Controversy over cyclists complying with Rules of Road

The Campaign recently responded to a series of letters in the Irish Times criticising cyclists for not complying with Rules of the Road.

Our letter-

Madam,

The Dublin Cycling Campaign decries law-breaking by rogue cyclists, particularly the worst infraction for a cyclist - failing to respect pedestrians' right to peaceful enjoyment of their journeys. As vulnerable road users, cyclists must surely show exaggerated respect for those even more vulnerable. The Campaign calls for better enforcement of all road traffic rules, particularly of speed limits in urban areas and of dangerous overtaking, which is commonly defined as passing within 1.5m of a cyclist.

The fact is that road users' obedience to rules is proportionate to the effort spent on enforcement. It's surely credible that busy Gardaí enforce rules more vigilantly against motorists simply because motor vehicles kill and bicycles, by and large, do not.

Further, provision by Ireland's esteemed roads designers of cycle lanes on footpaths, through parks and along riverbanks is surely enough to confuse even the most law-abiding cyclist? Our view is that footways are for pedestrians only and since the bicycle is classed as a vehicle in both Irish and international law it belongs wholly on the road. If some riders choose to cycle on the footway it is likely that they are too scared to cycle on the road - the policy response to this fear is to make the roads safe for all users. 

Cycling is a fast-growing transport mode, set to increase exponentially, so these issues must be quickly and properly resolved. 

Yours, etc.,

Will Andrews (Chair)  

Dublin Cycling Campaign

Pearse Street Dublin 2

Reader's letter of July 28th- (there were several in this mode)

Madam, – Before I end up in hospital, under a bus, dangling on someone’s handlebars . . . can something be done about the increasing multitude of cyclists breaking lights, going like the clappers on pavements and whizzing up the wrong direction on streets?

No doubt some cyclists don’t hear my calls as their heads bobble to music transmitted through headphones.

Alas, I would not like to repeat what has been said to me on the occasions when a cyclist has heard and responded to my call to get off the pavement. Suffice to say it is not very original, and usually involves vocab beginning with the letter F.

I write this as a cyclist who is only too aware of the dangers of cycling in Dublin. However, I am thoroughly fed up with the rude and inconsiderate behaviour by, unfortunately, a majority of cyclists in the city.

The people who behave in this manner are obviously unaware of what it might be like if you are visually impaired, an older individual, pushing a buggy . . . There is no excuse for this behaviour and unless something is done very soon, someone will be very badly injured.

I myself have no desire to experience being propelled from someone’s handlebars into space.– Yours, etc,

LOUISE LESOVITCH,

Liffey Terrace,

St Laurence’s Road,

Chapelizod,

Dublin 20