A wonderful illustration showing how much public space we’ve handed over to cars

Yes, but you show images of instances of where cycling is already well established not just in the mindset of the people (all look like Netherlands to me) but they have their roads and infrastructure set up for it. Mostly we are shown images of Amsterdam when the benefits of cycling are put out there. I was impressed when I was in Copenhagen over a decade ago and cyclists had seperate lanes from vehicle traffic, here cyclists and vehicle drivers disregard traffic lights, Im not saying it is everyone from both groups, but it does appear its the mindset overall and very little has changed here regarding cycling infrastructure. What we have is cycle lanes that are added on to an existing lane (sometimes bus lanes, which car drivers disregard anyway) and this is only in a relatively small proportion of the road infrastructure . I suspect if we saw images of the countryside of The Netherlands or other than Amsterdam we may see appropriate, possibly seperate lanes for cyclists. I wouldnt dare cycle on most Countryside lanes here, we have people (especially when its young lads, driving farm vehicles recklessly at speed) alongside other vehicle drivers who do so too. In instances of where cyclists have been killed or where drivers have even been caught for driving at and targetting cyclists, they are dealt with very lightly (should be banned off the road for a substantial period of time or depending on the severity imprisoned).

Until those that are meant to be charged with managing our infrastructure, change how it is built, it is not fit or safe for purpose to cycle on (as its an afterthought tacked onto an existing infrastructure for motor vehicles) and they cant expect people to suddenly take up cycling alongside speeding cars, white vans, and commercial vehicles, and it is not right to try insist anyone else or their family does so. Until we have the infrastructure I wont be cycling anywhere as much as I want to (I have no expectation that it will be constructed in my lifetime), I wont be asking my child to cycle anywhere because it is completely unsafe to do so. If anything happens them, I know even if (a big if) someone is caught, they will get off the hook.

As for anyone protesting about my complaint about the weather, I did it for years because it was essential, its not nice, its not safe and I dont think its healthy to be out in weather that makes it more difficult for drivers to see or respond to cyclists, but I think it is even worse now, with more drivers with reckless disregard for everyone including other motorists. So, if anyone else wants to do it, go for it, but they shouldnt be insisting a single other person participates, its just not safe to be on our roads as a cyclist, especially for unaccompanied children, we need a seperate cycling infrastructure alongside our roads. All this takes is putting in place seperate kerbed lanes and traffic crossing lights which correspond to pedestrian crossings, but ( a big but) is the Gardai need to be out policing the streets, not just for traffic offenses, but for other reasons. I looked at the numbers per head of population and the argument that they are undermanned didnt stack up, they are better manned than some and not as good as others, Im inclined to view them as poorly managed from a resource point of view, where some Gardai even refused to turn on a new radio type which would assist/report its location (hence the Garda it was assigned to).

I will continue to argue against people who insist we just get on our bikes and be the change we want, because its just not that simple. The ways things are in this country we need a seperate infrastructure for cyclists, if that means taking some of it from motorists, Im fine with that, but sufficient alternatives have to be in place. Its not good enough to ban certain things or try tax them without having appropriate alternatives in place.

Well, that corresponds to my own view and complaint, the Gardai and speeding enforcement are out on specific types of roads (I wouldnt typically say motorways but other main roads) where they can catch some speeding and collect fines but overall change nothing. I dont think our motorways are where the problem is (up to a certain speed), but it would be easier to do average speed enforcement there automatically anyway. Our problem, in my opinion is elsewhere, in towns and estates where pedestrians are also more likely to be. Id like to see if they kept statistics on where these road deaths are? Are they drivers or passengers or is it a combination of other road users (cyclists/pedestrians?). Id be inclined to think we have a lot of pedestrian and even more so cyclists deaths because where motorists interact with them, the motorist either doesnt regard them as much more than a hindrance to their journey and in comparison, we have a substantially smaller population and motorway network in comparison to Germany, so it doesnt surprise me that Germany has more motorway deaths at all, but having less overall, tells me they are better at providing pedestrian/cyclist infrastructure and better at policing roads and that they have a better view of non motoring road users. Maybe Germany should monitor on which part of their network the deaths are, if on the sections of autobahns where speed isnt limited, then possibly they should bring some limits in. I think driving at speed can be ok to a point where appropriate (motorways for sure) but having no limit where people can drive at much higher speeds seems like a recipe for disaster.

Can I ask where you got those statistics so I can view in comparison to Ireland as I think it would point to where we need improvement. If deaths are higher for pedestrians/cyclists then I think it confirms what I think, we need improved seperate cycle lane infrastructure, partly as its a good idea for cyclists, (you wouldnt expect pedestrians, incl children, to share the road with motor vehicles) and partly it shows that policing is poor.

The penis people congratulate you also for your intuitive grasp of urban planning.