Journalism and cycling

Pinch Flat · 13-12-2018 10:28PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I recall someone here mentioning before CF was a cyclist himself I think.

Yep. I worked with him a few years back. “You couldn’t pay me to drive in Dublin” he said IIRC

tomasrojo · 13-12-2018 11:03PM

Given that he has several times opined that a family breathing release more CO2 into the atmosphere than the family car, implying that cars aren't a significant contributor to climate change, I don't trust him at all. That disingenuous BS doesn't happen by accident, and he isn't saying it because he doesn't know the difference between CO2 that's part of the carbon cycle and CO2 that's being returned to the atmosphere after millions of years of being locked away.

This article seems broadly right:
http://irishcycle.com/2016/07/17/conor-faughnans-stance-on-30kmh-leaves-the-aa-lacking-any-credibility-on-speed-limits/

and here's something about his complacent, dangerous BS on climate change:
http://irishcycle.com/2017/01/30/epa-data-shows-aa-underplayed-impact-of-cars-on-climate-change-to-oireachtas-committee/

Tell me how · 14-12-2018 12:11AM

tomasrojo wrote: »

Given that he has several times opined that a family breathing release more CO2 into the atmosphere than the family car, implying that cars aren't a significant contributor to climate change, I don't trust him at all. That disingenuous BS doesn't happen by accident, and he isn't saying it because he doesn't know the difference between CO2 that's part of the carbon cycle and CO2 that's being returned to the atmosphere after millions of years of being locked away.

This article seems broadly right:
http://irishcycle.com/2016/07/17/conor-faughnans-stance-on-30kmh-leaves-the-aa-lacking-any-credibility-on-speed-limits/

and here's something about his complacent, dangerous BS on climate change:
http://irishcycle.com/2017/01/30/epa-data-shows-aa-underplayed-impact-of-cars-on-climate-change-to-oireachtas-committee/

To be fair, if you are looking to link articles alluding to Faughnan's motivations, it is somewhat misleading to use publications which are at least as biased in favour of cycling as they are suggesting he is in favour of driving.

It is obvious that those articles are written in an attempt to discredit Conor.

As evidenced by the correction published within one of them.

CramCycle · 14-12-2018 12:50AM

Tell me how wrote: »

To be fair, if you are looking to link articles alluding to Faughnan's motivations, it is somewhat misleading to use publications which are at least as biased in favour of cycling as they are suggesting he is in favour of driving.

It is obvious that those articles are written in an attempt to discredit Conor.

As evidenced by the correction published within one of them.

Ah here, I haven't read the Irish Cycle articles but you cannot say that statement was not horse ****. He was pulling a FF / Green maneuver and stupidly thinking CO2 was the biggest issue with emissions. Pulling such a stunt, and he is smart enough to know better, is just con artistry at its finest. Between releasing trapped CO2 and the other toxins generated it's just misleading propaganda, and low denominator stuff at that, had his claims even made sense, it would be the equivalent of us quadrupling our population for an hour or two a day, and that is underestimating I imagine

tomasrojo · 14-12-2018 12:51AM

Tell me how wrote: »

To be fair, if you are looking to link articles alluding to Faughnan's motivations, it is somewhat misleading to use publications which are at least as biased in favour of cycling as they are suggesting he is in favour of driving.

I'm using it as a source for things he said. He did say them.

Tell me how wrote: »

It is obvious that those articles are written in an attempt to discredit Conor.

Did a good job too.

Tell me how wrote: »

As evidenced by the correction published within one of them.

Corrections are good. When did Faughnan correct his deliberately misleading claims about family cars contributing less to climate change than the occupants breathing.

If you read the correction, it was made because the author was engaging with the BS point about humans emitting CO2 as if CO2 produced by biological respiration was remotely comparable to that produced by combustion of fossil fuel, trying to quantify the relative contribution of humans breathing and fossil fuel burning. Readers pointed out that this wasn't applicable or helpful, so he changed the text to just point out that CO2 repeatedly passing through the carbon cycle doesn't contribute to climate change.

CramCycle · 14-12-2018 01:06AM

tomasrojo wrote: »

Corrections are good. When did Faughnan correct his deliberately misleading claims about family cars contributing less to climate change than the occupants breathing.

