Ray Darcy the anti-cycling cyclist with a voice?

monument

As Caroline pointed out in the other thread, Ray Darcy was talking about the Dublin Bikes... but he overshadowed the bikes by comments like 'Dublin is not safe to cycle'.

He's a cyclist, he apparently continues to cycle in Dublin, but it's unsafe? Why doesn't he stop cycling?

I like his radio show, but it seems any time he gets something into his mind he'll be very dismissive of other views. Case in point, the city council's cycle officer mentioned [the highly proven theory of] of safety in numbers, but he dismissed it out of hand.

If I'm remembering correctly he's used his radio show more than twice to rant about how dangerous it is, and he was quoted in an Irish Examiner article a while back saying he could not recommend it to anybody.

Why does he continue to cycle when all he talks about is danger? Does he not think any possible danger is outweighed by the benefits?

p

I think his point is probably that we need to make it safer to cycle in Dublin. That he enjoys cycling and sees its benefits, but that he'd prefer if it was more relaxed and less of an extreme sport than it can be in the city centre some times.

monument

p wrote: »

I think his point is probably that we need to make it safer to cycle in Dublin. That he enjoys cycling and sees its benefits, but that he'd prefer if it was more relaxed and less of an extreme sport than it can be in the city centre some times.

Maybe. But that's not what he is say.

He continues to say it is too dangerous to cycle, yet he cycles him self.

tomasrojo

As I said in another thread, he may need training.

For example:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ireland/article5950112.ece?print=yes&randnum=1151003209000

As with most cyclists in a country where, campaigners complain, the car is king, D’Arcy has tales of near-death experiences. His most recent was a close shave in Clonskeagh. “The traffic was backed up at a junction. I was cycling through when a car suddenly accelerated trying to clear a yellow box. I braked so suddenly I buckled my back wheel,” he said.

The traffic was backed up, but he was going so fast that the mere act of braking buckled his back wheel. I can only think that he was going too fast for the conditions he found himself in.

Simply put, if someone is constantly having hair-raising incidents when cycling, they are doing something wrong, even if it is just picking an unwise route.

tomasrojo

Incidentally, how can you buckle a rear wheel by braking? Anyone know? Front wheel I can see how it might happen.

VERYinterested

D'arcy is the classic example of far too many in this country with his selfish "Don't do as I do, do as I say" attitude. The rules apply to everyone else, don't you know!

Captain Havoc

Dublin has definately become safer to cycle since i left 2 years ago.

tomasrojo

jerseyeire wrote: »

Dublin has definately become safer to cycle since i left 2 years ago.

Coincidence? What are you trying to tell us? :-D

Ghost Rider

I'm a regular cyclist and I complain all the time about conditions in Dublin. I don't believe anyone should have to come down on one side or the other in any given discussion.

And I don't think the fact that it's Ray Darcy makes a difference. There are people in power here in whose interest it is to pretend cyclists have a grand life in Dublin. Media figures like Ray Darcy (arguably) have a duty to challenge that notion and point out that things need to be improved.

I appreciate the argument that portraying cycling here as nothing but fraught with dangers might discourage people from cycling but everyone has to make their own decisions. We can't proceed on the basis that everyone is so dim, the mere talk of danger (rather than the evidence for it) is enough to dissuade them from what is - let's face it - the best mode of transport in Dublin city.

monument wrote: »

Does he not think any possible danger is outweighed by the benefits?

monument

tomasrojo wrote: »

As I said in another thread, he may need training.

Maybe we should point him towards Cyclecraft, or even just the Safe Urban Cycling Tips thread?

Harrybelafonte

D'Arcy's holier than thou attitude reaffirms negative "motorist" concepts of cyclist

tomasrojo

Ghost Rider wrote: »

I appreciate the argument that portraying cycling here as nothing but fraught with dangers might discourage people from cycling but everyone has to make their own decisions. We can't proceed on the basis that everyone is so dim, the mere talk of danger (rather than the evidence for it) is enough to dissuade them from what is - let's face it - the best mode of transport in Dublin city.

It's a fair point, but he makes cycling sound HORRENDOUS, rather than the best mode of transport in the city (and I agree, it is the best mode by some distance). And most people who don't cycle are of the opinion that cycling is extremely dangerous (which it isn't); people like Ray D'arcy are the reason why, along with over-zealous safety activists in the past who went too far depicting the dangers of cycling when pressuring for change.

monument

Ghost Rider wrote: »

And I don't think the fact that it's Ray Darcy makes a difference. There are people in power here in whose interest it is to pretend cyclists have a grand life in Dublin. Media figures like Ray Darcy (arguably) have a duty to challenge that notion and point out that things need to be improved.

