Journalism and cycling

Ferris · 01-02-2019 05:04PM

Interesting article in the Guardian about what the the potential return on investment would have been from the scrapped HS2 cycleway in the UK - up to five times greater than the HS2 railway.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2019/feb/01/scrapped-hs2-bike-path-could-have-reaped-five-times-more-than-hs2-itself

Bus Connects anyone?

jjpep · 02-02-2019 08:03AM

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio-web/cyclists-share-videos-as-they-feel-let-down-by-gardaí-1.3778760?mode=amp

Article in the it about the gardai Twitter contraversey.

magicbastarder · 02-02-2019 04:56PM

CramCycle wrote: »

They make Newstalk look fair and reasonable.

harder to do that now.
https://twitter.com/NewstalkFM/status/1091386957677109253

jjpep · 02-02-2019 08:25PM

magicbastarder wrote: »

harder to do that now.
https://twitter.com/NewstalkFM/status/1091386957677109253

Newstalk really is the pits. They just can't do politics without going to the gutter. Shame, because the sports stuff they so is fine.

tomasrojo · 02-02-2019 11:10PM

Ray Bloody Purchase wrote: »

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/winter-ready-how-to-stay-safe-when-temperatures-plummet-37765460.html

Motorcyclists / Cyclists should not compromise their safety by their ‘need’ to travel in icy/snow conditions. Cancel your journey or take alternative transport.

The RSA
He's ignored
Action is
His reward:

https://twitter.com/Bicicleto_ZGZ/status/1091782437246517248

tomasrojo · 02-02-2019 11:12PM

jjpep wrote: »

Newstalk really is the pits. They just can't do politics without going to the gutter. Shame, because the sports stuff they so is fine.

https://twitter.com/MallowNews/status/1091639025734176769

cjt156 · 03-02-2019 05:11PM

tomasrojo wrote: »

Spiderman fella up on his fixie.

https://twitter.com/Bicicleto_ZGZ/status/1091782437246517248

Did he borrow Ant-Man's bike?

aldark · 04-02-2019 01:20PM

Ferris wrote: »

Interesting article in the Guardian about what the the potential return on investment would have been from the scrapped HS2 cycleway in the UK - up to five times greater than the HS2 railway.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2019/feb/01/scrapped-hs2-bike-path-could-have-reaped-five-times-more-than-hs2-itself

Bus Connects anyone?

bus connects is for buses. the cycle bit is is ornamental only. that hs2 scheme looked great - a dedicated cycle only road alongside a railroad

magicbastarder · 04-02-2019 06:04PM

it's a blog rather than a journalistic article, but did throw up this useful graphic:

https://florentcrivello.com/index.php/2019/01/28/five-promises-of-micromobility/

homer911 · 05-02-2019 12:01AM

The UCD student who died in Texas recently was apparently going the wrong way down a one way street on an electric scooter and was struck by an oncoming car. Reported in the indo but not the reason why.. Very sad, be sensible on those things please..

mr spuckler · 05-02-2019 11:12AM

for those who haven't seen these new Live Drive updates on Twitter

https://twitter.com/LiveDrive/status/1092719600092016640

What Username Guidelines · 05-02-2019 11:37AM

mr spuckler wrote: »

for those who haven't seen these new Live Drive updates on Twitter

https://twitter.com/LiveDrive/status/1092719600092016640

How anyone can sit in their car for that distance for 32 minutes is completely beyond me. In 32 minutes I get from firhouse to the IFSC and would probably be changed and heading to my desk. I understand some people need their cars for work, but I’d hazard a guess that the majority of cars in that queue are gonna be parked up for the day.

mr spuckler · 05-02-2019 11:44AM

What Username Guidelines wrote: »

How anyone can sit in their car for that distance for 32 minutes is completely beyond me. In 32 minutes I get from firhouse to the IFSC and would probably be changed and heading to my desk. I understand some people need their cars for work, but I’d hazard a guess that the majority of cars in that queue are gonna be parked up for the day.

agreed - it seems like absolute madness. and so many of those people are driving relatively short distances that could easily be done by bike / e-bike / public transport.
the predictability of my commuting time is amazing and I can't imagine a scenario where you roll the dice on that every time you start your journey.

magicbastarder · 05-02-2019 11:48AM

christ, that's only 700m. which makes for an average speed of 1.5km/h.

Lambay island · 05-02-2019 11:50AM

mr spuckler wrote: »

agreed - it seems like absolute madness. and so many of those people are driving relatively short distances that could easily be done by bike / e-bike / public transport.
the predictability of my commuting time is amazing and I can't imagine a scenario where you roll the dice on that every time you start your journey.

