Cycle Proficiency Test

Tawny

After reading lots of comments about how cyclists don't know/respect the rules of the road etc. I was wondering if Ireland has any sort of Cycle Proficiency training / test?

In the North, I did a test with my school when I was 11, got a certificate and a 'cycling license'. Pretty much everyone in my class did it. I think Im just realising how useful it is as it helps me when I'm cycling and when driving, as I know what to expect (within reason) from cyclists.

I couldn't find a better link but there is some info on this --> http://www.cycle-n-sleep.co.uk/cycle%20proficiency/cycle%20proficiency%20main.htm

So anyway, back to my original question. Is there such a scheme in Ireland? What do they teach? And if not, why not?

TinyExplosions

I don't think there is in this country, but personally I think it's a good idea to educate kids in cycling safely

DirkVoodoo

Probably because not enough kids are cycling these days. Someone was saying that something ridiculous like 90% of children live within 2km of their school (I can't back this up though). They all get dropped in mummy's X5.

In fairness though, if I had kids I don't know if I would be happy with them cycling to school.

I think I'm fairly proficient anyway and I've only been cycling a short while, with no license

kenmc

I have one. Got a plaque from Joe Daly to prove it too.

opelmanta

I think the gardai have to do some sort of a test alright as I see them cycling around cones around my local s.c. from time to time. Wouldn't mind doing one for the craic!

km991148

Tawny wrote: »

After reading lots of comments about how cyclists don't know/respect the rules of the road etc. I was wondering if Ireland has any sort of Cycle Proficiency training / test?

In the North, I did a test with my school when I was 11, got a certificate and a 'cycling license'. Pretty much everyone in my class did it. I think Im just realising how useful it is as it helps me when I'm cycling and when driving, as I know what to expect (within reason) from cyclists.

I couldn't find a better link but there is some info on this --> http://www.cycle-n-sleep.co.uk/cycle%20proficiency/cycle%20proficiency%20main.htm

So anyway, back to my original question. Is there such a scheme in Ireland? What do they teach? And if not, why not?

wouldnt be a bad idea for some! but considerin the driving test has only just become compulsory there aint much chance lol

mlelsc

There was a centre which one could see from the DART line heading out from Connolly where kids were brought and instructed in road safety and cycling years ago....Not sure if Dublin Corporation ran this centre...but it would be worth ringing them and asking as I agree it's very important that all folks whether driving or cycling know thw rules of the road....and many cyclists are notorious for breaking traffic lights etc and often cause accidents! No doubt many will now reply protesting that they do not do this but I see evidence of it everyday when driving in the city and the suburbs!

petethedrummer

mlelsc wrote: »

There was a centre which one could see from the DART line heading out from Connolly where kids were brought and instructed in road safety and cycling years ago....Not sure if Dublin Corporation ran this centre...but it would be worth ringing them and asking as I agree it's very important that all folks whether driving or cycling know thw rules of the road....and many cyclists are notorious for breaking traffic lights etc and often cause accidents! No doubt many will now reply protesting that they do not do this but I see evidence of it everyday when driving in the city and the suburbs!

you're absolutely wrong. We encourage light breaking, motorist annoyance and cycling into large vehicles for the fun of it. We reckon we're now responsible for about 90% of the 300 road deaths each year. Looking to increase this number for 2009.

Morgan

There was a schools cycling scheme in Kildare:
http://archives.tcm.ie/westernpeople/2002/02/27/story9429.asp

Not sure if it's still active, their website is down:
http://www.cyclingsafetyschool.com/

mlelsc wrote: »

and many cyclists are notorious for breaking traffic lights etc and often cause accidents!

Do they? What kind of accidents?

souter

Ah yes, did that in Scotland many years ago. Seems it is recently defunct, and has been replaced by some public private quango - http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=4517 , with guidlines for courses: http://www.rospa.com/RoadSafety/info/cyclist_schemes.pdf rather than a national ciriculum. Very New Labour.

We even had a selection process where the "elite" were picked to compete against other schools in cycling through cones and traffic law knowledge.

Definitely was useful, though I don't think I have ever used the waving right arm to indicate coming to a stop.

petethedrummer

If i was giving the course i'd include the following points:
1. The stopping distance of a bicycle can be reduced significantly by cycling into the back of a bus. Also saves brake pad wear.
2. Close your eyes and cycle in the middle of the road. Cars will pinball you in the general direction you're going.
3. Black glows in the dark.
4. A skull is stronger than a windscreen.

xz

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

They all get dropped in mummy's X5.

Now I wonder whose Mammy has an X5??????????????;););)

BostonB

mlelsc wrote: »

There was a centre which one could see from the DART line heading out from Connolly where kids were brought and instructed in road safety and cycling years ago....Not sure if Dublin Corporation ran this centre...but it would be worth ringing them and asking as I agree it's very important that all folks whether driving or cycling know thw rules of the road....and many cyclists are notorious for breaking traffic lights etc and often cause accidents! No doubt many will now reply protesting that they do not do this but I see evidence of it everyday when driving in the city and the suburbs!

I remember that out in fairview. It had bikes and go karts. Mini traffic lights and roads. I was there as a kid.

stuf

Think the cycling proficiency was really important for me and my road sense. Taught me about how roads work and how to cycle safely. Being forced to make hand signals and still cycle in a straight line at such a young age was invaluable

It's just occurred to me that when I done the test there were more traffic lights in our school playground (one) than in the whole village (none)!

Definitely a 70s rite of passage to get the triangular metal badge.

Karma

xz wrote: »

Now I wonder whose Mammy has an X5??????????????;););)

I like his mommys X5...
crashing into moms on the school run, a new way to meet people

BADkarma

TinyExplosions

Karma wrote: »

I like his mommys X5...
crashing into moms on the school run, a new way to meet people

BADkarma

Unionman said it best: "If you're going to rear end someone, the least you can do is treat them to dinner and a movie"

Chips Lovell

xz wrote: »

Now I wonder whose Mammy has an X5??????????????;););)

jimmycrackcorm

I did cycling training in primary school in the 1970's. I wonder why they stopped doing that. I thought it was tied in to doing the green cross code stuff.

blorg

The mother in the X5 may be a bit of a sterotype, but whenever I see someone driving with the two left wheels in the cycle lane it is invariably a SUV. I would like to think this is rarely deliberate but a lot of people driving SUVs don't seem to understand how wide they are, and where their left wheels are in relation to their own driving position. Incidentally I don't see this much with large luxury cars (BMW 7 series, Mercedes S Class) which are actually wider than most SUVs.

Karma

xz wrote: »

Now I wonder whose Mammy has an X5??????????????;););)

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Unionman said it best: "If you're going to rear end someone, the least you can do is treat them to dinner and a movie"

http://boortz.com/images/funny/wifes_night_out.jpg

sorry for going off topic...