Secret Cyclist: We're not 'freeloaders or rule-breakers' — We have a right to bear bikes

There's a culture war going on and our view toward cycling is blinkered

Often a point of contention between drivers and cyclists, riding 2 abreast is advised, except on narrow or busy roads or around bends.

Regular readers of this column will be aware that I have a strong desire to see more people cycling on this island. My reasons for this are both selfish and altruistic. The act of cycling a bike sparks joy and I would whole-heartedly like to see more people experience the joys of cycling. Equally, the more people who cycle, the better it becomes for those of us who already cycle.

Cycling differs from many other modes of transport, sports, and many leisure pursuits in this respect. Most people driving would like to see fewer and not more cars on the roads. I’d imagine that the typical GAA or soccer player in Ireland isn’t too concerned with the number of people who play their sport. There’s even a whole bunch of leisure pursuits like hillwalking that people do in order not to see other people.