Sir, - Mr Connor Faughnan of the Automobile Association (June 4th) says: "The city's congestion problem is caused not by too many cars but by too few public transport alternatives." A somewhat disingenuous statement.
Public transport in the city is not only expensive and inconvenient but is exacerbated by the behaviour of motorists who persist in parking in bus stops, on foot paths, on yellow lines and anywhere else they think convenient.
There are some 20,000 daily cyclists in the Dublin Corporation area. The majority range in age from 15 to 45 years. Nine out of 10 of them travel less than four miles. The 1991 census indicates that 25,000 people living in the same area travel approximately the same distance daily by car. A car parking space can accommodate 12 bicycles. Persuading some motorists to walk, use public transport or get on their bikes will free the road space for those who really need it - cyclists.
To complete a cycle network in the Dublin city area will cost between £12 and £15 million. This is minuscule compared with the costs of LUAS and the Port Tunnel, variously costed at up to £250 million.
As cyclists we are plagued by bad manners, bad air and bad roads. We are quiet, environ mentally friendly and improve our health at the same time - all of the things advocated by the faces on every poster in the country over the last few weeks. Why, then is it so difficult to have better facilities put in place?:
Like the Automobile Association, we serve on consultative panels of the Dublin Transportation Office. Unfortunately, cyclists do not have the lobbying clout of the motoring industry in presenting our case to the public and the Government. Cycling is a practical, low cost and healthy remedy. So, leave your car at home and "on yer bike". - Yours, etc.,
Public Relations Officer, The Dublin Cycling Campaign, Temple Bar, Dublin 2.