Sir, – As someone who has cycled and driven around Dublin city for over 40 years I believe that I have a balanced view of the topic of road traffic. It seems that the drive for penalisation of cyclists is motivated merely by resentment on the part of drivers, rather than by concerns for safety (“Cyclists face on-the-spot fines by next year”, Home News, July 19th).
It would be no harm to bear in mind that traffic regulations were introduced because of the introduction of motor vehicles, not because of the use of bicycles.
The laws were made to deal with the potential for carnage attendant upon the widespread use of cars. There are completely understandable reasons why cyclists might travel through red lights.
In one situation, having stopped at a red light, it is safer for all concerned if a cyclist, having made sure there are no crossing pedestrians or vehicles, anticipates the light turning green and moves off before cars get moving.
This is a simple matter of safety. A cyclist moving off from a standing start is less stable than one that has picked up speed. The latter is an easier and safer object for a car to pass than the former.
There are also occasions where unthinking application of the law is simply ridiculous. On one occasion, late at night, I was crossing the Liffey and had stopped at the lights heading for Chancery Street. There was no-one and no traffic around except a car in the far distance to my left, so I crossed against the lights, posing no danger or alarm to anyone.
However, the approaching car turned out to occupied by two gardaí who felt it necessary to follow and stop me in order to “feel my collar”. I suppose their motivation was a mixture of self-righteousness and boredom. The incident did not enhance my opinion of how the Garda prioritise matters. – Yours, etc,
TERRY MOYLAN,
Bluebell Road,
Dublin 12.