note to cyclist in dublin

magic roundabou

hey - just a note to let you know the cops are stopping cyclist who break red lights - and im sure other stuff around the city - a safety week or something -
court summons will be issued - or so I was told !!!!
I got caught on Queens street

dan1895

magic roundabou wrote: »

hey - just a note to let you know the cops are stopping cyclist who break red lights - and im sure other stuff around the city - a safety week or something -
court summons will be issued - or so I was told !!!!
I got caught on Queens street

Shouldn't be ignoring the rules of the road to begin with. And I'm a cyclist before anyone asks.

bumper234

magic roundabou wrote: »

hey - just a note to let you know the cops are stopping cyclist who break red lights - and im sure other stuff around the city - a safety week or something -
court summons will be issued - or so I was told !!!!
I got caught on Queens street

Nice to see the guards doing their jobs and catching people who break the rules of the road ( i also cycle ).

Ole Rodrigo

As a cyclist, and someone that gets peeved at other cyclists doing what they like, this is good news.

I'd also welcome enforcement of speed limits around the city centre, penalties for parking in cycling lanes and a host of other infractions by motorists that make cycling in the city frustrating.

seamus

Awesome. Saw no Gardai doing this today on my cycle in, but hopefully they are taking a hardline on it.

John Mason

about bloody time. are they also enforcing high vis and lights on bikes ?

I dread this time of year and all the cyclists dressed in black with no lights. :mad:

chopper6

I hope they also enforce the rules pertaining to cycling the wrong way up streets,mounting the pavement and failure to indicate before turning...

Cyclists are a menace in dublin.

Wishbone Ash

John Mason wrote: »

about bloody time. are they also enforcing high vis and lights on bikes ?

I dread this time of year and all the cyclists dressed in black with no lights. :mad:

Wearing high visibility clothing (or helmet) is not a legal requirement (although many motorists seem to think it is).

bumper234

chopper6 wrote: »

I hope they also enforce the rules pertaining to cycling the wrong way up streets,mounting the pavement and failure to indicate before turning...

Cyclists are a menace in dublin.

As a cyclist, pedestrian and driver i think i can safely say (from my own personal experience) that it's Dublins car drivers who are the menace.

cson

This is a welcome development. It'd be nice not to be nearly mown down when crossing the road on a green man light.

Galadriel

bumper234 wrote: »

As a cyclist, pedestrian and driver i think i can safely say (from my own personal experience) that it's Dublins car drivers who are the menace.

I don't think drivers have the monopoly on being a menace, I think some cyclists, some pedestrians and some drivers can all act careless on the roads.

Wishbone Ash

cson wrote: »

This is a welcome development. It'd be nice not to be nearly mown down when crossing the road on a green man light.

I totally agree.

It would also be a welcome development if pedestrians who cross the street in front of cyclists without looking or ignoring their 'red man' were fined also.

michael.dublin

about time they do something about this.
i would say i am a "road user" i cycle, run and drive a car.

hardCopy

Galadriel wrote: »

I don't think drivers have the monopoly on being a menace, I think some cyclists, some pedestrians and some drivers can all act careless on the roads.

I think it's best summed up as "some people are a menace".

I cycle, drive, walk and run. I'd like to think I don't menace anyone regardless of how I'm travelling. I have on occasion been menaced by walking idiots, cycling idiots and driving idiots. Some people will just cause hassle no matter how they get around.

bumper234

Galadriel wrote: »

I don't think drivers have the monopoly on being a menace, I think some cyclists, some pedestrians and some drivers can all act careless on the roads.

Totally agree i was almost knocked down by a cyclist this morning crossing from O'Connell bridge to D'Olier street. A very angry man who shouted at me for crossing the road and when i pointed out that the green man was lit for people to cross he informed me that red lights are only there for motorists! I promptly laughed at him told him to cop on and **** off and carried on my way. The day before i walked out in front of a car near my home as i headed to the shop. Car was going slow but does not excuse my stupidity. As you said there is no monopoly on stupidity in Dublin or any other city

el tel

Just bloody right. Vanalism of any kind should not be tolerated.

chopper6

Saw a woman getting absolutely creamed by a cyclist this morning at College Green...the green man was showing but teh cyclist continued through just as the woman stopped to pick something up that she'd dropped...cue the cyclist whacking into her,calling her a "stupid bitch" and continuing on his way as if nothing had happened.

