Sir, – Peter Cluskey reports that now cyclists are feeling unsafe in Amsterdam, the oft-touted cyclists’ nirvana (“Amsterdam is going downhill for cyclists, survey finds”, World, September 8th). The culprits in this case are not cars or pedestrians but e-bikes, e-scooters and, to a lesser extent, cargo bikes. In April a 41 per cent increase in cyclist deaths on Dutch roads was attributed to the growing popularity of e-bikes which are heavier and faster than conventional bicycles. Perhaps it’s time for two sets of bicycle lanes to be constructed in cities – one “fast lane” for battery-powered contraptions and one “slow lane” for ordinary bicycles. In the event of space being tight, the relevant authorities could just requisition the adjacent footpath since pedestrians are so 20th century. – Yours, etc,
KARL MARTIN,
Dublin 13.
