Little changes we can make to normalise cycling and encourage its uptake

Can you link to how "direction" on a cycle lane is legally defined on a "on path" cycle path in Ireland.

“I wouldn’t be quick to condemn”

unless the person is on a bike obviously, in which case I’ll be super quick to condemn their clothing, their parenting style, the social media posts along with their transport choices.

I think it's a choice for most people, anyone I know that bought out in the sticks did so because they wanted a bigger house with more space and didn't think the areas they could afford in dublin were good enough for them.

anyway everyone knows cycling doesn't suit rural people, they are not the people that are going to be encouraged to cycle to work/school/the shops etc.

A tiny, overpriced Celtic Tiger paper-walled apartment is fine for a singleton or a young couple, I don't need to tell you they're not for families.

That's subjective. It's a choice people make. It's an Irish thing to dismiss apartments and make car centric choices.

I completely condem the behaviour of the drivers in those twitter videos as they sail through those red lights without a care in the world and in at least 2 cases almost fatally injure the cyclists filming the offenses. Traffic light cameras really need to be streamlined across the network to deter this reprehensible behaviour.

It is amazing how out of touch comments like this are. Apartments, not least, the cookie cutter stock that is springing up left, right and center are, by and large over priced, bland, right on top of one another, compact and soulless. They don't exactly lend themselves to the possibility of expanding a family beyond 2 kids.

Also, unless someone is on a salary close to 6 figures, the prospects of living in an suburban area without a considerable crime rate is a struggle. The fact that living in areas next to decent public transport is a luxury which, in turn tacks on €50,000 to €100,000 makes it somewhat self-defeating. The irony here is that many people who can afford buying and living in these apartments will wind up opting for the car.

On the other hand, a house provides those who dwell in them personal space, a garden and more flexibility to scale up if they are going to raise a family. Sadly, the prices of such luxuries in suburban or urban settings aren't really in the price range for the average worker.

The fact that we are still building outward instead of upward because of "me heritage" and protecting our skylines among other myopic arguments also pushes people further out of central locations.

While the topic at hand is making cycling more attractive with minor tweaks here and there, tone deaf comments like that quoted forces realistic people like yours truly to call you out on it.

Now, back to the topic at hand.

Where in my comment did I promote driving?

Not here, the point is that it’s not strategy or public policy.

We live less than 500 m from a public school. My children didn’t get in, they are in category 5 of the published admission criteria, which is „local area“ . People are driving to the school from 25km away, in category 1 and 2 of the entry criteria (siblings and past pupils) .

To reduce school car drop offs , one of the simplest ways is to allow children attend their local school.

Because they decided to live somewhere else. But drive to the school they want. (Thus displacing those that could walk or cycle).

I have to chime in here. I live in a large midlands town and a job change in the past year prompted me to use my bike more to commute to work. 6 months in and I am using the bike almost exclusively, with the rare exception when it is just too windy or wet to cycle. I am a car owner and occasionally use company vehicles once I get to work so I think I can see both sides in this cycling vs motoring debate (although I think it would be fair to say that a lot of cyclists are car owners also).

Cycling infrastructure outside of Dublin and the other cities is poor and piecemeal, often tokenistic at best, but the advantages of cycling to work for someone like me (I can cycle from my home to work in under 15 minutes) means I can put up with less than ideal infrastructure. So, back to the original question, what are the little changes we can make to normalise cycling and encourage its uptake?

Number one thing for me is driver behaviour- I can put up with poor infrastructure, blocked cycle lanes, inadequate facilities etc etc, but I am acutely aware that each time I have to share a road with motorists I am putting myself at risk, even if I am obeying the rules of the road and riding safely.

So, motorists, ask yourself is it really worth making that dangerous overtaking manoeuvre or close pass? Why put someone else's life in danger to perhaps save a measly few second in your journey time?

As for cyclists- we all need to ensure we are wearing a hi viz vest and a helmet, have proper lights front and rear and obey the rules of the road.