Lycra fraternity and Multitudes of cyclists on paths...

Kaisr Sose

Not sure what to make of this comment article in the So So Sindo (1st part)

http://independent.ie/life/motoring/comment-the-more-that-seems-to-be-given-to-cyclists-the-more-badly-behaved-many-seem-to-be-35785989.html

Keeping it short ...generalisations et al...

First world problems

ThisRegard

Who the **** is Campbell Spray, a new form of tinned soup?

It's the usual bollox from that rag, different person dragging it from their ass and mashing it into the paper.

mathie

Its in the Motoring section. Say no more.

I almost got to the end of the first sentence. "There is a sense of entitlement developing among cyclists which is not very nice at all."

mr spuckler

a prior commentary from this lad...

I'm nearly in agreement with the view of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors at their annual conference that fluorescent clothing and helmets for cyclists should be made mandatory.

However, as gardai are already incredibly lax about policing cycling offences, such as no lights at night, breaking red lights, riding on footpaths, going the wrong way up one-way streets and many other dangerous practices, I have really big concerns that the suggestion is just an empty gesture.

so his only issue with mandatory hi-viz was that it wouldn't be enforced

seamus

Bloody hell, that reads worse than a "Dear Sir" comment sent into the letters section.

"People need to be less stupid. I know it's controversial, but if people were just more considerate the world would be a nicer place".

plodder

Curates egg. Some specific points he makes are worthy of discussion, but the generalising is just silly. Nobody says things like "the more motorists seem to be given, the more badly behaved many seem to be". More cars on the road leads to more congestion. More bikes on the road leads to more demand on motorists to share the space with cyclists. That's just a fact. Talk to the gardai about law enforcement.

Chips Lovell

If it gets people riled up, then he's done his job.

jimmycrackcorm

I'm curious about what seems to be this 'more' given to cyclists. In shall the years I've been cycling, I haven't seen anything 'more'.

Guy Sajer

Jep Gambardella wrote: »

If it gets people riled up, then he's done his job.

Exactly. I wonder are papers getting a bigger readership from people who oppose this viewpoint than people who support it.

mrcheez

Jep Gambardella wrote: »

If it gets people riled up, then he's done his job.

It's #1 in the "Most read" list, so I guess he has

Now to await the inevitable punishment passes on the commute home...

MadDogGreener

Ignoring the ridiculous "Lycra fraternity" remark, I do agree with his point on lights. I cycle through Rathmines a couple of times a week late in the evening (around 9/10pm).  I see lots of other cyclists, but the majority have no lights at all. Or if they do they have them, they're barely working.  The last evening I saw 14 bikes, 10 with no lights at all.
Its a shame the point is lost in the other nonsense of the article.

AndrewJRenko

ThisRegard wrote: »

Who the **** is Campbell Spray, a new form of tinned soup?

https://twitter.com/CampbellSpray/with_replies?lang=en

mrcheez

MadDogGreener wrote: »

Ignoring the ridiculous "Lycra fraternity" remark, I do agree with his point on lights. I cycle through Rathmines a couple of times a week late in the evening (around 9/10pm).  I see lots of other cyclists, but the majority have no lights at all. Or if they do they have them, they're barely working.  The last evening I saw 14 bikes, 10 with no lights at all.
Its a shame the point is lost in the other nonsense of the article.

aye... I had 3 brats coming at me the wrong way along the quays last night, completely dressed in black and no lights, but I ignored them as I knew they were just being obnoxious teens.

It's the lads in their 20s ninja-ing along who should know better that bug me.

Pinch Flat

I'm insulted by the Lycra Fraternity comment.

A correct term would be members of the "Lycra Fraternity & Sorority", as this includes our lady cyclists.

flatface

That article really boiled my blood, I added it to the Journalism thread when I saw it.
He first claims that he is a cyclist so he can legitimise his anti-cyclist rant - but then takes great pains to differentiate himself (sturdy steed) from another kind of cyclist (Lycra fraternity) that need to somehow "Cop on".

Strangely in the same paper Brendan O'Connor was in the Lifestyle on about cycling but was again at pains to differentiate himself (upright riding heavy steal bike) with others (angry rude racing types).

