All cyclists need insurance scaremongering?

Special Circumstances

Hi all,
Don't post here often so maybe I coming at this from a different viewpoint, but does anyone else think 3 stories in 3 days on insurance is a bit weird?

Especially with panicky headlines as used by the Examiner.

"Thousands of cyclists not fully insured" - Irish Examiner, today.
(Like OMG what about the hundreds of thousands of pedestrians not fully insured OMG)

Planning to get your bike out for the bright evenings? You should probably read this? - Journal.ie, Sunday.


Cyclists who injure face large liability bills - Irish Examiner, Saturday.


Source is the same for all 3 stories - Mayo County Council Safety Officer. But the tone of the whole thing is very weird, mixing theft and personal injury and third party injury into one "cycling is dangerous, cyclists are dangerous and in danger woooooo buy more insurance wooooo" scare story.

Maybe I'm reading too much into this but many of us will have seen health insurance and car insurance steadily climbing. Just getting bad vibes from sudden media uptake of these stories.

Atlantic Dawn

I was not aware of any insurance policy available in this country to cover you for damage you cause to others when cycling your bike. Is there any?

DaithiMC

Special Circumstances wrote: »

Hi all,
Don't post here often so maybe I coming at this from a different viewpoint, but does anyone else think 3 stories in 3 days on insurance is a bit weird?

Especially with panicky headlines as used by the Examiner.

"Thousands of cyclists not fully insured" - Irish Examiner, today.
(Like OMG what about the hundreds of thousands of pedestrians not fully insured OMG)

Planning to get your bike out for the bright evenings? You should probably read this? - Journal.ie, Sunday.


Cyclists who injure face large liability bills - Irish Examiner, Saturday.


Source is the same for all 3 stories - Mayo County Council Safety Officer. But the tone of the whole thing is very weird, mixing theft and personal injury and third party injury into one "cycling is dangerous, cyclists are dangerous and in danger woooooo buy more insurance wooooo" scare story.

Maybe I'm reading too much into this but many of us will have seen health insurance and car insurance steadily climbing. Just getting bad vibes from sudden media uptake of these stories.

Panicky headlines sell, stories like this indicate slow news days. I don't think they would sell as many if they ran "At least 23,000 cyclists are fully covered with third party damage insurance".

Lumen

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

I was not aware of any insurance policy available in this country to cover you for damage you cause to others when cycling your bike. Is there any?

Cycling Ireland membership provides this.

http://www.cyclingireland.ie/page/membership/insurance

Atlantic Dawn

Lumen wrote: »

Cycling Ireland membership provides this.

What kind of costs involved for a year? Wouldn't mind having it if it was reasonable.

nilhg

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

I was not aware of any insurance policy available in this country to cover you for damage you cause to others when cycling your bike. Is there any?

Cycling Ireland membership/licence includes public liability insurance,

Public Liability insurance protects registered Cycling Ireland Members and Affiliated Clubs against claims by third parties for property damage and/or bodily injury as a result of any negligence on the part of the affiliated Club and/or its registered members.

http://www.cyclingireland.ie/page/membership/insurance

couerdelion

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

What kind of costs involved for a year? Wouldn't mind having it if it was reasonable.

€30 if you are in a club or €40 if unattached.

PukkaStukka

I thought that insurance only covered you during events or training? If so, you wouldn't be covered for "casual" cycling or commuting....

Lumen

PukkaStukka wrote: »

I thought that insurance only covered you during events or training? If so, you wouldn't be covered for "casual" cycling or commuting....

It is impossible to move a bicycle without getting fitter.

Special Circumstances

Not knocking Cyclist Ireland. This doesn't seem to be driven by them, and it's worthwhile considering for any one "out training or at an approved Cycling Ireland event". But this Mayo County Council suggestion that all cyclists between gran going to mass and TdeF participant should register themselves and get insurance is just strange to my mind.

I enjoy cycling. Do I train for or partake in Cycling Ireland events? Rarely. I cycle for fitness (ish haha) and to clear my mind.

I'm gonna setup Pedestrians Ireland and Nose Picking Ireland and ask that media outlets encourage all particpants of either activity to pay me money. No matter how rare or low intensity their participation is in either activity.

Full PPE at all times folks - it's the only safe way!

