Putting cyclists on the right track

EVER so slowly we seem to be moving towards a situation where cyclists will be treated as equals to motorists.

We could learn a great deal from countries far more advanced in that regard, notably Holland.

Any regular cyclist will verify that Irish roads are dangerous, most likely the main reason for people’s reluctance to cycle. In the absence of dedicated cycle lanes, you have to share the road with all kinds of vehicles and some drivers simply have no consideration for cyclists.

Our road designers and urban planners have been focusing entirely on facilitating the car and other vehicles. However, in a bid to reduce our carbon footprint and to get more vehicles off our roads, not forgetting health reasons, officialdom is now attempting to get more people back on the bike.

The National Roads Authority is proposing a 2,000km network of cycle lanes. The 13 route corridors will serve all the cities and pass through each county, apart from Longford. Work on the first inter-urban path from Dublin to Galway has already started.

The idea is to create a ‘culture of cycling in Ireland” and to have 10% of all journeys done by bike by 2020 — a five-fold increase in cycling for commuting purposes. That’s an ambitious plan, but cycling lobbies are not enthused, arguing that it will be a waste of money because of poor road maintenance. The Department of Transport says this view is “misguided”.

Granted, you can cycle on the hard shoulders of main roads, where such are available, but that too can be risky, especially with large trucks and vehicles towing trailers brushing past you. You can feel at times that you are lucky not be blown away by the speed of heavy vehicles. Try it on the N22 Cork to Tralee national primary road, even on the hard shoulders! Country roads are, if anything, even more dangerous, with potholes, uneven margins, overhanging trees and bushes, not to mention the possibility of a vehicle coming up behind you on a bend and launching you and your bike into orbit.

At present, we have a limited number of cycle lanes but they usually come to an abrupt end, leaving you on the open road and at the mercy of all sorts of vehicles. An example of some good work can be found here and there, including the recently-opened Castleisland bypass, in Co Kerry, which has built-in cycling and walking lanes as part of its design — something that could be copied countrywide.

A look at the situation in Holland, which claims to be the most cycle-friendly country in the world, shows how far we have to go. For starters, the Dutch have 19,000km of cycleways and paths — over nine times more than what’s being proposed here.

Being much flatter and smaller than Ireland, it’s a country that’s suitable for cycling, a common method of transport and recreation. Just like the rules of the road for motorists, the Dutch cycleways have their rules, as well as traffic signals and lights, lanes and tunnels.

Crucially in Holland, the needs of cyclists are taken into account by planners and, in urban areas, these needs sometimes get priority over motorised traffic. The continuous network of cycleways is signposted and well lit, with junctions that give priority to cyclists.

Earlier this year in Ireland we had a campaign to get more Irish children to walk, or cycle, to school. But, how can parents be expected to co-operate in the absence of proper facilities for cyclists, young and old? In Holland, contrastingly, most children cycle to school.

Nearly a third of all journeys made in Holland are by bike. Pensioners cycle on nearly a quarter of their journeys, while in some cities over half of all journeys are made by bike.

The chaining of bikes to railings and lamp-posts is a common sight here because we have few parking facilities. However, bike stands are common in Holland and some dedicated parking lots hold thousands of bikes.

Every railway station has a cycle park and many provide security for a nominal fee. Laws are enforced in several cities to ensure bikes are parked in designated places and there’s a sort of clamping system whereby bikes not in bike stands are removed, to be later reclaimed by their owners for a fee.

In Ireland, there have been some welcome developments to encourage cycling. Under the Bike to Work scheme, thousands of people are taking advantage of the Ginitiative offering tax-free bikes for getting to work and 250 bike shops are taking part. Employers can help staff obtain a brand new bike and safety equipment worth up to €1,000.