On friday i saw a cyclist at westmoreland st who didnt want to ride behind a bus undercutting it on the inside and sending the passangers trying to get on the bus flying in all directions.

This are two incidents that come to mind...cyclists seem to think the normal rules of the road dont apply to them and often take a sort of moral highground,bullying other road users and pedestrians.

hardCopy

chopper6 wrote: »

Saw a woman getting absolutely creamed by a cyclist this morning at College Green...the green man was showing but teh cyclist continued through just as the woman stopped to pick something up that she'd dropped...cue the cyclist whacking into her,calling her a "stupid bitch" and continuing on his way as if nothing had happened.

On friday i saw a cyclist at westmoreland st who didnt want to ride behind a bus undercutting it on the inside and sending the passangers trying to get on the bus flying in all directions.

This are two incidents that come to mind SOME cyclists seem to think the normal rules of the road dont apply to them and often take a sort of moral highground,bullying other road users and pedestrians.

FYP

chopper6

hardCopy wrote: »

FYP

"some" is too many.

bumper234

chopper6 wrote: »

"some" is too many.

There will be "some" idiots no matter what.

chopper6

bumper234 wrote: »

There will be "some" idiots no matter what.

Given that they're completely unprotected they should be much more carefull....for example,i cant remember the last time i saw a cyclist using hand signals.

HeidiHeidi

chopper6 wrote: »

Given that they're completely unprotected they should be much more carefull....for example,i cant remember the last time i saw a cyclist using hand signals.

I use hand signals..... and have lights, and hi-vis and reflective gear.... and a bell..... and a helmet.....

Just to illustrate that cyclists don't have a monopoly on being gob****es, what about the pedestrians who stroll, ever so slooooowwwwwlllllly across the path of oncoming traffic, without so much as a glance or an acknowledgement that said oncoming traffic (bikes and/or cars) have had to stand on the brakes to accomodate them? I seriously worry that one day the red mist will descend and I'll put the boot down and drive at one of them :mad:

No one group has the upper hand in being a menace on the roads.

bumper234

chopper6 wrote: »

Given that they're completely unprotected they should be much more carefull....for example,i cant remember the last time i saw a cyclist using hand signals.

So are pedestrians (even more so?) yet you keep hitting out at cyclists. I have seen pedestrians do stupid things and have even stated that i (as a pedestrian) have done so. I see more pedestrians on phone or with head phones in doing stupid things in the city center than cyclists but i see more cyclists and motorists do stupid things further out of the city.

mitosis

bumper234 wrote: »

So are pedestrians (even more so?) yet you keep hitting out at cyclists. I have seen pedestrians do stupid things and have even stated that i (as a pedestrian) have done so. I see more pedestrians on phone or with head phones in doing stupid things in the city center than cyclists but i see more cyclists and motorists do stupid things further out of the city.

Is it because the thread is about cyclists, do you suppose? if you want to discuss pedestrians perhaps you ought to start your own thread.

bumper234

mitosis wrote: »

Is it because the thread is about cyclists, do you suppose? if you want to discuss pedestrians perhaps you ought to start your own thread.

Yeah you are right i should just let chopper keep bashing cyclists and let it all be one sided.....good luck with that :rolleyes:

mitosis

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Wearing high visibility clothing (or helmet) is not a legal requirement (although many motorists seem to think it is).

Absolutely correct. In fact, so fearful are many cyclists they might be hit by a car, they go to ninja extremes not to be seen, no lights, no hi viz, dark clothing etc

Seaneh

John Mason wrote: »

about bloody time. are they also enforcing high vis and lights on bikes ?

I dread this time of year and all the cyclists dressed in black with no lights. :mad:

1) High vis is not required under law.

2) It's ugly as sin.

Lights are needed when cycling at dawn, dusk and night though.

Seaneh

chopper6 wrote: »

"some" is too many.

"Some" cyclists break red lights and occeasionally cause accidents and/or injuries to pedestrians.

Far more drivers speed between lights, make phone calls/send texts when driving, race amber lights, over take cyclists dangerously and hit pedestrians/cyclists/other drivers causing major injuries, head trauma and often fatalities.


