Irish club riders and other experienced cyclists - more than 2,000 of them - have now given their verdict on the state of our roads and the standard of driving, and roads policing, in Ireland (Photo: Croatorum)
More than half of Irish cyclists have suffered close pass incidents, involving motorists, on recent rides. And more than half have also had a recent collision with a driver, or a near miss. That's according to new research by Cycling Ireland.
In the most comprehensive, and qualitative, research ever undertaken of experienced cyclists in Ireland, the respondents said they were increasingly fearful on the roads.
This was mostly due to poor or dangerous driving around them. Worryingly, though perhaps not surprisingly, most cyclists also believe the safety environment on the roads is worsening each year.
One very interesting feature of the research is that almost 97 per cent of the 2,000+ cyclists surveyed also hold a driver's licence.
It means the research cannot be dismissed at the latest salvo in any cyclist Vs motorists 'war on the roads'. The respondents are as familiar with the roads from a driver's perspective as they are as cyclists.
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Ciarán Cannon, president of Cycling Ireland, said when one reflects on the findings of the research "what we are hearing is consistent, widespread, and deeply worrying".
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"These are people who understand the road, most of whom both drive and cycle, and they are telling us clearly that our roads are not safe enough," he said of the respondents. "When more than half have experienced a serious incident in the past year, that is not a marginal issue, it is a systemic one.
“The message from cyclists is clear and urgent. This is not just about individual incidents, it points to deeper problems in how our roads are designed, how behaviour is managed, and how incidents are reported and addressed.
"But the report also shows a community that is engaged, constructive, and ready to be part of the solution. The evidence is there. The question now is whether we are prepared to act on it.”
Some 2,191 experienced cyclists from across the island of Ireland were surveyed for the new report, which has been published today, Thursday, by Cycling Ireland. The main findings are as follows:
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53 per cent of respondents experience a "close pass" - a driver passing dangerously close - on most of their rides
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52 per cent of cyclists surveyed reported a collision or a serious near miss within the last 12 months
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56 per cent of respondents believe roads have become more dangerous year-on-year
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65 per cent rate current cycling infrastructure as "poor," "very poor," or "non-existent"
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11 per cent of incidents are reported to An Garda Síochána or the PSNI
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44 per cent of those who do report expressing dissatisfaction with the outcome
The new report identifies 'driver education and awareness' as the top priority for the Cycling Ireland members surveyed. And in response to that finding, the national governing body has called for what it terms "critical interventions".
It wants a 'National Close Pass Campaign' to be conducted to better educate drivers. It is also seeking the roll-out of a video evidence portal that would enable cyclists to submit self-recorded video capturing road traffic offences.
It also wants an increase in the number of Garda members attached to Roads Policing Units, saying numbers have fallen from just over 1,000 to 650 in recent years.
