Journalism and Cycling 2: the difficult second album

average_runner · 01-08-2023 08:22AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120879562#Comment_120879562

The "consultation event" always makes me laugh. Let's pretend we will have one and ignore everything people say and then wonder why it fails!!

CramCycle · 01-08-2023 08:44AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120924250#Comment_120924250

My favourite one was when I lived in Bray, there was a consultation event on the removal of a local bus service or a change. Rumour from councillors council and TFI was there were so many submissions they just decided to do nothing.

I won't lie, I was over the moon as the bus was outside my door and got me to work in 30minutes but the proposal would have meant a bus change and an hour long trip on a quiet day.

Hurrache · 01-08-2023 12:43PM

We can all see the **** show when it comes to environmentalism that's going on over in the UK, particular with Sunak's comments over the weekend saying he's now on the motorists side, driven by pandering to the right wing electorate. But Frost, the gift that keeps giving, posted this today

https://twitter.com/DavidGHFrost/status/1686302754312949760

Mefistofelino · 01-08-2023 01:06PM

Ah, good old Frostie. To quote Malcolm Tucker: "He's so dense, light bends around him".

CramCycle · 01-08-2023 01:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120925713#Comment_120925713

The issue with that show was it could have been a drama and you really would have struggled to claim it wasn't realistic. I loved it but to paraphrase, when satire and reality are indistinguishable, it's time to go.

Seth Brundle · 01-08-2023 02:23PM

The man is a feckin eejit! Last week he was telling people that the planet heating up was a good thing and how the UK could re-join the EU

magicbastarder · 01-08-2023 03:58PM

Unrelated.

https://twitter.com/GreenpeaceUK/status/1686366556312178688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1686366556312178688%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=

Paddigol · 02-08-2023 08:19AM

I shouldn't LOL, but...

Drunk cyclist hit tree and told garda he had four drinks (msn.com)

magicbastarder · 02-08-2023 08:23AM

i think you'll find it's 'a cyclist riding a bike and a tree driving a tree were involved in a collision'

CramCycle · 02-08-2023 11:46AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120928790#Comment_120928790

A Tree and a Bicycle were involved in a collision. The bicycle is being treated for minor injuries while the tree is said to be in an upright, stable condition.

average_runner · 02-08-2023 12:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120929793#Comment_120929793

Heard the tree caused it, Cyclist swore there was more than one!!!!

Paddigol · 02-08-2023 01:28PM

Was the tree wearing hi-viz?? That's all that really matters here.

CramCycle · 02-08-2023 01:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120930407#Comment_120930407

Judge Martin Nolan has been quoted as indicating that the tree contributed to the collision as it was not wearing a helmet, as such has some responsibility towards the accident and costs.

nilhg · 07-08-2023 07:05AM

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2022/aug/31/how-car-culture-colonised-our-thinking-and-our-language

Some interesting points here

08-08-2023 05:41PM

New walking/cycling bridge opened in Athlon today

https://galwaybayfm.ie/galway-bay-fm-news-desk/galway-to-dublin-greenway-comes-a-step-closer-with-new-athlone-section/

I've a load of pics up on the Athlone thread for anyone interested. There's a few posts of pics there

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120952033#Comment_120952033

zell12 · 09-08-2023 09:22AM

Drew Harris on NT just stated there is "an organisation" behind the theft of bicycles and motorcycles in Dublin.

Macy0161 · 09-08-2023 10:41AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120948226#Comment_120948226

Right to drive where we want is the Irish (and UK) equivalent of the US right to bear arms. You can pry my free parking space from my cold dead hands...

nilhg · 09-08-2023 11:49AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120955947#Comment_120955947

Ah no, they're just thinking of some old person who might someday want to drive/park there, no self interest involved at all😉

TheChizler · 13-08-2023 10:12AM

Unusual headline phrasing for this incident yesterday morning. Early reports were more of the form "Cyclist collides with car" but once it was established there was a child injured it became the car's fault. Still not many mentions of the driver.

My wife came across the aftermath, said there were four ambulances, the car was high up on some sort of bank or wall, and there was a specific debris removal truck arriving. Must have been some speed involved.

Hope the young lad recovers soon, been thinking about it all day.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster/arid-41203645.html

zell12 · 13-08-2023 10:19AM

Mirror says

Yet the garda make no mention of a car

Seth Brundle · 13-08-2023 03:20PM

Interesting Examiner story about supermarkets and cycle parking...

https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/people/arid-41201245.html

average_runner · 14-08-2023 08:21AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120972961#Comment_120972961

Protected from the elements? Sure it bloody rains always in Ireland when you are on the bike:)

In fairness most supermarkets I been at had cycling bays, might not be next to the entrance, but a little walk is good for everyone

Seth Brundle · 14-08-2023 08:30AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120975223#Comment_120975223

It doesn't rain as much as we joke about but you probably know that already!

Only one of the supermarkets near me has proper bike stands (Lidl). The large Tesco in Maynooth has a few of the insecure crap wheel bender yokes mentioned in the article and also has bike lockers that you've to pay for. They also have nearly one and a half thousand car parking spaces (no parking charge) according to Parkopedia.

average_runner · 14-08-2023 08:42AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120975257#Comment_120975257

1500 car spaces for one tesco is crazy!! Lockers I would expect to pay for.

