Cycling in London

Beasty

Whatever you think of Boris, he is clearly very good news for London's cyclists. Pity Dublin City Council, or the Government can't pull together a website with something like this
There is a section dedicated to the cycle hire scheme launching next summer. It also has a number of other sections providing useful information, including training, safety, equipment, maintenance etc.

Beasty

On a related topic, there is an interesting article in this week's Cycling Weekly on Red Light Jumpers (It's not published online, so I can't post a link).

The reporter joined an operation in Belgravia a few weeks back, aimed at nabbing RLJs. The particular issue with the location was it is close to a primary school, and cyclists are known to sail through on red putting pedestrians at risk.

There were 4 police officers and 2 community support officers (on MTBs). All had high-viz gear on. In the hour they were there they stopped 10 cyclists and spoke to them about contravening RL rules. Another 3 were given fixed penalties. A few more got away. The police also spoke to a number of motorists for stopping in the area reserved for cyclists (making them reverse where appropriate)

Perhaps another lesson Dublin can learn from London

Doctor Bob

Dublin City Council does have this site: http://dublincitycycling.ie/

Beasty

Doctor Bob wrote: »

Dublin City Council does have this site: http://dublincitycycling.ie/

Thanks for that link, Doctor Bob. I guess my question is how many people know about this site?.

The website states:
"Dublin City Cycling is a Dublin City Council project led by dublin.ie and Roads & Traffic Department.", however there are no obvious links from either the Dublin council or dublin.ie websites.

On the blog, the first post (dated 3 September) states:
"Speaking on behalf of Dublin City Council’s Cycling Unit, I am delighted to announce the launch of our new website – DublinCityCycling.ie. We hope that it will serve as a hub for news and events for Dublin’s many existing cyclists and will encourage more city-goers to enjoy life by bike."

However it's hardly going to become a "hub" if they don't actively publicise its existence.

Doctor Bob

Yep- I know what you mean. I only stumbled across the site when Andrew Montague posted the details of the Drury Street car park. And when I searched for it by name last night to put up the link, it was at the bottom of page 1 of the Google search.

It has the potential to be a useful site, but it does need to be maintained- or 'populated with content' as they say these days.

Húrin

I was in London recently. It looked like cycling there is a nightmare in rush hour. It makes Dublin look like Copenhagen by comparison. If this is what three years of "improvement" by Ken and Boris have done I shudder to think of what it was like for cyclists before.

IM0

politician who commutes to work by bike, no brainor really, maybe if that guy from the greens was made lord mayor of dublin then something similar would happen, cant see that though.

blorg

I think there is a lot of progress in Dublin, look at the dublinbikes scheme, bus gate (to be reinstated in January), etc. Andrew Montague comes to mind as a councillor who cycles himself, understands the issues well and really pushes for cyclists (he was formerly Deputy Lord Mayor incidentally.)

Mr. Grieves

me@ucd wrote: »

politician who commutes to work by bike, no brainor really, maybe if that guy from the greens was made lord mayor of dublin then something similar would happen, cant see that though.

I don't think the the position carries as much power in Dublin as it does in London - the term is only 1 year versus 4, not directly elected etc. We've had a few Green mayors before, but I don't remember any notable acheivements by any.