Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In regard to enforcement of the legislation, some years ago when the sugar beet factory in Carlow closed and the company moved its operations to Mallow, concerns were raised in regard to the ability of the infrastructure in place in north Cork to accommodate the heavy goods vehicles. At that time a motion was tabled to the local authority requesting that on the N73, which was the road from Mitchelstown to Mallow, these heavy goods vehicles be required to pull in at designated areas to allow other traffic to pass. We need a gentleman-type agreement on country roads in regard to cyclists. I have spoken to various people about this issue. In bygone days there was a gentleman's agreement among road-users in that slow moving vehicles would pull over to allow other vehicles to pass. Nowadays, our roads are increasingly busy with cyclists. The N73 is a national secondary road. As one approaches that road there is a sign advising motorists to be aware that owing to the width of the road oncoming traffic may be in the middle of the road.

Lately, while stuck in traffic congestion I assumed there was a slow car in front of me. When I eventually got to this section of road, one cyclist had held up 40 cars. I know there were 40 cars because the person in the car in front of me asked. It causes confusion and frustration. It can lead to road rage, which we are trying to avoid. I enjoy riding a bicycle as well but road users must share the road and care about each other. Much of the focus is on what happens in Dublin but we must not forget rural Ireland. We welcome the greenways but as previous speakers have said, they are for recreational purposes. Something more must be done to get more money to rural Ireland, as Deputy MacSharry noted, not just for footpaths but for cycle lanes. We need proper legislation as well.