Pedal power highlights accident threat

PEDAL power and people power combined yesterday to highlight a serious traffic accident threat to residents of a Dublin inner city street.

Residents yesterday claimed 15 children had been knocked down by traffic in Dominick Street over the last 18 months. The 200-metre long street, with wide high-speed lanes and car parking on both sides has been described by locals as "a classic rat-run" which is unsuited to a residential area.

At teatime yesterday, more than 100 cyclists demonstrated their support for Dominick Street residents, who have maintained a traffic protest for the past three weeks. The cyclists are Irish-based members of global organisation Critical Mass, which holds monthly bicycle rides to assert cyclists' right to the road.

Company director William Campbell from Dublin, who cycles to work daily, said he had been rear-ended several times by vehicles.

"The most common problem and biggest risk comes from car mirrors," he said.

Cyclists gathered at the Garden of Remembrance at 6pm and continued into Dominick Street, where they were greeted by locals.

"The monthly Critical Mass is not a protest," said Mr Campbell. "Cycling on the city streets is a normal everyday activity."

He said some observers have accused Critical Mass of blocking the traffic at peak times. "Our answer to those complaints is simple," said Mr Campbell. "Cyclists are the traffic." The aim of the monthly cycle, he said, was twofold to make improvements in street conditions by reducing noise, pollution and danger as well as making city planners and drivers realise cyclists are part of the traffic.

Asked if the city council had taken the cyclists' concerns on board, he said: "yes, the traffic has gone from a catastrophe to a disaster."