Single body to represent cyclists

Cyclists from all over the country will gather in Portarlington, Co Laois, on Saturday to set up an all-Ireland organisation.

Cyclists from all over the country will gather in Portarlington, Co Laois, on Saturday to set up an all-Ireland organisation.

The Irish Cycling Campaign will include representatives from groups in Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Waterford, Limerick, Kilkenny and Sligo.

It will provide a "consistent national perspective on cyclists' concerns", according to Mr David Maher, spokesman for the Dublin Cycling Campaign.

He said there were 25,000 commuter cyclists in the Dublin area alone.

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The Irish Cycling Campaign will lobby for improvements for commuter cyclists, particularly in cycle lanes and parking facilities at train stations.

Cyclists are currently working with Irish Rail on posters which will list how long it takes cyclists to get to certain destinations.

Mr Maher said many of the existing cycle lanes were "so badly designed and unsafe that it would have been better if they had never been built".

The new group will campaign for the end of mandatory use of cycle lanes on the grounds that some of them are too dangerous to use.

Cycle lanes which are incorporated into footpaths are objected to by many cyclists because of the number of collisions involving vehicles coming out of driveways or petrol stations.

"Some of the very bad transport planning decisions that have been made in the past stem from the fact that no consideration was given to cyclists or, indeed, pedestrians," he said.

"It is fundamental that cyclists' needs are considered at the planing stage."

Cyclists are also seeking representation on the National Safety Council and are calling for tougher policies on traffic enforcement.

For more information on Saturday's meeting in Portarlington contact Mr Maher at 086-347 5357.

Alison Healy

Alison Healy

Alison Healy is a contributor to The Irish Times