https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/14/trial-of-12mph-bike-lane-speed-limit-grinds-gears-of-dutch-cyclists?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
..
Just to follow up on this, they did mention her on the queen mountain stage - they announced the winner, adding "…. with Ireland's Lara Gillespie finishing well down the pack".
She's a fcukin sprinter. That's like saying The goalie finished well down the list of goal-scorers.
Punishing all cyclists because you can't get a handle on unlicensed e-mopeds is ridiculous. Disappointing to see this coming from a progressive society.
Agree. Either commit to getting a handle on them or ban them entirely. The only people unaffected by this type of proposal are the kinds of people that pay no attention to laws anyway. "Oh, you insist that I obey a speed limit on my illegal eBike/ eScooter? Oh, ok then, I'll definitely do that"
Seems part of a general problem of sorting pedelecs by sight from what are essentially electric motorbikes. The electric motorbikes should be on the road. I think NL already abandoned having ICE light motor cycles in the cycling infrastructure, but I suppose it's that bit harder to separate out pedelecs from light electric motorbikes, especially as there seems to be a large cottage industry in turning the former into the latter after-sale.
The Guardian does seem to run these Dutch-cycling-is-in-trouble articles a few times a year. I haven't been there in a while, but inappropriate speed on cycling infrastructure has always been somewhat of a problem everywhere (I experienced the ICE light motorcycle problem firsthand in NL back in the day), and electric-assist seems to be making it a much more frequent problem everywhere now, including in my experience in Dublin.
The "freedom loving" bit I think is a tell, as the approach to cycling safety in the Netherlands has traditionally been very different from the approach in the UK, with more focus on reducing danger at source instead of training people to deal with danger, or personal protective equipment. The close-to-disdain NL has for the approach typical of the UK might lead to oh-how-the-mighty-have-fallen feelings.
(I looked up bromfiets (light ICE motorbikes), snorfiets(slower version) and cycling infrastructure to see what people say about the situation in the NL currently, and it seems to be:
"There are two different types of lanes indicated by their sign, a blue sign with only a bike on it is meant for only bikes and mopeds with a max speed of 25km/h (blue licence plate) . The 2nd type is a blue sign with a bike and a moped on it, these are for bikes and mopeds with a max speed of 45km/h (yellow licence plate)"
https://www.reddit.com/r/Netherlands/comments/wsnijo/why_are_the_mopeds_and_other_scooters_allowed_on/
So I suppose the new idea is a lower speed limit and including bikes that don't have licence plates?)
Teenage cyclist dies after crashing into parked truck...
https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026/06/16/teenage-cyclist-fatally-injured-in-co-waterford-road-traffic-incident/
Awful news to hear, didn’t the lad but it hit hard beings cyclist and a parent.
RIP young man
I wonder how many of these "cyclist dies after colliding with parked vehicle" stories are dooring incidents.
An awful story. RIP.
As this thread is about journalism, the seemingly mandatory journalistic line "the truck driver was uninjured in the accident" is quite bizarre. I can't understand why a writer would include it or an editor approve or require it.
It crazy that a tighter reign wasn't kept on these 5/ 6 years ago. Legal eBikes have been around for a good few years. They're relatively easy to differentiate from the non-legal ones. Legal ones cut out at 25kmph and I've never come across one and thought "wow, they're inherently dangerous to share a cycle path with".
The illegal ones are already liable to be seized. Just bring in an amnesty before starting to seize them. And prosecute anyone selling them. And bring in incentives to buy legal eBikes. Maybe even a generous "hand in your illegal frankenbike/ monstrosity of a yoke and we'll give you a discount on buying a legal eBike". There are loads of constructive ways to proactively deal with the problems around illegal eBikes, but again (blue in the face here), there is zero interest.
Standard practice clearly. When two or more parties are involved in a collision, report whether they are injured or uninjured.
The only reason it irritates me so much is it shows they can use standard practice. But saying "someone driving a car" or "someone riding a bicycle" is beyond them.
It's taken from the Garda press release:
https://www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/office-of-corporate-communications/press-releases/2026/june/16-06-2026-witness-appeal-fatal-road-traffic-collision-ballygalane-lismore-co-waterford-16th-june-2026-.html
I honestly hadn't thought of that when I heard the reports, but has really been playing on my mind since reading this.
Paddy Cadogan (78) cycled into the back of a 4*4 parked on the hard shoulder of the Ballincollig bypass in June 2016.
It happens.
I know a few that have done it (with injuries) on TT bikes on hard shoulder.
The 16 yr old who died this week was from Fermoy which is 25km or so further west.
I've no idea what kind of bike he had.
The road in question and the other local national road the N25 are very very popular with triathletes since the first Youghal Ironman.
Wasn't making any connection bar I know it happens that people on bikes run into the back of stopped/ parked vehicles.
Probably a nice road bike. Heard on the radio he was doing very well in some cycling junior league so sounds like a racing road cyclist (as opposed to someone on a bicycle shaped object).
Very sad.
His obit picture features him in club cycling kit, obviously passionate about his sport.
He represented Ireland last month- a tiny bit of googling or a fuller reading of media would have indicated that to any of you wondering on here. It wasn't 'some junior league' he was riding at. RIP.
This poor unfortunate young man isn't some random cyclist not paying attention- its an utterly devastating tragedy that doesn't bear thinking about. And yes, cyclists do collide with parked vehicles, the detail of every incident likely being different. Happened to me actually.
Just spoke to someone who knows the family and sadly it's Liam O'Briens brother.
Liam had to leave the baby Giro early to come home due to the sad news
While there is a temptation to speculate, this rider was one of the racing community, a few here have raced against him in the not to distant past and likely know him well. Please be cautious and respectful when commenting as there is a family and friends experiencing a pain many of us thankfully will never have too.
While I didn't know him personally, he was always polite and well mannered at any of the races I happened to Comm. He was a credit to his family with exceptional manners, and a pleasant demeanour. A huge loss to any who knew him I imagine, as well as the wider community. RIP
The RSA are carrying out a survey of cycling in Ireland.
https://shared01.surveys.myforce.be/BA/Task_ID_94_Landing.html
Hefty amount of bias towards helmets and hi Vis in that
Yep, and it all got the "not important at all" from me 😀
How highly visible do you think you should be on your bike?
(a) High viz
(b) Very high viz.
(c) Ach! Mein eyes! Ze goggles do nassing!
