The Secret Cyclist: Putting in a spoke for delivery riders

"Bike delivery riders have the cards stacked against them before they even sit on the saddle - At which point they then have to travel around towns and cities along roads that show scant regard for their safety and wellbeing"

Deliveroo riders are a common sight on the roads of Cork City

One evening earlier this year during lockdown, I walked into the city centre to collect a take-away meal from a restaurant. As I crisscrossed the streets, I was happy to have bike delivery riders pass by for some company. A quiet city centre can be an unnerving place and it was reassuring to see small groups waiting patiently outside eateries to take hot meals all over the city using clean and green transport.

Around the same time of the year, the then Lord Mayor of Cork also went for a walk in the city centre. Afterwards he tweeted “Day 28 – Apart from dodging the Deliveroo Cyclists travelling at high speed I’d a good walk in a quiet City Centre”.