Off Topic Thread 3.0

Rigor Mortis · 17-11-2017 01:17PM

thomond2006 wrote: »

Helmets should be mandatory for cyclists.

Discuss.

I don't like making things mandatory, but i think you could achieve the same result by invalidating any insurance claim made against a driver, where the cyclist isn't wearing a helmet.

Buer · 17-11-2017 01:17PM

thomond2006 wrote: »

Helmets should be mandatory for cyclists.

Yes but high-vis clothing even more so. Already this month I've had to slam on the breaks more than one occasion at junctions due to cyclists wearing black coming through the junction at speed on dark, wet mornings and wearing all dark clothes. Not a chance of seeing them until they're about 15m away.

17-11-2017 01:18PM

pickarooney wrote: »

Helmets are pretty much useless.

Complete bollocks.

thomond2006 · 17-11-2017 01:18PM

Aye high vis should be mandatory alright. Some cyclists in D4 have a death wish on work days.

molloyjh · 17-11-2017 01:18PM

awec wrote: »

Cyclists don't use the cycle lanes for good reason, they are often quite dangerous and all too often just abrubtly end randomly causing confusion. Safer to stay on the road.

Often, but not always, true. I've seen plenty of cycle lanes that are perfectly fine. Even safer than using the road. And yet most cyclists on those routes don't go near them. It doesn't explain cycling the wrong way on one way streets or on the footpath. Or 3 abreast on small roads. Or through lights, often times at pace. I've had way more close calls with cyclists than motorists as a pedestrian for example.

pickarooney · 17-11-2017 01:20PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Complete bollocks.

Just how much protection do you think they give? A thin layer of polystyrene in anything above a 10km/hr collision is not going to Dave you.

17-11-2017 01:20PM

molloyjh wrote: »

Often, but not always, true. I've seen plenty of cycle lanes that are perfectly fine. Even safer than using the road. And yet most cyclists on those routes don't go near them. It doesn't explain cycling the wrong way on one way streets or on the footpath. Or 3 abreast on small roads. Or through lights, often times at pace. I've had way more close calls with cyclists than motorists as a pedestrian for example.

I cycle three different routes and all have cycle lanes. The vast majority of cyclists are in those lanes every single time.

Also the reason cyclists go 3 abreast on small roads is to protect themselves from reckless high speed overtaking. It is infuriating when they don't pull over though.

Bridge93 · 17-11-2017 01:22PM

pickarooney wrote: »

Just how much protection do you think they give? A thin layer of polystyrene in anything above a 10km/hr collision is not going to Dave you.

They can be the difference between a serious head injury or not when you hit the ground. Obviously if a car hits you on the head you’re in trouble regardless of what you wear

17-11-2017 01:23PM

pickarooney wrote: »

Just how much protection do you think they give? A thin layer of polystyrene in anything above a 10km/hr collision is not going to Dave you.

If I thought I could get Dave'd by not wearing a helmet I'd be cycling in circles around the RDS with by bare head on display.

An inch of protective material will reduce a lot of the impact. Even at higher speeds your head is often not the first part of the body to hit the ground.

If you are hit by a car at speed it's not going to do much, but most of the time when a cyclist comes off a bike it's far from fatal circumstances and a helmet will do a lot to protect the most important part of the body.

Don Kiddick · 17-11-2017 01:24PM

pickarooney wrote: »

Helmets are pretty much useless.

Saved my life once, landed on my head and then body...3 broken ribs and no head injury....would have been fcked without the helmet

molloyjh · 17-11-2017 01:26PM

Deleted User wrote: »

I appreciate your perspective and accept this is your experience.

However, I think a lot of people ignore bad behaviour behind the wheel because it's either predictable or just accepted.

I know the Gardai have released statistics which are contrary to your own observations, but as a basic exercise I'd suggest you go and stand at a junction for 20 minutes and count the number of cars as opposed to bikes breaking red lights. I think you will be surprised.

Cyclists are more blatant for sure but motorists are equally careless in my experience.

For starters I wouldn't pay a blind bit of attention to Garda stats. I say that not just as a stats man, but as someone who knows someone who worked for years on their Pulse system. It's the recorded crime vs actual crime idea. If crime isn't reported it doesn't appear on the Garda stats. How many times have you seen a Garda stop a cyclist for anything? Or have targeted campaigns for cyclists?

Cars will generally break the lights to a degree. It's the 2 car rule. When a light goes red you'll often have 1 or 2 cars try and slip through. I'm not looking to excuse that, but it's limited and predictable. With a cyclist it tends to be a case of not just slipping through quickly just as the lights have changed, but blatantly ignoring the lights completely regardless of how long they've been red for.

