Journalism and cycling

Corca Baiscinn · 24-03-2018 09:26PM

tomasrojo wrote: »

He hasn't turned out to be as bad in an active sense as he first appeared (e.g. the return to mandatory cycletrack use was abandoned, the mandatory hiviz for pedestrians that Troy tried to attach like a remora onto the Minimum Passing Distance initiative was rejected), but he neglected walking and cycling very, very badly.

Problem is though that afaik both of those need him to sign the relevant statutory instrument into law and he has signed neither yet. Ok, the MPDL was only announced a month ago but he has linked it to the Garda getting the enforcement sensors so heaven knows when that will happen. He's dragging his feet on the mandatory use and at this stage with an election likely within the next year someone needs to put the skids under him. Last thing we need is for yet another Minister for Transport to put his/her oar in.

RE MPD I'm in two minds re wisdom of putting him under pressure in public to sign SI. Thing is w ith media coverage when it was announced and current RSA ad campaign lots of drivers seem to think MPD is already law and are acting accordingly so I wouldn't like to disabuse them of that idea!

tomasrojo · 24-03-2018 09:50PM

Corca Baiscinn wrote: »

Problem is though that afaik both of those need him to sign the relevant statutory instrument into law and he has signed neither yet. Ok, the MPDL was only announced a month ago but he has linked it to the Garda getting the enforcement sensors so heaven knows when that will happen. He's dragging his feet on the mandatory use and at this stage with an election likely within the next year someone needs to put the skids under him. Last thing we need is for yet another Minister for Transport to put his/her oar in.

The thing about the mandatory use is, as it stands, given that he's now said on record that Varadkar's intention when he was in charge of Transport was to make cycletracks non-compulsory to use, that even without a new SI they are non-compulsory to use. In the event of ambiguity in wording, the intention of the minister is referred to. I don't think a new SI is needed at all.

tomasrojo · 24-03-2018 09:53PM

If Robert Troy becomes minister for Transport, we're in big trouble though.

magicbastarder · 03-04-2018 12:24PM

More fines issued to cyclists but not to drivers parking in cycle lanes
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/more-fines-issued-to-cyclists-but-not-to-drivers-parking-in-cycle-lanes-1.3449090

Time · 03-04-2018 12:32PM

magicbastarder wrote: »

More fines issued to cyclists but not to drivers parking in cycle lanes
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/more-fines-issued-to-cyclists-but-not-to-drivers-parking-in-cycle-lanes-1.3449090

Breaking a red light is always against the law, however there are plenty of circumstances where it is perfectly legal to park in a cycle lane. Whether that is right or wrong is another issue, but the red light issue is Black and White, so i't good to see enforcement of it.

Steoller · 03-04-2018 12:37PM

magicbastarder wrote: »

More fines issued to cyclists but not to drivers parking in cycle lanes
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/more-fines-issued-to-cyclists-but-not-to-drivers-parking-in-cycle-lanes-1.3449090

Poor 'I bike Dublin' getting short shift there. The piece makes it sound like they had one demo against cycle lane parking all year, when they were out every week.

ED E · 03-04-2018 12:42PM

Time wrote: »

Breaking a red light is always against the law, however there are plenty of circumstances where it is perfectly legal to park in a cycle lane. Whether that is right or wrong is another issue, but the red light issue is Black and White, so i't good to see enforcement of it.

The article is focused on Dublin, most solid white cycle lanes in the city are co-lo with Clearways for the same hours making it always a violation to park there.

Unfortunately even the clearway directly opposite a garda station is a fine place to park without a chance of receiving an FCPN.

tomasrojo · 03-04-2018 02:18PM

It's illegal to park in ANY cycle track bordered by an unbroken white line. That's a black-and-white issue, just like red-light breaking.

rubadub · 03-04-2018 02:21PM

Time wrote: »

Breaking a red light is always against the law, however there are plenty of circumstances where it is perfectly legal to park in a cycle lane.

I don't think "cycle lanes" exist in Irish law, there are "cycle tracks" and "cycleways" which have different rules.

I am not sure about (allegedly) broken down cars either.

Time · 03-04-2018 02:34PM

Not if the cycle lane has certain hours of operation, there are also allowances for passengers alighting etc...

Grassey · 03-04-2018 02:39PM

Time wrote: »

there are also allowances for passengers alighting etc...

Can you elaborate on the source for this? First I've heard of it.

The only 'alighting passengers' law I am aware of is where a cyclist cannot overtake a car on the left where car is stationary for the purpose of allowing a passenger to alight or board the vehicle, or is stationary for the purposes of loading or unloading.
(Part 3 of http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2012/si/332/made/en/print )

But, that doesn't mean a car can just lamp themselves up into a lane to unload or pick up/drop off passengers.

ED E · 03-04-2018 02:43PM

Time wrote: »

Not if the cycle lane has certain hours of operation, there are also allowances for passengers alighting etc...

A single yellow lane and a cycle lane are totally different things.

monument · 03-04-2018 03:28PM

Steoller wrote: »

Poor 'I bike Dublin' getting short shift there. The piece makes it sound like they had one demo against cycle lane parking all year, when they were out every week.

