The Garda has been urged to tackle the offending cyclists and the local top Garda officer has agreed to prioritise them. But one councilor has complained his colleague is objecting to both cycle lanes being constructed and people cycling on the pavement in the absence of cycling lanes.
A local politician in Co Kildare has called for the Garda to act against cyclists riding on footpaths and hounding pedestrians.
Cllr Seamie Moore called on the Garda to monitor cyclists in Naas. He also wanted “no cycling allowed” signage erected.
And the most senior Garda officer in the area has agreed to prioritise the matter for attention.
Chief Superintendent Brian Sutton said the problem of cyclists riding on footpaths was often followed by mobile phones being snatched by thieves on bikes.
Advertisement
Cllr Moore told Naas’s Joint Policing Committee he had raised the problem of cyclists riding on footpaths in the town several times.
The situation had worsened and now two or three cyclists were riding on pavements at the same time, resulting in local people feeling “hounded”.
Related News
“It’s an increasing problem,” he said, adding the cyclists had “no bell, no helmet or no high viz”.
However, Bill Clear of the Social Democrats said while Cllr Moore was objecting to cycling on footpaths, he had also lodged objections when plans were being drawn up to install cycle lanes.
“If Cllr Moore would stop continually objecting to cycle lanes in Naas they would be constructed at this stage and this issue would be resolved,” he said.
“Looking to ban children from footpaths when there is no safe alternative is not a real solution,” Mr Clear, who is seeking a council seat, said.
“Parents are terrified to let their kids cycle on roads as they are in real danger of been knocked down.
“Banning cyclists from parks is contrary to any cycling policy both national and local and frankly is not viable.”
Cllr Sorcha O’Neill (Ind) said an elderly neighbour of hers was knocked down by an adult cyclist, but did not believe signs banning cyclists were the answer.
“We want to get more children cycling,” she said, adding signage suggesting cycling was now welcome was not the way to proceed.
Cllr Darren Scully said he believed few people would object to children cycling on pavements. But adults doing so was another matter.
It was illegal to ride on the footpath and the Garda simply needed to enforce that law. He remembered getting “a bollocking” from a garda for riding on a pavement when he was aged 11 years.
Topics
