Who owns the road: motorists or cyclists?

 

 

 

There's no subject of road use guaranteed to get an argument going as strongly as that of the battle for space between cyclists and motorists.

Both actually - but sometimes those on four wheels feel they're at the mercy of those on four wheels.

Driving too close to them, opening car doors without checking first, and cutting in front of them to make left turns.

They're just some of the ways that motorists endanger cyclists.

Now the Road Safety Authority has brought out three short videos aimed at showing motorists what it feels like to travel Ireland's roads by bike.

Using new technology to give viewers a 360 degree look at dangerous driving from a cyclist’s point of view, the videos allow the users to ‘look around’ and experience the dangers for themselves.

In other words, you can use your mouse to change the viewpoint you are receiving.

The first video, ‘1.5 Metre Gap’ demonstrates how drivers should allow at least 1.5m clearance when overtaking a cyclist.

The second video, ‘Turning Left’, highlights the need for drivers to check that there are no cyclists approaching before making a left-hand turn.

The third video, ‘Opening Car Doors’, demonstrates how important it is for drivers to check that there are no oncoming cyclists before opening the door of their car.

Failure to do this could knock a cyclist off their bike or cause them to veer into the path of oncoming traffic in order to avoid hitting the driver or car door.

The RSA also offers advice to cyclists: 

* Make sure you are visible to other road-users by wearing high visibility material.

* Wear a protective cycling helmet.

* Follow the Rules of the Road.