Castlebar cyclists are taking their lives in their hands because of the absence of dedicated cycle lanes, Town Council election candidate Pat King has claimed.
The former mayor of the town says that he is being repeatedly lobbied on the doorsteps by cycle users who are afraid to cycle around the town because they have no protection from speeding traffic.
“There are many people who would gladly make use of bicycles if they could feel safe from speeding traffic,” he said.
“We live in an era where we are encouraging more use of bicycles for the benefit of the environment and for public health,” said King
“However, we cannot expect adults and children to venture out on busy roads where fast flowing traffic poses a risk to their safety,” he continued.
King, who is running for a seat on Castlebar Town Council as a Fianna Fáil candidate, added: “I am calling on the traffic authorities, and the road safety section, to make provision for cycle lanes on all major roads through and around the town.
“We are bound to have a serious accident sooner or later if cyclists are forced to share the same traffic lanes as vehicles. We need dedicated cycle lanes so as to encourage more people to use bicycles safely and free of risk, and we need that now”.
