Sir, – Zara Brady (April 10th) complains about the road behaviour of cyclists, and writes that, in driving from Dún Laoghaire to Rathgar, she was “paying particular attention to cyclists”. If I cycled that route, I’d feel safer if Ms Brady paid “particular” attention to her driving. I’m sure that cyclists would agree that they face the greatest dangers from motorists not concentrating on their driving. Rather than complain about each other, a positive approach might be to promote a “share and care” attitude between drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. – Yours, etc,
PAT DIGNAM,
Templeroan Grove,
Knocklyon, Dublin 16.
Sir, – Whatever happened to the bicycle bell? Sixty years ago they were mandatory. The road traffic regulations required cyclists to “give audible warning of their approach”. And cycling on footpaths was an offence.
I like to walk but I am elderly and deaf and I do not hear cyclists coming up behind me. Every day I am startled and often frightened by a cyclist suddenly appearing at my shoulder as he whizzes past at 20km/h. Basic courtesy demands that cyclists should not use footpaths and when they feel they have to, they should think of the pedestrians for whom the paths are designed. – Yours, etc,
BRENDAN BURKE
Gainsborough Park,
Malahide, Co Dublin.