A new cyclist has said she was “astonished at the levels of aggression” she has encountered during her commute into Dublin city centre. 

Between 2020 and 2024, the Government spent €1 billion on cycling and walking infrastructure in a bid to encourage people to use their cars less. 

One new convert to cycling is Melanie Finn, an Irish Independent journalist who decided to get on her bike more after a recent health event. 

On The Pat Kenny Show, Ms Finn said she had “naively thought it would be a nice relaxing way to get into work”. 

“It’s only about a 10, 15 minute cycle and I was completely horrified by how unsafe these cycle paths are to use,” she said.  

“There’s a cycle path pretty much the whole way into Amiens Street. 

“The problem with the cycle path is there’s a few issues that I encountered - and this is just in a couple of weeks. 

“One thing is, no one seems to bother obeying the direction of them; it’s supposed to be a one way route and then often you have people cycling towards you during a stretch of the Clontarf Road.” 

Cyclists in Dublin. Picture by: Photo: Leah Farrell/ © RollingNews.ie

Ms Finn continued that while cycle lanes are designed to separate bike users from cars, on her route into work she still regularly encounters cars. 

“There’s a number of businesses and roads along the route - so, there’s a big gym there in Fairview,” she explained. 

“Cars have to cut across the cycle path in order to access it. 

“So, oftentimes, they might be late for their classes or rushing into the creche there as well to pick someone up. 

“Oftentimes, they’ll be stalled or stopped in the middle of the cycle path, which is extremely dangerous.” 

A van overtaking a cyclist on a bike lane. Picture by: Macronomy / Alamy Stock Photo

She added that she also finds  “no one seems to obey any of the traffic lights”. 

“It’s literally like every person for themselves,” she said. 

“So, I was kind of astonished at the levels of aggression and also the levels of speed that some people go in these cycle paths.” 

A Dublin cycle lane. Picture by: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie

Ms Finn fears other people in Dublin have had similar experiences, meaning people are reluctant to give up their cars for their morning commute. 

“It doesn’t feel like the social contract has broken down, there’s no social contract in the first place,” she said. 

“It didn’t feel safe, it doesn’t feel relaxing - and I actually do love cycling. 

“But particularly around the city centre and that’s where we need people to be using things like the cycle paths, getting onto the buses, out of their cars.” 

According to the National Transport Authority, in Ireland’s Metropolitan Areas, 15% of people cycle once a week. 

People who cycle or walk to a destination take an estimated 680,000 cars off the roads each day in Ireland’s five largest cities.

Main image: A cyclist. Picture by: Alamy.com.