How many cars did you pass today?

Tenzor07 · 02-09-2015 8:57am #1

With traffic volumes in the city(Dublin) now doubled with the schools restarted after the hols...
How many cars did you pass on your cycle commute today? :pac:

rp · 02-09-2015 9:05am

Tenzor07 wrote: »

With traffic volumes in the city(Dublin) now doubled with the schools restarted after the hols...
How many cars did you pass on your cycle commute today?

All of them.

ted1 · 02-09-2015 9:12am

A thousand+, along with several busses, 2 Garda cars did pass me, but they had the sirens on flying up the bus lane..

not yet · 02-09-2015 9:38am

None.....

I stayed in bed:D

jon1981 · 02-09-2015 9:43am

Not just cars, the cycle lanes along Amien st from Fairview were jammers! A lot of overtaking required.

Beasty · 02-09-2015 9:43am

Passed a few yesterday, but that was mainly in the suburbs rather than the city

I did though notice (and it was like this last year), now the schools are back it takes time for motorists to adjust, making them increasingly impatient. Had a few close passes at speed yesterday - nothing too dangerous, but it would probably spook nervous or inexperienced cyclists. Maybe with the increasing traffic levels it's something we may need to get a bit more aware of/used to, particularly over the next few months which are always busiest for traffic

jon1981 · 02-09-2015 9:46am

Beasty wrote: »

I did though notice (and it was like this last year), now the schools are back it takes time for motorists to adjust, making them increasingly impatient.

Good point, I notice a lot more last second diving into parking spaces or curb hopping to let the little ones out.

Darkglasses · 02-09-2015 9:56am

1, it had broken down. Usually zilch

You don't really save time travelling by bike in regional towns.

rob w · 02-09-2015 9:57am

Beasty wrote: »

Passed a few yesterday, but that was mainly in the suburbs rather than the city

I did though notice (and it was like this last year), now the schools are back it takes time for motorists to adjust, making them increasingly impatient. Had a few close passes at speed yesterday - nothing too dangerous, but it would probably spook nervous or inexperienced cyclists. Maybe with the increasing traffic levels it's something we may need to get a bit more aware of/used to, particularly over the next few months which are always busiest for traffic

Lots of people flying down bus lanes, weaving in and out of traffic while not paying much notice to cyclists on Malahide Rd the last few days! Always happens but getting a bit worse now due to volume of cars on the road!

Danjamin1 · 02-09-2015 10:16am

I'm ashamed to say I was in the car this morning, super jealous of everyone on their bikes as they passed me by. I know how I'll be commuting tomorrow.

The schools really do annihilate the traffic flow in the city, there's no benefit to driving aside from staying dry between September & June.

GasBrakeHonk · 02-09-2015 10:51am

Danjamin1 wrote: »

The schools really do annihilate the traffic flow in the city

I think you'll find that its the cars that are bollixing up the traffic flow. City traffic will be a mess again in the evening, long after the schools have closed.

Koobcam · 02-09-2015 11:12am

I drove to work (in UCD) on Monday & Tuesday and getting home was a total nightmare, must have taken about 30-40 minutes to get from the car park to the M50m which is less than a 5km drive. Train + bike today and for the rest of the month, tis a great feeling passing by all of those cars. I arrived into Heuston station just after 06:30 this morning and the city was virtually empty-highly recommended as a time to do your commuting away from the rush hour traffic:)

Bloggsie · 02-09-2015 11:19am

no more bike for a while, my steed needs to go to the bike hospital, have to get it home from work first.

Planet X · 02-09-2015 11:26am

N11. Cycling home Monday, southbound, traffic at a standstill from RTE to Fosters. 4:30pm. Must be a massive crash or something.
Nothing.
Same yesterday. 😂
Slip lane jammers aswell. 😂
"Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends"

Ciaran_B · 02-09-2015 11:53am

My route takes me from Crumlin to Dublin 1. So I passed a lot on Clogher Road (backed up with cars from the canal to the Transport Club), then a lot more on the canel and a few on Merion Sq. The rest of the route was OK for cars.

