What would convince you to cycle to work instead of drive?

Eleven Benevolent Elephants

This thread is obviously for those who don't already cycle.

My commute to work is 22 km (regardless of whether I take N/R or M roads), the distance is roughly the same. If I drive, it takes me 17 minutes with no traffic when I work early morning or late night shift, but if I do a Dolly Parton day's work it can be upto an hour or even more in stop start traffic (pre covid times).

Getting a bus would involve close to an hour on a bus and then a 40ish minute walk or alternatively 90 minutes on the bus to the city centre and another 30 minutes on another bus. That rules out public transport, even the capped leap fare is more than my petrol cost. (I'm not counting cost of tax ins NCT because I'll still be paying those regardless of whether I use my car for work).

This is what's putting me off cycling to work. I'm a fare weather hobby cyclist. I wouldn't dare cycle in the dark, drivers are too careless. Where I live there is a few sharp hairpin bends which I've no choice to use going in or out of my town. The speed limit is 80 km/h, most drivers treat this as a target and fly around at or above the limit. If you dare take it easy going around, you will be flashed and beeped and dangerously overtaken. Even if you're lit up like a Christmas tree, it won't matter if you get hit. High visibility vests are brought up if a cyclist isn't wearing one and ignored when they were wearing one.

Close passes. Similar to my previous point. Drivers are in too much of a rush. Cyclists are treated as an obstruction and not as traffic. I've heard this even from colleagues. "There was cyclists blocking the road today", and other clowns clucking and nodding in agreement.

Gardaí unable or unwilling to do anything. I've reported close passes before. Only once did the Garda get back to me. He said the car has changed ownership 3 times since I made the initial report, 3 or 4 months previous and said the offending driver would unlikely remember. He declined to see my camera footage.

My work place does great work to encourage cycling. You can ask HR for free batteries for your bike light they also have a box of free (albeit from the poundshop) bike lights if you get stuck or yours breaks etc. Free hi Vis and good shower facilities and a huge bike shed you have to fob into. They encourage employees to post up their cycling maps or stats to be entered into a draw for goodies.

I'd like to see and ad campaign to tell drivers to respect cyclists, rigid enforcement of minimum passing distance and presumed liability like the Netherlands.

cletus

Not having to bring my kids to school when I'm going to work

blackbox

If it's quicker than driving would be the main one.

GarIT

A roof over the cycle lanes. Cars being banned from some of the routes into town.

cletus

blackbox wrote: »

If it's quicker than driving would be the main one.

Cycling would definitely be slower for me (twice as long), but I'd happily do it even a couple days a week, if I could

Eleven Benevolent Elephants

blackbox wrote: »

If it's quicker than driving would be the main one.

Probably would be for me too, but the issues I've outlined are putting me off.
When I experienced the close passed it put me off for days at a time.

How do people have such thick skin? Do you not shït yourselves when a multi ton box barges past at excess speed?

Christ, I've often carefully overtaken a cyclist by moving into the other lane only to be undertaken by other cars who squeeze between me and the cyclist.

Eleven Benevolent Elephants

Is 22 km an insurmountable distance to work up to?

What's your daily commute folks (cycling) ?

cletus

Eleven Benevolent Elephants wrote: »

Christ, I've often carefully overtaken a cyclist by moving into the other lane only to be undertaken by other cars who squeeze between me and the cyclist.

This happens to you often? I've never seen or had it happen that a car overtakes me on the left while I'm in the middle of an overtaking manoeuvre myself

The Mighty Quinn

I tried cycling for a while, its 22km round trip.
Parts of the journey are fine, wide roads and space, parts I need to go through busy areas of town, these parts are the hard stressful parts.

I had the high viz, flashing lights, didn't weave on and out of traffic, didn't break lights, but too often drivers came too close, forcing me into drains, and was knocked off once and really hurt my wrist, amazed it didn't break, but bad sprain and unusable for days and swollen for a fortnight.

If it was wide busy main roads all the way I'd be fine, going through urban areas is a hazard.

begbysback

Nothing, if cycling was the last remaining form of transport then I’d walk.

Eleven Benevolent Elephants

The Mighty Quinn wrote: »

I tried cycling for a while, its 22km round trip.
Parts of the journey are fine, wide roads and space, parts I need to go through busy areas of town, these parts are the hard stressful parts.

