Forget Cyclists, Pedestrians Are Real Danger

We are having a debate about this topic．Here are some letters from our readers．

■Yes, many cyclists behave dangerously. Many drivers are disrespectful of cyclists. But pedestrians are probably the worse offenders.

People of all ages happily walk along the pavement with eyes and hands glued to the mobile phone, quite unaware of what is going on around them. They may even do the same thing while crossing a road at a pedestrian crossing or elsewhere. The rest of us have to evade (避让) them or just stand still to wait for the unavoidable collision.

The real problem is that some pedestrians seem to be, at least for the moment, in worlds of their own that are, to them, much more important than the welfare of others.

—Michael Horan

■I love the letter from Bob Brooks about cyclists (Viewpoints, May 29). I am afraid they seem to think they own the roads.

I was walking across Altrincham Road one morning when a cyclist went round me and on being asked what he was doing he shouted at me.

The government built a cycle lane on the road but it is hardly used.   

The police do nothing. What a laugh they are!

The cyclists should all have to be made to use the cycle lanes and wear helmets, fluorescent (发荧光的) jackets and lights at night and in the morning. They should pay some sort of tax and be fined for not wearing them.

—Carol Harvey

■Cyclists jump on and off pavements (which are meant for pedestrians), ride at speed along the pavements, and think they have a special right to go through traffic lights when they are on red.   

I was almost knocked down recently by a cyclist riding on the pavement when there was a cycle lane right next to him.

Other road users, including horse riders, manage to obey the rules so why not cyclists?

It's about time they had to be registered and insured, so when they do hit a pedestrian or a vehicle, or cause an accident, at least they can be traced and there might be an opportunity to claim.

—JML

Write to Viewpoints of the newspaper.

1.Michael Horan wrote the letter mainly to show that _______.

A drivers should be polite to cyclists

B road accidents can actually be avoided

C some pedestrians are a threat to road safety

D walking while using phones hurts one's eyes

解析：选C。C　细节理解题。根据原文第一部分第一段第三句But pedestrians are probably the worst offenders.可知，行人是最大的违规者，即行人是路上安全的威胁。可知，Michael的观点是，路人对道路安全存在威胁，故选C。

2.Carol Harvey suggests that cyclists should ______.

A be provided with enough roads

B be asked to ride on their own lanes

C be made to pay less tax for cycling

D be fined for laughing at policemen

解析：选B。B　细节理解题。根据原文第二部分第五段第一句The cyclists should all have to be made to use the lanes and wear helmets.可知，Carol建议骑自行车的人应该走他们自己的车道。

3.What is a complaint of JML?

A Very few drivers are insured.

B Cyclists ride fast on pavements.

C Pedestrians go through red traffic lights.

D Horse riders disrespect other road users.

解析：选B。B　细节理解题。根据原文第三部分第一段Cyclists jump on and off pavements, ride at speed along the pavements, and think they have a special right to go through traffic lights when they are on red.可知JML 对Cyclists 不满。

4.The underlined word “they” in the third letter refers to _______.

A accidents

B vehicles

C pedestrians

D cyclists

解析：选D。D　考查代词指代。根据原文第三部分第三段Other road users, including horse riders, manage to obey the rules so why not cyclists，可知不遵守交通规则的是Cyclists，所以在最后一段作者建议改变的也是Cyclists。

5.The three letters present viewpoints on ________.

A real sources of road dangers

B ways to improve road facilities

C measures to punish road offences

D increased awareness of road rules

解析：选A。A　主旨大意题。根据文章的题目以及三封信的主要内容可知本文介绍的是关于路上危险的真正来源。