Alanstrainor · 02-09-2015 12:05pm

Definitely noticed a huge amount of traffic this morning, took me longer than it should have to realise why! So I passed a lot of cars, a whole shit tonne if you will.

lennymc · 02-09-2015 12:35pm

how many motorbikes did you pass today?
:cool:

Danjamin1 · 02-09-2015 12:55pm

GasBrakeHonk wrote: »

I think you'll find that its the cars that are bollixing up the traffic flow. City traffic will be a mess again in the evening, long after the schools have closed.

Additional motor traffic volume attributable to the schools annihilate the traffic flow.

Better?

GasBrakeHonk · 02-09-2015 1:22pm

Danjamin1 wrote: »

Additional motor traffic volume attributable to the schools annihilate the traffic flow.

Better?

Not really. I'm not seeking to personalize this as the tendency to push the responsibility for "traffic" onto schools/ others is widespread - pretty sure I was guilty of it too before I got back on the bike.

At least the cars on the school run are multi-occupancy :-)

Buchaill_Mor · 02-09-2015 1:45pm

I lost count after 60 from Goldenbridge to Ranelagh turnoff along the Grand Canal. Only 4 or 5 had more than one person in them.

cdaly_ · 02-09-2015 1:49pm

GasBrakeHonk wrote: »

Not really. I'm not seeking to personalize this as the tendency to push the responsibility for "traffic" onto schools/ others is widespread - pretty sure I was guilty of it too before I got back on the bike.

At least the cars on the school run are multi-occupancy :-)

But only for the first 500m - 1.5km. Single occupancy thereafter...

Danjamin1 · 02-09-2015 1:50pm

GasBrakeHonk wrote:

Not really. I'm not seeking to personalize this as the tendency to push the responsibility for "traffic" onto schools/ others is widespread - pretty sure I was guilty of it too before I got back on the bike.

At least the cars on the school run are multi-occupancy :-)

Fair point on the multi-occupancy, but how can you say the schools returning aren't the main cause of the increased traffic when there's a blatant increase in travel time the exact week they return?

jon1981 · 02-09-2015 2:03pm

GasBrakeHonk wrote: »

Not really. I'm not seeking to personalize this as the tendency to push the responsibility for "traffic" onto schools/ others is widespread - pretty sure I was guilty of it too before I got back on the bike.

At least the cars on the school run are multi-occupancy :-)

Don't be stirring it up. There's a significant increase Mon-Wed this week and coincidently the schools have started back.

GasBrakeHonk · 02-09-2015 2:48pm

Danjamin1 wrote: »

Fair point on the multi-occupancy, but how can you say the schools returning aren't the main cause of the increased traffic when there's a blatant increase in travel time the exact week they return?

Think of it this way, what we are seeing is not an increase - it is a return to normal patterns of road usage. To single out "schools" is unfair as they actually help the situation by closing for 2~3 months in the summer. Schools make no requirement on how students travel to school. That one is on us - the parents.

Danjamin1 · 02-09-2015 2:57pm

GasBrakeHonk wrote: »

Think of it this way, what we are seeing is not an increase - it is a return to normal patterns of road usage. To single out "schools" is unfair as they actually help the situation by closing for 2~3 months in the summer. Schools make no requirement on how students travel to school. That one is on us - the parents.

That's a very glass-half-full way of looking at it!

Seriously though, it's a pain in the ass how much of an increase there is so little Johnny & Mary can be dropped right to the door less that 2km away.

It's a fantastic incentive to get back on the bike, I look forward to cycling 60-80% of the week for the next 9 months!

magicbastarder · 02-09-2015 3:23pm

i don't just overtake cars, i bunny hop them.

Tenzor07 · 02-09-2015 3:26pm

Heavy traffic is great for bikes, just zip along the middle or outside...

