Sir, – The measured correspondence on this topic has, until now, omitted the issue of size.
The dimensions of our newer roads are specified, as are cycle-paths and pavements. Our network of existing minor roads struggles to achieve the carriageway width of 2.5 metres.
Modern cars have increased in width by 16 per cent on average over the past 40 years. A Ford Focus is now 185 cm in width, whereas 40 years ago the original Ford Escort was 157 cm wide .
The carriageway remaining for cyclists is now reduced to 32 cm (or approximately a foot) on either side of the newer vehicle, where no cycle path is provided.
Yet drivers are asked to allow 1.5 metres when passing. With high volumes travelling in both directions, a cyclist will cause obstruction to following traffic at busy times if safe overtaking is not possible.
I commute daily on the R336 from Bearna to Galway, both by car and bicycle, and there is one 2.5 metre lane in either direction, with a single pavement, on one side only, and which is less than a metre wide.
I have no hesitation in using the pavement when cycling if the road is busy to avoid angering the following drivers, and for interests of self-preservation when the road is quieter and the traffic attains or exceeds the 50 km/h speed limit.
There are so few pedestrians now that I encounter about three on average over a 4km stretch of the road. By and large, we greet each other courteously as I stop to let them take their right of way.
Mixing cyclists and pedestrians has been shown to be safer than mixing either group with cars.
Cycle paths and adequate public transport infrastructure would go some way to removing the conflicts now occurring. The increasing girth of cars seems to be the “elephant on the bóthar” forcing cyclists from the roads. – Yours, etc,
DAVID O’KEEFFE,
Bearna,
Galway.