I had the high viz, flashing lights, didn't weave on and out of traffic, didn't break lights, but too often drivers came too close, forcing me into drains, and was knocked off once and really hurt my wrist, amazed it didn't break, but bad sprain and unusable for days and swollen for a fortnight.

If it was wide busy main roads all the way I'd be fine, going through urban areas is a hazard.

Did you catch the driver? Or get footage?

The Mighty Quinn

Eleven Benevolent Elephants wrote: »

Did you catch the driver? Or get footage?

No. I don't wear a go pro or anything like that. I got some slap though. That ended my cycle to work days. Tried a couple of times after and just felt too unsafe.

cletus

I cycled in to work about 3 or 4 weeks ago, because my boys had no school, so I could. On the way home, a bus close passed me here, and then pulled in ahead of me to the bus stop. He was close enough that I could rub the side of the bus with my elbow. It was stupid and ****ty, but it wouldn't put me off cycling

https://www.google.com/maps/@53.2119866,-6.6967266,3a,75y,211.7h,84.85t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1su-Nn4NHph9udCPJ1D2QtfQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3Du-Nn4NHph9udCPJ1D2QtfQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D179.38017%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

GoProGaming

Just recently switched to cycle commuting. Pre covid I would be in the car for an hour + + getting from Dublin SW to South City. Now my average is 24 mins door to door on the bike. I'm lucky to have showers and a locker room.

There is still some shifts where I need the car, having to lug a boot full of equipment to another work location and back. The difference now is unreal, I don't enjoy the car commute anymore, I look forward to hopping on the bike and taking the scenic route in.

Wildly Boaring

I'm all about the time for the commute.
Working day can be long.
I'll take the quickest (guaranteed time) commute.
This means cycling even if a trafficless drive was quicker.

No way I'd cycle my current 60k each way across country. But I do cycle the last 2k each way.

I've worked in Dublin a few times and I've either cycled entirely or driven a distance and cycled rest.
I had a site in sheriff st. Used drive to near the airport and cycle in. Cycled in from ongar to town previously.

20k each way is entirely fine. Under an hour and no mad fluctuatations.

I would add. It's invigorating to cycle to work.
You arrive in ready for action. Esp a nice shower before getting to the desk

magicbastarder

Eleven Benevolent Elephants wrote: »

Is 22 km an insurmountable distance to work up to?

up until january i was doing 20km (well, 19.5km to be precise) each way twice a week. it was faster than driving.
i was doing it typically in 50 minutes. 45 on a fast day, 55 on a slow day. worth mentioning that there are decent shower facilities in the office, so i was able to push myself on the commute, if i had to be conscious of not arriving sweaty i'd say i'd have added a good 20 minutes to that.

Wishbone Ash

Eleven Benevolent Elephants wrote: »

... I wouldn't dare cycle in the dark, drivers are too careless....

I always feel safer in the dark as drivers tend to give more space.

Perhaps your road positioning is at fault? I cycle very regularly and only have the occasional close pass.

...Where I live there is a few sharp hairpin bends which I've no choice to use going in or out of my town. The speed limit is 80 km/h, most drivers treat this as a target and fly around at or above the limit. If you dare take it easy going around, you will be flashed and beeped and dangerously overtaken.

Hairpin bends are rare in Ireland (usually only in mountainous areas) and require very slow speeds to negotiate them. I can't see how anyone would be near 80km/h on a hairpin bend.

...Cyclists are treated as an obstruction and not as traffic. I've heard this even from colleagues. "There was cyclists blocking the road today", and other clowns clucking and nodding in agreement.

Have to agree there. I often heard work colleagues apologising for being late by saying they 'got stuck' behind a cyclist. Tractor drivers get the same treatment when going about their lawful business.

...My work place does great work to encourage cycling...

My workplace (HSE) does everything in it's power to discourage cycling. I'm seen as some sort of oddball for cycling to work. A few years ago, they even put up 'no cycling' signs on the grounds. When I asked why there weren't similar signs regarding motor vehicles, I got puzzled looks.

gadarnol

If Ireland had the climate of the Canaries.

magicbastarder

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

My workplace (HSE) does everything in it's power to discourage cycling. I'm seen as some sort of oddball for cycling to work. A few years ago, they even put up 'no cycling' signs on the grounds. When I asked why there weren't similar signs regarding motor vehicles, I got puzzled looks.

there's a 'cyclists dismount' sign on entering the underground car park in our office. one of the lads who cycles in was stopped by a security guard once and told he should dismount. he asked 'why?' and the security guard had no answer except that there was a sign there.

