Sir, – So Fintan O’Toole is human (Opinion, June 11th). When he is pricked, doth he not bleed; when cyclists annoy him in the course of his daily constitutional, doth he not rant? How different from his usual opinion pieces with their views from the cosy ivory tower. Blessed are those whose wisdom, serenity, common sense and good humour survive the daily struggles of a practical life in a messy world. – Yours, etc,
MURT Ó SÉAGHDHA,
Mount Avenue,
Dundalk,
Co Louth.
Sir, – Like Dr John Doherty (June 14th), I too often sit overlooking a busy traffic junction, this one in Dublin, by Busáras, where the Luas tracks cross Amiens Street.
Virtually every red light at rush hour witnesses at least one motorist sitting in the yellow box or on the pedestrian crossing, and frequently the Luas driver is driven to toot their horn. At this, the offending driver usually reverses onto the pedestrian crossing, while people scatter from his path.
Perhaps this proves that every mode of transport has its share of idiots, and I wonder if your paper could downplay the motorist-versus-cyclist attitude and instead promote a message to share the roads? Though I realise that won’t sell as many copies as Fintan O’Toole’s populist rant. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN McARDLE,
St Alphonsus Road Upper,
Drumcondra,
Dublin 9.
Sir, – May I propose that you buy Fintan O’Toole a bike – there’s great tax relief – or else sign him up to the Dublin Cycling Scheme.
Give him a few months to learn how to cycle, send him off, with a helmet, of course, and then ask him to write another Opinion piece on the same subject.
I can’t wait! – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL A CARROLL,
Cherrygarth,
Mount Merrion,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – I have enjoyed the responses to Fintan O’ Toole’s recent tongue-in-cheek article and the various efforts to lay claim to the road – using the moral high ground. But there is a darker side to this subject.
In recent years, cyclists in Dublin have been experiencing an epidemic of bicycle theft. The explosion in the number of bikes along with their increased value (fuelled in part by the Bike to Work scheme) has proved a major temptation to thieves and rumours abound of organised gangs selling container-loads of Irish bikes abroad. But hard figures are hard to come by, as we cyclists rarely report these thefts, expecting nothing to be done. A joint initiative is required, from both the Garda and cycling community. The former needs to be seen to be doing something to address the problem, while the latter must assist by reporting all thefts. Once the size of the problem is appreciated it will increase the need to address it. – Yours, etc,
PAUL THORNTON,
Kincora Road,
Clontarf,
Dublin 3.
Sir, – Could I suggest a possible solution to the hazard of cyclists on footpath – swingeing fines save for those with training wheels. – Yours, etc,
TERRY GRIFFIN,
Aughrim Street,
Dublin 7.