Cyclists should have the manners to leave our footpaths to pedestrians

AT last week’s meeting of Dundalk Joint Policing committee there was an issue raised which would to many seem very small and insignificant.

People cycling on footpaths. Not the crime of the century granted, but an issue that needs addressing all the same.

Here in Dundalk, we built with no little controversy, cycle lanes in and around the town centre and no one uses them, or at least very, very few do. Children don’t cycle to school or at least didn’t but I wonder will that change if and when schools do reopen come September.

Having said that, most of the cycle lanes are not in the core of the town centre but a litte further out, with no cycle lanes in Church Street, Clanbrassil Street, Earl

Street, Francis Street, Crowe Street, Park Street, Dublin Street and that is where you find day in, day out cyclists on the footpaths.

Many pedestrians are nervous enough right now, following COVID-19, we don’t need to scare off the pedestrians that are out and about by having them knocked over by thoughtless cyclists, the majority of whom are reasonably fit and able.

If you are pedestrian who has been cocooning for several weeks and only now getting back out and about, the last thing you want is to be knocked off your feet by a cyclist and possibly end up in hospital following a fall.

It’s a small problem in the bigger scheme of things, but it should be addressed.

There was no clear guidance from the JPC on whether this is a Garda matter or Council matter.

There are a handful of regular offenders who cycle the footpaths, every single day, weaving in and out of pedestrians.

Try telling them to get off the footpath and you get an earful of abuse, so you give up and let them carry on in their ignorant way.

The town centre is for everyone, we want everyone back on the streets, shopping, visiting coffee shops, restaurants and the pubs when they reopen.

Cyclists should stick to the cycle lanes and roads and should have the manners to do so.