Cyclists and other road users

Sir, – There are clearly three opinions regarding cyclists at present. The pro-cycling brigade, who regard it as their right to cycle anywhere; the anti-cycling brigade, who view cyclists as dangerous; and the “couldn’t really care” brigade.

As a non-cyclist, I feel that the art of cycling has changed beyond recognition. In the old days, a bicycle was capable of about 10 to 15 miles an hour and accidents were fewer. Now cycles are capable of up to 40 miles an hour and the people now cycling range from four to 94 in age. Daily, I see accidents waiting to happen where cyclists doing 30 miles an hour avoid traffic lights and go up on the pavement to get round the junction, putting pedestrian lives at risk, and in many other potentially life-threatening situations both to cyclists and pedestrians. A complete revision of cycling laws needs to be carried out, to bear in mind the state of our roads and the speed at which bicycles can move. – Yours, etc,

D BOYLE,

Dublin 5.