Politics

SDLP leader Claire Hanna says she receives ‘more abuse’ as a cyclist than as a politician

The South Belfast and Mid-Down MP made the comments while discussing the need for more investment and prioritisation of cycling

Picture of woman cycling in traffic with inset headshot image of Claire Hanna.
SDLP leader Claire Hanna made the comments while discussing the need for more investment and prioritisation of cycling.
By Mark Robinson

SDLP leader Claire Hanna has said that she receives ‘more abuse, week-in, week-out’ as a cyclist on the roads than she does for her work as a politician, adding that more work needs to be done around drivers’ attitudes towards cyclists.

The MP for South Belfast and Mid-Down made the comments while discussing the need for more investment and prioritisation of cycling on BBC.

She called for better cycling infrastructure following the death of 58-year-old cyclist Gary McMahon, who died after a collision with a lorry in north Belfast on Thursday.

More: Named: Cyclist who died after collision with lorry in Belfast

Ms Hanna expressed her condolences to his family and added that his death will cause concern for other cyclists in the city.

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“I think it will have genuinely made a lot of cyclists and their families very, very frightened because there are pinch points in everybody’s journeys that you know are iffy, no matter how cautious or competent the cyclist,” she said.

“This will, unfortunately, deter more people.”

She said that the Belfast Cycle Network Delivery Plan, which had been introduced by then-SDLP Infrastructure Minister, Nichola Mallon, hadn’t progressed ‘anywhere near adequately’.

“There’s slithers of great infrastructure – and I know we’re probably more spoiled than others in south Belfast with the towpath, where it is a joy to commute by bicycle, as I do most days,” she said.

A cycle lane
Both Ms Hanna and Ms McAllister expressed the need for better cycling infrastructure in Belfast.

“But it is absolutely the exception rather than the rule.”

The SDLP leader added that active travel could be a solution to Belfast’s congestion problems before going on to say that a ‘conversation about attitudes to cyclists’ was also needed.

“People talk about the abuse politicians get; I get more abuse, week-in, week-out, on my bike than I do in my work,” she said.

“I don’t know whether people are jealous that the cyclist is moving faster than them but I have taken really serious abuse from people for what they perceive as minor infractions.”