I'm all for that, I set up Documenting Dublin Cycle Lanes on flickr (photos from all welcomed), and I've put a bit of time stopping to take picture when I could have just cycled on my merry way, also put time into tagging and geo tagging the photos I upload. While doing other work, I'm also currently trying to finish a feature article on the same subject.

But all Darcy does is go over board on the danger again and again.

Ghost Rider wrote: »

I appreciate the argument that portraying cycling here as nothing but fraught with dangers might discourage people from cycling but everyone has to make their own decisions. We can't proceed on the basis that everyone is so dim, the mere talk of danger (rather than the evidence for it) is enough to dissuade them from what is - let's face it - the best mode of transport in Dublin city.

There's research showing that the fear of danger is a factor in why many don't cycle in Dublin, enforcing this again and again isn't going help -- it's only going to enforce this fear. Doing so while never talking about the positives is worse again.

All I ever hear from Darcy is danger, danger, danger. Or at best, it's great, but it's too dangerous, don't do it. Maybe I've missed the times he's talked about the positives or even talked reasonably about the dangers?

mloc123

Wether he is a cyclist or not, he is a grade A cu*t.... imo

tunney

monument wrote: »

As Caroline pointed out in the other thread, Ray Darcy was talking about the Dublin Bikes... but he overshadowed the bikes by comments like 'Dublin is not safe to cycle'.

He's a cyclist, he apparently continues to cycle in Dublin, but it's unsafe? Why doesn't he stop cycling?

I like his radio show, but it seems any time he gets something into his mind he'll be very dismissive of other views. Case in point, the city council's cycle officer mentioned [the highly proven theory of] of safety in numbers, but he dismissed it out of hand.

If I'm remembering correctly he's used his radio show more than twice to rant about how dangerous it is, and he was quoted in an Irish Examiner article a while back saying he could not recommend it to anybody.

Why does he continue to cycle when all he talks about is danger? Does he not think any possible danger is outweighed by the benefits?

I continue to cycle in Dublin even though I firmly believe it is unsafe to do so. Why? Because there is no alternative form of transport that is as fast or as reliable.

Cycling around Dublin is HORRENDOUS, its a fcuking nightmare. There are no cycle lanes and the legislation and RoR are stupidly and massively weighted against cycling.

Why shouldn't be b!tch about it?

tomasrojo

tunney wrote: »

Cycling around Dublin is HORRENDOUS, its a fcuking nightmare. There are no cycle lanes and the legislation and RoR are stupidly and massively weighted against cycling.

I respectfully disagree; I cannot reconcile what you are saying with my personal experience.

Apart from a few incidents of intimidation, I find cycling through Dublin fine, provided I don't use most of the cycling "farce"-ilities (I admit that I find it galling that the PDs made these mandatory). In fact, I look forward to heading out on my bike everyday, and I enjoy taking the lane in town, which I frequently can do, due to very slow-moving traffic.

I am actually of quite a nervous disposition, and I couldn't put myself through a daily nightmare merely for the purposes of saving time.

Jip

Take a look at the Darcy thread in the radio forum. Now ask yourself, are all the near misses he's having merely a coincidence ? I think not.

He's a tool anyway, all the likes to do is have a rant when there's no basis for it, he's not one to let facts get in the way of a good moan.

Lumen

In Ray's favour, he isn't Gerry Ryan.

Perhaps his "cycling will kill you" stance is designed to win round Gerry's fawning housewives with tales of his own two-wheeled derring-do.

DirkVoodoo

I think cycling in Dublin is unsafe, mainly because I see a lot of inexperienced cyclists not paying attention.

But yes, Ray should think before he speaks. Telling his listeners that cycling is unsafe only helps vindicate a lot of the bad attitudes we see towards cyclists, the kind of "well you shouldn't be on the road anyway" view.

thebouldwhacker

For my 2 cents:

Ray D'Arsey's narrative on any social topic outside the word 'Knickers' is about on par with a Charlie Brown cartoon, the only difference being Charlie Brown cartoons always make a valid point in an entertaining way, Ray is just a tabloid moaner.....;)

scottreynolds

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Telling his listeners that cycling is unsafe only helps vindicate a lot of the bad attitudes we see towards cyclists, the kind of "well you shouldn't be on the road anyway" view.