Its astonishing really. I had someone ask me recently why would you cycle to work during the winter - thats bizarre? ( you can imagine my reply)All it would take was once getting on the bike for an immediate shift of thinking, Its almost like a stockholm syndrom to the car.

mr spuckler · 05-02-2019 11:51AM

magicbastarder wrote: »

christ, that's only 700m. which makes for an average speed of 1.5km/h.

bloody cyclists holding up traffic!

Mickiemcfist · 05-02-2019 11:52AM

Lambay island wrote: »

Its astonishing really. I had someone ask me recently why would you cycle to work during the winter - thats bizarre? ( you can imagine my reply)All it would take was once getting on the bike for an immediate shift of thinking, Its almost like a stockholm syndrom to the car.

Having been both of these people, it really does just take one cycle in. I think the perception of our weather is infinately worse before you cycle every day. Even the really bad days aren't really that difficult to cycle in.

Tell me how · 05-02-2019 11:55AM

Mickiemcfist wrote: »

Having been both of these people, it really does just take one cycle in. I think the perception of our weather is infinately worse before you cycle every day. Even the really bad days aren't really that difficult to cycle in.

Think that many don't consider preparing correctly for appropriate weather.

Tyres/lights/mudguards and most significantly, clothing, will all make a massive difference to the cycling commute experience.

CramCycle · 05-02-2019 11:57AM

Tell me how wrote: »

Think that many don't consider preparing correctly for appropriate weather.

Tyres/lights/mudguards and most significantly, clothing, will all make a massive difference to the cycling commute experience.

They don't take that much care driving a car, its a reach they would do any better with a bike.

Bald tyres
DRLs or no lights or one blown
Cranking on AC to cool themselves down instead of taking off a jacket or running to the car in a lighty shirt and blasting the heating.

The last point will only annoy enviromentalists and people who are light on money but the other two are a risk to all road users.

Duckjob · 05-02-2019 12:06PM

CramCycle wrote: »

They don't take that much care driving a car, its a reach they would do any better with a bike.

Bald tyres
DRLs or no lights or one blown
Cranking on AC to cool themselves down instead of taking off a jacket or running to the car in a lighty shirt and blasting the heating.

The last point will only annoy enviromentalists and people who are light on money but the other two are a risk to all road users.

Cramcycle, you just reminded me of how VW are currently advertising "motoring tips" on the radio such as keeping your tyres propertly inflated and checking them to ensure they are above the legal limit of thread depth.

I would have thought those checks were less "motoring tips" and more, y'know, legal responsibilities under THE LAW !!!

Like the issue of phrasing of accidents, some may think it inconsequential. I myself think its indicative us being on a slippery slide away from holding those who drive lethal weapons to the very high level of responsibility to which they should be held. ("motoring tip" = "you dont have to do it if you don't have time, you're too busy" etc)

Ferris · 05-02-2019 12:09PM

mr spuckler wrote: »

the predictability of my commuting time is amazing and I can't imagine a scenario where you roll the dice on that every time you start your journey.

This is what I see as the major benefit, my commute is always 50min +/- 3min across town. In the car it was 75min + anything really. 90min+ was a regular occurrence.

Tell me how · 05-02-2019 12:11PM

CramCycle wrote: »

They don't take that much care driving a car, its a reach they would do any better with a bike.

Bald tyres
DRLs or no lights or one blown
Cranking on AC to cool themselves down instead of taking off a jacket or running to the car in a lighty shirt and blasting the heating.

The last point will only annoy enviromentalists and people who are light on money but the other two are a risk to all road users.

It is human nature to be dismissive/careless in terms of preparation. It is not unique to those of a particular mode of transport.

Not all motorists have perfectly maintained vehicles or practices, not all cyclists either.

My point was that people in general would have a more positive experience of commuting by bike if they prepared adequately above just taking out the bike and expecting to be able to ride in and sit straight at their desk at any time of year.

magicbastarder · 05-02-2019 12:19PM

Ferris wrote: »

This is what I see as the major benefit, my commute is always 50min +/- 3min across town. In the car it was 75min + anything really. 90min+ was a regular occurrence.

at the time of day i cycle (certainly in the morning) there is little time benefit to cycle. though google maps suggests a driving route of 32km (i.e. using the M50) vs. the 19.5km i cycle.
the alternate route it's suggesting which is closest to my cycle commute has a current estimate of 41 minutes, and that's a few hours after the peak of rush hour. my cycle typically takes me 45 minutes or so (about 50 this morning, what with the headwind and getting caught at the merrion gates for longer than usual).

