THERE is a certain minority of our cycling community who fantasise they are Lance Armstrong, whizzing through a section of the Tour de France.

In their mind’s eye they are extreme sportsmen and women, cutting corners and enjoying the freedom life on two wheels brings.

Yet (and they will hate this comparison) they are as delusional as those who buy off-road four-wheel drive vehicles and then use them for the school run.

Those cyclists should today read the story of Barbara Sandford, the 71-year-old knocked down by cyclist Tafari Miller, who says she could easily have been killed.

No doubt in their arrogance these cyclists will dismiss her words, yet it is a safe bet they have probably been within inches of similar collisions with pedestrians.

They ignore red lights as though they only apply to motorised vehicles, zip across pedestrian crossings, weave in and out of queued traffic and cruise about in the twilight with no lights on.

And no doubt they complain about car drivers who imperil them with a moment’s inattention — yet this minority (and it thankfully is a minority), do exactly the same, day after day to other road users without a second thought.

Unless they begin to realise their responsibilities on our streets, then the next Barbara Sandford will not be so lucky.