Are drivers Lazy...?

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

The Government has published a €4.5bn plan for sustainable transport to 2020.

The Smarter Travel plan aims to move 500,000 people from the car to what the plans terms 'more sustainable forms of transport'.
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It also aims to slash CO2 emissions by at least 4m tonnes.

A number of ambitious aims are outlined in the document including the target of having 150,000 people travel to work by bicycle.

I see two problems. 1 - Finances; how are we going to pay for this?
2 - Drivers (and perhaps I'm wrong here) are waaay too lazy to cycle into work. How in the name of all that is holy does the government think that people are going to abandaon their cars in favour of bikes?

Or am I being unfair to drivers here (fair enough, if you're too far to cycle, but how many drivers COULD cycle to work, but just laugh at tha idea...?)


http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0205/transport.html

Sorry if this should be in communting/transport but this involves drivers too

Not sorry if this should be in Dublin as the article never specifies, so he might be talking about Galway, I don't know.

arse..biscuits

Dublin bus are currently cutting buses, seems strange to announce this now.
Most drivers won't give up their cars, part laziness but also fear of the unknown, I used to cycle Tallaght to town and back everyday, everyone in work thought I was crazy, took me 30 mins to get in, took the drivers a lot longer.

Puddleduck

Well, if they wanted to reduce the amount of cars on the roads then improve the public transport system...oh no wait...theyre getting rid of how many drivers and buses again? Also Dublin Bus bullied all other rivals out of the market.

Also, I have a car..I could cycle to work..other than the fact that its face freezingly cold out or else it pisses rain all the time I might. Then again..thats why I bought a car..

Quazzie

I live 25 miles from work. I don't need to go into the maths I'm too lazy to cycle that.

Professey Chin

Takes me 30 mins to walk to work.
When I drove it took about 5. Still prefer walkin since driving made me a fat cnut

Berty

How many women could walk their fat ugly children to school?

arse..biscuits

I know a girl who drives to the gym, pays in, and uses an exercise bike.
If there was ever proof needed that energy is too cheap there it is.

FlutterinBantam

Ultimate Chin wrote: »

Takes me 30 mins to walk to work.
When I drove it took about 5. Still prefer walkin since driving made me a fat cnut

Lot of drivers around here so:cool:

DARKIZE

The target of 150,000 is way too ambitious. Given our climate, you can pretty much block off 6 months of the year where most people would never bother. And you don't have to travel too far outside the city centre to get into unlit road territory. I'm a keen cyclist and I do ride the 17miles into work at least once a week during the summer, but outside of those months its just too dangerous.

I've worked a lot in Copenhagen where EVERYBODY gets around by bike in the city, but they have the seperate bike lanes, racks, special carriages on the trains, bike parks at the stations etc. And the 150% (kid you not) car reg tax might have something to do with it.

LeahBaby

I don't have a car but I'm still too lazy to cycle to work. I just wait thumb a jockey back.

Homer

arse..biscuits wrote: »

Dublin bus are currently cutting buses,

Why yes, yes they are.. On Amien St this morning to be exact

Mena

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

2 - Drivers (and perhaps I'm wrong here) are waaay too lazy to cycle into work.

My last commute was well over 100 miles a day. If you think I am going to cycle that you have another thing coming, lazy or not!

dtwhaler

I thought this recession thing was a novel way of cutting down the number of cars on the road. Either less cars cos people cant afford them anymore or cos folks have no jobs to drive to.

As for getting people to cycle ..... you dont have he climate for it in Ireland. The weather is shoite ! Also, its dangerous enough being on the roads in Ireland with a car and airbags to protect you from the nutters on the roads here etc never mind trying to stay safe on a bike.

On people walking to work ....... they only seems to have footpaths in de big cities and dem towns. Gotta walk in de ditches out in de sticks.

Cookie_Monster

I cycle to work but can only do so when 1) not too hot so don't end up all sweaty and 2) ain't rainign so I don't get wet.

There are no changing/shower facilities here so a lot of time end up having to get bus/train or drive...


The real problem with this proposal is the number of people who have stupidly long commutes every day which can only be done by car.:mad:

Donny5

Drivers are lazy, I'm sure. So am I, though.

Weather has nothing to do with the feasibility of cycling, except in really rare circumstances. Today was cyclable, for sure, anyway.

You can carry a change of clothes for work, and wear waterproofs on the bike, and you can cycle in almost all weather. It can be tough hitting hillls at 8am, but I get at least an extra hour in bed from cycling my two morning commutes (to work and to university), and regularly pass traffic feeling smug.

It also keeps you fitter and much healthier. I haven't been sick (excluding alcohol-related disasters ) for years, since I took up cycling and running.

You save money, and time, and get to sleep in longer, and get home faster and don't have to worry about traffic (unless they're trying to knock you down :@ ). I cycle because I'm lazy.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Mena wrote: »

My last commute was well over 100 miles a day. If you think I am going to cycle that you have another thing coming, lazy or not!

