‘Speed merchants in Lycra’ on Cork greenway spark call for cycling speed limits to prevent accidents

By Peter McCarthy, Corkman

Cork County Council is considering imposing a speed limit on the Midleton to Youghal greenway because of speeding cyclists, with a woman walking there recently injured after being struck by a bike.

Speaking at this week’s meeting of the East Cork Municipal District, Cllr Michael Hegarty said that some of the cyclists using the 23km greenway connecting the towns and villages of Midleton, Mogeely, Killeagh and Youghal are not showing enough consideration for the walkers who share the route.

“There was a lady only a few weeks ago who was struck by a bicycle and suffered some nasty injuries. I think people should be more considerate of all the people that are using it and I don't know whether signs or something has to be done because some cyclists are abusing the situation,” he said.

Cllr John Buckley, who uses the greenway daily to walk the dog, said there are two kinds of cyclists on it. “You have a social cyclist that rings their bell when they’re passing and then you have these speed merchants. Some of these fellas in the Lycra are just whipping past you. I didn't know there was an accident but it's only a matter of time before there's another one at the speed these fellas are passing at. They need to slow down before there is a serious accident out there,” he said.

Cllr Ann Marie Ahern said she met “a man and his son who gave up and came back because of the speed of the cyclists. He said he couldn't enjoy it with his son, which is a pity because it's supposed to be enjoyed by all and it's not supposed to be just kind of railroaded by some”. She called on the council to consider signage along the route “with regards to speed and courtesy and respect to other users of the greenway”.

Area Engineer with Cork County Council, Michael Lucey, responded that the local authority has received “a lot of feedback” from users of the greenway about “some of the professional cyclists as we call them going with the head down – it's all noted and I'll give the feedback to my greenway team”. Mr Lucey said the council is currently putting together a safety plan for the greenway, which could include a speed limit and advisory to certain types of cyclists.