PaulieC · 02-09-2015 3:29pm

Huge changes to traffic layout at the Leopardstown Roundabout (soon to be 4-way signal controlled junction) means that traffic in Sandyford/Leopardstown area is at a standstill at "rush" hour...

http://1drv.ms/1fV3gbA is from this morning, just on Brewery road. There have been ongoing works on the Leopardstown road for the last few months, but they seem to have picked today to change the layout of the road. Coinciding with the return to school today, it has made shoite of the traffic. As an aside, I would estimate that over 98% of these cars are single occupancy (I was looking for the short skirts

).

Johnnio13 · 02-09-2015 4:30pm

The road works on the coast road in Dubland have added to the general impatience. Cars flying past this morning very close to me once traffic is allowed to move. I did however pass them all by Clontarf village with a wee wave and "have a nice day".

RainyDay · 02-09-2015 4:47pm

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Heavy traffic is great for bikes, just zip along the middle or outside...

Carefully....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucCLgPuEPyU

cdaly_ · 02-09-2015 4:54pm

Johnnio13 wrote: »

The road works on the coast road in Dubland have added to the general impatience. Cars flying past this morning very close to me once traffic is allowed to move. I did however pass them all by Clontarf village with a wee wave and "have a nice day".

Only way to handle that alternating stretch is to ride in the centre of the lane until it opens up again. It's only about 300m in total and they can wait their turn for that distance...

ted1 · 02-09-2015 9:20pm

RainyDay wrote: »

Carefully....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucCLgPuEPyU

We all know how bad bike lanes are, but if a non cyclist sees it they'll blame the cyclist for not being on the bike lane which is very visible when you shout at the driver

Lumen · 03-09-2015 7:00am

Danjamin1 wrote: »

Seriously though, it's a pain in the ass how much of an increase there is so little Johnny & Mary can be dropped right to the door less that 2km away.

Lots of people drop their kids to school on the way to work. That extra 4km round trip in traffic can be the difference between holding down a job and not.

The people moaning about school traffic are usually people who drive to work despite having the physical capacity to cycle. Hypocrisy! Though there are of course people who _have_ to drive.

I have no idea why a cyclist would moan about school runs since it makes no difference to them. I find heavy traffic generally safer - it's when the roads are clear that the fast close passes happen.

Idleater · 03-09-2015 7:38am

Lumen wrote: »

I find heavy traffic generally safer - it's when the roads are clear that the fast close passes happen.

I had the pleasure of being asked to work a Saturday and talk about an interesting commute! I guess the combination of light traffic and people driving where they would normally be on autopilot made it memorable.

rp · 03-09-2015 8:21am

Lumen wrote: »

I find heavy traffic generally safer - it's when the roads are clear that the fast close passes happen.

Good point, that's very true of my commute.
But regarding blaming schools, how come the traffic is heavier now at 6:30am?

Tenzor07 · 03-09-2015 9:45am

rp wrote: »

how come the traffic is heavier now at 6:30am?

People getting on the roads earlier to avoid the heavy car traffic later?

Darkglasses · 03-09-2015 11:57am

Lumen wrote: »

I have no idea why a cyclist would moan about school runs since it makes no difference to them. I find heavy traffic generally safer - it's when the roads are clear that the fast close passes happen.

I find the complete opposite is the case on country roads. If it's quiet - people use the space available. If it's busy, tough sh!t, you're getting squeezed out of it.

Danjamin1 · 03-09-2015 2:01pm

Lumen wrote:

Lots of people drop their kids to school on the way to work. That extra 4km round trip in traffic can be the difference between holding down a job and not.

That's fine when it's young kids who wouldn't be capable of making their own way to school but in a lot of cases it's teens & older kids being dropped.

You're right on one hand though, when I drive it's down to laziness, my commute is only 11km each way.

mollser · 03-09-2015 2:29pm

RainyDay wrote: »

Carefully....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucCLgPuEPyU

Jaysus, there is so much wrong with the actions and attitude of the cyclist in this video and the comments, that he's not exactly helping the pro-cycling campaign??? Maybe that has already been discussed to death and don't wish to derail the thread - and I say this as an avid cyclist!

How many cars did you pass today?

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