Some of the sheer venom and mindless hate that has spawned out of the well-publicised incident on the south coast this week – anyone who follows the news could not fail to have seen it – has been mind-boggling.

Unfortunately, of course, this was not an isolated incident. 

Barely a day goes by without a video capturing some sort of conflict between driver and cyclist going “viral” on social media.

Despite the cyclists depicted in these videos more often than not completely in the right, , who more often than not are completely in the right, is staggering.

Get a grip, people.

People have used it as a vehicle, pun intended, to unleash their own personal prejudices.

The cyclists, off duty cops or not, were perfectly entitled to be using the road and perfectly entitled to be riding two abreast.

It seems a basic premise which the blind rage and prejudice of many will not allow them to see past.

Hopefully this will be a catalyst for some good.

Hopefully this leads to some further education in our community about the rights of cyclists, which are every bit as valid as the rights of any other road user.

More than three million Australians ride a bike with more than two million of them riding every month.

Participation in cycling in NSW is actually growing according to the most recent studies.

There are obvious benefits for both our health and the environment for choosing a bike above a car when applicable.

Bike use and cycling will not be going away soon.

It would be in all our interests to learn how to share the road and live harmoniously because the upshot is if you get caught doing the wrong thing and abusing people on the road, the bike may be your only ongoing mode of transport into the foreseeable future.

Think about that for a moment.

All the best for the week ahead, Ross.