So even when people start to cycle they cannot bring themselves to stop compartmentalising and dehumanising other road users due to how they go about their travel. Sad really.

wordofwarning

Another mindless opinion piece from the Indo with not a single fact or figures, just anecdotes...

Moflojo

Sure lookit, it's ok to generalise about people on bikes - they're ALL at it. No regard for anyone else. Don't pay road tax. Entitled so-and-sos, why don't they buy a car like every other grown-up?

But remember, only drunks drink and drive; not ALL drivers. It would be ridiculous to suggest that ALL drivers are at fault because of the actions of one or two drunks.

flatface

Moflojo wrote: »

Sure lookit, it's ok to generalise about people on bikes - they're ALL at it. No regard for anyone else. Don't pay road tax. Entitled so-and-sos, why don't they buy a car like every other grown-up?

But remember, only drunks drink and drive; not ALL drivers. It would be ridiculous to suggest that ALL drivers are at fault because of the actions of one or two drunks.

Also of the 2 opinions the cycling was editorially positioned first as more important/attention grabbing and got the headline.

Keep_Her_Lit

"The more that seems to be given to cyclists" ... let's all express our humble gratitude to Lord Spray for giving us permission to use his roads.

He is at pains to distance himself from the "Lycra fraternity".
He also has another bike "for fast spins into the countryside".

So presumably, he'll be the guy you'll see belting along wearing a duffle coat and wellies the next time he's out on one of his "fast spins".

Arcade_Tryer

The greatest depiction of entitlement in Irish society is without doubt car drivers. And it's not even close.

Disclaimer: I say this as an avid driver.

De Bhál

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

I'm curious about what seems to be this 'more' given to cyclists. In shall the years I've been cycling, I haven't seen anything 'more'.

more abuse

Miklos

De Bhál wrote: »

more abuse

More deaths maybe?

ednwireland

ThisRegard wrote: »

Who the **** is Campbell Spray, a new form of tinned soup?

Mmmmmmmm spray soup

rubadub

Pinch Flat wrote: »

I'm insulted by the Lycra Fraternity comment.

A correct term would be members of the "Lycra Fraternity & Sorority", as this includes our lady cyclists.

Maybe he did mean only males. I have seen letters & plenty of posts before saying they do not mind being stuck behind women in lycra as basically they get to leer at them. But they are left horrified after seeing evidence that men do indeed have genitals, who'd have thunk it.

There is a sense of entitlement developing among cyclists which is not very nice at all.
I cycle to work about three times a week on my sturdy steed and I have another bike -

more like- There is a sense of entitlement developing among people claiming to own a bicycle which is not very nice at all.

i.e. they think this claim then entitles them to be a bigoted prick. Paul Williams was pulling the same trick. Like a black lad saying "I'm black so I can call you the N-word"

"I'm a cyclist so I can call you the C-word"

Roadtoad

Off thread: Idiots on bikes without lights (in dark or twilight) should have their bikes confiscated there and then.

More off thread: The idiot I came across yesterday reversing up a motorway on-ramp should have his nice white car confiscated there and then. (M7 J12, seeing as you ask).

As Solzhenitsyn might muse, we all make mistakes, some cost lives.

Tombo2001

Devils advocate - if cycling on the footpath is such a bad idea - then why are so many cycle lanes on footpaths? Bit of a mixed message.

mrcheez

ThisRegard wrote: »

Who the **** is Campbell Spray, a new form of tinned soup?

Isn't it when you get splattered as the last bit of the lid snaps off?

"What's with all the red dots on your shirt?"

"I got Campbell Sprayed while opening this tomato soup"

Sounds like one for the Urban Dictionary...

07Lapierre

Tombo2001 wrote: »

Devils advocate - if cycling on the footpath is such a bad idea - then why are so many cycle lanes on footpaths? Bit of a mixed message.

Because the cycle paths are designed with this type of cyclist in mind....

https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/six-year-old-boy-pushing-bike-14352218.jpg

Tombo2001

rubadub wrote: »

Maybe he did mean only males. I have seen letters & plenty of posts before saying they do not mind being stuck behind women in lycra as basically they get to leer at them. But they are left horrified after seeing evidence that men do indeed have genitals, who'd have thunk it.



more like- There is a sense of entitlement developing among people claiming to own a bicycle which is not very nice at all.

i.e. they think this claim then entitles them to be a bigoted prick. Paul Williams was pulling the same trick. Like a black lad saying "I'm black so I can call you the N-word"

"I'm a cyclist so I can call you the C-word"

Yes, this annoys me no end.

