A CYCLIST is pleading with drivers to take more care and use their common sense on the roads.

Paul Minshall, of Verdin Street, Northwich, has had some close shaves while cycling to work in Middlewich and fears winter weather will make things much worse.

The 31-year-old Northwich man said: “I chose to cycle to work for various reasons – money, the environment and personal fitness.

“It’s the perfect thing to do but it’s being ruined at the moment by people on the roads.

“It’s not just that they’re not caring for cyclists, they’re not caring for each other and I see accidents waiting to happen.”

Paul, who works at computer recycling company Manga Fu and cycles along King Street daily, has powerful lights on his bike and wears high visibility clothing but says drivers are not keeping their eyes on the road.

“People are still driving while they’re on mobile phones – they don’t seem to understand that by doing that they can kill someone or knock someone off their bike,” he said.

“There was a guy on his laptop going down King Street – I just cannot believe that.

“The problem is that people are in such a rush.

“There are idiots on the road all year round but in winter people need to calm down – you’ve got to think, something’s changed, it’s cold and the roads are slippery.

“It’s common sense.”

Paul said the roundabout by Morrisons warehouse in Rudheath is a particular blackspot with drivers approaching it at speed and not looking carefully enough.

He had three near misses there in a week.

“These drivers could have ended my life and ruined theirs. They would have to live with it for the rest of their lives.