Safe cycling
In the last week I have been running a poll. The question put forward was: Do you think it is safe to ride a bike on Mount Darragh Rd, Pambula, NSW? This FB post ran for a week. Of 90 votes received, 94 per cent of voters found the road to be unsafe.
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And the majority of complaints seems to be the same thing over and over – cyclists riding two or more wide on blind corners and over crests, hard places for drivers to see them. The riders seem to not have a concern for safety, whether it be for themselves or the drivers.
I live on the road in question and have seen many close calls. Why does there need to be such unsafe behaviour occurring on this road? Clearly it is not safe but to ride so wide on the road to make it even less safe for yourself just does not make sense. I honestly hope this is not the mentality of all riders.
This road can be safely navigated by riders should they take care and be more vigilant to their own safety on dangerous stretches of road. Riding two or more wide on dangerous stretches of roads has seen a number of accidents and near misses occur already. Another tragedy needs to be avoided.
Cars need to take responsibility and riders need to take care of their own safety. If it is not a safe stretch of road as so clearly indicated by the poll then why ride it so recklessly as people have been stating over the last few days? Common sense needs to prevail, stay safe on the roads.
Cyclists ask for respect – it goes both ways on the road. It’s a shame that a few riders give the rest of them a bad name. It’s time the police started to enforce road rules on bike riders on Mount Darragh Rd just as they do with cars.
Tennille Schaefer, Mt Darragh
Bath reunion
Planning is well underway for the Bath Descendants Reunion, March 29-31, at Walcha.
William Bath came to New South Wales in 1844 with his second wife, Sarah, and seven children. Fifteen children were sired by William, and all of them grew up in Walcha except for the eldest.
Eleven children married and had their own families, resulting in 132 grandchildren and 156 great-grandchildren.
There have been four newsletters for the reunion so far, with more to come, creating a mini history. Descendants of William Jnr, Christopher, Mary, Ann, Thomas, Alfred, Frederick (the 1st Aussie), Richard, Jane and Emma Bath will be attending from far and wide.
Cousins are advised that a dinner will be held on Saturday March 30 at a venue to be decided. Alfred James, a Thomas Bath descendant, will be guest speaker. He will have pre-ordered books of The Bath History of Walcha, 3rd edition, for sale. To receive newsletters, attend the weekend and the dinner, and pre-order Alfred's book, email 11trood@gmail.com (or 0400 567 918)
Truda Newman (Richard Bath and Sarah FH Bath lines)
Lake mismanagement
I have lived near Cuttagee Lake for 13 years and during that time I have had repeated interaction with various government agencies regarding the management of this resource.
The lake has been closed for over two years yet commercial fishing continues. The loss of fish is a contributing factor to the massive proliferation of jelly blubbers infecting the waterway which impacts both on the swimming public and recreational fishers.
NSW Fisheries’ current attitude is to do nothing and Bega Valley Shire Council do not respond to telephone calls.
In this instance nature will dictate how the lake will recover in the future but make no mistake, appalling lake management over many years has caused this problem.
Perhaps our local member can provide some positive input into this issue. We do not need another Darling River fiasco on our front door step.