Taking your life in your hands cycling down O’Connell Street

Yesterday was a fine summer’s day in Dublin. Cycling from the Mater Hospital to the south side of the city brought me down O’Connell Street.

At the junction of Jervis Street a woman was shouting at a Luas and instructing the tram driver to F-off. A few short metres from that point three young men were involved in a disagreement and for a moment or two I thought one of them was about to grab my bicycle. One of the scariest moments I’ve experienced on the capital’s main street. This was at approximately 4.15pm. 

I cannot recollect seeing one garda between the Mater and Dame Street.

Negotiating the journey from O’Connell Bridge, down D’Olier Street, passing Trinity College and along Dame Street is a cyclist’s nightmare. It is most surprising that there are not more serious accidents along that stretch of road, especially for cyclists.   

Thinking about it later, the young men fighting, the woman shouting at the Luas driver, not a garda in sight, it wouldn’t take much to set fire to the street.