Commentary on cycle infrastructure

I read with dismay an article on www.killarneytoday.com where the author struggled to grapple with the rationale for and design principles around cycle infrastructure, in this case in relation to a new scheme in Fossa, near Killarney. This kind of ill-informed narrative can lead to a pushback against essential infrastruture so it is important to challenge it. I decided to write a comment under the article but this wasn't possible, so I emailed my thoughts to the editor. I didn't get a response, nor were my comments posted under the article, so I have published my thoughts here. Hello, 

I read your article on the Fossa cycle path and wanted to write a comment underneath but it seems this isn't possible? 

I think the piece, unfortunately, betrays a poor understanding of cycling and the need for cycling infrastructure in our villages and towns. It may come as a surprise to anyone who sees cyclists as a homogenous group that cycle lanes, generally, are not designed or intended for "sport" cyclists, such as the members of Killarney Cycling Club, who are quoted in the piece.

Whether in Ireland or Italy or elsewhere sport cyclists usually prefer wide, smooth roads and they are quite happy to tip along and share that roadspace with vehicles and in the 20-40 kph speed range. For this cohort wider is better. It means vehicles can pass safely. For very legitimate safety reasons sport cyclists don't like to be anywhere near pedestrians. But while they are a very visible sub-group of cycling they are not representative of people who cycle or, more importantly, people who can become cyclists, which is almost everybody if the correct infrastructure is provided.

Cycle lanes are designed for the elderly, for children, and for people of all ages and abilities going about their lives making trips in their locality with ease and comfort and in safety. This much broader and more diverse cohort will cycle at 5-15 kph and they will travel just a few kilometers at most. They will get on the bike to go to the shop, to mass, to school, to visit their friends and family. Unlike sport cyclists these slower cyclists are not a risk to pedestrians. They should not be compared to or conflated with the sport cyclists who want to fly through the village as fast as their legs can turn while on a 100 km training spin.

I am a regular visitor to Fossa. The completed work is excellent and is designed to the very same standard as new utility cycling infrastructure across Ireland and Europe. The hysteria about the 6m carriageway is just that. Hysteria. It is the same width as carriageways in any urban context where the speed limit is 50 kph and is the default for residential, built up areas. It is only right that wide vehicles must now slow down to pass each other as they drive through Fossa. The sad truth is that some people were quite used to driving through the village in the past at a faster speed and the new design means they can no longer do so. It irritates them that they must slow down. But in reducing their speed the village is more safe and less hostile for residents and it is more attractive for visitors. 

I am happy for you to publish this comment underneath the article. 

Kind regards, 

Brian Leddin