Sir, – I had been following the Department of Transport’s recent statement with regard to on-the-spot fines for cyclists with interest, but alas, no more. I hope whoever stole my bike yesterday will adhere to the forthcoming legalisation. – Yours, etc,
RICHARD BROWNE,
Strand Road,
Dublin 4.
Sir, — Although I welcome on-the-spot fines for cyclists, I wonder if any moves are being made to discourage bad behaviour directed against those on two wheels? Earlier this year, I had a Dublin Bus overtake me with inches to spare in a terrifying experience. It happened right in front of a Garda car, and what was the occupant’s response? “You’d be safer on the footpath.”– Yours, etc,
BRIAN McARDLE,
St Alphonsus Road Upper,
Drumcondra,
Dublin 9.
Sir, – Regarding the debate on on-the-spot fines for cyclists, I received just such a fine yesterday morning in Sydney. On the charge of running a pedestrian red light, I was guilty as charged. In my defence, there wasn’t a pedestrian within 50 metres of said traffic lights and I considered my manoeuvre to be perfectly safe. I duly received my AUS$60 fine from one of the six-strong group of dismounted cycling police gathered 100 metres further down the road handing out fines like confetti to my fellow misbehaved cyclists.
On-the-spot fines should be introduced for cyclists. However, such fines will only work where the police are just as speedy to fine also at-fault jaywalking pedestrians and irresponsible motorists whose actions can seriously endanger cyclists. In the meantime, I consider the actions of the New South Wales police force to have been nothing more than a revenue-raising effort. – Yours, etc,
SHANE DEMPSEY,
Milner Crescent,
Wollstonecraft,
Sydney, Australia.
Sir, – Mike McKillen (July 24th) writes that a lot of adults are pavement riders simply because they are too terrified to cycle in traffic on our roads. What does he expect us pedestrians to do when we are regularly terrorised by cyclists? Fly? – Yours, etc,
EOIN DILLON,
Ceannt Fort,
Mount Brown,
Dublin 8.