Switching to cycling

Madam, – Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey faces a truly daunting task in persuading more commuters to cycle ( The Irish Times…

Madam, – Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey faces a truly daunting task in persuading more commuters to cycle ( The Irish Times, February 6th) if my daughter's experiences in Dublin are at all typical. In the past four years she has been knocked off her bike three times and hospitalised for five days following the accidental discovery of a large pot-hole.

Unless priority is given almost totally to cyclists (as in many Dutch cities) the chances are that Mr Dempsey will leave office with even fewer people willing to relinquish the relative safety of their cars. – Yours, etc,

PATRICK ROWLEY-BROOKE,

St Mary’s Rectory,

Nenagh,

Co Tipperary.