A public campaign to force cyclists to pay road tax and have insurance before they could use the roads is gathering a lot of support online.
An Irish cycling advocacy group has criticised an online campaign in the UK that is urging the British government to introduce tax and insurance for cyclists.
The online petition has secured more than 30,000 signatures at the time of writing and is beginning to attract considerable coverage in the media.
The petition, which has attracted the bulk of its signatures today and is gaining pace, was set up by British road user Owen McDermott who wrote an accompanying message saying:
“Insurance, if a cyclist throws him/herself into the back of a stationary motor vehicle... Who's to blame? Not the cyclist... The driver of the motor vehicle would have to pay their own excess to repair the damages.”
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He also pointed out that drivers had to pass a theory test before taking to the roads but cyclists did not.
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“Im (sic) not sure on the percentage of how many cyclists die every year due to cycling on the road but if you stick them back on the path in a cycle lane I'm sure a lot more people will survive.”
A number of people have pointed out that road tax no longer exists in Britain, with motorists paying based on emissions which cyclists do not generate.
Colm Ryder from the Dublin Cycling Campaign said the petition was “ludicrous”.
“Cyclists, by nature of their transport choice, are saving the planet, making a difference and actually having a positive effect,” he told The Irish Times.
“Road space is a very valuable space and bicycles do not damage the road surface. There’s just so many arguments against this proposal.”
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