The bad behaviour of a substantial percentage of drivers is a far bigger issue and a far bigger danger than the a minority of cyclists breaking read lights.

SebBerkovich

Some people are just jerks and those people metamorphize with the power of transport! They become:

Pedestrians - that cross roads as if they have a death wish.
Cyclists - that seem to think that as long as they keep moving laws and ethics don't apply...
Drivers - who for some reason forget that the things that are happening through their windows exist in the same world that they do.

I look forward to the day were upon being told that "today cyclists have to follow the rules of the road" people automatically respond with.. "Duh"

chopper6

Seaneh wrote: »

The bad behaviour of a substantial percentage of drivers is a far bigger issue and a far bigger danger than the a minority of cyclists breaking read lights.

Maybe but this thread is about cyclists.

CramCycle

mitosis wrote: »

Absolutely correct. In fact, so fearful are many cyclists they might be hit by a car, they go to ninja extremes not to be seen, no lights, no hi viz, dark clothing etc

Seen four cars on the drive home last night with no lights on and several others with only parking lights, 2 pedestrians fell/walked out in front of me and 1 cyclists not looking behind when pulling across a lane and 1 with no lights on an unlit toad.

My point, as with many before, some are stupid, some are assh*ts, none are in the majority.

Back on topic, good to see the RTA being enforced, hope the on the spot fines are here soon so Gardai are more inclined to push the issue.

Surveyor11

We have to accept that a large minority of road users (cyclists and motorists) as well as pedestrians are complete f*ckwits. No group should be singled out as they are stupid in equal proportions. Pedestrians in cycle lanes, jumping out behind buses, cars breaking red lights, using bus lanes when they're not permitted, driving in poor light / fog without lights, cyclists breaking red lights, on footpaths - the list goes on. It's a complete circular argument blaming one group.

AltAccount

This is great news, get them summonses out pronto!

hardCopy

chopper6 wrote: »

Given that they're completely unprotected they should be much more carefull....for example,i cant remember the last time i saw a cyclist using hand signals.

You're either:

A) Exagerating
Forgetful
C) Unobservant

If you spend any kind of time on Dublin's roads then you would see hand signals on a regular basis. You would also see cyclists stopping at red lights and not cycling on footpaths.

Yes, there is an obvious problem with some cyclists not obeying the rules of the road, but to suggest that all or even a majority of cyclists are a menace is complete nonsense.

chopper6

hardCopy wrote: »

You're either:

A) Exagerating
Forgetful
C) Unobservant

Am I indeed?


So this is the default answer of cyclists is it?

"You didn't see it so you must be at fault"?

Nonsense...cyclists routinely omit to use hand signals and well you know it...i'm not saying it for the sake of it as i've nearly killed a few trying to second guess thier intentions.

hardCopy wrote: »

If you spend any kind of time on Dublin's roads then you would see hand signals on a regular basis.

I do and I don't....as i've said,using hand signals is so rare as to be almost non-existant...i'm sure many motorists would agree with me.

hardCopy wrote: »

You would also see cyclists stopping at red lights and not cycling on footpaths.
.

And i also see a substantial number doing the opposite of the above....do you think i'm making this up?

seamus

chopper6 wrote: »

Nonsense...cyclists routinely omit to use hand signals and well you know it...i'm not saying it for the sake of it as i've nearly killed a few trying to second guess thier intentions.

Which means they're human. All road users routinely omit to use signals. Cyclists don't stand out in that regard.

I do and I don't....as i've said,using hand signals is so rare as to be almost non-existant...i'm sure many motorists would agree with me.

The human brain does this funny thing which is cool, interesting and irritating all at the same time.
It's a cognitive issue where you literally only see what you want to see. Motorcyclists are the ones who are most put at risk by it, as a vehicle waiting to turn from a side road will often simply "not see" them and will pull out.

The same biaise applies here. Because so many people get so incensed about cyclists for whatever reason, their brain actively ignores the cyclists who are doing things correctly - it writes them off as freak occurrences, "that doesn't count", whatever - but when you see a cyclist doing what you expect them to do, you pay attention. Over time, your accumulated memories of cyclists is that they all do exactly what you expect them to do - because you've forgotten/ignored all of the times they didn't do what you expected.

