20-PERSON POLL:The debate about whether helmets should be mandatory for cyclists surfaced again this week, as well as cyclists' own behaviour, so UNA MULLALLYasked 20 cyclists in central Dublin on a weekday morning what's really the biggest danger to them.
Noel Conneely
Dublin. No helmet
“I think cyclists generally are crazy. Generalising is dangerous, but a lot of them don’t obey the rules of the road.”
Críona Sexton
Co Louth. Wearing a helmet
“Taxis and buses. Buses in particular; they sometimes don’t even acknowledge the lights.”
Dave O’Reilly
Bayside, Dublin. No helmet
I’ve had a few close calls, bumping into the back of cars and things like that. Buses and cars go through the cycle lanes and they don’t care that you’re there.”
Amo Sayed
Rathfarnham, Dublin. Wearing a helmet
“When you’re on a bike, you don’t realise the dangers of cars, blind spots. The accident I had, I was going to turn right and had the right of way, and then a car went straight through and clipped me and drove off.”
Sorcha Loughnane
Co Kerry. Wearing a helmet
“Pedestrians just walk wherever. Buses as well. I mean, we share a lane with buses – how dangerous is that? Taxi drivers. How long have you got? ”
Frank Harrington
Goatstown, Dublin. Wearing a helmet
“Motorists, followed by buses. They should also have helmets with the Dublinbikes scheme, which I think is something they’re discussing. A helmet is essential. I wouldn’t go 10 yards on a bike without a helmet.”
Tim Leahy
Dublin. No helmet
“Bus drivers and pedestrians are the worst.”
Teo Raida
Italy. No helmet
“I’ve never been in an accident, but buses are the most dangerous, and also delivery trucks.”
John Magee
Drimnagh, Dublin. No helmet
“I don’t cycle in town too much, but you see a lot of cyclists hopping the footpaths so they can take corners in traffic. That’s really not what you should be doing.”
Thomas
Hungary. Wearing a helmet
“Bikes breaking reds and not looking around. They do it even when the pedestrian lights are green. I’m not saying don’t break a red, but look before you do.”
Ray McDonnell
Dublin. Wears a helmet
“Wexford Street is dangerous: crowded with traffic.”
Carmel Gernoll
Dublin. Helmet in basket
“Cyclists flying past you, narrow streets, pedestrians coming out between trucks. Parts of town are just dangerous.”
Adrian Sharma
Colombia. Usually wears a helmet
“Cars not looking back, so they don’t see you, or cars cutting across in front of you.”
Amanda Scales
Dublin. No helmet
“If you get stuck between two buses it’s terrifying. Taxi drivers stopping suddenly for a fare is dangerous. A lot of cyclists go at high speed as well, guys especially.”
John Kilcullen
Ballinteer, Dublin. No helmet
“I’m quite comfortable cycling. The worst thing is the cycle paths and the surface of the road.”
John Linnane
Templeogue, Dublin. No helmet
“Taxis, I think. They’re especially aggressive in how they drive.”
Deirdre Murphy
Drumcondra, Dublin. Wears a helmet
“All of the accidents I’ve ever had have been from car doors being opened.”
Jack Hogan
Mercer Street, Dublin. Occasionally wears a helmet
“Cars, obviously. But pedestrians aren’t great either. They’ll just walk out in front of you.”
Hugh McElveen
Louth. Normally wears a helmet
“I think there are two dangers and they are both equal: motorists’ lack of consideration for cyclists, and cyclists’ lack of responsibility. I used to drive a motorbike, and 80 per cent of motorbike deaths involve a car where the car didn’t see the bike. I’d imagine the stats are similar with cyclists.”
George Farrell
Golden Lane, Dublin. No helmet
“Buses and cars using the cycle lane. Most of them use the cycle lane all the time.”
