The politician says he has no objection to lone cyclists or groups of "three or four". But organised events with large numbers have to be curtailed or banned because of the delays to motorists going about their business.
A local politician in Co Galway has said organised cycling events are being held too frequently and have grown too big and should be banned from public roads.
Councillor Joe Folan wants the events curtailed in some way or completely banned, saying their impact on the network of small roads in Connemara is too much for other road users to take.
However, the Independent councillor insisted he was not anti cyclist and that he had no issue with lone cyclists or those in groups of "three or four".
“But the large groups and throngs that are regularly swamping the narrow roads of Connemara in recent years is a serious hindrance to local people and a potential safety risk,” he told the Connacht Tribune.
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He pointed out that 2,000 cyclists have taken part in an event in Connemara recently, saying such numbers had a major impact on local motorists going about their business.
“I encountered a group of about fifty cyclists last weekend in south Connemara and drivers had a very difficult time negotiating their way,” he said.
“Motorists pay up their road tax and contribute to the upkeep of our infrastructure, bad and all as it is. There is no tax on bicycles”.
He had received many complaints about cyclists from constituents and would be following up those complaints, claiming the economic benefits from organised events are negligible for some of the areas they pass through.
“Some of these events begin in Galway City and come out the south Connemara road,” Cllr Folan added.
“From there, they angle north to Maam Cross and in along the N59 to Galway again. Where is the economic benefit there?”
The full story will be on the Connacht Tribune this week.
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