It doesn't just apply to road use, it applies to a whole host of things. Our brain is constantly searching for things which confirm our own biases. Biases tend to strengthen in an individual over time, not because they're right, but because they've been fooled by their brain into thinking that their biaise has been confirmed more than it actually has. It forgets the contradictions.

Try it out this evening. On your drive home, make a special effort to dispassionately look at the cyclists. How many are stopped at the lights? How many are indicating? How many have lights, how many don't? When you see one cyclist breaking a light, don't think, "Aha! I was right!". Just continue to objectively observe.

07Lapierre

chopper6 wrote: »

Nonsense...cyclists routinely omit to use hand signals and well you know it...i'm not saying it for the sake of it as i've nearly killed a few trying to second guess thier intentions.

No road user should try and second guess another road users intentions regardless of the mode of transport involved.

Galadriel

chopper6 wrote: »

And i also see a substantial number doing the opposite of the above....do you think i'm making this up?

As many people have said SOME cyclists do foolish things and SOME cyclists don't, it's not an all or nothing situation.

chopper6

07Lapierre wrote: »

No road user should try and second guess another road users intentions regardless of the mode of transport involved.

Well what do you do if THEY don't make thier intentions clear by not indicating?

hardCopy

chopper6 wrote: »

Am I indeed?


So this is the default answer of cyclists is it?

"You didn't see it so you must be at fault"?

Nonsense...cyclists routinely omit to use hand signals and well you know it...i'm not saying it for the sake of it as i've nearly killed a few trying to second guess thier intentions.






I do and I don't....as i've said,using hand signals is so rare as to be almost non-existant...i'm sure many motorists would agree with me.




And i also see a substantial number doing the opposite of the above....do you think i'm making this up?

Yep, I think you're completely full of it.

If you said some cyclists don't signal, I'd believe you
If you said too many cyclists don't signal, I'd agree with you
If you said the majority don't signal, I'd disagree with you and put it down to selective memory
To say that hand signals are as good as non-existant is horse manure and I think you're deliberately exagerating.

chopper6

hardCopy wrote: »

Yep, I think you're completely full of it.

If you said some cyclists don't signal, I'd believe you
If you said too many cyclists don't signal, I'd agree with you
If you said the majority don't signal, I'd disagree with you and put it down to selective memory
To say that hand signals are as good as non-existant is horse manure and I think you're deliberately exagerating.

Are you a motorist?


I think you're not...if you were you would know what i was talking about.


I think a lot of the antipathy directed against car-owners by cyclists is down to jealousy yet they choose to spin around on bicycles in all sorts of weathers whereas motorists remain warm and dry.

07Lapierre

chopper6 wrote: »

Well what do you do if THEY don't make thier intentions clear by not indicating?

Depends on the situation.

if I'm a cyclist and about to cycle through a junction and there is a car in front of me (With no Indicator on) I'll wait until the car moves before deciding what action to take. If the car turns left, I'll pass on the right. If the car turns Right I'll pass on the Left etc. simple really.

07Lapierre

chopper6 wrote: »

Are you a motorist?


I think you're not...if you were you would know what i was talking about.


I think a lot of the antipathy directed against car-owners by cyclists is down to jealousy yet they choose to spin around on bicycles in all sorts of weathers whereas motorists remain warm and dry.

What a load of Crap!

Surveyor11

chopper6 wrote: »

Well what do you do if THEY don't make thier intentions clear by not indicating?

I'm going to go out on a limb here - perhaps ease back, see what the guy is up to in front of you then proceed when it's safe to do so? Could take all of 5 seconds.

cherryghost

There's a minority of all kinds that are utterly stupid when it comes to the law of the road. You can't just single one of them out tbf.

hardCopy

chopper6 wrote: »

Are you a motorist?


I think you're not...if you were you would know what i was talking about.


I think a lot of the antipathy directed against car-owners by cyclists is down to jealousy yet they choose to spin around on bicycles in all sorts of weathers whereas motorists remain warm and dry.

Yes, I drive 20,000+km a year for work. I also cycle but I haven't been on my bike in over a month.

Your perception of cycling has little connection to reality.

I suggest you spend less time listening to George Hook and Jeremy Clarkson and try to form your own opinions.

Surveyor11

chopper6 wrote: »

Are you a motorist?