Eleven Benevolent Elephants

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

I always feel safer in the dark as drivers tend to give more space.

Perhaps your road positioning is at fault? I cycle very regularly and only have the occasional close pass.


Hairpin bends are rare in Ireland (usually only in mountainous areas) and require very slow speeds to negotiate them. I can't see how anyone would be near 80km/h on a hairpin bend.

Have to agree there. I often heard work colleagues apologising for being late by saying they 'got stuck' behind a cyclist. Tractor drivers get the same treatment when going about their lawful business.

My workplace (HSE) does everything in it's power to discourage cycling. I'm seen as some sort of oddball for cycling to work. A few years ago, they even put up 'no cycling' signs on the grounds. When I asked why there weren't similar signs regarding motor vehicles, I got puzzled looks.

Ok, hairpin bends might be a bit of a hyperbole this is Ireland not Monaco.
We'll say sharp bends

As for my positioing, it's a delicate balance. If I keep too far left, drivers tend to squeeze past without giving space.

If I cycle too far out some (very few) get impatient and beep and it's puts me under pressure to move to the left to let traffic by.

I don't understand impatience. When driving I always allow time for slower traffic, cyclists, farmers etc.

magicbastarder

gadarnol wrote: »

If Ireland had the climate of the Canaries.

christ no, i'd sweat in the sea in the canaries. i can't imagine what i'd be like cycling to work in any sort of heat.

magicbastarder

Eleven Benevolent Elephants wrote: »

Christ, I've often carefully overtaken a cyclist by moving into the other lane only to be undertaken by other cars who squeeze between me and the cyclist.

often? i don't think i've ever had this happen to me.

TP_CM

Proper shower facilities in work which I don't need to queue for. A locker to keep work clothes in.

Edit: 95% of the cycle has good cycle lanes. But 5% is very dangerous (as I get into Dublin city centre). Narrow roads with no cycle lanes. That's a deterrent too.

Weather (except for snow/ice) is a non-issue for me.

99nsr125

gadarnol wrote: »

If Ireland had the climate of the Canaries.

Exactly

99nsr125

Eleven Benevolent Elephants wrote: »

Probably would be for me too, but the issues I've outlined are putting me off.
When I experienced the close passed it put me off for days at a time.

How do people have such thick skin? Do you not shït yourselves when a multi ton box barges past at excess speed?

Christ, I've often carefully overtaken a cyclist by moving into the other lane only to be undertaken by other cars who squeeze between me and the cyclist.

That's why sensible countries put the cycle lane on the footpath.

Here we just paint a line on the road and make it crap for everyone

Phil.x

Done it for over one year, its 16km each way and I found it was just too far for a real long term alternative to the train, especially with showers, clothing etc.
Now if it was 8km each way, then yes.

Wishbone Ash

99nsr125 wrote: »

That's why sensible countries put the cycle lane on the footpath.

Here we just paint a line on the road and make it crap for everyone

100% disagree. I've zero interest in off road lanes - too much hassle when they stop/start every few metres. Give me the edge of a road any day.

Off road tracks also encourage the belief among many motorists that cyclists shouldn't be on public roads.

Eleven Benevolent Elephants

99nsr125 wrote: »

That's why sensible countries put the cycle lane on the footpath.

Here we just paint a line on the road and make it crap for everyone

The Netherlands has them on the road (mostly) they just allow ample space for both.

Putting them on the path forces cyclists to dismount to to get from the road to cycle lane on the footpath, then you have clowns jogging in them or dog leads stretched across.

99nsr125

Eleven Benevolent Elephants wrote: »

The Netherlands has them on the road (mostly) they just allow ample space for both.

Putting them on the path forces cyclists to dismount to to get from the road to cycle lane on the footpath, then you have clowns jogging in them or dog leads stretched across.