How many cars do you see where every seat is occupied? To make the comparison fair

tomasrojo · 14-12-2018 01:10AM

CramCycle wrote: »

How many cars do you see where every seat is occupied? To make the comparison fair

Yeah, it's a silly comparison at that level too, but humans respiring are just returning carbon to the atmosphere that left the atmosphere recently: at most a few years ago, in the case of canned goods. Fossil fuel burning is unleashing a vast store of carbon that has been harmlessly sequestered for literally millions of years, and mostly in the space of less than a hundred years.

buffalo · 14-12-2018 09:47AM

Tell me how wrote: »

Think it's best to take the good with the bad. Be unfair to say about someone that they are right and should be listened to 80% of the time but I'm going to discount their opinion the other times.

What? If somebody talks 80% sense, they're allowed to talk 20% nonsense and not be challenged on it?

magicbastarder · 14-12-2018 09:53AM

tomasrojo wrote: »

Yeah, it's a silly comparison at that level too, but humans respiring are just returning carbon to the atmosphere that left the atmosphere recently

i wonder how humanity would have developed if oil was actually digestible and nutritious.
a corollary; i have also wondered whether having transparent petrol and diesel tanks in cars might make people think a bit more about fuel efficiency. most people never actually see this wondrous substance they buy large quantities of every week/month whatever - nor the quantity they're actually using up.

you'd get a few queer looks if you popped down to the supermarket and picked up 45 litres of milk.

Macy0161 · 14-12-2018 09:53AM

Tell me how wrote: »

Think it's best to take the good with the bad. Be unfair to say about someone that they are right and should be listened to 80% of the time but I'm going to discount their opinion the other times.

eh? So because someone/ anyone is mostly right, I don't get to dismiss the stuff that's nonsense?

CramCycle · 14-12-2018 09:58AM

magicbastarder wrote: »

i wonder how humanity would have developed if oil was actually digestible and nutritious.
a corollary; i have also wondered whether having transparent petrol and diesel tanks in cars might make people think a bit more about fuel efficiency. most people never actually see this wondrous substance they buy large quantities of every week/month whatever - nor the quantity they're actually using up.

you'd get a few queer looks if you popped down to the supermarket and picked up 45 litres of milk.

When I had my Saab, I found the fuel efficiency (L/100km) a great incentive to drive more efficiently. Competition is a great way to get improvements out of some people.

magicbastarder · 14-12-2018 10:04AM

yeah, that's the readout i leave on the display of my car. there's average and instantaneous options available, but average is the one i use obviously. i get decent fuel efficiency out of it, for a petrol car - 5.4l/100km for the last 4000 or so km, IIRC.

cdaly_ · 14-12-2018 04:47PM

I had mine set to instantaneous for a while recently and it was very interesting to see the difference in steady state consumption at 50kph vs 60kph. You forget, in a car, how much extra effort is required to go just a little faster...

magicbastarder · 14-12-2018 05:53PM

i remember reading that the bugatti veyron, a 1001bhp car, needed (i think) 150 horsepower to get to 150mph. the next 100mph needed another 850bhp.

Pinch Flat · 14-12-2018 06:20PM

And it’ll empty its tank in 10 minutes at full tilt

Tell me how · 14-12-2018 06:28PM

Pinch Flat wrote: »

And it’ll empty its tank in 10 minutes at full tilt

Isn't that a joke, tank only lasts ten minutes, but the tyres will be gone after 7.

AndrewJRenko · 15-12-2018 12:15AM

Corca Baiscinn wrote: »

#
He was downright rude to Ciaran Cuffe in another interview but conspiratorially pally with Pat Kenny.

Newstalk make sure to look after good advertisers from the car industry.

What Username Guidelines wrote: »

On one hand the cyclist probably shouldn't bother trying to enforce the law, but god knows I've been pissed off and tried it myself.

Why shouldn't he try to 'enforce' the law? Though speaking to other people is not actually 'enforcing'.

Deleted User wrote: »

I recall someone here mentioning before CF was a cyclist himself I think.

magicbastarder wrote: »

he is, a commuting cyclist IIRC.

Some of my best friends are black/gay/Jewish etc...

AndrewJRenko · 15-12-2018 12:21AM

Corca Baiscinn wrote: »

AA also lobbied for higher speed limits on some arterial roads in Dub so when listening to Conor we need to remember that he works for an outfit whose remit and income comes from motorists.

