A council in Ireland is debating implementing a speed limit for cyclists on a 23km greenway off-road path, the calls from local politicians coming in response to reports of a pedestrian being injured in a crash caused by someone on a bike and claims about “speed merchants” and “fellas in Lycra just whipping past”.

Cork County Council opened the second and final phase of the Midleton Youghal Greenway last December, the complete 23km path providing walkers and cyclists an off-road active travel route between several towns and villages. 

However, the Irish Independent reported how a meeting of the East Cork Municipal District’s councillors heard calls from some local politicians to see a cycling speed limit introduced.

The council meeting heard that a walker had recently been injured in a collision with a cyclist, Cllr Michael Hegarty saying path users “should be more considerate of all the people that are using it”.

“I don’t know whether signs or something has to be done because some cyclists are abusing the situation,” he claimed.

Likewise, Cllr John Buckley expressed support for speed-cutting measures and predicted there would be a “serious accident” if people do not slow down. The councillor said he uses the path daily to walk his dog and claimed there are “social cyclists” who “ring their bell when they’re passing”, but also “speed merchants”.

“Some of these fellas in the Lycra are just whipping past you,” Cllr Buckley complained. “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.”

The meeting also heard from Cllr Ann Marie Ahern who reported a local man and his son told her they had “given up” on the path “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 added, asking the council to implement speed limit signs asking for slower riding and “courtesy and respect to other users of the greenway”.

A representative for the county council accepted there had been “a lot of feedback” from path users. Michael Lucey called out “some of the professional cyclists as we call them going with the head down”, adding that he would note the councillors’ concerns and offer feedback to his team.

It is expected a safety plan will be produced in due course, speed limits and advisory signs to cyclists touted as possible inclusions.