Conversly, I couldn't myself tell anyone that cycle was safe. Imagine Ray Darcy saying, "Oh cycling is safe" -- thats not going to make any difference either and I'm sure many of you would have horror stories saying is wasn't

DirkVoodoo

scottreynolds wrote: »

Conversly, I couldn't myself tell anyone that cycle was safe. Imagine Ray Darcy saying, "Oh cycling is safe" -- thats not going to make any difference either and I'm sure many of you would have horror stories saying is wasn't

True, but there is a difference between a statement and an opinion. If Ray were to say "I find cycling in Dublin is fine as long as I keep my wits about me" it's not quite the same as "Cycling in Dublin is safe".

tomasrojo

I do tell people it's adequately safe, provided they show proper caution and inform themselves of the common hazards, which is true for any user of the road.

There's also a difference between refusing to say cycling is safe and actively pushing the idea that it's fantastically dangerous.

scottreynolds

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

True, but there is a difference between a statement and an opinion. If Ray were to say "I find cycling in Dublin is fine as long as I keep my wits about me" it's not quite the same as "Cycling in Dublin is safe".

fixed this...
"I find cycling in Dublin is fine as long as I keep my wits about me cause its dangerous out there, and there's no idiots rushing to close the 20 metrr gap in front of them so they can hime 1 second quicker, and there's no knobs trying to turn without looking or indicating, and its not raining. Everytime I ride I put my life into the hands of a driving public where 25% of them are driving on learner licences and behave as such. Thankfully I only have to ride to D4. "

Ghost Rider

Sorry to butt in here. Scott, can you check your PMs? Ta.

scottreynolds wrote: »

fixed this...
"I find cycling in Dublin is fine as long as I keep my wits about me cause its dangerous out there, and there's no idiots rushing to close the 20 metrr gap in front of them so they can hime 1 second quicker, and there's no knobs trying to turn without looking or indicating, and its not raining. Everytime I ride I put my life into the hands of a driving public where 25% of them are driving on learner licences and behave as such. Thankfully I only have to ride to D4. "

flickerx

tunney wrote: »

Cycling around Dublin is HORRENDOUS, its a fcuking nightmare. There are no cycle lanes and the legislation and RoR are stupidly and massively weighted against cycling.

Nonsense. I cycle into town from Blanchardstown, there are cycle lanes all the way in down the old N3/Navan Road to Cabra junction if I go that way, or cycle lanes all the way through the park and most of the way down the quays if I go that way (which is slightly longer, but a much nicer cycle). Lots of commuter routes have bikes lanes as well. I was on a ride this morning in from Malahide and there is a lane most of the way in on the Malahide Road. To say "there are no cycle lanes" is total hyperbole.

The rules of the road do favour motorists. But I would hardly call cycling around Dublin "HORRENDOUS" (with CAPS as well). It isnt the paradise of Copenhagen, but its getting there slowly, the money is being put into cycle lane projects and stuff like the bike rental scheme. And having spent a year in North America, having visited various cities, Dublin is a long way ahead of other car-centric urban spots.

I'm playing a bit of devil's advocate here btw. Tomorrow you might get me ranting about DCC not doing enough.

tomasrojo

flickerx wrote: »

But I would hardly call cycling around Dublin "HORRENDOUS" (with CAPS as well).

He was responding to something I'd written where I'd used HORRENDOUS in CAPS, I think.

flickerx

And FWIW, Ray Darcy is an awful radio show host/presenter, IMHO.

Morning Ireland, Pat Kenny, the News at One and Five Seven Live are the only things I can listen to. And sometimes Newstalk. But Darcy is atrocious. He even makes Ryan Tubridy or Joe Duffy sound good. And if he is a cyclist, and continues to do it, then I think he should choose his words more carefully to encourage others to do it to, if he cares about it. But I doubt he thinks much before he talks. I always suspected while he was on TV that a third person underneath the camera line had their hand up his backside, flapping his mouth uncontrollably and off the cuff, just like Zig and Zag.

petethedrummer

Radio DJ in 'entrenched-view-despite-evidence-to-the-contrary' shocker.

davearthurs

Some problems I've found include:

1. a lot of potholes and poor road surface quality - including glass on streets (outside whelans). Some roads are pretty terrible. Baggot Street for some reason has really bad concrete road surface, dug up 200 times and badly put back together each time. Some very large potholes that the council should be sued over.


2. poor road planning - one way streets - stephen's green now cut off from cyclists trying to go certain directions. Camden street> Rathmines one way cut-off etc., dangerous to cycle in front of the Pod/luas tracks diversion with limited space for cycling.
Quays dangerous/ Westmoreland street lethal.

