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Journalism and Cycling 2: the difficult second album

magicbastarder

As the previous thread has gone over the 10k mark

old thread can be found here

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PaulieC

eeeee wrote: »

The strand road is not pleasant to cycle on. No space for anything else but single lane traffic each way, revving engines and drivers pissed off behind you as they can't pass you because there is no room with on coming traffic. cars parked at the side of the road who just love flinging their doors open at you.

I am struggling to see how not being choked with motor traffic will harm an area.

Plus there are the dart benefits too, the gates only have to go down for half the amount of traffic! I imagine the Rock Road will get busier, but hopefully it will, like most protected infra has (the new blackrock to dun laoghaire one has already), get more families, kids and people in general out on their bikes to the area instead of piling into a car.

I guess I have had different experiences and/or tolerances than you.

However, with regard to your point about "I am struggling to see how not being choked with motor traffic will harm an area", I agree with you on the Beach Road/Strand Road improvements. My concern is for the the areas that the traffic will move to. It's fine to breezily state that it's all good if it gets more families out together etc. but the majority of traffic on that road is commuter and not family. That traffic will have to be accommodated elsewhere and won't be included in the idyllic family scenes happening along the beach front.

As I stated originally, I am all for the creation of 'a' cycleway along this stretch of the road, but forcing a half-assed effort in under the auspices of Covid legislation, with zero consultation, is not the way to do it. And yes, I am fully aware that consultation means further delay.

Also, the Dart thing - the gates will come down with the same frequency so there is zero upside there. Unless one can travel in both directions simultaneously.

eeeee

cletus wrote: »

I'm afraid that, despite the kudos and plaudits, Mojomaker, I have to agree with magicbastarder.

If you are on a bike, you're a cyclist. If you are driving a car, you're a motorist, etc and so forth.

We can't exclude people from any of the many groups they inhabit because we don't like the behaviour they exhibit. There are good and bad people in every walk of life.

I am in agreement with cletus here, a cyclist is someone who rides a bike, end of for me.

Chips Lovell

cletus wrote: »

So who is the arbiter of this group 'cyclist'

Eamonnator

@MojoMaker

O.K. you got me. I'm a cyclist.

cletus

Biker79 wrote: »

Once you become one, you recognize it in someone else.

Cultures with a low barrier to entry are never worth being part of. Whether its cycling or anything else.

I suppose some will find that offensive but that's the times we live in.

But according to Mojomaker, I'm a cyclist, but I don't recognise the definitions set by either you or him.

So if am one, do I then get to decide who else is one?

tomasrojo

There is a meaningless distinction (at least, one I don't personally make or like) between a proper cyclist and a person-on-a-bike.

But Faughnan is in a third class. He is paid to undermine initiatives that challenge the supremacy of the motorcar in street and neighbourhood design. He's extremely good at it. He opposes most initiatives in a mild way, and says that if only they were done like <insert far-away place>, he'd be 100% behind them, but not this particular initiative.

So, even in this case, he sounds as if he's supporting the cycling infrastructure, but he's successfully getting the idea out that people don't cycle in the winter, even though anyone who uses their eyes knows that what he's saying is completely untrue.

So his personal use of a bike (which is genuine) is used to reinforce his image as a can-see-both-sides moderate. He's still trying to undermine public transport, walking and cycling initiatives, and is bizarrely treated as not just a neutral, but some sort of expert.

Biker79

cletus wrote: »

So who is the arbiter of this group 'cyclist'

Once you become one, you recognize it in someone else.

Cultures with a low barrier to entry are never worth being part of. Whether its cycling or anything else.

I suppose some will find that offensive but that's the times we live in.

magicbastarder

'hijacked' is a bizarre word to use. the hijacking is being done by anyone who claims some sort of entry level of competence or piety to be considered a cyclist.

cletus

Biker79 wrote: »

Mojomaker is 100% correct.

You earn the right to be a cyclist by riding a bike regularly and competently, with some degree of passion, I would say.

Shame that it has been hijacked by lefty weirdos, who seem to be more concerned with social media validation. But I guess it was inevitable.

So who is the arbiter of this group 'cyclist'

Biker79

Mojomaker is 100% correct.

You earn the right to be a cyclist by riding a bike regularly and competently, with some degree of passion, I would say.

Shame that it has been hijacked by lefty weirdos, who seem to be more concerned with social media validation. But I guess it was inevitable.

cletus

I'm afraid that, despite the kudos and plaudits, Mojomaker, I have to agree with magicbastarder.

If you are on a bike, you're a cyclist. If you are driving a car, you're a motorist, etc and so forth.

We can't exclude people from any of the many groups they inhabit because we don't like the behaviour they exhibit. There are good and bad people in every walk of life.

magicbastarder

a perfect example of no true scotsman.
it's like saying someone isn't a motorist if they consistently break the road traffic law.

MojoMaker

Eamonnator wrote: »

I cycle to the shops, so I'm a bicycle user.
I cycle on a road bike in lycra, so I'm a cyclist.
I ride a MTB, so I'm a mountain biker.
Funny thing is , when I'm out on a bike, I always feel as if I'm the same person.
Funny that.

Nope, you're a cyclist Eamonnator. You have a demonstrated passion for cycling, a love of bikes, a determination to put your bike ahead of other easier forms of transport, someone who cherishes their rides, looks after your equipment, and looks forward to getting out on the bike / any bike as often as possible, has more than one bike, and actively consumes a variety of biking-related media and information, often with a deep interest in the sporting side of affairs - unless of course I've taken you up incorrectly all these years

^^ As are most regular posters on this forum. Occasionally an interloper will wind their way in here spouting "...but I'm a cyclist too..." in order to defend/deflect the actions of others towards those that have a grá for the bike.

