Dublin's 'ghost bike' campaign, which marks the spot where a cyclist has been killed, will be extended for a longer period in the city centre.

The Dublin Cycling Campaign (DCC) has chained a single white bicycle to the railings at Harold's Cross Bridge to highlight the fact that a cyclist was killed at that location.

Collision

The idea originated in the United States, but now there are over 80 cities who have these ghostly reminders. The only white bike in Ireland commemorates Zu Zhang Wong, a young Chinese man who was killed in a collision with a lorry on January 14.

It has been so successful in raising awareness that the group have decided to extend the scheme over a longer time. "Initially we had planned to have it in place for a month, but now that time is up," said Dr Mike McKillan from the Dublin Cycling Campaign.

"The feeling now is that we want it to be seen for longer. It will be a constant reminder for HGV drivers in particular to be exceedingly careful. But we hope that this will remain the only ghost bike, because it would mean that another cyclist has been killed." And he said that overall, the reaction to the poignant memorial has been very positive.

"We haven't had any complaints but if the city wants to remove it, then we will remove it," he said.

Safety

Dr McKillan said that the Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey was due to publish the National Cycle Policy on March 25 and he wanted to see that issues concerning the safety of cyclists were "centre stage".

In particular, Dr McKillan said that cyclists and motorists should be trained how to treat other road users and act safely and responsibly.

"We need a total review of all cycling infrastructure in Dublin city. I've been a cyclist for over 38 years and it's not that dangerous once you know how to cycle," he said. "There must be training about how to ride a bicycle. I hope there will be an increase in funding for road cycling training for children."

The group would also like to see more families taking their children to school on two wheels.

"We need to kill the 'school run'. We want to reinvent cycling to school, college and work," he said. "It has green credentials but we are also facing a health pandemic amongst young children. Twenty per cent of school-going children are overweight and some of these are obese. It is a latent timebomb."

The spokesman for the group said that anyone who lives within 6km of school should not drive their children to school.

"Cycling also lets children socialise and explore their neighbourhood," he added. "But we really need maximum road safety for cyclists."

clairemurphy@herald.ie

- Claire Murphy