Why the upsurge in cycling recently?

kevvhayes

Hi. Cycling seems to be going through a bit of a resurgence lately. seeing people on bikes everywhere. any thoughts on why this is? is it just because of the BTW or are people just falling in love with cycling again????

markpb

I'd hazard a guess that it's a combination of Dublin Bikes, Bike to Work, a reasonably long spell of good weather and the truck ban in the city centre. Maybe even throw in the spike in petrol prices.

Sundy

markpb wrote: »

I'd hazard a guess that it's a combination of Dublin Bikes, Bike to Work, a reasonably long spell of good weather and the truck ban in the city centre. Maybe even throw in the spike in petrol prices.

Really dont think its anything to do with dublin. Loads of people i know all over the country are out on bikes doing big rides.

I only started recently but it was something i always wanted to get into and simply followed the lead of my friends.

Vélo

I'd also throw in the fact that cycling is addictive. Whether it's heading off and doing 100km - 200km spins at the weekend or a gentle cycle through a park, it can be really enjoyable.

Even my wife went for two cycles recently and she said I'd never get her on a bike. She really enjoyed it. A friend of hers is now going to get a bike and they'll go off for cycles together. My wife says she'll just use mine but I know that'll change soon.

She also says she won't wear lycra but I'll keep trying anyway;)

cloinsigh

Running has got much more popular too in the past few years, I think people are getting a growing awareness of their health.
Maybe it's all the fat show's on tele!!:)

tomasrojo

All of the above seem persuasive reasons. Maybe a bit of post-Tiger regression to the mean -- that is, cycling participation took a nosedive when so many people were trying to be conspicuously successful and, erroneously, decided that cycling was just for poor people.

Lumen

People have finally realized that golf is shít.

ednwireland

tour de france is on telly

Tenzor07

New Mountain bike track in Ticknock Dublin...

...as well as in Wicklow, Galway, Ballyhoura...

Pigeon Reaper

I think it's an international shortage of wheels forcing people to adopt to wheel conservation methods. As this shortage worsens I would expect an upsurge in unicycles finally followed by pogo sticks.

Lemag

Lumen wrote: »

shít.

Have you been taking Irish lessons?

Lumen

Lemag wrote: »

Have you been taking Irish lessons?

Indeed, one on one tuition from Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin.

TBH I'm feeling quite exhausted by it all.

Sundy

or watching the TDF on TG4?

Caroline_ie

The bike rack is full in work, even last year there was only a handful of bikes there. I hear people in work left right and centre saying they just got a bike or they want to do a triathlon etc.

I also notice that they find themselves and each so special now because they have a bike.

This all just makes me more of a snob, I can't help it.

1/ Double shorts don't make you a cyclist.
2/ Bikes have always been cool.

b.harte

I got back into cycling last year after way too long away from it.
I used to cycle commute when I lived in Dublin but when I moved to the sticks I gave it up completely.
I got back into it for mostly health reasons, as an ex smoker ex drinker I needed something to counteract all the rubbish food I was eating and try to lose some of the kg I had put on.
When I got back on a mountain bike I realised what I was missing.
Have since ditched the MTB in favour of a road bike.
This year my mileage is up a lot, lately due to the extra squeeze on taxes and general living expenses, petrol being the biggest hitter after USC, I've taken the bike to work a few days, a round trip of 50km, just under an hour each way.
Also with a 2 yr old and a new baby I just want to get out of the house to clear my head and cycling seems to do that for me.
I also run, but wouldn't run to work. ;-)
So my reasons, health, money, head-space, fresh air and the mountain views of north cork.
I also changed my bike this year because of the BTW scheme, wouldn't have bothered otherwise but it was good to have the option to upgrade to something fancy.

I've also notice a massive increase in the number of small "pods" of cyclist that I meet / see, not club linked just groups of people who head out on spins together, reminds me of when I was a teenager.

Bertie

Khannie

markpb wrote: »

I'd hazard a guess that it's a combination of Dublin Bikes, Bike to Work, a reasonably long spell of good weather and the truck ban in the city centre. Maybe even throw in the spike in petrol prices.

I'd say these are all part of it. Dublin bikes and bike to work are partly responsible for me, along with the train bridge collapse in Malahide there a few years ago (that was what caused me to give commuting by bike a lash). Petrol not such an issue for me (or others I suspect). Cycling in Dublin city is definitely better than any other way of getting around IMO.

It's catching though....I've convinced a friend to try it. He's now commuting regularly by bike from Rush to the city centre. He convinced a friend of his and so on. No better way to get to work on a day like today.

Noffles

Alwys had bikes but never really "in" to it... recently got myself a very cool Cube bike using the BTW... since then, out on it as often as possible and now searching for good tracks in my area Gorey etc... love the bike and far better for my knees than road running which is what I would normally do.