That is the gospel according to The Irish Times. If it wasn’t in the paper of record, it didn’t happen.

magicbastarder · 05-04-2018 09:51AM

quite a tenuous link to cycling, but how and ever.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/apr/04/juli-briskman-cyclist-middle-finger-trump-photo-sues-employer

Fian · 05-04-2018 10:03AM

magicbastarder wrote: »

quite a tenuous link to cycling, but how and ever.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/apr/04/juli-briskman-cyclist-middle-finger-trump-photo-sues-employer

Speaking of tenuous links to cycling:

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/plan-to-close-merrion-gates-may-be-deferred-1.3450663

This article gives the distinct impression that the plan to close the merrion gates & CPO 35 properties is mainly for the purpose of installing a cycle path, rather than alleviating traffic and dart delays.

Doctor Bob · 05-04-2018 06:20PM

Fian wrote: »

Speaking of tenuous links to cycling:

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/plan-to-close-merrion-gates-may-be-deferred-1.3450663

This article gives the distinct impression that the plan to close the merrion gates & CPO 35 properties is mainly for the purpose of installing a cycle path, rather than alleviating traffic and dart delays.

Is that not the S2S Southside/East Coast Trail that's being referred to? Hardly a tenuous link to cycling.

Arcade_Tryer · 05-04-2018 07:36PM

magicbastarder wrote: »

quite a tenuous link to cycling, but how and ever.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/apr/04/juli-briskman-cyclist-middle-finger-trump-photo-sues-employer

Quite a strong link to NIMBYISM.

magicbastarder · 05-04-2018 09:22PM

not sure of the link, in that nimby usually refers to planning issues? or were you referring to the merrion gate story?

Thinkingaboutit · 06-04-2018 08:39AM

Fian wrote: »

Speaking of tenuous links to cycling:

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/plan-to-close-merrion-gates-may-be-deferred-1.3450663

This article gives the distinct impression that the plan to close the merrion gates & CPO 35 properties is mainly for the purpose of installing a cycle path, rather than alleviating traffic and dart delays.

Someone will have to Talk to Joe about the harm the All Powerful Cycling Lobby plan to do to poor rale Dubliners....:pac:

Lumen · 06-04-2018 09:40AM

The scourge of dockless bicycles vehicles

https://slate.com/business/2018/04/astounding-photos-capture-graveyards-of-unused-dockless-vehicles-in-american-cities.html

magicbastarder · 06-04-2018 09:55AM

have you seen the photos of all the VWs which were returned by their owners, all parked up?

mr spuckler · 10-04-2018 10:28AM

not specifically cycling related but I found this an interesting tale of the impact that a fatal RTC can have on the motorist involved.

mr spuckler · 10-04-2018 04:22PM

and Justice Charleton involving cyclists in the disclosures tribunal :rolleyes:

https://twitter.com/SeanMJourno/status/983643837619982336

Kop Idol · 11-04-2018 12:12PM

Today's Indo > We need to see others as people, not stereotypes
In the motoring section, an attempt at humanizing all road users but cyclists in particular.

Kaisr Sose · 11-04-2018 01:47PM

Kop Idol wrote: »

Today's Indo > We need to see others as people, not stereotypes
In the motoring section, an attempt at humanizing all road users but cyclists in particular.

I seen that too

I always find that Eddie Cunningham writes very pro cycling/road safety articles. Although it’s common sense stuff, it’s not to loads of motorists. It takes a lot of such commentary to change behaviour and a good mix of enforcement!

I wished motorists would take time to read these articles instead of their latest social media messages

AndrewJRenko · 11-04-2018 10:13PM

Usual helmet-shaming from the judiciary, along with the miraculous invention of something called a 'safety seat'.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/circuit-court/garda-s-60-000-damages-claim-over-bicycle-fall-thrown-out-1.3457066

what_traffic · 12-04-2018 11:39AM

Kop Idol wrote: »

Today's Indo > We need to see others as people, not stereotypes
In the motoring section, an attempt at humanizing all road users but cyclists in particular.

Is it though? Alot of flaws in this article

Look at the photo, in an Irish context that person is cycling on the wrong side of the road.
It really is the wrong image to be using.

Article is NOT written by Eddie Cunningham. It is a "so called" nameless RSA Ireland employee who wont put a name to these articles. I can only assume it is problably because they have no backing to have EXPERT in ones title?

Kaisr Sose · 12-04-2018 04:26PM

what_traffic wrote: »

Is it though? Alot of flaws in this article

Look at the photo, in an Irish context that person is cycling on the wrong side of the road.
It really is the wrong image to be using.

Article is NOT written by Eddie Cunningham. It is a "so called" nameless RSA Ireland employee who wont put a name to these articles. I can only assume it is problably because they have no backing to have EXPERT in ones title?

I am not sure how you know it’s not Eddie writing these but we have to start somewhere. This sort of editorial content is far better than one sided debates on national TV / Radio or comments online that label all cyclist as red light breakers, who think they own the road and don’t pay road tax(sic)

Hurrache · 12-04-2018 04:33PM

Can probably go in the high vis thread, but this evening on Matt Cooper they'll be discussing why high vis does little to protect cyclists.

what_traffic · 12-04-2018 05:10PM

Kaisr Sose wrote: »

I am not sure how you know it’s not Eddie writing these but we have to start somewhere.

He is a journalist and he will put his name to stuff he writes? NO? I would agree with you that he is far better than many, especially on the airwaves. I pretty sure @RSAIrleand on twitter a while back have acknowledged that they provide the content here for IndoMotoring?

Journalism and cycling

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