Gardai criticised for "joke" about speeding drivers and bicycles on day cyclist killed

This is the meme that the Garda Twitter account shared earlier today. Many people are unhappy it was shared on the day a cyclist was killed in Dublin traffic. Others believed it sends out the message that cycling is a sub standard form of transport that only people unable to drive would partake in

Minster of State Ciaran Cannon has joined criticism of a Tweet shared by the Garda Twitter account today, on the same day a cyclist was killed during morning rush hour.

The Tweet contains a meme that shows a police officer filling out a speeding ticket for a driver caught speeding.

The photo includes the words:

Driver: "What an I supposed to do with this speeding ticket?"

Officer: "Keep it, when you collect four of them you get a bicycle."

Many Twitter users said the messaging in the image was not suitable for sharing on the social media accounts of the Garda, Ireland's national police force.

They believed the messaging suggested cycling was a substandard form of transport that only those who were unable to drive, or had failed at driving, would consider.

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As one Twitter user believed, the messaging from the Garda suggests cycling is a punishment or booby prize for bad or law-breaking drivers.

However, most of the criticism was reserved for the timing of the Tweet from the Garda, coming as it did on the same day a cyclist was killed in a crash with a driver in a cement truck on South Circular Road this morning.

There was also a vigil tonight at the location where the cyclist died, with the Tweet shared by the Garda not long after that sad event.

However, there is no suggestion whatever the timing of the Tweet was anything other than very unfortunate coincidence, though many people were clearly not happy.

Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development Ciaran Cannon joined the criticism, saying:

"A cyclist lost his life on Dublin’s streets today and just a few hours later someone in (the Garda) thought that this deeply insensitive and offensive tweet was appropriate."

Cannon's voice is a significant one in that he is a Government minister and has also done much to campaign for cycling safety, including pressing for close-pass legislation.

The Stayin' Alive at 1.5 campaign, which has worked with Ciaran Cannon in lobbying for legislative change - resulting in the soon to be implemented 'dangerous overtaking of a cyclist' offence - also voiced its displeasure at the tweet.

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The campaign said; “Dear, oh dear... How very tasteless for the day that’s in it. Please consider taking the transition year student on work experience away from posting on your twitter feed. Stick to handing out the auld hi-viz. That’ll sort it!”

Many Twitter users urged the Garda to delete the Tweet. You can view the initial Tweet and the reaction below.

The Garda's Tweet...

The reaction...

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