AYE, there's nae doot aboot it, "the nights are fair drawin' in". Since the clocks went back a couple of weeks ago, it's been getting darker and darker and darker. And it appears to be confusing loads of us.

Not long after Sam gets back from school, his sister Lori is on the couch closing the blinds, thinking it must be getting near bedtime, and it's not even half past five!

But I've noticed it's not just the under-fives who appear to be getting confused. It seems that the dark nights have also caught out a huge number of our city's cyclists. And once again I find myself having a pop at them in the hope that they'll wise up.

It's well known that Edinburgh positively embraces our two-wheeled friends and bends over backwards to make their journey about town as safe as possible. If only a number of them would take similar care of themselves.

Some drivers of cars think they become invisible when they get behind the wheel, as I've seen many pick away at their nose, not thinking that the driver in the next car is just about boaking at the sight. In much the same way, certain "buffoons on bikes" think they become glaringly luminous to all without the need for lights or reflectors in the pitch black.

And it's not just the evenings that appear to confuse these little individuals. The bright early mornings get them all a bit dazed too, and I don't mean the low sunlight! My daily route into work involves a drive through the Royal Park, and it's something I quite enjoy on a nice morning. Just think of the setting right in the middle of the city; Arthur's Seat, Dynamic Earth, the Palace and the Dumbiedykes flats all passing you by. Lovely!

And this part of the world has also been made cyclist-friendly by the laying of a cycle path which runs pretty much the length of the road through. But do they use it?

Jeez, I've lost count of how many times my drive through the park in the morning goes at walking pace as I'm held up by some Lycra-clad cyclist who just refuses to use the designated cycleway. I daren't attempt to overtake as the road is too narrow and bendy so I often end up stuck behind them with nothing but their frantic behind for a view.

I don't know if the thought behind their decision not to use the cycle way is a "it's as much my road as anyone else's, so I'll blimmin' well use it" kind of attitude or "er . . . what's a cycleway?".

This isn't the first time I've fallen foul of cyclists but I will again stress that I am fully aware that there are many sensible cyclists out there who do use the appropriate routes.

All was going well until the final leg back towards the car and the little one decides that she could pedal no more, so Claire took Charlie and I gently guided Lori along the cycle way. Before long it's the entire Stott family taking over the cycle way with only the two wee ones on bikes. We spent a fair old bit ducking and diving out of the way of oncoming cyclists, and let me tell you, this lot can do a fair old bit of speed when they want to!

If I were a more serious writer, I would perhaps take the Stephen Jardine approach and get out there with a leading figure of the cycling community, but I'll refrain as I'm pretty sure I'd look pretty rubbish in Lycra and a helmet.

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