Wild Atlantic Way roads are not totally safe for cyclists
Madam Editor,
My name is Ted Williams and I had the good fortune to cycle the Wild Atlantic Way last September ‘16, having retired in ‘15. What a journey -28 days, 2,300kms. I wrote a blog, see FB Ted’s Wild Atlantic Way cycle.
Now my problem is the suitability of this route for bicycles, ie. the surfaces and the narrowness and awareness of drivers,I am one myself for 45 years.
I started in Donegal,the roads in the North of the county are great,but obviously the South don’t talk to the North and the surface is inconsistent. There is a very good cycle way on part of the old road and Donegal to Ballyshannon is great. Sligo roads are good. Mayo greenway is great but some bad turns on it leading to uphill over bridges which should be signposted. Also if sheep excrement could be restricted it would be even better. Galway I found not too be very cycle friendly, as the roads are too narrow,y et the footpaths are wide! Very dangerous.
On to Clare with its lovely straight agriculture roads but the Ballyvaughan Fanore road was bad to Doolin.
Kerry,the most unhospitable county for cyclists. The approach roads in to the towns have broken manhole covers and broken cement, maybe not noticeable in a car. Then you hit the American belt and the road surfaces are great,but I have to take issue with exit cycle lane out of Tralee,it is a danger because of its surface! This will cause an accident as it is so rough you have to go on the road,not well received by motorists. Kerry Co Co try cycling on it on a hybrid bike! Both surfaces should be the same.
The surface is so bad on part of the WAW that you can’t get any momentum.
When roads are being done,from a cyclists point of view,certain things have to taken into consideration:
Different kind of bikes; Offroad ,Mountain, Hybrid,Racer.
Different kind of cyclist; Training, Pleasure, Families and children.
Cyclists need:
Same surface as the cars, not pink/red Tarmac (it breaks up).
Markings should be continuous in white where the cyclist is,so no car can encroach.
Cycle Lanes: Once again ,is it fit for purpose.
White line on the path, can dogs read this,can children identify this?
If you are out training and on a descent on a cycle lane ,travelling at 50kph on a footpath,with white lines,this is suicide!
Is it legal to cycle on the footpath?
I hope some good ideas might come out of this as too many cyclists are loosing their lives,not because of their fault,they have to become included in the road planning as there will be many more and at the moment the WAW is not completely safe.
Ted Williams Greystones