Tombo2001 · 05-02-2019 12:22PM

Lambay island wrote: »

Its astonishing really. I had someone ask me recently why would you cycle to work during the winter - thats bizarre? ( you can imagine my reply)All it would take was once getting on the bike for an immediate shift of thinking, Its almost like a stockholm syndrom to the car.

its a real paradox - the days that people think are the worst days for being on a bike are actually the best days for being on a bike.

What can replace the kick of cycling past a line of 200 or 300 cars sitting in rush-hour gridlock on a wet February morning.

magicbastarder · 05-02-2019 12:28PM

Tombo2001 wrote: »

What can replace the kick of cycling past a line of 200 or 300 cars sitting in rush-hour gridlock on a wet February morning.

the kick of cycling past a line of 200 or 300 cars sitting in rush-hour gridlock on a nice fine april morning.

Tell me how · 05-02-2019 12:29PM

Tombo2001 wrote: »

What can replace the kick of cycling past a line of 200 or 300 cars sitting in rush-hour gridlock on a wet February morning.

magicbastarder wrote: »

the kick of cycling past a line of 200 or 300 cars sitting in rush-hour gridlock on a nice fine april morning.

June Morning.

On your last Friday before 3 weeks holidays.

magicbastarder · 05-02-2019 12:30PM

while wheelieing.

CramCycle · 05-02-2019 12:58PM

Ferris wrote: »

This is what I see as the major benefit, my commute is always 50min +/- 3min across town. In the car it was 75min + anything really. 90min+ was a regular occurrence.

Same here 45minutes +/- 5 minutes, no one from my area who uses PT or drives has that predictability

Tell me how wrote: »

It is human nature to be dismissive/careless in terms of preparation. It is not unique to those of a particular mode of transport.

Not all motorists have perfectly maintained vehicles or practices, not all cyclists either.

My point was that people in general would have a more positive experience of commuting by bike if they prepared adequately above just taking out the bike and expecting to be able to ride in and sit straight at their desk at any time of year.

I certainly don't put that amount of preperation in to my cycle, I suppose the issue is that not being that prepared on a bike, does very little to increase risk to others.

magicbastarder wrote: »

at the time of day i cycle (certainly in the morning) there is little time benefit to cycle. though google maps suggests a driving route of 32km (i.e. using the M50) vs. the 19.5km i cycle.
the alternate route it's suggesting which is closest to my cycle commute has a current estimate of 41 minutes, and that's a few hours after the peak of rush hour. my cycle typically takes me 45 minutes or so (about 50 this morning, what with the headwind and getting caught at the merrion gates for longer than usual).

The benefit for me would always be the predictability rather than the speed. If there was no motorised traffic, my drive would be 25minutes, half my cycling time. On a normal morning, it would be 50 minutes, if there is one fender bender, a few drivers sitting on a yellow box, or a few people not progressing, that 50minutes can be 1.5 hours, sometimes longer. Look at the bus strike, first time I commuted by car in ages, I got out of the car after 2hours, my partner did not get into work for 4.5 hours. I walked the remainder in reasonable time.

With my bike, that simply would not have made a difference, maybe stretched it to 50minutes due to increased traffic at some points but overall the difference to me would have been minimal.

What Username Guidelines · 05-02-2019 01:03PM

mr spuckler wrote: »

agreed - it seems like absolute madness. and so many of those people are driving relatively short distances that could easily be done by bike / e-bike / public transport.
the predictability of my commuting time is amazing and I can't imagine a scenario where you roll the dice on that every time you start your journey.

My wife is one of the people that does need her car in work and it’s bonkers how much her commute fluctuates. She woke up this morning, saw the rain and that it was a Tuesday (worst day for traffic usually) and hurriedly got ready, bolted out the door at 7.30. I got the little one dressed, gave her breakfast and got her on her way, left at 8.15 and was in work at 8.45. You’d think the punchline was that my wife was still in traffic, but no, there was a crash on the m50 so she went through city centre at got to the office at 8.10. She was baffled and frustrated about how much she had rushed to make it to a 9am meeting. That unpredictability would kill me.

Pinch Flat · 05-02-2019 01:35PM

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/i-wanted-to-be-able-to-jump-out-of-the-car-and-go-to-the-nurses-michael-healy-rae-defends-driving-in-bus-lane-37784658.html

Any boardies got him on their cams? :pac:

Journalism and cycling

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