Journalism and Cycling 2: the difficult second album

Paddigol · 13-01-2026 10:17AM

It’s all just so depressing.

Thelonious Monk · 13-01-2026 10:25AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124143043#Comment_124143043

https://www.thejournal.ie/cyclists-judge-6924946-Jan2026/

Top up your depression by reading the comments here

Paddigol · 13-01-2026 10:43AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124143058#Comment_124143058

God no. I wouldn’t do that to myself.

The rage on the roads is genuinely perplexing. I’m being sincere. It’s nothing to do with cyclists/ pedestrians/ e-bikes. The only constant factor is motorists - wherever they are they find a reason to be angry. And I’m saying that with my daily motorist hat on.

It’s pure culture war nonsense, 100% incontestable. Everything else is just whataboutery and nit picking.

monkeyslayer · 13-01-2026 11:12AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124143106#Comment_124143106

100%. Its almost as if driving up behind a cyclist is enraging them because it actually requires them to think and exert some sort of skill and patience. I drive and cycle myself and find it astonishing how bad the standard of driving is out there and how little people know about how to use a road. Watch the cars on a roundabout and I'd bet at least 50% of them aren't using their indicators correctly or even using them at all, not to mention not even using the appropriate lane.

I was very disappointed with the spokesperson for Dublin cycling campaign on DmC on RTE1 this morning. Very poor defence and articulation.

Thelonious Monk · 13-01-2026 11:20AM

So many comments going on about cyclists being the most dangerous things on the road. Like how can any even mildly intelligent human come to that conclusion?

Tombo2001 · 13-01-2026 11:51AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124062264#Comment_124062264

A related point - it's very very rare that a driver has to a hard emergency brake, like I'd say once every five years - so its something they are just not used to. Specifically, not used to trying to come to a sudden stop from the speeds they are at.

Whereas I think cyclists do that more often.

Paddigol · 13-01-2026 01:27PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124143184#Comment_124143184

yeah, I don’t want to criticise people from the comfort of my desk… I’m sure it’s hard to articulate live on air when you have someone arguing the usual points against you…but there’s a real absence of a coherent, cogent counter-narrative.

Paddigol · 13-01-2026 01:38PM

Brace yerselves… going to be discussed on Liveline this afternoon too

Thelonious Monk · 13-01-2026 01:42PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124143568#Comment_124143568

Ok that's where I draw the line I'd lose my mind, it'll make journal commentary look reasonable

BP_RS3813 · 13-01-2026 02:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124143058#Comment_124143058

Just did.

Thats put a dent in the day to say the least Jesus Christ.

I can already feel the blood pressure rising thinking about the liveline.

Will make sure to annoy as much drivers as possible on the commute home - that should make me feel better!

traco · 13-01-2026 03:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124143296#Comment_124143296

If you drive a lot you will break hard a lot and that's just a fact. In the last few months pedestrians have walked out from behind parked trucks in car parks, home users and lane hoppers on M50 and someone pulling right into my lane after coming out at a junction. Granted I cover more than average miles but as far as I can see emergency braking is part and parcel of driving.

To get back on topic road rage is as much directed at other motorists and pedestrians as cyclists.

The fundamental standard of driving is terrible here and the driving test does nothing to help. For many this is the most competent level that many will ever achieve and regress from there. The polocing on the roads is virtually non existent so chances of bad driving being caught are low and if caught penalties aren't what they should be.

There is a nasty underlying anger on the roads now that is getting worse and if everyone just took a breath and relaxed things would improve for all. It's as if nobody these days can spare 10 seconds for a little courtesy for anyone else be it professional drivers, motorists, cyclists or pedestrians.

As my granny used to say it's nice to be nice.

BP_RS3813 · 13-01-2026 08:01PM

Turns out Judge 'Cylists are a nightmare in Dublin' refused a breathalyzer test.

Tombo2001 · 13-01-2026 08:32PM

What a dick….

magicbastarder · 13-01-2026 08:43PM

https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2026/01/13/judge-who-called-cyclists-a-nightmare-was-fined-for-failing-to-provide-breath-test-to-garda/

The judge also expressed concern that Judge O’Donohoe said he was entitled to take “judicial notice” of his own experiences of cyclists as a driver in the city.
“That is not what judicial notice means. Cases must be decided on their facts. Every case is different. I don’t decide cases as a cyclist, and he should not decide them as a driver,” said the judge.

loyatemu · 13-01-2026 09:28PM

no wonder he finds cyclists a nightmare, last thing you want when you're driving home drunk is a load of cyclists getting in your way!

Large bottle small glass · 13-01-2026 09:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124144884#Comment_124144884

It's funny what makes the news.

The judges comments in relation to cyclists wouldn't make his all time top 10.

He mostly gets the right result but rarely gets there the right way.

20/80 split for a road user without lights suddenly changing lanes without indication doesn't seem that off to me.

magicbastarder · 13-01-2026 10:44PM

agreed; if it was as simple as that. but it seems a little more complex:

The judge said he was taking into consideration the fact that Mr Finnegan had obviously seen Mr Giurgila, and had beeped his horn, having seen him behave erratically in the joint bus-cycle lane, without having reduced his speed to a level where he may have been able to avoid a collision.

there's dash cam footage which we haven't seen, obviously. but if i'm driving and see another driver, or cyclist, etc., behaving erratically, i usually give them a wide berth. to allow for the eventuality like the above.

