A rough ride in the cycle lane - Irish Times Letters

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Madam, – In response to Michael O’Donnell (October 16th) who is planning to “mount a campaign” regarding footpaths/ pedestrians, I would like to submit, that as a daily cycling commuter in Dublin, I would welcome further discussion in this area.

My daily commute is from Killester to Ballsbridge and is approximately six miles each way. Of this, approximately 700-800 yards is a cycle lane. Furthermore, where such a lane exists, it ends abruptly and I’m forced back on to the road.

Like everything under this Government, the whole issue is badly thought out and implemented – Yours, etc,

LIAM MEEHAN,

La Vista Avenue,

Killester, Dublin 5.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/letters/2009/1017/1224256892817.html

Friday, October 16, 2009

Madam, – The debate on the Letters page on cycling and cycle lanes is missing the main problem caused by cyclists: that is using “footpaths” as bike lanes. Of course it is illegal to cycle on pedestrian ways, but even gardaí seem to think it is okay.

Here in Cork city people are running scared of speeding cyclists. Some go so fast that you would think they were in the Tour de France. It is only a matter of time before there is a serious accident.

As I pen this letter in Cork city library, people are speeding on mountain bikes right outside the door. It is scary!

I support cycle lanes as one who never drove a car in my 60 years. I cycled to work in London for 30 years, but never once on a footpath.

I am going to mount a campaign: footpaths for pedestrians only. – Yours, etc,

MICHAEL O’DONNELL,

Old Youghal Road, Cork.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/letters/2009/1016/1224256786229.html

Madam, – With reference to Ned Costello’s view on taxing cyclists “zero” (October 10th), I think maybe cyclists should be paying for the

upkeep of the footpaths which, in my area, is where most of them prefer to cycle. – Yours, etc,

G MONAGHAN,

Parnell Road, Dublin 12

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/letters/2009/1013/1224256509442.html

Madam, – While I agree with Stiofán Ó Dálaigh (October 9th) that funding for good cycle lanes has to come from somewhere, in fact it already comes from Europe under the European Union Sustainable Development strategy adopted in 2006.

Surely he is not suggesting that we tax cyclists as well?

We need to encourage commuters to cycle, not the opposite. Further to this, cycle lanes are not exclusively for the use of cyclists.

We share them with residents, whose driveways cut across them, commuters whose bus stops bisect them and those poor, tax burdened motorists who park on them. – Yours, etc,

AIDAN MEHIGAN,

White Hart Street,

Kennington,

London, England.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/letters/2009/1012/1224256437383.html

Madam, – Stiofán O Dálaigh’s suggests that cyclists should pay towards the cost of cycle lanes (October 9th). As motor tax is now related to CO2 emissions, the logical rate of such tax for cyclists would be zero. – Yours, etc,

NED COSTELLO,

Kimmage Road West,

Dublin 12.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/letters/2009/1010/1224256337698.html

 Madam, – Stiofán Ó Dálaigh (October 9th) suggests that “cyclists – as road users – should in some form contribute towards the improvement of facilities that exist exclusively for their own use”.

I am more than curious as to how he concluded that cyclists do not contribute to the state coffers.

Like many cyclists, I pay considerable amounts of tax – income tax, capital gains tax, value added tax (on the purchase cost, maintenance cost and spare parts costs of my bike, amongst other things) and strangely enough, motor tax.

Perhaps Mr O Dálaigh would like to see a ‘walk in the park’ tax, and a ‘swim in the sea’ tax also? -

Yours, etc,

SHANE HOGAN

Hilton Gardens

Ballinteer

Dublin 16.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/letters/2009/1012/1224256437383.html

Madam, – While I wholeheartedly agree with Mark Fox (October 7th) that cyclists, as road users, deserve parity with motorists when it comes to the surface quality of cycle lanes, the question of funding for this maintenance remains to be addressed.

As it stands, motorists bear more than their fair share of the burden of taxation in this country, with only a fraction of their tax contributions going towards the maintenance and improvement of the road network. The environmental merits of improved access for cyclists may be laudable, but surely cyclists – as road users – should in some form contribute towards the improvement of facilities that exist exclusively for their own use? – Yours, etc,

STIOFÁN Ó DÁLAIGH,

Ballinteer Gardens,

Ballinteer Road,

Dublin 16.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/letters/2009/1009/1224256257526.html

Madam, – Having restarted commuting to Dublin city by push bike after a 25-year interval, it is encouraging to avail of a substantial bike lane infrastructure along the N11. The improvement in safety has encouraged me to take to commuting by bike.

However, cycling remains a hazardous and uncomfortable activity due partly to poor and uneven bike lane surfaces, which in parts of the N11 are in terrible condition.

The road surfaces for motor vehicles are better maintained and smoother. In terms of road surface quality, cyclists at least deserve parity of treatment compared with motorists – they should be rewarded for taking the most environmentally-friendly method of transport.

John Gormley and his negotiating team should insist on getting a commitment from the Minister for Transport to make the additional improvements needed to make cycling a safer option and encourage greater numbers to get up on their bikes and leave the car at home. – Yours, etc,

MARK FOX,

Holly Park,

Shankill, Co Dublin.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/letters/2009/1007/1224256099828.html