THink it's great that bikes are around more often!

Air_Bass

...Maybe we've finally reached the stage that continental European cities were at several decades ago.
We've got the bicycles now all we need are some proper dedicated cycle tracks to (safely) use them on - in urban centres at least.
Yeah, the Cycle to Work scheme definitely encouraged folks to get back into the saddle

markpb

Air_Bass wrote: »

We've got the bicycles now all we need are some proper dedicated cycle tracks to (safely) use them on - in urban centres at least.

I'm normally the first to criticise cycle facilities in Dublin but the infrastructure around the Dundrum/Sandyford area is quite impressive (for Ireland). I can cycle from my apartment in Drumdrum to Sandyford industrial estate almost all on segregated cycle lanes. There are no bins, poles or bus stops blocking me. The footpaths are wide enough that very few pedestrians wander onto the cycle lane and the only junctions are a few relatively quiet housing estates so there's not much loss of priority. It's only a short cycle but it's a pleasure compared to some others around Dublin.

RPA are doing quite well on the cycle front too. I would have preferred if they'd built cycle lanes along the tram line but they provide a lot of cycle stands at the Luas stops and have applied for planning permission for more stands and bike lockers at Dundrum luas.

Cat Melodeon

I used to cycle everywhere when I lived in Dublin and Germany, but the roads were too dangerous down here where I live in Tipp. The M8 motorway was finished recently and since then I've oiled up my old bike (nothing fancy) and head out a few times a week along the old N8 which is now almost completely empty of traffic. I love it, hadn't realised how much I missed cycling until I started up again. I'll soon be moving close to Nenagh, looking forward to the construction of the proposed cycle lane from there to Limerick. I know it'll be a bit of a wait, but I'm expecting again so will have to take a break soon anyway.

Doctor Bob

ednwireland wrote: »

tour de france is on telly

Anyone who grew up in the suburbs probably knows about the Wimbledon 'bounce' factor- streets full of kids playing tennis during and after competition.

I was a little taken aback, however, while having lunch in a sunny and quite crowded Merrion Square a couple of weeks ago, when five young lads arrived in with an assortment of short irons and started hacking golf balls around the place! I guess some sports are more amenable than others to the 'jumpers for goalposts' approach.

kennyb3

It's because the world is becoming more metrosexual and its a great excuse to wear spandex lycra and shave your legs :pac:

Bottle_of_Smoke

Saves you money if you get the bus to work every day. If I worked in dub city centre it would cost me 4 euro a day or 20euro a week. thats a fair bit of cash for a lot of people these days.

I know bikes cost a bit but most households have at least 1 or 2 to begin with

Bluefoam

markpb wrote: »

I'd hazard a guess that it's a combination of Dublin Bikes, Bike to Work, a reasonably long spell of good weather and the truck ban in the city centre. Maybe even throw in the spike in petrol prices.

I'd agree with this + the recession making it a more cost effective way of getting around + its a lifestyle choice that goes hand in hand with shopping in New York style deli's and cooking with chilli oils

ednwireland

markpb wrote: »

a reasonably long spell of good weather

when the F**k did that happen

ciotog

When manning the cycling campaign tent at the launch of bike week in Galway, a lot of the people cited the bike to work scheme as having gotten them back into cycling. What was also interesting was how many then went on to get their family onto bikes and treated cycling as something they could also do together.

Can't overlook the economics though.

triggermortis

Lumen wrote: »

People have finally realized that golf is shít.

I've always known this

happytramp

I've though a lot about this recently and all the evidence points to one thing.

The Scientician

Stephen Roche and poverty.

JOHN_70

I think the amount of leisure cycling events/sportives may have something to do with it also. People decide to do one, do a bit of training for it, get to like cycling and the BTW scheme is making it very easy to afford a good bike.

In my own case I'm also a benificiary of the Cork-Dublin motorway as my commute to work is now along the old N8 near Cork, very quiet roads until I reach Glanmire, I'm not sure I would have commuted on it before the motorway opened though.

neris

Probably to do with the good weather and long evenings. How many of those people will you see out cycling on a cold october evening?

cdaly_

You'll see me...

xz

The Scientician wrote: »

Stephen Roche and poverty.

This may be closer to the mark, times of recession and all that, was the same back in the 80's, but then we did have a few natives on the pro Tour back then making names for themselves

100Suns

Caroline_ie wrote: »

The bike rack is full in work, even last year there was only a handful of bikes there. I hear people in work left right and centre saying they just got a bike or they want to do a triathlon etc.

I also notice that they find themselves and each so special now because they have a bike.