BP_RS3813 · 13-01-2026 10:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124145060#Comment_124145060

A) Cylists are vulnerabe road users. People in cars are not.

B) even if the split was right (Car should have waited behind bike for as long as required until a safe opportunity to pass presented itself). The judges personal views and his disgrace of a comment should never have been a factor.

Large bottle small glass · 13-01-2026 10:53PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124145327#Comment_124145327

You'd agree irrespective of user road designation that changing lanes suddenly without indication in the dark without lights is a bad idea?

VRU or not the above point holds.

The other vehicle was a motorbike?

As such any Plaintiff with such a case is likely to fail or get something like a 20/80

Large bottle small glass · 13-01-2026 10:55PM

EDIT Meant as reply to @magicbastarder

He didn't want to throw it out and found something to give the Plaintiff something.

If that was a car suddenly changing lanes without lights or indication it would have been dismissed in nearly ever civil court.

The fact that he was a VRU and genuinely injured was the likely reason he got the 20%.

It's a classic Irish court room fudge decision

magicbastarder · 13-01-2026 11:00PM

again, this was not a simple case of someone unexpectedly veering across the path of another road user - the motorcyclist had beeped at the cyclist just prior to the accident. the motorcyclist in that sense had thus signalled that he was wary of the cyclist's actions but proceeded straight on anyway.

i'm not saying this means i find the cyclist faultless - but it's definitely a large factor in deciding what two numbers to choose, to add up to 100%.

Large bottle small glass · 13-01-2026 11:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124145382#Comment_124145382

So to distill down the Plaintiff's case "because I was driving erratically and suddenly changed lanes you should have been in a position to stop".

20% seems about right.

Jimmy got it right again just couldn't keep his mouth shut

magicbastarder · 13-01-2026 11:13PM

i've not seen the footage, so am not going to argue over exact percentages. but i just wanted to address the incident being described as a simple swerve into traffic alongside.

it's not great to have to go into court with footage which shows that you spotted a hazard, had enough time to sound a warning, and proceeded straight into that hazard, though.

magicbastarder · 13-01-2026 11:24PM

https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/editorials/2026/01/13/the-irish-times-view-on-motorists-and-cyclists-a-judges-generalisations/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=bluesky

'quick, turn out a piece of both-sidesing sh** that looks like it was written by an underpowered AI'

Large bottle small glass · 13-01-2026 11:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124145426#Comment_124145426

He was brought into court by someone looking to get rewarded for cycling erratically and suddenly changing lanes and then tried to blame some else for his misfortune.

Honestly which one would you rather be?

If he didn't have the footage it's a he said she said scenario and he would likely have got more.

magicbastarder · 14-01-2026 12:23AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124144884#Comment_124144884

This article is now the main one on the Irish times page. On mobile anyway.

Given that, as the article states, the penalty can result in a six month sentence, does that not mean it's a criminal one?

Also we don't know if he refused or simply 'failed' to give a breath test. And if he failed, was he not brought to the station for a blood or urine test?

Breezer · 14-01-2026 12:52AM

Cycling judges are now pointing out that judges “aren’t a homogenous group” and appealing for people not to judge them all the same!

If this wasn’t such a serious case this irony would be hilarious.

BP_RS3813 · 14-01-2026 08:13AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124145356#Comment_124145356

Other vehicle was a mistake - thats my bad. However still a vehicle so my point doesn't change and still holds.

Yes changing lanes without indicating is a bad idea however a vulnerable road user like a cyclist who is being unpredictable is significantly more likely to be injured.

The vehicle proceeded straight into a hazard. They should have waited. End of.

Large bottle small glass · 14-01-2026 08:43AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124145782#Comment_124145782

End of?

The defendants lane was free. The hazard was created by a sudden change of lane after Defendant used his horn.

At that stage there was no hazard.

He was found 20% liable for not slowing and anticipating the fool with no lights cycling erratically was going to do something even more stupid.

JMcL · 14-01-2026 10:47AM

There's repeated doubling down on the inconsequential "no helmet and hi-viz" in the reporting. Would a helmet have lessened the severity of the injury? Maybe, but since it's not a legal requirement it shouldn't be a factor. The lack of lights is and should be a contributing factor and as LBSG correctly outlines, there's fault on both sides - though since IMNAL I'll take their assesment of the split being about right.

Additionally doubling down, RTE Six One shamefully last night dragged out some wonk from the road haulage association (with their great safety track record) to agree with Judge Jimmy and throw in a few bonus buzzword bingo quote as well such as "cycling around wearing headphones" while he himself is standing there with a set of earbuds (careful now - you mightn't hear one of those pesky cyclists cycling furiously towards you while you're standing there) Around the 23 minute mark in the clip:

https://www.rte.ie/player/series/rt%C3%A9-news-six-one/SI0000001474?epguid=IH10016318-26-0013

Journalism and Cycling 2: the difficult second album

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