Cycling issues

Darby OGill

During a quiet moment today, I composed and sent the attached to Minister Gormley, out of the blue really, but nearly being totalled by a driver on a roundabout on the way in might have had something to do with it.
As you can see, I focussed mainly on issues directly related to the activities of my employer, a county council. I'm not saying it's brilliant, but I'm interested to see what kind of response I'll get.

All of this got me thinking about the lot of cyclists in this country generally. In terms of advocacy, where do we stand? Do we have a voice? Are we consulted on anything, ever? Who is looking out for us when roads are being planned or rebuilt? New housing? Office blocks?

In Britain, the cycling community seems to have a very strong position at the moment. Olympic success goes a long way no doubt. The numbers help too.

Can we do anything? Do we need to? Is it being done already? Can we form some sort of lobbying group? Can we get even one member from each county and form some sort of informal "internet committee" that might arrange to make submissions on relevant planning applications etc? Do we care enough? Does it matter at all?

Not trying to reinvent the wheel here, but would love to hear your views.....

Bunnyhopper

Seems quite reasonable and clearly stated to me. As you suggest, public and semi-state bodies ought to be taking a lead in publicizing and implementing the cycle to work scheme. The fact that your employer isn't doing it doesn't bode well for the seriousness with which the scheme as a whole is being taken.

The government did publish a policy document on travel and transport recently, which had a lot of nice aspirations and ideas in it but was greeted here with a fair amount of world-weariness - hardly surprising when you consider our governments' track records on cycling.

I think I'd have asked him to get rid of the compulsory-use law for cycle tracks/lanes/whatever. Another suggestion would be that he might ask his cabinet colleague, the Minister for Justice, to look into maybe actually giving the guards some resources etc. do something about bicycle theft.

Anyway, fair dues to you for actually writing and sending the thing.

abcdggs

kudos sir!
must say well said. on the cycling initiatives in school point though. i left primary school 6 years ago now and during my time there i did a cycling course. granted it was very basic but enough to get some1 off stabilisers. hadn't realised this wasn't a widespread thing. anyway well put be sure to let us know what response you get.
J

NeilMcEoigheann

Bunnyhopper wrote: »

hardly surprising when you consider our governments' track records.

images of out current government haring around the sundrive track.......

good letter and i suppose that that is the most effective way of creating change

Eoin D

Fair play Darby, council employee myself and I've actually found a lot of stuff on cycling in work and I think the lads in my roads department actually did a good job, then of course they stopped before they really got going for whatever reason (I'm guessing change of allocated funds thanks to change of government, it was some time ago).

Bunnyhopper

NeilMcEoigheann wrote: »

images of out current government haring around the sundrive track.......

I'd love to see Cowen having a go at that. Him, Dick Roche and Willie O'Dea (ideally with O'Dea wearing tweeds and on a penny-farthing, just to make the most of that 'tache).

Just picture it...and cue the Benny Hill music....

kincsem

Good letter. I live beside a school, and do not see any bicycles. In the morning I see Range Rovers, Land Cruisers and the like.

We need bicycle highways, separated from other road users, going into Dublin* from the north, west, south. We have Luas and Dart. They expect more people to cycle but have not put in the safe, screened-off cycle tracks. In Dublin* there is little safe bicycle parking. Anyone with a white van and a bolt cutters can take their pick of bicycles.

(*and other cities and towns obviously)

Bunnyhopper

We could do with a bit of this guy: "Klaus Bondam. Mayor in charge of the Technical and Environmental Administration in Copenhagen. The Bicycle Mayor, if you like."


click to see the video

daroadlescycled

Yea excellent letter. I would have similiar views. Trying to get a cycle lane incoporated into a local bypass presently. Have emailed members of Green Party on same only response so far was Ciarian Cuffe. Hopin progess follows.

Ryaner

abcdggs wrote: »

kudos sir!
must say well said. on the cycling initiatives in school point though. i left primary school 6 years ago now and during my time there i did a cycling course. granted it was very basic but enough to get some1 off stabilisers. hadn't realised this wasn't a widespread thing. anyway well put be sure to let us know what response you get.
J

I did one when I was in primary school. The school had a cycling track setup in one of the playgrounds for teaching cycling. Got thought how to do signalling in traffic, lane position, passing parked cars etc right up to emergency stops. Something like that being reintroduced would be a great start. I'm sure everyone here has seen crazy cyclists on the road giving the general cycling community a bad name.

BostonB

They should give people a bonus to the cycle to work scheme if they attend a days cycle training and road craft. Or something along those lines.

Nothing from my employer (public sector) on it either.

Darby OGill

I got no reply from John Gormley to my e-mail. He's a busy man I figured, so I'll send it to the Green Party HQ- they're bound to read it.

I got no reply there either......

And to think I gave the Greens a vote last time out. :mad:

snollup

I have written emails on three occasions to the green party and not once have they replyed. Shower of wasters!!! Fair play for trying though.

The green lads who were in charge of the bikescheme.ie got back to me fairly quickly. Haven't sent anything else to the greens so I can't comment further on their replying efficiency.

Saying that, a letter works better than an e-mail.