Sir, – My journey to work this morning was no different to any other day. I observed some cars driving in bus lanes and breaking red lights, pedestrians jaywalking while using mobile phones, and cyclists being reckless. However, the vast majority of road users are compliant with the rules of the road, and it is generally only poor behaviour which we notice.
The claims made by Terry Lilburn (January 23rd) are not new, but describing "almost all" cyclists as a scourge is just unhelpful when it comes to moving forward the debate on this subject (expect perhaps to kick off the discussion).
The point made in relation to the lack of enforcement is well made and hard to argue with, but can we start to think about grouping road-users as responsible or not responsible, and to please move away from language which paints any single group in a negative light? The reality just isn’t so black and white. – Yours, etc,
DAVID McGUINNESS,
Dublin 16.
Sir, – I’m not sure that it makes sense to label transport users as a “scourge” or otherwise simply based on their mode of transport. Today’s cyclist is tomorrow’s motorist and next week’s bus or train or tram user. There are, of course, plenty of cyclists who choose to ignore some traffic laws some of the time, despite having most likely sat their driving test.
And there are plenty of motorists who choose to ignore traffic laws by driving over the speed limit, using their phone, breaking red and amber traffic lights, failing to have working back lights and brake lights, failing to indicate before turning and failing to use mirrors before changing lane or pulling in.
And there are plenty of pedestrians who walk out into traffic without checking for cyclists, particularly when there is a line of traffic stopped or moving slowly.
There are dangerous drivers, dangerous cyclists and dangerous pedestrians out there. – Yours, etc,
SHANE HOGAN,
Ballinteer, Dublin 16.