Evening Herald eh... 'article'

dubmess

Didn't see anyone posting this here and i just came across it this morning so apologies if I'm double posting...

A baffling piece from Wednesday's Evening Herald, from the motoring section of course. It's a hate piece about cyclists that tries to be a review of a new VW car... I'm so stunned by it I'm wondering if it's tongue in cheek and I'm just not getting it...

choice quote:

"Take, for example, the strange wizardry concocted by the Dublin Cycling Campaign or 'The Adults Who Can't Drive Cars Campaign'.

Their big idea for Bike Week is to allow cyclists to cycle through red lights and to go the wrong way down one-way streets.

For once I am all in favour of adopting this policy, for what better way to cull the number of cyclists in Dublin by allowing them to cycle even more erratically and illegally than they do already.

I'd love it if I were sailing through a green light and a fleet of bicycle-clip-wearing loons came across my path"

Wow...

Full article:
http://www.herald.ie/lifestyle/motoring/the-super-sweet-golf-cabriolet-is-just-like-riding-a-bike-3158564.html

seamus

Looks like Tim Allen got a job working for the Herald.

There's not enough vinegar in the world for that chip.

Beasty

I got that Friday Feeling...

Bunnyhopper

There are sensible critiques to be made of cyclist behaviour and the law around cycling: that bit of petrol-sniffing drivel doesn't make any of them. It reminds me why I never buy the Herald.

He's retweeting some comments on https://twitter.com/#!/ianmallon - mainly the abusive and inarticulate ones, I'd guess, but then they would appear to be the ones in his language.

petethedrummer

...that reminds me, I need to get toilet roll on the way home.

kincsem

"I'd love it if I were sailing through a green light and a fleet of bicycle-clip-wearing loons came across my path."

The police should speak to him.

GlennaMaddy

The author has many pet hates, includingbudgies it seems

crusher000

Maybe for his next article her should interview a familly that have lost a loved one whom was out cycling and was knocked over by a motorist . Just to add some balance of course.

Bunnyhopper

crusher000 wrote: »

Maybe for his next article her should interview a familly that have lost a loved one whom was out cycling and was knocked over by a motorist . Just to add some balance of course.

It's a bad article any time, but now that you mention it, it is spectacularly bad taste for the Herald to have published it so soon after the death in Kerry.

Rew

To be fair its the Evening Herald, the dog who's pen it lining isn't going read it so what odds!

AstraMonti

It's not even worth the publicity that it's getting here.

breezy1985

GlennaMaddy wrote: »

The author has many pet hates, includingbudgies it seems

Hes avin a go at the birds now

Gavin

Sent a tweet to the CEO of Volkswagen Group Ireland pointing it out. I know they have nothing to do with what a journo hack says, but surely they can't be too happy that they are associated with such drivel.

dubmess

Gavin wrote: »

Sent a tweet to the CEO of Volkswagen Group Ireland pointing it out. I know they have nothing to do with what a journo hack says, but surely they can't be too happy that they are associated with such drivel.

I just posted it on the VW Ireland Facebook Page also.

Pherekydes

Trying to write in the style of one JC and failing miserably.

lennymc

i was driving my car to mullingar last week, and in fairness, some of the riding i witnessed on the roads was shocking. An example, i was travelling along at about 60 in an 80 zone, solid white line, round a bend and there were 3 cyclists in the middle of the road. I had slowed down in anticipation, but, it got me thinking about wether the cyclists realised the danger they were putting themselves in. Had a car been going over the speed limit, or not paying attention they could well have hit the cyclists.

Im not starting or getting into the whole car/bike debate, just highlighting that some cyclists really should be more assertive in looking out for their own safety and be aware of their surroundsing, and ride accordingly.

dubmess

lennymc wrote: »

i was driving my car to mullingar last week, and in fairness, some of the riding i witnessed on the roads was shocking. An example, i was travelling along at about 60 in an 80 zone, solid white line, round a bend and there were 3 cyclists in the middle of the road. I had slowed down in anticipation, but, it got me thinking about wether the cyclists realised the danger they were putting themselves in. Had a car been going over the speed limit, or not paying attention they could well have hit the cyclists.