I think you're not...if you were you would know what i was talking about.


I think a lot of the antipathy directed against car-owners by cyclists is down to jealousy yet they choose to spin around on bicycles in all sorts of weathers whereas motorists remain warm and dry.

I've been doing it all wrong - cycling to work all year round when I could have used my nice car, double my travel time, use up thousands in petrol but stay nice and dry. That's it, you've convinced me - I'm driving from now on....

Skrynesaver

chopper6 wrote: »

Are you a motorist?


I think you're not...if you were you would know what i was talking about.


I think a lot of the antipathy directed against car-owners by cyclists is down to jealousy yet they choose to spin around on bicycles in all sorts of weathers whereas motorists remain warm and dry.

I actually LOL'd, I do have a car, but I double the value of it when I stick my bike on the back

I honestly suspect that, having spent more than they can afford on a depreciating asset, many motorists are burning with jealousy when they see a bicycle sail past them while they shunt another 2 car lengths closer to the lights.

Driving is an exhausting and tedious chore, particularly in Dublin, cycling however can clear your head of the detritus that build there during a days work. (That said I've designed API's on the ride home).

On the original topic, I am delighted to see the guards enforce the law on road users regardless of their means of transport as I believe flouting of the law by a minority of cyclists gives a dangerous impression to the Colonel Blimp types that cyclists are not real traffic and don't have the same rights as other road users.

chopper6

Skrynesaver wrote: »

Driving is an exhausting and tedious chore, particularly in Dublin, cycling however can clear your head of the detritus that build there during a days work. (That said I've designed API's on the ride home).

You can't have been giving the road your full attention then can you?

And while i'm at it...what proficiency or otehr tests to cyclists have to t ake before hitting the streets/

Nothing.


A motorist must pass the Driver Theory test to even qualify for a Provisional Licence,he must then take lessons from a qualified driver and is not allowed to drive unacompanied whilst learning.

In order to drive by himself the motorist must have passed the driving test,the car must be in possesion of a valid NCT certificate,motor tax and insurance.


Aditionaly motorists are regularly stopped for intoxication tests and for document checks.

Anybody can jump on a bicycle,whether it's a roadworthy contraption or not,they need no license,no test and they don't pay any kind of taxes.

It is my opinion that bicycle should be licensed,taxed and certified roadworthy and cyclists should also complete a 'driving' test before being allowed to use the city's roads.

hardCopy

chopper6 wrote: »

You can't have been giving the road your full attention then can you?

And while i'm at it...what proficiency or otehr tests to cyclists have to t ake before hitting the streets/

Nothing.


A motorist must pass the Driver Theory test to even qualify for a Provisional Licence,he must then take lessons from a qualified driver and is not allowed to drive unacompanied whilst learning.

In order to drive by himself the motorist must have passed the driving test,the car must be in possesion of a valid NCT certificate,motor tax and insurance.


Aditionaly motorists are regularly stopped for intoxication tests and for document checks.

Anybody can jump on a bicycle,whether it's a roadworthy contraption or not,they need no license,no test and they don't pay any kind of taxes.

It is my opinion that bicycle should be licensed,taxed and certified roadworthy and cyclists should also complete a 'driving' test before being allowed to use the city's roads.

While some kind of training would be nice for the idiots who cycle on paths and break lights, it would just discourage too many people from taking up cycling for little benefit. Driver testing and licencing ensures that some level of competency is shown before you can take a lethal weapon out on the road.

Cyclists just don't kill people, so why bother making it more difficult to get started?

chopper6

hardCopy wrote: »

While some kind of training would be nice for the idiots who cycle on paths and break lights, it would just discourage too many people from taking up cycling for little benefit. Driver testing and licencing ensures that some level of competency is shown before you can take a lethal weapon out on the road.

Cyclists just don't kill people, so why bother making it more difficult to get started?

They can get themselves killed though...through ignorance of the rules of the road,failure to abide by traffic lights,ignorance of hand signals,not having lights etc.

This seems to be part of the problem...although cyclists take to public highways on little more than a thin metal frame they seem to think that rules of the road don't apply to them,competancy isn't necessary and they are in some way doing society a favour.


If they are going to be on public roads with other traffic they should at least have an exam to show they understand what it means to be a road user.