Sir, - Karlin Lillington's article on the experience of cycling in Dublin (October 31st), shows us all too clearly what dangers are faced by cyclists on a daily basis. With traffic flow within the city at a snail pace for 10 hours a day, six days a week surely the corporation and the Government must see cycling as a realistic alternative to cars?
The article gives us all the reasons why more people don't cycle. The token gesture of painting some of the road red falls a long way short of the responsibility of a European city's management. Anyone who has been to Amsterdam will see the success of their traffic management.
The separation of pedestrians from cyclist and in turn from motorists provides a safe efficient way to travel the streets. A simple small cement divider between the cycle lanes and the road would prove good value for money. It would ensure that pedestrians, cyclists and motorists all have their own allocated area and wouldn't flow freely onto each other's path.
The expected bicycle renaissance, as Frank McDonald calls it, surely will not happen until responsibility is taken to make the city a safe place to cycle. - Yours, etc.,
Fergus Cooney, Marino, Dublin 3.