I mean that's so inconvenient so much more so than being at risk of hefty injury or death by being amongst heavy vehicles

I'm a cyclist too by the way

Eleven Benevolent Elephants

99nsr125 wrote: »

I mean that's so inconvenient so much more so than being at risk of hefty injury or death by being amongst heavy vehicles

I'm a cyclist too by the way

Heavy vehicles aren't the danger, it's the driver inside them that's the danger.

Pay attention, watch your speed and keep your distance.

Wishbone Ash

magicbastarder wrote: »

there's a 'cyclists dismount' sign on entering the underground car park in our office. one of the lads who cycles in was stopped by a security guard once and told he should dismount. he asked 'why?' and the security guard had no answer except that there was a sign there.

Concrete descending/ascending ramp? Slippery when wet?

Sign is probably required by the employer's insurance company to deter claims from cyclists hitting the deck in slippery conditions. Motorists are unlikely to fall over when entering/exiting.

Wildly Boaring

Eleven Benevolent Elephants wrote: »

If I cycle too far out some (very few) get impatient and beep and it's puts me under pressure to move to the left to let traffic by.

There isn't really such a thing as too far out.
You have "prime position" if another road user wishes to overtake they may do so when safe.

Stop worrying about the very few whonare beeping.

I usually take the left wheel track of vehicles (out say 1m) but often take the middle of the lane for instance if passing parked cars or if the road surface in left is poor.

I've been beeped at once in 18months. And he was a twat who was in such a rush, he then pulled in for an argument. He was seriously disappointed when he got none.

ED E

I've to dismount inside the front gate. Farcical as theres a 10 kph speed limit, great lighting and no ramps etc so its really perfect cycling conditions.

10km on nutty N roads with drivers buried in snapchat is fine but the 200m inside the gate in a go slow zone to the bike shelter isnt safe? Tried talking sense into the local safety engineer but having none of it.

99nsr125

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

100% disagree. I've zero interest in off road lanes - too much hassle when they stop/start every few metres. Give me the edge of a road any day.

Off road tracks also encourage the belief among many motorists that cyclists shouldn't be on public roads.

Well they shouldn't
Cyclists are very vulnerable just like pedestrians
Pedestrians are separated from the road for safety and so cyclists should be too.

Starting and stopping every few metres is a bit of an exaggeration now isn't it.

The edge the road gives you is green lights at a junction where then you can go with the flow of traffic but this is you wanting to be traffic when it suits and a cyclist when it doesn't.

It can't be like that. Cyclists are not vehicles they are in affect faster moving pedestrians with all the same vulnerabilities. We should be separate from the 2 ton metal hammers.

I am a cyclist also by the way.

GarIT

GoProGaming wrote: »

Just recently switched to cycle commuting. Pre covid I would be in the car for an hour + + getting from Dublin SW to South City. Now my average is 24 mins door to door on the bike. I'm lucky to have showers and a locker room.

There is still some shifts where I need the car, having to lug a boot full of equipment to another work location and back. The difference now is unreal, I don't enjoy the car commute anymore, I look forward to hopping on the bike and taking the scenic route in.

I'd be including the showe time as commuting time if it was necessary after my commute.

99nsr125

Eleven Benevolent Elephants wrote: »

Heavy vehicles aren't the danger, it's the driver inside them that's the danger.

Pay attention, watch your speed and keep your distance.

That's great if you are in roughly equivalent vehicles but we're not.

I can do that all I want and if something goes wrong I will still be horrifically injured

Weather warm and dry. This is the wettest windy place I ever lived. Not suitable for cycling

Wishbone Ash

99nsr125 wrote: »

..
Cyclists are very vulnerable just like pedestrians
Pedestrians are separated from the road for safety and so cyclists should be too.

....Cyclists are not vehicles ....

I think you need to brush up on the road traffic regulations. A bicycle is defined as a 'vehicle' under our legislation. Cyclists are defined as 'drivers'. Pedestrians are not 'vehicles' or 'drivers'.

If it were the case that bicycles are not vehicles, the Government would have to provide off road cycle tracks on every kilometre of road in the country.

lemonTrees

Yeah did it for a few weeks and then just got fed up with it. By the time i got to work, had a shower (we luckily had good facilities) changed etc...and dealt with the inevitable dangers cycling involves i couldn't have been arsed as it took the same amount of time. Some don't like driving but i do as it's a bit of quiet time to chill and listen to music before and after work.