BlatentCheek

My understanding was that most home insurance policies cover you, below a certain threshold. Obviously if your cycling competitively you won't be covered. The article failed to clarify the limits of household cover and your man mainly seemed to be saying it would be a good idea to get specialist cover.

I wouldn't lose much sleep over it. People generally only bring claims where there is an Insurance policy to pay up as its a waste of time and money going through the courts otherwise. Is there a single example in this country anyone is aware of where a cyclist was pursued for serious damages and had to pay out of his pocket, without an insurance policy indemnifying him?

Tigerandahalf

I think if you are cycling on your own out in the country you have no worries. If you are commuting or in a big sportive you could end up being liable for damage or injury if you have an incident. Most sportives require insurance though. If you are not with cycling ireland they charge you an extra 5 to cover insurance. You see a lot of stories here of people crashing into pedestrians or vehicles. I haven't seen any court cases arising.

tayto lover

Cycle insurance is a great idea.

Special Circumstances

BlatentCheek wrote: »

The article failed to clarify the limits of household cover and your man mainly seemed to be saying it would be a good idea to get specialist cover.

I wouldn't lose much sleep over it.

Yeah, I hear you. Just can't tell if the drive behind this comes from shrieky nanny-state-ism "won't somebody think of the children" or from lets find another way to charge people money "mandatory tax, insurance, and full ppe".

Pinch Flat

There's a common train of thought among the motoring community that insurance (as well as registration, helmets and hi-vis) will make cycling safer, as well as absolving the motorists in collisions involving cyclists. It will also miraculously cut out red light breaking which, as we all know, has a strong precedent for motorists.

I insure myself primarily to cause injury to myself, time off and my bike etc. Not to fix the scratch on someone's Beamer as some drivers think, but it should cover me in a situation where I'm liable and damage someone's property or injure them (a pedestrian, for example). I get mine through Cycling Ireland and it's money well spent IMHO.

Tigerandahalf

@Blatantcheek
I thought alright that house policies cover you for a certain amount of personal liability, e.g. playing golf. However many people would be renting or perhaps have apartment block insurance so I don't know what the situation is then. I would say most incidents are pretty minor. Unless you crash into some fella's 151 BMW.

Special Circumstances

DaithiMC wrote: »

Panicky headlines sell, stories like this indicate slow news days. I don't think they would sell as many if they ran "At least 23,000 cyclists are fully covered with third party damage insurance".

Another weekend I might have agreed. The weekend that was in it? Dwyer murder case? It's a wonder they had any spare computer to Ctrl-C Ctrl-V this one from Mayo CC press release.

BailMeOut

Is this for cases of a bike damaging property while cycling? e.g. if you rode into the side of a car and dented the door or took off a side mirror and was 100% your fault would cycling Ireland insurance cover that damage to the car?

Jawgap

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

I was not aware of any insurance policy available in this country to cover you for damage you cause to others when cycling your bike. Is there any?

If you have house / home insurance check it - some policies cover you on a third party basis outside the home.

ah, Mayo - the home of the bicycle registration plate I wonder how many of the bikes they originally tagged still have them?

Special Circumstances

Anything to be said for another Mass?Mayo County Council Safety Team are pulling out all the stops to reduce road deaths - crackdown on uninsured cyclists and road blessings.

PukkaStukka

Just checked, One Direct does a policy to ensure your bike with €500,000 personal liability cover included.

Beasty

Scaremongering?? Noel Gibbons?? Never ...

Mr Gibbons does seem to like the sound of his own preaching on all matters cycling

Jawgap

Beasty wrote: »

Scaremongering?? Noel Gibbons?? Never ...

Mr Gibbons does seem to like the sound of his own preaching on all matters cycling

Disgraceful.......

.......and an attitude like that will not get you one of his 'DON'T KILL ME JACKETS' - that's HiViz to everyone east of the Shannon

check_six

I kind of assumed that the person doing the press release had a vested interest somewhere along the line. A relative or friend running an insurance firm of some kind wanting to drum up some extra business. The press release from a County Council gives it the veneer of authority and people rush out and buy it. That's generally the things work around here isn't it?

Maybe it's not that at all and it's just some crank with a grudge? It's hard to keep track nowadays.

Special Circumstances

Beasty wrote: »

Scaremongering?? Noel Gibbons?? Never ...