I fairness, I DID say those who aren;t too far in the opening post!

Generally speaking, it does seem a bit ambitious given that recent cuts to public trasnport. But I'm of the opinion people who can and will cycle to work are already doing so (weather permitting of course). Everyone one else is too lazy.

Proposal fails.

dtwhaler

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

The real problem with this proposal is the number of people who have stupidly long commutes every day which can only be done by car.:mad:

I think a lot of stupidly long commutes are due to stupidly over inflated house prices that are now hopefully making some sort of effort to rectify themselves.

Cookie_Monster

Donny5 wrote: »

You can carry a change of clothes for work, and wear waterproofs on the bike, and you can cycle in almost all weather.

You try looking professional wearing a suit you had to squash into a bag to cycle to work.

twinytwo

this i take it applies to city folk... i already have to get up at half 6 to drive to college id cycle if i could but where i live not a f**cking chance mate

Mena

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

I fairness, I DID say those who aren;t too far in the opening post!

In fairness you did, I just chose to rant anyway :P

Mingey

Anyone living within 10k from their workplace should be made cycle, I live 11k so I get to drive in. but I won't let people out of the adjoining roads.

deco05ie

cycling is not only cheaper but it is also faster on average
http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/advocacy/autocost.htm

I really don't see why most people view a cars as necessities in the same way houses are, most people really don't need a car and it actually seems to be more of a disadvantage in allowing them to travel since they spend so much time working just to pay for the thing

Homer

Mingey wrote: »

Anyone living within 10k from their workplace should be made cycle, I live 11k so I get to drive in. but I won't let people out of the adjoining roads.

Eh ok stalin :rolleyes:

Donny5

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

You try looking professional wearing a suit you had to squash into a bag to cycle to work.

You can fold suits in such a way as to preserve the ironing. I'll file this under Excuses.

Mingey

Homer wrote: »

Eh ok stalin :rolleyes:

No, I just replaced the battery :pac:

arse..biscuits

Mena wrote: »

My last commute was well over 100 miles a day. If you think I am going to cycle that you have another thing coming, lazy or not!

I don't think anyone would expect you to cycle that. The idea of working 50 miles away seems crazy to me. I understand if that's where the job is then that's where you have to go, but again its because of the availability of cheap energy which creates this situation, ie. people traveling over 100 miles a day to work or people driving from Templeogue to town and complaining about traffic.

blackbox

My current commute is too far to cycle, but when I lived within reasonable distance I'd prefer to cycle rather than depend on public transport.

Who'd want to stand in the rain waiting for a bus that may not come because of industrial action, and if it does come is likely to be wet and dirty inside and full of people you don't want to sit (or worse still, have to stand) beside.

Dart & Luas are better kept but you mostly need some sort of transport to get to the station.

The Dart has better waiting facilities; Luas waiting is as bad as bus.

There is no avoiding car ownership in Ireland unless you want to have old eastern bloc type travel limitations. And once you have invested in car, tax, insurance, etc., you don't really want to spend on public transport as well. The bike is grand, but if the weather is rotten, hard to resist using the car you have paid for.

Antigone05

well after today im going to walk to work.

Crashed my car into a an Post van due to slush, skidding and my own laziness.

Mossy Monk

I used to cycle to work when I lived closer to it but I am not cycling 60 miles a day now.

dtwhaler

Ouch !

Are you okay ? You didnt slide and hit any cyclists did you ?

Donny5

Hell, I can see how it could happen, after seeing the hilarity of the N11 about an hour ago. I had great craid on the bike, overtaking everyone, at, of course, the cost of personal comfort.

Not that that's a real problem, we're all too fecking cushy these days. A little hardship is good for the soul.

funk-you

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

Are drivers Lazy...?

Yep, fat too.

-Funk

Antigone05

no no, not many around. flew over a huge curb into a pay and display car park (small and empty).

havent crashed yet..and didnt want to, but at least no injuries.

thebman

I get the train to work. Takes an hour. TBH, I wouldn't cycle if I was within distance as you'd get so dirty, wet, possibly sweaty etc... by the time you got in that you'd have to go home to take a shower and then drive in.

I would walk if I was within walking distance though. I walk to the train station when I got probably justify using the car if I really wanted to.

arse..biscuits

thebman wrote: »

TBH, I wouldn't cycle if I was within distance as you'd get so dirty, wet, possibly sweaty etc... by the time you got in that you'd have to go home to take a shower and then drive in.

People who don't cycle always say that.

Capt'n Midnight

Are drivers lazy ?

look at how many don't bother to use indicators on roundabouts or when changing lane

Boskowski

You'd have to be suicidal to be cycling in this country

Donny5

realcam wrote: »

You'd have to be suicidal to be cycling in this country

Nah, just careful. However, now you mention it, I do feel down sometimes...

