Sir, – In reference to the removal of the "distasteful" bollards protecting the cycle lane on Fitzwilliam Street in Dublin (News, October 23rd), 10 days ago my husband saw a truck turn left on Luke's Road, Dublin 8, knocking down a cyclist who was travelling on its inside before driving over her legs.
Three days ago I saw a car, turning right into a student residence in Dublin 6, collide with a cyclist coming down the inside of a lane of stalled traffic. That cyclist was luckier than the one on Luke’s Road. He was sent flying over the bonnet and – thankfully – escaped with only minor injuries.
In both instances, there were no segregated cycle lanes, no bollards and no warning streetsigns to either cyclists or motorists to warn them of right-turns, left-turns or cyclists coming up the inside of slow or parked traffic.
As a motorist, I welcome the certainty provided by bollards. They warn me clearly that more vulnerable road users are travelling beyond them. As a physical structure, they influence my driving, making me adjust my speed so I ensure I don’t collide with them.
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As a cyclist, I feel protected by them.
As a pedestrian, I find the prospect of witnessing a ton of metal driving over a human being’s legs far more “distasteful” than a few bits of plastic on a Georgian street. – Yours, etc,
MIA GALLAGHER,
Inchicore,
Dublin 8.