Im not starting or getting into the whole car/bike debate, just highlighting that some cyclists really should be more assertive in looking out for their own safety and be aware of their surroundsing, and ride accordingly.

It's definitely Friday

Roddy23

Someone say budgie?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usRsxeJfcas

Kav0777

Roddy23 wrote: »

Someone say budgie?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usRsxeJfcas

I thought it was badger....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCquLOskXB0

doozerie

A hymn for Ian Mallon, the man who put the "rump" into "grumpy":

Hack (of the) Herald angels sing,
Glory to the new Volkswagen!
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
Feckin' cyclists should be defiled.
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Squish the cyclists we all despise.
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ! You had it easy in Bethlehem"
Hack (of the) Herald angels sing,
Glory to the new Volkswagen!

etc.

Lusk Doyle

lennymc wrote: »

i was driving my car to mullingar last week, and in fairness, some of the riding i witnessed on the roads was shocking. An example, i was travelling along at about 60 in an 80 zone, solid white line, round a bend and there were 3 cyclists in the middle of the road. I had slowed down in anticipation, but, it got me thinking about wether the cyclists realised the danger they were putting themselves in. Had a car been going over the speed limit, or not paying attention they could well have hit the cyclists.

Im not starting or getting into the whole car/bike debate, just highlighting that some cyclists really should be more assertive in looking out for their own safety and be aware of their surroundsing, and ride accordingly.

You want to have seen the way you were "riding" last Monday in the Mark Mullen race!!!

Stones and glass houses and all that!

Harrybelafonte

Lusk Doyle wrote: »

You want to have seen the way you were "riding" last Monday in the Mark Mullen race!!!

Stones and glass houses and all that!

Oh no you didn't! (insert finger wag)

emtroche

This just occured to me http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1989/en/act/pub/0019/index.html

Are cyclists an ethnic group?

monument

Forget about the law, it seems more and more common (in parts of the media) that it's ok to talk about harming and in this case murdering people as long as those people are cyclists?!

kirving

On top of all that, it's probably the worst car review I've ever read. Doubt he's even driven the thing. Lists about 5 things from the spec sheet and says its great.

'Goes like the clappers.' It's 140bhp, not exacty a sports car, nor particularly quick.

RobFowl

You can complain to the press council/ombudsman about this sort of thing.
http://www.pressombudsman.ie/
It seems to come under
Principle 1 − Truth and Accuracy

1.1 In reporting news and information, newspapers and magazines shall strive at all times for truth and accuracy.
1.2 When a significant inaccuracy, misleading statement or distorted report or picture has been published, it shall be corrected promptly and with due prominence.
1.3 When appropriate, a retraction, apology, clarification, explanation or response shall be published promptly and with due prominence.
Principle 2 − Distinguishing Fact and Comment

2.1 Newspapers and magazines are entitled to advocate strongly their own views on topics.
2.2 Comment, conjecture, rumour and unconfirmed reports shall not be reported as if they were fact.
2.3 Readers are entitled to expect that the content of a publication reflects the best judgment of editors and writers and has not been inappropriately influenced by undisclosed interests. Wherever relevant, any significant financial interest of an organization should be disclosed. Writers should disclose significant potential conflicts of interest to their editors.

Principle 4 − Respect for Rights

Everyone has constitutional protection for his or her good name. Newspapers and magazines shall not knowingly publish matter based on malicious misrepresentation or unfounded accusations, and must take reasonable care in checking facts before publication.

http://www.pressombudsman.ie/code-of-practice.150.html

I've complained about a different issue before and it was upheld. The herald had to publish the descision and TBF to them they did.

The more people who complain the better.