3. cars parked in cycle lanes during the day. Also cycle lanes no longer in existence but still there - ranelagh, clanbrassil street etc.,

I don't think cycle lanes are the solution but the road surface and planning generally are atrocious. Would love to see more thought go into them.

tomasrojo

davearthurs wrote: »

I don't think cycle lanes are the solution but the road surface and planning generally are atrocious..

This opinion is coming up here quite a lot lately. I share it. All road-users would benefit from a good, even road surface. Also, wide kerb-lanes and 30km/h speed limits in the city centre would all be more useful than cycle lanes.

Lumen

tomasrojo wrote: »

30km/h speed limits in the city centre

Be gone to the nineteenth century with you.

tomasrojo

I've gone too far this time. :eek:

Húrin

scottreynolds wrote: »

Conversly, I couldn't myself tell anyone that cycle was safe. Imagine Ray Darcy saying, "Oh cycling is safe" -- thats not going to make any difference either and I'm sure many of you would have horror stories saying is wasn't

I tell people that cycling is safe all the time because I've never had an "incident" with another vehicle. I also stress the importance of cycling confidently and with consideration towards other users. In fact often I just say cycle as if you're driving - don't hug the kerb, indicate all the time.

blorg

tomasrojo wrote: »

Incidentally, how can you buckle a rear wheel by braking? Anyone know? Front wheel I can see how it might happen.

The rear is actually the only wheel you can really buckle through braking. What happens is that you brake hard on the front, causing the rear wheel to rise off the ground as you start to go up over the handlebars. You then release the front brake and the rear wheel slams back down onto the ground, often with considerable force.

If you lock the rear wheel you will just skid, it won't affect your front wheel at all.

tomasrojo

blorg wrote: »

The rear is actually the only wheel you can really buckle through braking. What happens is that you brake hard on the front, causing the rear wheel to rise off the ground as you start to go up over the handlebars. You then release the front brake and the rear wheel slams back down onto the ground, often with considerable force.

If you lock the rear wheel you will just skid, it won't affect your front wheel at all.

Ah, ok, so it's not the braking per se that causes the buckling.

Well, I fell pretty confident in saying that Mr. D'Arcy (that sounds wrong somehow :-) ) was going very fast, too fast for crossing a yellow box in congested, unpredictable traffic.

Buy Cyclecraft, Ray!

markpb

davearthurs wrote: »

Westmoreland street lethal.

Am I the only one missing this? I use Westmoreland every day and never have any problems. I use lane 2 so cars and taxies turning left onto Fleet St can undertake me but buses waiting to pull in have to wait behind me. Everyone else has three full lanes to overtake me. The only problem is when someone darts from lanes 2 or 3 to turn left onto Fleet but I keep an eye out.

tomasrojo

markpb wrote: »

Am I the only one missing this? I use Westmoreland every day and never have any problems. I use lane 2 so cars and taxies turning left onto Fleet St can undertake me but buses waiting to pull in have to wait behind me. Everyone else has three full lanes to overtake me. The only problem is when someone darts from lanes 2 or 3 to turn left onto Fleet but I keep an eye out.

I guess the problems arrive when you try to go straight on from Lane 1. I also use Lane 2.

markpb

tomasrojo wrote: »

I guess the problems arrive when you try to go straight on from Lane 1. I also use Lane 2.

You mean you obey the lane markings and use your common sense?

Ant

blorg wrote: »

The rear is actually the only wheel you can really buckle through braking. What happens is that you brake hard on the front, causing the rear wheel to rise off the ground as you start to go up over the handlebars. You then release the front brake and the rear wheel slams back down onto the ground, often with considerable force.

So, Ray Darcy must be regularly doing endos while commuting. He should probably get a stronger back wheel but I concur with the other posters who reckon he probably needs to learn to cycle properly. In the past I've been guilty of cycling too fast (normally cos I'm running late) but I'd say it was my cycling that was dangerous - not cycling.

I've never had a problem with Westmoreland St. I just make sure to be in the appropriate lane while cycling along College Green. In any case, I pretty much always get stopped at the pedestrian lights or the traffic lights just after - which provides an opportunity to get into the correct lane for Westmoreland St.

I can't say that I enjoy cycling along the quays but it wouldn't scare me either.

redmenace1

Ant wrote: »

I can't say that I enjoy cycling along the quays but it wouldn't scare me either.

I don't enjoy cycling along the quays & it scares the bejaysus outta me. Mind u so does driving!:eek: