Kilkenny councillor says it's 'time to stop blaming cyclists'
"The fatality figures for cyclists this year is extraordinary"
A Kilkenny councillor who is both a daily cyclist and a motorist says it's 'time to stop blaming cyclists'.
Cllr Seán Ó hArgáin made the point at the most recent meeting of Kilkenny County Council, after a motion was put forward by Cllr Pat Fizpatrick calling on the local authority to 'appoint a full-time road safety officer'.
"The fatality figures for cyclists this year is extraordinary," Ó hArgáin said.
"There's a rush of blood to some motorists' heads when they’re behind a cyclist," he continued.
"I would appeal for people to give equality of access to our roads."
The Labour councillor stated that the number of young people cycling has plummeted in recent years.
"Parents say the roads are too dangerous, but that’s because their cars are now on the road," he said.
"I would like appeal for enforcement of the legislation that we have and appeal to our council that we put educational work in place and call on government to enforce. It's time to stop blaming cyclists."
Director of Services at Kilkenny County Council, Tim Butler, stated that the local authority have a part-time road safety officer in place at present.
He also stated that the local authority have delivered and will continue to deliver more road safety schemes (a major recent one being the Tower Road in Piltown) and that the local authority are actively 'implementing cycle lanes in urban areas'.
"We so have Road Safety Working Together Group and we are due to have a meeting soon enough, and are doing everything we can."