Mr Gibbons does seem to like the sound of his own preaching on all matters cycling

Oh.. I wasn't aware there was history here. If there was some coherent argument in the articles for when where and why every cyclist would need insurance. But the weird "danger danger " tone of the thing struck me as weird.

Can I assume this guy is on a solo run in a remote corner of Ireland and we are not all going to have to have our frame numbers and insurance policies tattoed on our bodies?

laraghrider

Special Circumstances wrote: »

does anyone else think 3 stories in 3 days on insurance is a bit weird?

"Thousands of cyclists not fully insured" - Irish Examiner, today.
(Like OMG what about the hundreds of thousands of pedestrians not fully insured OMG)

Planning to get your bike out for the bright evenings? You should probably read this? - Journal.ie, Sunday.


Cyclists who injure face large liability bills - Irish Examiner, Saturday.

It's not that strange. Two are by the examiner one of which is a follow on from the Saturday piece and the other is the journal. The journal pretty much just copies and pastes stories from elsewhere and claims it as news.

check_six

check_six wrote: »

I kind of assumed that the person doing the press release had a vested interest somewhere along the line. A relative or friend running an insurance firm of some kind wanting to drum up some extra business. The press release from a County Council gives it the veneer of authority and people rush out and buy it. That's generally the things work around here isn't it?

Maybe it's not that at all and it's just some crank with a grudge? It's hard to keep track nowadays.

Big auto is trying to stamp out this cycling lark before it eats into their sales </tinfoil hat>

Flem31

If a cyclist collides with a pedestrian on a footpath would any insurance cover be valid ?

BrianHenryIE

I crashed and broke my finger last year. It was my first time really needing the public health system, but I got seen to in A&E pretty quickly, an appointment for the following week with a doctor and then four physio sessions over six weeks. I only had to pay for the A&E visit. I realise if I hit someone else there might be a claim, but what benefit would an insurance policy or even private health insurance give me if I'm in an accident by myself?

Beasty

brian.henry wrote: »

I crashed and broke my finger last year. It was my first time really needing the public health system, but I got seen to in A&E pretty quickly, an appointment for the following week with a doctor and then four physio sessions over six weeks. I only had to pay for the A&E visit. I realise if I hit someone else there might be a claim, but what benefit would an insurance policy or even private health insurance give me if I'm in an accident by myself?

If you can benefit from the type of insurance offered by CI you will get your medical expenses covered up to €2,500 (must be incurred within 12 months - I incurred slightly more than this after taking off what my PHI covered after my racing accident last year - this included GP visits, various private Xrays, consultants appointments, temporary splint, physio etc). Don't underestimate the potential costs if you end up in a serious accident (although I suspect my own claim was very much at the top end of the scale). You will also get some cover if you are unable to work. The IVCA offers similar cover

tomasrojo

Yes, Noel Gibbons says some strange things.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=93638163&postcount=227

DaithiMC

ronoc wrote: »

Big auto is trying to stamp out this cycling lark before it eats into their sales </tinfoil hat>

Indeed, they have already taken the steel out of our bikes, forcing us to buy carbon frames! :eek:

Inquitus

Beasty wrote: »

If you can benefit from the type of insurance offered by CI you will get your medical expenses covered up to €2,500 (must be incurred within 12 months - I incurred slightly more than this after taking off what my PHI covered after my racing accident last year - this included GP visits, various private Xrays, consultants appointments, temporary splint, physio etc). Don't underestimate the potential costs if you end up in a serious accident (although I suspect my own claim was very much at the top end of the scale). You will also get some cover if you are unable to work. The IVCA offers similar cover

I looked at claiming after my crash at the Wexford 2 day as it cost me 400 quid in A&E and subsequently X-Rays and a Consultant visit at the VHI Clinic, and they really made it quite onerous, I had to get witness statements, Doctor's letter from Wexford General and in the end I didn't bother as it would have cost me nearly as much as I would have got back. Plus with VHI covering some of the costs I would have to claim one portion off them and another off the CI Insurers.

Special Circumstances

tomasrojo wrote: »

Yes, Noel Gibbons says some strange things.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=93638163&postcount=227

Yes a picture is forming here...
Thanks, I'll regard this idea of mandatory insurance to pop down the shop on my bike as less "thin end of the wedge" and more "lunatic fringe".