The newly formed Pedestrian Rights Organisation wants cyclists, and people on e-scooters, to wear "identification badges" when they are "in motion".
“Every year hundreds of pedestrians are injured on Irish roads and it goes without saying that pedestrians are among the most vulnerable of all road users,” said group leader Michael O’Flanagan.
He added the fact cycling had increased so much in Dublin in recent years was "celebrated by the city" but the risks that posed to pedestrians were "enormous".
He was speaking at the launch of the new group in Buswells Hotel, Dublin, in recent days.
“Figures for 2018 show that of 143 road fatalities in Ireland; 57 were drivers, 20 were passengers (in vehicles), 15 were motorcyclists, nine were pedal cyclists and 42 were pedestrians," Mr O'Flanagan said.
“Newspapers are regularly full of articles about the dangers faced by cyclists. But nearly five times more pedestrians are killed than cyclists.”
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Not once during a lengthy opening address did Mr O’Flanagan mention that pedestrians were being killed by motorists, rather than cyclists.
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He added the media often published stories seeking to blame pedestrians for their own deaths by stating they were using mobile phones at the time or had alcohol in their systems.
The group has drawn up 10 resolutions, with many focusing on the need for better footpaths, more time for crossing at red lights and generally better planning of new roads and other developments to cater for pedestrians.
Even the dangers to pedestrians when dogs foul footpaths is mentioned. However, in none of the resolutions is there any mention of the need for drivers to slow down or in any way to change their behaviour.
Instead Mr O’Flanagan said: “Grown
men cycling at very high speeds present a terrible danger to pedestrians.”
And in the resolutions, while driver
behaviour is not mentioned once, cyclists and the need for them to change is
mentioned several times.
The group calls for “the existing
Fixed Charged Notices against cyclists driving pedal cycles without reasonable
consideration or proceeding into a pedestrianised street be enforced”.
It adds that “cyclists and users of
electric scooters be required to wear identity badges while in motion”.
Furthermore, it adds “Fixed Charge Notice be introduced to prohibit cyclists from cycling on footpaths. An exception to such a charge allowing children under the age 12 to cycle to school to be included”.
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