Similarly, you get these people who are anti-government here who refer to 'Paddy' all the time......and its like, but I'm Irish so I can say it......

Tombo2001

07Lapierre wrote: »

Because the cycle paths are designed with this type of cyclist in mind....

https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/six-year-old-boy-pushing-bike-14352218.jpg

True -

I remember Fintan O'Toole writing an article whining about cyclists on footpaths - only a few years later it dawned on me that two principal traffic routes towards where he lives actually have bike paths on the footpath - i.e. that's what they are supposed to do.

And then if you don't go on the footpath, you get the @there's a perfectly good footpath and they wont go on them@ merchants.

07Lapierre

Tombo2001 wrote: »

True -

I remember Fintan O'Toole writing an article whining about cyclists on footpaths - only a few years later it dawned on me that two principal traffic routes towards where he lives actually have bike paths on the footpath - i.e. that's what they are supposed to do.

And then if you don't go on the footpath, you get the @there's a perfectly good footpath and they wont go on them@ merchants.

Got it in one!

Bad cycling infrastructure is worse than no cycling infrastructure!

AndrewJRenko

Roadtoad wrote: »

Off thread: Idiots on bikes without lights (in dark or twilight) should have their bikes confiscated there and then.

And all the cars running with one or two broken brake lights, or one broken headlight, or no back lights at all due to DRLs on - all those should be confiscated too presumably?

Hope you have a big pound.

Kaisr Sose

Can I suggest a fraternity tie is included in the next Boardsies cycling kit order!

Dermot Illogical

I decided to alter it a little, just to highlight how much othering it contains.
_______________________________________________________________

There is a sense of entitlement developing among motorists which is not very nice at all.



I drive to work about three times a week in my trusty commuter and I have another car - admittedly not much used yet - for fast spins into the countryside, so I'm fully supportive of trying to get more people into cars and ­having a proper structure of roads, motorways and ­traffic-enhancing measures.


Yet the more that seems to be given to motorists, the more badly behaved many seem to be.

Driving in the mountains at the weekend, I find that groups of the furry dice fraternity seem to relish holding up the traffic by driving in positions that militate against passing. Yet that is a minor issue compared to the many urban drivers who break red lights, ignore speed limits, drive while texting, fail to look where they are going, drive while drunk or hungover, fail to indicate, have faulty lights, know nothing about lane discipline and drive up bus lanes with impunity. Then there are the multitudes who think the road is for them and not for anyone else.


When I'm walking Sam at night, I reckon that nearly three-quarters of the drivers who pass us are speeding.

Drivers have to cop on. We deserve a better infrastructure and to be treated with respect on the roads.


The more drivers, the worse it is for the nation's, and planet's, health. And respect works both ways. The four-wheeled fraternity have to obey the laws, not upset other road users and not be rude or arrogant.

tomasrojo

Dermot Illogical wrote: »

I decided to alter it a little, just to highlight how much othering it contains.

Works rather well!

tomasrojo

flatface wrote: »

He first claims that he is a cyclist so he can legitimise his anti-cyclist rant - but then takes great pains to differentiate himself (sturdy steed) from another kind of cyclist (Lycra fraternity) that need to somehow "Cop on".

Strangely in the same paper Brendan O'Connor was in the Lifestyle on about cycling but was again at pains to differentiate himself (upright riding heavy steal bike) with others (angry rude racing types).

I have three bikes, all steel. And yet, I feel no need to distance myself from crappy journalists.

Kaisr Sose

Dermot Illogical wrote: »

I decided to alter it a little, just to highlight how much othering it contains

An excellent piece. A career in Motoring journalism beckons.

HivemindXX

That these people feel the need to be specific about what sort of cyclist they are whining about is a victory of sorts.

They now realise that a significant number of their readers have a bike for a leisurely spin with the kids on a nice day or down to the shops (not anyone our lovely lord mayor knows of course) or (ironically) for getting back from the pub. Or at least they know someone like that. So the rhetoric has to be directed at those "lycra" types, not normal cyclists like you...I mean US.