Premier Kristina shows us how! Now, where's my Paul?

On your bike ... but don't forget the bodyguard
SMH Letters to the Editor March 22, 2010 For discussion and non-profit use only

The fact that the Premier, Kristina Keneally, receives police protection as she cycles to work is an indication of how dangerous it is to take to the road in Sydney on a bike (''Dream ride, but cycling still faces uphill battle'', March 20-21).

I was riveted by Matthew Moore's report of the way her escort, the ''beefy'' policeman Paul, intimidated aggressive motorists with his ''don't-argue hand signals and stay-where-you-are stares''.

I admire Ms Keneally for setting an example and cycling to work. I used to enjoy walking to work. But walking seems to have become an increasingly dangerous pursuit in Sydney because of the number of cyclists who, presumably too terrified to take to our roads, ride on our footpaths, often at speed and with nary a warning bell to signal their approach.

Perhaps the time has come for the Premier to consider the pleas of the lord mayor, Clover Moore who has long campaigned for a reduced speed limits.

Bill Hubble Pyrmont

Do others find it a little ironic that our Premier portrays herself as riding to work on a bicycle but doesn't show how the numerous trolleys of files that must follow her get around?

Nor does the Premier show herself stepping off her bike into a hot shower and then straight into set of freshly pressed clothes and a chauffeur-driven limo for the rest of the day.

It's about as tokenistic as the mostly unused multimillion-dollar bike lane beside the M7 which would require 3000 cyclists a day to ride the full 80-kilometre round trip just to offset the carbon dioxide produced from lighting it at night.

Dr Jon Jenkins Bogangar

Kristina Keneally says that since she took up riding to work more than a year ago she has never had an incident, dismissing the concerns of those cyclists who do regularly ride and do suffer from the aggression of Sydney drivers.

And now it is revealed that she has a beefy NSW policeman named Paul riding behind her full-time to protect her from the traffic.

Where do I obtain a Paul?

Tim Connors Coonabarabran

If Kristina Keneally can have a beefy NSW policeman to provide protection - ''a specialist in don't-argue hand signals and stay-where-you-are stares, he can stop any car from getting too close'' - why can't all cyclists have the same?

Sounds like a worthwhile bike accessory to me.

John Macleay Rozelle