Bypass unsuitable for use by cyclists

DONAL Hickey’s column on your Outdoors page (Dec 12) is normally informative, entertaining and well-informed.

However, in his comments on the provision of good facilities for cyclists on the new Castleisland bypass, he got it seriously wrong.

The relevant facility — if it can be called that — is totally unsuitable for use by cyclists. The sole lane on the eastern side of the bypass is less than two metres wide, and is supposed to take contra flow pedestrian and cycle traffic over three kilometres of steep hillside terrain. This writer has seen pedestrians, walking in opposite directions, having to stand aside to allow contact-free passage. Certainly, adding a few cyclists — travelling downhill especially — to the mix is a recipe for serious accidents or even fatalities. Local club cyclists know it to be unsafe and avoid it. I think it would be good for Mr Hickey to visit Castleisland and see the difference between what is claimed for this cycle “facility” and what actually exists on the ground.