Cletus, you wouldn't have laboured hours of love into your Muddy Fox resto if you were just a bicycle user. By definition you're a cyclist too.

I make a strong distinction between the two, without apology. More often than not the actions of bicycle users reflect poorly on the cyclist community - those in their cages or on their footpaths see us as all one. By and large the cyclists I know and see (a) are courteous to non-cyclists, (b) obey the rules of the road, (c) look after their equipment, (d) know how to ride capably and display this clearly and consistently.

Bicycle users on the other hand struggle with much of the above. Plenty of room for all of us of course, for the love of God just don't pretend that Conor Faughnan is a cyclist :pac:

magicbastarder

the main issue with the east link for the southside is that there is no single sensible approach to it really. at least on the northside, the traffic can be funnelled into the tunnel.

Ferris

Used to cycle strand road daily, I had my fair share of close passes, cars pulling out at roundabouts, tailgators and even an attempted assault. It was a perilous dash twice a day, every day. However despite the danger it was a million times better cycling it than driving it. If the local residents are supportive its a great idea to re-allocate space to cyclists from motorised transport and the closest thing to the Utrecht traffic calming model that we have seen in Ireland.

eeeee

The strand road is not pleasant to cycle on. No space for anything else but single lane traffic each way, revving engines and drivers pissed off behind you as they can't pass you because there is no room with on coming traffic. cars parked at the side of the road who just love flinging their doors open at you.

I am struggling to see how not being choked with motor traffic will harm an area.

Plus there are the dart benefits too, the gates only have to go down for half the amount of traffic! I imagine the Rock Road will get busier, but hopefully it will, like most protected infra has (the new blackrock to dun laoghaire one has already), get more families, kids and people in general out on their bikes to the area instead of piling into a car.

PaulieC

magicbastarder wrote: »

it used to be on my commute, before lockdown. there were quite a lot of HGVs ignoring the ban in my experience.

Semantics I know, but ignoring or having a lawful exemption ? Either way, it boils down to the same thing - trucks on the road.

It's on my commute too and I live in Ringsend area so I use the road a lot and I have never found it dangerous or inconvenient to cycle on. That's by-the-by but I do think that this will negatively affect the Ringsend/Irishtown and Sandymount areas.

magicbastarder

PaulieC wrote: »

HGV traffic (5-axle) is not permitted on Strand Road in normal circumstances.

it used to be on my commute, before lockdown. there were quite a lot of HGVs ignoring the ban in my experience.

PaulieC

magicbastarder wrote: »

i suspect whatever issues the locals who actually live on strand road might have with a one way system will be tempered by the knowledge that it will at least halve the HGV traffic heading for the port or the east link, coming past their houses.

HGV traffic (5-axle) is not permitted on Strand Road in normal circumstances. Also, whatever traffic is not going on the Strand road will just migrate westwards to flow through Sandymount or Merrion. As much as I am happy to see dedicated cycling facilities being installed, Strand Road is desperately unable to cope with reduced capacity being a major artery to/from the east link.

I will be delighted to be proved wrong on this, but I can't see this being successful for most people.

breezy1985

It was an ok piece in the sense that it was the usual over the top radio screaming match but nothing much was said really that was anything new but at least some of the points about cycle lane problems and quality that we often talk about here got to a wide audience

Seth Brundle

magicbastarder wrote: »

Piece on the new cycle lanes and cycle lane protection on the last word now. Generally positive do far. Conor faughnan trotted out as normal but he's broadly welcoming.

https://twitter.com/dublincycling/status/1293228960223039490

cletus

MojoMaker wrote: »

Let's not confuse cyclist with "bicycle user", there is a difference.

Could you perhaps elucidate on the differences between the two?

Seth Brundle

I cycle on a road bike in lycra, so to some I'm a wa**er.

Eamonnator

MojoMaker wrote: »

Let's not confuse cyclist with "bicycle user", there is a difference.

I cycle to the shops, so I'm a bicycle user.
I cycle on a road bike in lycra, so I'm a cyclist.
I ride a MTB, so I'm a mountain biker.
Funny thing is , when I'm out on a bike, I always feel as if I'm the same person.
Funny that.

[Deleted User]

MojoMaker wrote: »

Let's not confuse cyclist with "bicycle user", there is a difference.

Whats the difference?

Is there a is there a difference between a driver and a car user or a walker and footpath user then if we're going down that route

magicbastarder

ah here, no true scotsman.

MojoMaker

Stark wrote: »

Afaik Conor Faughan "is a cyclist himself" (TM) so stays clear of going too far overboard on the vitriol even if his livelihood is protecting the status quo.

Let's not confuse cyclist with "bicycle user", there is a difference.

Grassey

https://www.fingal.ie/news/fingal-county-council-commences-part-8-planning-application-harry-reynolds-road-pedestrian-and

Fingal County Council has commenced the Part 8 planning application process for the Harry Reynolds Road Pedestrian and Cycle Route in Balbriggan.

The route forms part of the Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network Plan and will be an important element of sustainable infrastructure within the town of Balbriggan.

Linking several schools and local amenities and serving a large part of the local population, the National Transport Authority-funded scheme would also provide for a future link to the proposed Fingal Coastal Way.

Chiparus

Stark wrote: »

Afaik Conor Faughan "is a cyclist himself" (TM) so stays clear of going too far overboard on the vitriol even if his livelihood is protecting the status quo.

He cycles to work.

Stark

magicbastarder wrote: »

Piece on the new cycle lanes and cycle lane protection on the last word now. Generally positive do far. Conor faughnan trotted out as normal but he's broadly welcoming.

Afaik Conor Faughan "is a cyclist himself" (TM) so stays clear of going too far overboard on the vitriol even if his livelihood is protecting the status quo.