As the Government prepares to introduce new fixed penalties for cyclists, Rosa Corcoran gives us the perspective from the saddle, a view no doubt contrary to most motorists.
As I sat on the wet curbside some weeks ago, bicycle held shakily aloft, examining with no small amount of self-pity my puce coloured freshly grazed knee, I reflected on a rather mysterious and solemly delivered piece of advice proffered to me, aged nine by my well meaning father.
"Rosa," he said, "mind the potholes." I nodded sanctimoniously and chose to interpret it philosophically as a rather cryptic shared insight into the hidden perils and pitfalls of this thing I was coming to know as life.
Being somewhat older and a great deal less existentially anxious than my nine-year-old self, I now suspect, with a mixture of humour and dismay, that he may have meant it quite literally.
While pounding the pedals round the mean streets of Dublins city centre, I had been driven into a veritable crater of a pothole by a large and roaring lorry and, losing control of the handle bars, skidded roadside. Thankfully the extent of personal injury, aside from severly bruised dignity, was little more than a gammy leg.
The criticisms by cyclists on the provisions and conditions they are forced to endure in parts of the city centre are not news to Michael Ahern, director of traffic management for the Dublin Transportation Office. "It really depends on whether you see the glass as half empty or half full, the strategic cycle network is relatively still new in terms of it only being implemented in 1997, and there's a huge additionality compared to where we were six years ago, this being reflected in the growing numbers of cyclists."
An avid cycling enthusiast himself, he strongly refutes the idea of cyclists being at high risk of injury in the congested atmosphere of the city traffic. "If we look at the cycling accident issues, bearing in mind that there have been a few horrendous cycling accidents in the city centre, and they are terrible tragedies, the vision is for zero accidents, were not saying it's perfect, but I don't think there's much to substantiate it being dangerous."
It's a view received somewhat coolly by cyclists like Senator David Norris. "I think it's about time these people stopped refuting and came out onto the streets and had a good look at whats going on. I live in North Great Georges St and I'd be taking my life in my hands cycling into town down O'Connell St. There was that tragic accident recently where a marvellously talented young woman, Prof Potterton, was literally squashed to death. It's outrageous, unnecessary, and terribly sad, and something must be done."
Norris believes that separate lanes exclusively for cyclists would be a far safer option for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians alike, citing the example of a middle aged gentleman knocked to his death by a cycle courier.
In many cases cycle lanes are shared with other public transport vehicles such as buses and taxis, and in the absence of a cycle lane cyclists travel in the main bulk of traffic.
Colin Fulcher, a masters student of regional and urban planning at UCD, is currently researching a thesis on the efficacy of Dublin City Councils partially implemented strategic cycle network.
Having cycled daily in the city for the last 10 years, he believes that while there have been improvements in the past decade, it's still an extremely hostile environment for cyclists: "You're regarded as a pest. I definitely think it's extremely dangerous sharing a cycle lane with buses, some of the largest and arguably the most dangerous vehicles on the road.
"The term 'cycle lane' is a bit of a misnomer, the measure of success the DTO use is a quantifiable one, and in many places you'd be safer not using the designated cycle lane at all."
A view supported by Rachel Vaughan of the Dublin Cycle Campaign, who cites the crossroads at Dundrum as an example: "Somebody's going to get killed there and I just hope it's not me."
On the issue of air and noise pollution Vaughan feels the number of cars allowed daily into the city centre has certainly diminished the standard of life in many ways, saying "even on a Sunday afternoon you're shouting over the noise of the traffic."
Colin Fulcher agrees entirely, stating "I feel the almost untrammelled use of the private car has had a devastating effect on the quality of life in the city; if the Dublin Transportation Office was serious about creating a quality environment for cyclists, they would apportion part of the road space exclusively for cyclists and designate large sections of the city as out of bounds to through traffic, with access for public transport vechicles and cyclists only."
Dublin has been chosen to host Velo City 2005, an international conference organised by the European Cyclists Federation, of cycle planners and campaigners. This, Michael Ahern feels, is proof positive that we have nothing to hide, stating clearly: "We have much done and lots to do, there's still a long way to go but, working together we'll get there."