This all just makes me more of a snob, I can't help it.

1/ Double shorts don't make you a cyclist.
2/ Bikes have always been cool.

Dear Aunt Caroline

What are 'double shorts'?

Yours

Possibly Mortified

thebouldwhacker

My guess....




Though I'd prefer this double short...

Vélo

Now that I think of it, when I was cycling home on the N2 last week there was acually 4 of us in a row heading towards Ashbourne/Ratoath. For a couple of years before that I only met another cyclist every now and again.

I was dropped by the 3 other cyclists but my excuse was I was on the tourer and had a full pannier on it and a couple of the were on road bikes

GinjaNinja

howdy.

i'm the friend Khannie above recomended.

Why i'm cycleing. exercise with little damage to joints. I recently gave up smoking 7 months. Use to play football alot, thats stopped due to injuries, use to crossfit, can't do that anymore due to injuries.
So in step cycling. I'm finding it addictive.

The best thing about it is, I'm going somehwere like to work or home. I have to get there. I'm on the bike so I have to just get on with it and it easy to do that on a bike compared to running. etc.

Now ive gone and got the canyon roadlite 6.0 on the BTW scheme. I'm commited and loving it.

cdaly_

T'was seriously crowded on the Clontarf cycle path yesterday evening heading home. Very few peds on the track but hoardes of bikes. Couldn't get a decent speed up at all...

CianRyan

cdaly_ wrote: »

T'was seriously crowded on the Clontarf cycle path yesterday evening heading home. Very few peds on the track but hoardes of bikes. Couldn't get a decent speed up at all...

Lots of kids on bikes and women with buggies when I was on it. Awkward alright.

petethedrummer

That path is not for speed. You're better off on the road.

cdaly_

petethedrummer wrote: »

That path is not for speed. You're better off on the road.

Ah 'tis. Lovely smooth surface...

petethedrummer

cdaly_ wrote: »

Ah 'tis. Lovely smooth surface...

The surface is good alright, but dogs on loose leashes and kids scare the pants off me. And even if the cycle path is clear you can startle any walkers who don't hear you coming. You see people in full TT mode on it at times, they'd be better off on the road. A leisurely jaunt is all its good for.

cdaly_

Well yes, you need to tailor your performance to suit the audience. Early morning on the commute it's lovely and clear. Home time not so much.

petethedrummer

cdaly_ wrote: »

Well yes, you need to tailor your performance to suit the audience. Early morning on the commute it's lovely and clear. Home time not so much.

Ah yeah. in winter time its great.

phatyack

petethedrummer wrote: »

The surface is good alright, but dogs on loose leashes and kids scare the pants off me. And even if the cycle path is clear you can startle any walkers who don't hear you coming.

get a bell .. its the most polite way of telling people to get the hell out of the way.

also if you take a look at the popularity of cycling throughout history, it follows the convenience of owning a car .. the more oil goes up, the more popular cycling gets

in fact in 1973, 1986 and even in 2009 more bikes than cars were sold in america caus of ridiculous oil prices in those years

petethedrummer

phatyack wrote: »

get a bell .. its the most polite way of telling people to get the hell out of the way.

I don't cycle on that path so there no need. Anyway a bell is no use to the lads you see TTing up and down there at 30-35km/h when people are out in the sun for a leisurely walk a few feet away.

seamus

I've noticed a pattern in our place. There are less bikes here on Fridays.

That means that people are probably going drinking after work. Which probably means that a good proportion of the cyclists are youngish - under 30 anyway.

This would make sense. The days of getting a car for your 18th or 21st birthday are gone. Likewise parents are no longer going to stump up €1500 to add their child as a named driver on their policy and risk losing their no-claims bonus. "On yer bike" is no doubt a familiar phrase to fathers of college kids once more.

Colonialboy

Advertising , media manipulation and mass marketing.... or lack there of. During the boom the media , marketing , advertising machine was in full swing and people were conned into spending their money and time in the pursuit of vacous entities.
Now that theres less money about theres less mass media manipulation of the masses to spend their money and time on these things and so people are reverting to the 'natural instinctive desires inherent in man' epitomised by the bicycle and the numerous doors it opens.....
I should know I cycled before and throughout the boom and all these langers in work thought I was loolah cos they had a new car, same dickheads are now all on bikes and telling me how great it is. (excuse the rant but it niggles me a bit, all in all their very welcome to the fraternity and the revenue and interest they generate is great )

tomasrojo

Cyclist.ie had a link to this:
http://www.examiner.ie/opinion/editorial/cycle-of-recovery--a-small-but-welcome-revolution-169594.html#ixzz1ZwrakY9V

Quite nice article about dublinbikes and cycle-to-work scheme.