Idiot cyclists and disabled people’s rights

Recently, two letter writers asked for respect for cyclists: surely those writers should acknowledge some cyclists are dangerous and should have respect for pedestrians.

As recently as last Thursday, while chatting to a friend on Tuckey Street in Cork, an idiot tried to pass me on the footpath — coming from behind and cycling between me and a wheelie bin. That was the second time this year I was edged out by a cyclist coming from behind me in Tuckey Street.

Then on Friday, on the central foot path on Parnell Bridge, a cyclist cycled towards me, so I pointed out to him that the City Council had spent tens of thousands of euro putting a cycle path on Anglesea Street, he was totally unaware of the cycle lanes, or the fact that it is illegal to cycle on the footpath — unless there is a specialised and marked cycle lane on the path.

Spend maybe 15 minutes on the Grand Parade outside the English Market and watch cyclists weaving in and out — at speed — trying to avoid pedestrians. We have seen a series of TV adverts about motorists respecting cyclists, but surely there should be a similar campaign on pedestrians’ rights.

As an older man, wobbly on my feet, I was knocked down by an idiot two years ago, after collecting my pension, and I was told to get out “of the effing way” — not for the first time. We hear a lot about cyclists rights, but pedestrians have the right to cross at a pedestrian crossing, without avoiding idiot cyclists cutting the lights.

Of course, not all cyclists are idiots but I’ve seen cyclists going too fast; cutting through traffic lights and going the wrong way on one-way streets, etc. On Cork’s Anglesea Street, disabled parking spaces have been sacrificed to accommodate a two-way cycle path almost 7ft wide, narrowing the pavement considerably — have disabled people no rights?

Pat Kelly

Blackrock

Cork