And again, this doesn't address things like cycling on footpaths etc. The number of times I've had cyclists giving me the evils for daring to be in their way on a footpath is hilarious. I've just given over to telling them simply that the clue is in the name. Or cycling the wrong way on a one way street.

Synode · 17-11-2017 01:28PM

Is anyone with Eir? Considering moving to them but want to know what their TV box is like

molloyjh · 17-11-2017 01:31PM

Deleted User wrote: »

I cycle three different routes and all have cycle lanes. The vast majority of cyclists are in those lanes every single time.

Fair enough.

Deleted User wrote: »

Also the reason cyclists go 3 abreast on small roads is to protect themselves from reckless high speed overtaking. It is infuriating when they don't pull over though.

Going 3 abreast is illegal regardless of why they do it. Blaming the potential poor behaviour of others to justify ongoing poor behaviour themselves isn't good enough. I'm not without sympathy for cyclists (anyone who knows Brayhead will know how difficult Irish roads can be for cyclists - uphill on a narrow road) but there are laws there that a substantial number simply ignore.

Bazzo · 17-11-2017 01:43PM

awec wrote: »

Japan has the best game shows.

Synode · 17-11-2017 01:47PM

I never understand the hatred some motorists have for cyclists. If you're in a car you're driving something that can very easily kill other road users if you hit them. A bike is extremely unlikely to do damage if it hits something.

When you start cycling a lot you realise just how dangerous it is. It really makes you slow down in a car around bikes and stop raging over them

molloyjh · 17-11-2017 01:57PM

Synode wrote: »

I never understand the hatred some motorists have for cyclists. If you're in a car you're driving something that can very easily kill other road users if you hit them. A bike is extremely unlikely to do damage if it hits something.

When you start cycling a lot you realise just how dangerous it is. It really makes you slow down in a car around bikes and stop raging over them

A lot of it is just selfish preoccupation. "You're holding me up, getting in my way and preventing me from getting to where I need to go". A lot of people struggle to see outside their own personal view.

Rigor Mortis · 17-11-2017 01:59PM

Synode wrote: »

Is anyone with Eir? Considering moving to them but want to know what their TV box is like

Cant comment on their tv but getting their broadband was the worse decision i've made in a while. Really terrible.

Buer · 17-11-2017 01:59PM

Synode wrote: »

I never understand the hatred some motorists have for cyclists. If you're in a car you're driving something that can very easily kill other road users if you hit them. A bike is extremely unlikely to do damage if it hits something.

My personal annoyance in relation to cyclists is borne purely from fear of hurting them. As I posted earlier, I've already have a few near misses in the last couple of weeks from cyclists not taking any reasonable measures to protect themselves. No lights, no high-vis, dark clothing in darkness hours and rainy conditions...they should just stick a bullseye on their back.

I know if I hit one of those guys, I would be completely responsible despite there being, realistically, not much I can do if they were going a fraction faster. If I have a near miss with someone who is taking stupid liberties, of course I'm going to be annoyed.

Ireland is a complete shambles when it comes to using the roads whether it's pedestrians, motorists or cyclists. Our education on the matter is brutal and we still have elected representatives fighting to prevent un-licensed drivers being forced to actually be accompanied whilst on the road.

17-11-2017 02:00PM

molloyjh wrote: »

A lot of it is just selfish preoccupation. "You're holding me up, getting in my way and preventing me from getting to where I need to go". A lot of people struggle to see outside their own personal view.

A rationale which I find highly ironic. If all the cyclist on the road (10's of thousands of bike rides into Dublin annually) all got into their cars instead the traffic problem in the city would become unmanageable.

Synode · 17-11-2017 02:01PM

Rigor Mortis wrote: »

Cant comment on their tv but getting their broadband was the worse decision i've made in a while. Really terrible.

Damn it, I really need good broadband as I work from home. Are you in Dublin?

molloyjh · 17-11-2017 02:02PM

Buer wrote: »

they should just stick a bullseye on their back.

You'd probably see them then....

prawnsambo · 17-11-2017 02:02PM

Synode wrote: »

I never understand the hatred some motorists have for cyclists. If you're in a car you're driving something that can very easily kill other road users if you hit them. A bike is extremely unlikely to do damage if it hits something.

When you start cycling a lot you realise just how dangerous it is. It really makes you slow down in a car around bikes and stop raging over them

Yeah, I used to cycle in my yoof and motorists don't realise what's a hazard for a cyclist. Drains, potholes and even loose stuff swept in from the road present a dangerous hazard for cyclists.

