic hero asking for consideration as she trains to these people, its a flesh and blood incarnation of pure evil who has come to force them out of their cars.
Predictable and depressing as this latest set of comments is I am disappointed no-one has completed any of the other ticks on my MEN comments bingo card:
1) blamed Gordon brown / nu-laber / manchester council
2) called the person concerned a 'so called' something or other - eg this so-called cyclist
3) blamed it on PC gone mad
Vendredi, Da Manc (28/08/2008 at 15:29)
Drivers need to realise that taking risks can result in cyclists being injured or even killed.
Chris, Irlam (28/08/2008 at 15:29)
PC999 (28/08/2008 at 15:31)
Beaufort (28/08/2008 at 15:40)
In fact, most don't. Some time I pedestrian and I am getting bikes coming at me at all times. The other week I decided not to move and I discreetly shoulder charged the bloke on the bike and got a right earful from him.
As a motorist I get annoyed when going through a green light and a bike has ignored the red and goes straight accross me. Once or twice I've almost got them. Almost.
In my view you should stop cycling once you are old enough to get a motorbike or car. It's a bit sad isn't it, riding a bike at 32.
citycentre, manchester (28/08/2008 at 15:41)
are you the same ace who boasted of cutting up cyclists by swerving left when you see them coming?
do you have evidence to back up your accusations against Ms Pendleton, or should she be considering a libel action against you?
Bean B4, manchester (28/08/2008 at 15:57)
The fact is, huge numbers of cyclist ride stupidly, dangerously, selfishly on ill-maintained machines. SIt at any set of lights and within minutes one will arrive, trickle over the line on red and pedal away in gay abandon.
I am also fed up of the keep fitter crowing about how healthy cycling is. You're the same type who stopped me smoking whilst I drink myself into an early grave. Health fascists. Never forget, injuries falling off a bike are self-inflicted just like lung cancer from smoking - it's just that you have better looking calves.
Once again (28/08/2008 at 15:58)
"if they are doing so in a low impact way, be it walking or cycling then all the better, but such notions cannot be entertained by people like those on here"
What's this, I bet I can become a hypocrite within a paragraph.
Black Flag (28/08/2008 at 15:58)
When I drive, I accept the responsibility that comes with using a large motorised lump of metal in a public space, which includes carrying insurance because of the risks to third parties. When I cycle or walk, the third party risks are not the same and compulsory liability insurance is not reasonably justified.