AA don't have a remit. The days of them being a member organisation are long gone. THey're an insurance company that sells products mostly to motorists.

Fighting Tao · 15-12-2018 08:10AM

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Corca Baiscinn wrote: »

AA also lobbied for higher speed limits on some arterial roads in Dub so when listening to Conor we need to remember that he works for an outfit whose remit and income comes from motorists.

AA don't have a remit. The days of them being a member organisation are long gone. THey're an insurance company that sells products mostly to motorists.

Exactly why you’d think they’d want speed limits reduced.

Corca Baiscinn · 15-12-2018 08:42PM

Fighting Tao wrote: »

Exactly why you’d think they’d want speed limits reduced.

Are they an actual insurance company or just a broker?

It's a real shame there is no pedestrian or public transport users group and no paid cycling lobby equivalent to the AA in resources. Obviously Road Haulage has paid communications people too so trying to get walking and cycling noticed is an uphlill battle

andy69 · 16-12-2018 10:56AM

Sort of related to cycling... G.Thomas on channel 4 this morning. Something called Sunday Brunch you might be able to see it on All4 later.
Thought he came across well, a good laugh.

Interesting (I thought) was he mentioned they don't eat carbs while training.

Fighting Tao · 16-12-2018 11:09AM

Corca Baiscinn wrote: »

Fighting Tao wrote: »

Exactly why you’d think they’d want speed limits reduced.

Are they an actual insurance company or just a broker?

It's a real shame there is no pedestrian or public transport users group and no paid cycling lobby equivalent to the AA in resources. Obviously Road Haulage has paid communications people too so trying to get walking and cycling noticed is an uphlill battle

Is their a distinction in Ireland any more? I thought that they are effectively all brokers these days. The risk has been moved to bigger companies abroad.

I’d have imagined that whoever they are brokers for would be interested to know that representatives from their broker actively state that they don’t agree with making roads safer places by reducing speed limits in places.

zell12 · 20-12-2018 02:01PM

Coming up on Ciara Kelly Newstalk:
would you commute by bike given the increased funding in 2019?

CramCycle · 20-12-2018 02:42PM

zell12 wrote: »

Coming up on Ciara Kelly Newstalk:
would you commute by bike given the increased funding in 2019?

FFS typical rubbish bandwagon jumping. No one has any idea where the money is going, so if you wouldn't before, you still won't.

magicbastarder · 20-12-2018 02:53PM

maybe the increased funding equates to 'OMG FREE HI VIZ FOR ALL CYCLISTS!!!'

CramCycle · 20-12-2018 02:54PM

There won't be child washed in rural Mayo when that funding comes in.

monument · 22-12-2018 02:58PM

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

AA don't have a remit. The days of them being a member organisation are long gone. THey're an insurance company that sells products mostly to motorists.

But they are still a motoring lobby group as they were in their early days, even if your view is that that lobbying is just a marketing ploy to sell more of their product.

They also continue their breakdown service which they had from their early years.

FreudianSlippers · 22-12-2018 04:51PM

Corca Baiscinn wrote: »

Are they an actual insurance company or just a broker?

The short answer is: actual insurer
The long answer is: is any insurer an actual insurer? AA are underwritten by three other companies to hedge losses on the claims; most insurers are.

monument wrote: »

But they are still a motoring lobby group as they were in their early days, even if your view is that that lobbying is just a marketing ploy to sell more of their product.

They also continue their breakdown service which they had from their early years.

The Central Bank actually considered this back in 2016 and would agree with your assessment.

The AA is Ireland’s motoring organisation. It has acted as a lobbyist for motoring interests and
in a leadership role supporting the consumer rights and interests of the motorist for over 100
years. It is active in areas as diverse as road safety, progressive transport policies, motoring
costs and taxation.

wheelo01 · 23-12-2018 02:54AM

The AA have only ever offered to act as a broker to me! They offer to sell Aviva, etc products, not their own.
This is for car, not sure for home or holiday insurance.

magicbastarder · 23-12-2018 11:26AM

much as i hate myself for posting a daily mail link, but (deep breath)...

DR MICHAEL MOSLEY: Don't all shout but I refuse to wear a cycle helmet and here are my reasons why...

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-6522985/DR-MICHAEL-MOSLEY-Dont-shout-refuse-wear-cycle-helmet.html

Journalism and cycling

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