Activities of Government officials a national disgrace say cyclists.

galway | rights, freedoms and repression | press release

Monday April 19, 2004 18:47

by Shane Foran - Galway Cycling Campaign

galwaycyclist at yahoo dot co dot uk

c/o Galway One World Centre, the Halls, Quay St., Galway.

087 9935993

Cyclists issue detailed rebuttals of untenable and unsupportable claims made by Department of Transport.

The Galway Cycle Campaign has a issued a 12 page letter of rebuttal to the Minister of Transport in the latest instalment in a six year old row over Government policy. The latest exchange was sparked by last year's vote to reject the use of roadside cycle-tracks by the Galway City Community Forum, which represents 90 community and voluntary organisations. It was the serious safety problems associated with cycle tracks that prompted their rejection by the Forum. In reply, the Minister's office has made various claims: Including claims regarding the intent of the government's much criticised "cycle facilities design guidelines" and also a claim that segregated cycle tracks are the most effective means to encourage more cycling.

In response, the Galway Cycling Campaign have highlighted the ongoing failure of the minister's office to acknowledge or address the appalling safety record of roadside cycle tracks. The GCC have pointed out to the minister that Irish cyclists are having their lives and property endangered by cycle track/cycle lanes that demonstrably flout basic safety principles. The view is put that the activities of the officials who created this situation are a national disgrace and constitute a national scandal.

The GCC also rebuts the claim that the construction of cycle-tracks is the most effective way to get non-cyclists on the bicycle. Reports are cited from the UK, Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands indicating that this claim is false and untenable. For example, in the late 80's and early 90's the Dutch spent the equivalent of IR£600 million on "cycling infrastructure". This achieved a total of 19,000 km of cycle paths but this resulted in no demonstrable benefit in terms of increasing cycling.

The claims of the minister's office regarding the National Irish Cycle Facilities Guidelines are also rejected. In 2000, the Galway Cycle Campaign published a review showing that the Irish authorities had endorsed the use of designs that had already been reported internationally as having serious safety problems. This use of hostile "cycle facilities" is then juxtaposed with wider cyclist-hostile Irish traffic policies including; multilane roundabouts, extensive one-way street systems, slip roads, filter lanes and road narrowings. It is also pointed out that the Irish authorities have not addressed the widespread flouting of speed limits in urban areas. The view is put that claims of a government policy to promote cycling are untenable and are not supported by the available facts. The evidence suggests strongly that the opposite is the case and that in fact it is Government policy to discourage cycling in Irish towns and cities.

The experience of Irish cyclists suggests that the primary goal of Irish cycle planning is to restrict cyclists so as promote and facilitate the increased use of cars in Irish towns and cities. In Ireland, between 1996 and 2002 there was a 28% fall in cycle commuting, a 39% drop in cycle use among third level students, a 61% drop in cycle use among secondary school children and a 59% drop in cycle use among primary school children.

Ends

Online documents:
Letter to Minister for Transport Regarding Govt. Cycling Policy
http://www.eirbyte.com/gcc/submission/letter_brennan0304.html

Summary of main points
http://www.eirbyte.com/gcc/submission/summary_brennan0304.html

***********************************

Shane Foran M.Sc.
Galway Cycling Campaign 087 9935993

*****************************************

Related stories

03/10/2003 Galway City Community Forum rejects use of cycle tracks.
http://www.eirbyte.com/gcc/news.html#story5

2/12/02 Cork, Galway Cycle Campaigns call for state embargo on cycle track funds.
http://www.eirbyte.com/gcc/news3.html#story6

July 2002 Cyclists told to get off and walk at oral hearing on Seamus Quirke Rd.
http://www.eirbyte.com/gcc/news3.html#story1

9/5/02 Report reveals that DoELG and DTO distributed dangerous design guidance to Irish Local Authorities.
http://www.eirbyte.com/gcc/news2.html#story1

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Activities of Government officials a national disgrace say cyclists.