CramCycle · 14-08-2023 08:44AM

I think the main reason for preferring line of sight to the entrance (for me) isn't laziness or weather protection, it's protection from bike theft. New LIDL in Bray put the parking underneath shelter but round the corner from the escalators. Not a place people naturally go and ideal for a bike thief to rob a bike out of sight of security or anyone for that matter. Same with the ALDI in Wexford, I just bring it in as the bike racks are down the side where no one ever goes.

Seth Brundle · 14-08-2023 08:52AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120975296#Comment_120975296

Carton Park has 1448 spaces with 440 of them covered - all free fo charge. The bike lockers are a private payment thing. Effectively, Tesco are telling me that I'm not welcome there if I'm cyclling! I actually made contact with Tesco Ireland about this and the store manager emailed me back telling me that the setup was perfect.

Macy0161 · 14-08-2023 08:57AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120975306#Comment_120975306

This. It's not about protection from the elements for me, it's about least worst from a security point of view. I wouldn't leave a decent bike at any of the designated spots in the supermarkets I can thing of. Aldi in Rathnew has covered sheffield stands, but they're the furthest they could be from the store/ nearest the car park exit, generally obscured from view by parked vehicles.

Having said that, my experience of France isn't much better - generally wheelbenders - however they are normally within view of the store checkouts. I'm not sure countries that really enable and accept cycling have the same theft problems?

buffalo · 14-08-2023 09:05AM

You finally are at the supermarket and now just want to leave your bike somewhere that: (i) is near the front door, (ii) is not in someone else’s way, (iii) is protected from the elements, (iv) has a stand that you can lock your bike onto so it doesn’t get stolen.

Chances are that there is a place at the supermarket that meets all the criteria set up above. Unfortunately for you, it’s the trolley bay.

I've often thought this myself! Subsitute 'bin storage' for apartment buildings.

My other complaint is that sometimes there is good bike parking... if you know where to find it. e.g. Connolly station by the Enterprise platform. I've been using that station for 15 years, but only found out about that set of stands last year.

JMcL · 14-08-2023 03:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120975296#Comment_120975296

Why, when drivers get a free pass? By all means a deposit thing same as for trolleys, or even a deposit on a credit card (for what I'm not sure), but why should I have to pay to park my bike safely when I could rock up in a Range Rover for free?

Local Aldi in Tramore while ticking some boxes (Sheffield stand, check - though there could be more of them; covered, check; clear sight of checkouts, check. The problem? Lazy feckers who couldn't be arsed walking 20m use them as trolley bays 😫

14-08-2023 08:01PM

Lots of the content in this will be of interest to folks here. The govt just released the National Sustainable Mobility progress report

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/9aecf-national-sustainable-mobility-policy-year-one-progress-report/

Some actions are completed, in works or delayed. This is just a selection, see the pdf on the link above for the full list

Demand management now has its own unit within the Transport Dept. Expect to see more test projects coming from this in the years to come. The scheme for the Greater Dublin Area is currently in progress, due Q3 2024.
The Walking & Cycling Index is to be expanded to cover multiple cities (Galway, Cork, Limerick & Waterford). See previous reports here
All transport providers are now contractually obliged to have set procedures in place to be able to deal with any passengers with mobility difficulties
Active Travel units in all local councils
Audit team established, to review completed works to ensure compliance and value for money
"Opportunities for transport led development" will feature more and more into the future as new planning applications will be assessed for increased access to PT/AT infrastructure. It will also see higher density developments at hubs/close to hubs
Roads Traffic Act update to prioritise the safety of walking & cycling
Transition of city bus fleets (Cork, Limerick, Galway, Dublin) to low/zero emission. Same for Local Link buses
Pedestrian enhancement plans being developed for the 5 cities, regional growth centres and key towns
Greater expansion of bike share schemes around the country
Currently 1,200 cycle schemes being designed/implemented around the country
Rail fleet expansion, 40+ new carriages placed into service already. 95 Dart+ carriages due 2025
Bus connects corridors progressing
Greenways to beat the band
LocalLink to be potentially expanded as a health transport service i.e. take you to and from hospital/doctor etc
Roll out/expand town bus services (Carlow, Ennis, Letterkenny, Mullingar, Portlaoise)
Hundreds of new bus shelters done and more to be done
BRUCE study ongoing looking at different road user charging options (congestion charges, tolls, etc)
Access for all - bridges/lifts at railway stations, wheelchair accessible buses and bus stations/platforms, Wheelchair Accessible Services (WAV taxi's) expanded
More equitable fares coming through the National Fares Strategy
Local Transport Plans (similar to the LSMATS, CMATS etc) are coming for nearly 20 towns around the country
Expand the likes of GoCar etc around the country, especially at transport hubs
Delayed - camera enforcement (buses, bikes & dashcams)
DMURS, National Cycle Manual, etc all getting updated to prioritise sustainable & accessible mobility
Delayed - turn left on red for cyclists, requires legislation update
Delayed - PPT's (e-bikes, scooters etc) to be legislated for
NTA to take over transport planning for the 5 cities (cue the howls of local councillors)
Delayed - Next generation ticketing

My personal favorite will be boring to most but which could potentially have the greatest impact

Review, develop and update guidelines, standards and supporting legislation to allow for a range of solutions to be developed for road space reallocation/ redesign to repurpose existing legacy car-based road design.

There's loads more in it, thats just the bits that popped out to me as I went through it

Journalism and Cycling 2: the difficult second album

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