DonkeyStyle \o/

Yeah I'll start cycling when I see Cowen and Harney pumping their fat stumps on a tandem bike to work every morning... until then, they can go and **** off with themselves.

PrettyInPunk

I walked to work today and tuesday. Because of the conditions i didnt want to drive for fear of crashing my car. I got ****ing soaked head to toe and sat in work freezing. I dont drive cause im lazy and also cause its always either raining/freezing/really windy. I like to keep warm

Donny5

PrettyInPunk wrote: »

I walked to work today and tuesday. Because of the conditions i didnt want to drive for fear of crashing my car. I got ****ing soaked head to toe and sat in work freezing. I dont drive cause im lazy and also cause its always either raining/freezing/really windy. I like to keep warm

You were just wearing the wrong gear, that's all. The right gear would cost pittance relative to the costs involved in running a car.

SoWatchaWant

realcam wrote: »

You'd have to be suicidal to be cycling in this country

Tell that to the Italians. Compared to Rome, anywhere in this country is a breeze to cycle through.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Should see what it's like in Belgium, luxembourg and holland. So many bikes on the road, it's great.

Anyway, I think it would work if another party suggested it. How many times has our government wasted money on "great" ideas like this?

thebman

arse..biscuits wrote: »

People who don't cycle always say that.

Probably because its true.

Donny5

thebman wrote: »

I get the train to work. Takes an hour. TBH, I wouldn't cycle if I was within distance as you'd get so dirty, wet, possibly sweaty etc... by the time you got in that you'd have to go home to take a shower and then drive in.

It you bring a change of clothes, then getting dirty and wet is of no concern. It's hard anough to get dirty cycling, though, and the country doesn't get a lot of rain. Most days are dry. How sweaty you get depends on how much effort you want to put into cycling.

My Excuses folder is getting thick.

Cianos

Yes, drivers are very lazy. I was too when I got a car, until it got stolen that is :pac:

There are thousands of drivers out there who could cycle, or even walk, but simply couldn't be arsed. So they just get lazier and fatter and more stressed about traffic and the costs of running a car. For most it probably takes them longer to drive to work and back than it would for them to cycle.

If you're worried about getting wet or dirty, just leave your work clothes in work. You can change in the toilets if there are no 'changing facilities'. You could rig up some panniers that have plenty of room for folded clothes, even your laptop and whatever else. It means you don't have to carry a bag on your back which can feel heavier and also make your back more sweaty.

Gran Hermano

Great thread/idea, not.

Like I'm going to the leave the car I spent almost 50k on sitting out front
so I can travel like a student. There are two chances of that happening.


Lazy? Like I care! I go the the gym if I want a workout, if I'm travelling
somewhere I enjoy the fact I can do so in comfort.

veryangryman

Here is what NEEDs to happen for this proposal to work.

1) Reduce tax on bicycles, coats, gloves, scarves and hats - all ESSENTIALS if you are thinking of braving our weather
2) Stop picking on the car drivers. Even those who do only have a couple of miles to travel may need to based on being old/infirmed, disabled, giving someone lifts etc. Basically leave the easy targets alone. Perhaps the congestion charge should be imposed for anyone alone in a vehicle. Bring a passenger and its free. Sound like a good idea Mr Dempsey?
3) Arrange some sort of "commission scheme" where for every day someone cycles/walks to office, they get a €2 (example) bonus from the state. Would need some sort of technology to track and police as obviously open to scamming, but thought that id throw that idea around.

Matt Cooper fried the Minister yesterday. And good on him, it isnt hard to do. The cheek of Dempsey - telling how E-Voting has been a success based on its implementation in Meath during 2002 election. Cooper asked him why it wasnt then used in 2007 and Dempsey changes subject. How much i want that guy beaten up right now.... :mad:

Dara Robinson

Last year I was cycling into work. While I have been injured for some time and have not been able to do so I am not starting to get better and am planning on starting up again soon......


..... well, I may wait a few weeks for the weather

Cianos

Gran Hermano wrote: »

Great thread/idea, not.

Like I'm going to the leave the car I spent almost 50k on sitting out front
so I can travel like a student. There are two chances of that happening.


Lazy? Like I care! I go the the gym if I want a workout, if I'm travelling
somewhere I enjoy the fact I can do so in comfort.

This is the snobby attitude that is a cause of some of the problems. I think some people actually think it's embarrassing to cycle a bike?

Gran Hermano, would you actually think 'tch, student' if you saw someone in their 30's say, cycling a bike?

Everyone cycles on the continent and it's not seen as a status issue at all. Sure it's nice to own a 50k car, but if it means a longer commute, it's just more practical to cycle while getting some exercise at the same time.

Stark

Gran Hermano wrote: »

Great thread/idea, not.

Like I'm going to the leave the car I spent almost 50k on sitting out front
so I can travel like a student. There are two chances of that happening.

Damn fit healthy students.