Cycling on paths and other cycling issues (updated title)

Haha, I read the first 4-5 pages but must confess, I have not read nearly 90 pages that describe how motorists kill people, good to know.

Don't get why everyone gets so tribal, most of us would be more than one thing from a list of: pedestrian, cyclist, driver, depending on the circumstance.

Hurrache wrote: »

The problem is that the impression that over 90% of cyclists break lights is a fallacy, and yet keeps getting repeated.

All I can say is that anecdotally, on a 8km each way cycle to work, I will easily see 10+ cyclists breaking a red light. I will not see 10+ cars breaking a red light.

I actually don't believe the survey that has been quoted here, and can't see a link to it, and it's contradicted by the TCD survey anyway.

What do cyclists breaking a red light have to do with motorists breaking a red light? It can be irritating on its own, without having to be linked back to the misdeeds of motorists.

Shelga wrote: »

All I can say is that anecdotally, on a 8km each way cycle to work, I will easily see 10+ cyclists breaking a red light. I will not see 10+ cars breaking a red light.

I actually don't believe the survey that has been quoted here, and can't see a link to it, and it's contradicted by the TCD survey anyway.

What do cyclists breaking a red light have to do with motorists breaking a red light? It can be irritating on its own, without having to be linked back to the misdeeds of motorists.

You need to pay more attention . Traffic lights in Dublin now mean

Green = go
Orange = speed up and continue go
Red = Prepare to stop but at least 3 more can still go

Shelga wrote: »

How would it divert any resources to have Gardai out on the beat actually enforce the law regarding cyclists breaking red lights? I'm not talking about having special SWAT team set up, with a special HQ on Store Street to rival MI5.

Thanks for sharing the article, great to see! As I said, I cycle every day to work myself, when things are normal, and it's just so frustrating to see cyclists who don't give a ****, sailing through the lights. Giving all of us a bad name. Already in this thread a guy has shared his story about how shaken up and depressed he was when he was driving and hit a cyclist who had broken a red light.

Do you or do you not think cyclists need to follow the rules of the road?

Every Garda hour spent chasing cyclists is an hour not spent reducing the death toll on the roads. We have finite Garda resources. If they are chasing cyclists, then they are not checking cars for speeding, jumping red lights, phone use, drink /drug driving and more.

Do the 98% of motorists that break urban speed limits in the RSA Speed Survey give the 2% of compliant motorists a bad name?

Saw 2 people cycling on the the path yesterday 2 abreast and then basically forced the pedestrian up against the wall as they passed.
Big problem I am seeing these days is no lights on the bikes at dusk, earphones and meandering all over the roads. Lot of new cyclists out that don't know how to control their bikes properly.

Pedestrians are killed by cyclists and the other way around as well.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/coroner-s-court/cyclist-died-after-collision-with-pedestrian-inquest-hears-1.3317745

https://irishcycle.com/2020/01/10/man-dies-after-collision-between-cyclist-and-pedestrian-on-n24-in/

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

How many drivers do you see breaking the speed limit on your 8km cycle Shelga?

How many drivers do you see with a phone in their hand or on their lap?

What has this got to do with cyclists? I also see about 3 unleashed dogs on my cycle, should I be up in arms about that?

Shelga wrote: »

What has this got to do with cyclists? I also see about 3 unleashed dogs on my cycle, should I be up in arms about that?

Only if they’re on bikes on the pavement!

07Lapierre wrote: »

According to "Connoroconner" in the comments...cycling on the pavement is not illegal? Damn! All these years cycling on the road when I could have been terrorising peds on the pavement!

https://www.thejournal.ie/trinity-college-request-dublin-city-council-cycling-walking-5126303-Jun2020/

One of the commenters is giving out that cyclists aren't using the excellent cycling facilities in Howth, and being upvoted for it. I'm unaware of any cycling lanes in Howth, unless she means the line of paint when you're coming into the village?!

magicbastarder wrote: »

unfortunately there are still some bizarre examples of planning being granted; this is a recently completed small estate (10 houses) i pass occasionally on the bike, and it's a couple of km from the nearest town, no paths of any description provided (and they'd be economically unviable anyway). i just don't get the notion of wanting to live in the countryside, while living in a housing estate?

https://www.google.com/maps/@53.4703172,-6.3758863,243m/data=!3m1!1e3

Why are things like that given planning permission? Ridiculous, just makes more and more car reliance and isolated children.

Hurrache wrote: »

If someone does an Evil Knievel off a cliff on a bike it's likely only themselves they'll pancake. If they did it in a car the risk to others is much much larger.

True, but in this case the only injury was to a vulnerable old persons dignity, pride and sense of self-respect. That's what I took from the story anyway.

Because as a human being, I am capable of empathy. The article said the car belonged to an elderly couple but didn't say which one caused the accident. Whichever one it was, there's a good chance they're not going to drive anymore (and to be fair, perhaps they should stop driving). Thing is, when old people start to lose their ability to do things for themselves - especially to get around - they usually start to go downhill much, much, faster after that.

So to me, the correct takeaway from this article was to read it as a small-scale human tragedy. But as Little Andy showed us, you can also take glee in their misfortune because you can use it to score cheap points pushing your own small, hateful, pathetic little crusade.

Then you can feel good about dumping on a vulnerable old person while you sit in judgement of them from your ivory bicycle seat while you and your ilk smugly sail through every red light and down every footpath in our major cities. At least I get the sense that this is what Andrew and his circlejerk are doing.

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

You brought up the comparison with motorists yourself, so don't start moaning when the findings don't suit you.

"All I can say is that anecdotally, on a 8km each way cycle to work, I will easily see 10+ cyclists breaking a red light. I will not see 10+ cars breaking a red light."

Oh the two-wheeled hypocrisy is delicious.