As a motorist, you have to be aware that a cyclist will often have to swerve out to avoid some of this stuff and at very short notice. For the cyclist it's the Hobson's choice between being flung out in the road by one of these hazards or being marginally out on the road to avoid them.

My worst nightmare as a cyclist was people opening car doors without checking first as you were cycling by.

Synode · 17-11-2017 02:04PM

Buer wrote: »

My personal annoyance in relation to cyclists is borne purely from fear of hurting them. As I posted earlier, I've already have a few near misses in the last couple of weeks from cyclists not taking any reasonable measures to protect themselves. No lights, no high-vis, dark clothing in darkness hours and rainy conditions...they should just stick a bullseye on their back.

I know if I hit one of those guys, I would be completely responsible despite there being, realistically, not much I can do if they were going a fraction faster. If I have a near miss with someone who is taking stupid liberties, of course I'm going to be annoyed.

Ireland is a complete shambles when it comes to using the roads whether it's pedestrians, motorists or cyclists. Our education on the matter is brutal and we still have elected representatives fighting to prevent un-licensed drivers being forced to actually be accompanied whilst on the road.

Don't think it's accurate that you would be held responsible, as long as you have done nothing wrong i.e. within the speed limit etc

prawnsambo · 17-11-2017 02:05PM

Synode wrote: »

Damn it, I really need good broadband as I work from home. Are you in Dublin?

Get a good 4G router. The good ones combine wired connection with 4G so you can use both. Or just use the 4G. Get an unlocked one so you can use whatever SIM works best for your area. Three PAYG SIMs are obvs. the best. Phone SIM, not broadband.

Bazzo · 17-11-2017 02:06PM

Synode wrote: »

Is anyone with Eir? Considering moving to them but want to know what their TV box is like

The auld lady is with them. The box is grand any time I'm home and using it, a lot more responsive and a better UI than I remember the old UPC boxes having(I left the country brefore they changed to Virgin so no idea how it compares to theirs). I always find Sky's the easiest to use but I think that's just because we got Sky when I was a teenager so I was always very used to it, I don't think Eir's is a million miles off tbh.

Free BT sport with their packages is great too. Their customer service at times can be pretty bad but she's been with them for a long long time and we've only really had to contact them a couple of times for problems.

Synode · 17-11-2017 02:09PM

prawnsambo wrote: »

My worst nightmare as a cyclist was people opening car doors without checking first as you were cycling by.

I once got hit by a car who was stuck in traffic and suddenly decided to turn left in order to do a u-turn. I was in a cycle track and was right beside him when he turned (without looking in his mirrors or over his shoulder at the blind spot). Ended up going flying over his bonnet. No real damage other than a sore leg for a few days

molloyjh · 17-11-2017 02:10PM

Synode wrote: »

Damn it, I really need good broadband as I work from home. Are you in Dublin?

I have their broadband and have had no issue with it. Generally between 35-40MB at peak times which does me perfectly fine. I think people will have varying experience of all providers based on where they live etc. Your best bet is to find out what each provider is like in your area first and foremost.

Bazzo · 17-11-2017 02:14PM

molloyjh wrote: »

I have their broadband and have had no issue with it. Generally between 35-40MB at peak times which does me perfectly fine. I think people will have varying experience of all providers based on where they live etc. Your best bet is to find out what each provider is like in your area first and foremost.

Yeah I've never had a problem with their broadband either. No virgin in the area so they offer by far the fastest speed(60 or 70Mb I think). The house is fairly close to the cabinet(about 100m), the slowest you'd get even at peak times is ~70% of the max up/down over wired. In a small town though so probably a lot less traffic than you might be getting in Dublin or the likes.

Buer · 17-11-2017 02:16PM

Synode wrote: »

Don't think it's accurate that you would be held responsible, as long as you have done nothing wrong i.e. within the speed limit etc

Well, in one of my personal examples, I'm waiting to enter a busy roundabout at 7am on a rainy morning, traffic clears to the right so I accelerate and then, out of the darkness, there's a cyclist on the roundabout coming at speed who I cannot see until the last moment. He has the right of way. He isn't wearing any high vis clothing as it's not required by law, he has no helmet as it's not required by law. He's wearing all black which is fine, legally.

He goes over my bonnet and smashes his head. I'm gonna say I'm in the wrong here but it's bloody hard to spot a cyclist in those circumstances.

awec · 17-11-2017 02:20PM

For internet nothing will beat Virgin. Eir is probably the best of the rest, but it will still suffer contention issues at times and drops in speed.

Virgin's only problem is their TV is absolutely rubbish.

Off Topic Thread 3.0

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