Sir, – Reading Olivia Kelly’s article (“Cycling in Dublin: the next stage”, April 19th) reminded me of an incident that occurred in the 1960s when I was 13 years old. I was cycling home from Finglas when a garda stepped out and stopped me on Ballygall Road. He checked that my brakes, lights and bell were in order before sending me on my way. I recall feeling a sense of pride that my sturdy ESKA bike had passed this important test.
But imagine what would be likely to happen today. My mother would feel obliged to ring RTÉ's Liveline . Amnesty would claim my lawyer should have been present and The Irish Times would feel duty-bound to run several articles on the issue. In one, Vincent Browne would cite my case as further evidence of inequality in Ireland since the Garda never check the bridles of horses ridden by wealthy socialites. In another, Eamonn McCann would allege that Leon Trotsky had invented the Sturmey Archer gear hub but that Golda Meir had later stolen his design as part of a Zionist plot to spread splittism among progressive cyclists. Letters would later be published praising McCann's great insights.
With the mighty Irish Times championing pedal power, is it any wonder gardaí are afraid to enforce the ban on cycling on footpaths? Yours, etc,
KARL MARTIN,
Bayside Walk,
Dublin 13