Grassey

99nsr125 wrote:

The edge the road gives you is green lights at a junction where then you can go with the flow of traffic but this is you wanting to be traffic when it suits and a cyclist when it doesn't.

99nsr125 wrote:

Starting and stopping every few metres is a bit of an exaggeration now isn't it.

Have you noticed that off road lanes tend to dip up and down every few meters where there are entrances to houses? Or just stop to yield priority when crossing minor roads?
If you were on the road then you'd have a level surface and maintain priority along the main road.

Pre-covid I'd a 18km each way cycle, cycle lanes for about 15k of it. 4km of them unsuitable for commuting having to stop to cross at every estate or carpark or school entrance. The long stretches whether on or off road, parallel to the main traffic lane were far better to maintain momentum and safety.

daragh_

Eleven Benevolent Elephants wrote: »

Is 22 km an insurmountable distance to work up to?

What's your daily commute folks (cycling) ?

20km each way - not at the moment obvs. Totally doable.

daragh_

99nsr125 wrote: »

Starting and stopping every few metres is a bit of an exaggeration now isn't it.

It really isn't.

My route to work is a mixed bag (Deansgrange to Citywest) Sections of really well designed cycling paths - separate to the road, on-road bike lanes, bits of path with a bike lane painted on the side and nothing at all.

Apart from the off the road bit I just ride on the road and follow the regular flow of traffic - without incident.

Every now and then when I've time I ride the whole thing following the (barely joined up) bits of cycling 'infrastructure'. Just to remind myself how crap it is.

It takes at least 20 minutes longer and involves stopping and yielding a ridiculous amount. If car drivers had to do the same there would be a national meltdown :rolleyes:

Eleven Benevolent Elephants

99nsr125 wrote: »

That's why sensible countries put the cycle lane on the footpath.

Here we just paint a line on the road and make it crap for everyone

Which sensible countries btw?

lawrencesummers

Used to cycle when I was working nights.
Starting at 8pm until 8am and the cycle home

Decided staying alive was a better option because drivers have a particular inability to be patient in the morning, also the person that’s driving while on the phone, drinking coffee, changing the radio station and checking their hair doesn’t have much time for watching out for things like bikes.

whisky_galore

99nsr125 wrote: »

That's why sensible countries put the cycle lane on the footpath.

Here we just paint a line on the road and make it crap for everyone

Footpath should be for pedestrians only, the clue is in the name.
Besides the Irish ones are often barely wide enough to allow 2 pedestrians to pass comfortably let alone put bikes on them.

This thread is obviously for those who don't already cycle.

Might be a more rounded discussion on the C&T board than the cycling board

Eleven Benevolent Elephants

99nsr125 wrote: »

Cyclists are not vehicles

Yes they are.

"99nsr125 wrote: »

They are in affect faster moving pedestrians

No, they aren't.

99nsr125 wrote: »

I am a cyclist also by the way.

Your point?

billyhead

I used to cycle to work each day 26km round trip up until I moved jobs which was a 60km round trip. I loved the daily exercise and been out in the fresh air. I would have no hesitation in cycling to work each day if roads were car and truck free. I had too many near incidents through no fault of my own and for one of them to make contact could be catastrophic. Not worth the risk now with a route that would take me through the city centre. It just takes one eejit to not concentrate behind the wheel. I am getting out every day now for an hour and a half as I am wfh but I can pick and choose the best route and what I feel is the safest route.

Wishbone Ash

billyhead wrote: »

...I would have no hesitation in cycling to work each day if roads were car and truck free....

In all fairness billyhead, you have to be realistic. Roads which are car and truck free don't feature in any normal country. Otherwise paved roads wouldn't be there in the first place.

magicbastarder

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Concrete descending/ascending ramp? Slippery when wet?

tarmac ramp down to the car park. can't say i've ever noticed any slipperiness. to be fair, i have never been stopped in the car park cycling through.

magicbastarder

GarIT wrote: »

I'd be including the showe time as commuting time if it was necessary after my commute.

well, if you're going to be showering in the morning anyway, there's no reason to count showering in work after the cycle against your commute time.

i.e. if you're showering twice a day because of the cycle commute, instead of once, you don't count both showers against your commute.