Cyclist on M8 this morning

Berty · 13-12-2009 11:17am

In any other developed country in the world we would deal with this using Motorway police but here...........

If you cannot give penalty points for it then it rarely gets dealt with.

On the M7 Limerick Bypass I have seen countless guys(you know who) on horse and carts, guys walking dogs in the hard shoulder, cyclists and even one guy running from one side to the central median through the bushes and then across the other carraigeway with his dog following him who was not even on a leash.

I am a cyclist and use the M7 motorway from the Dublin road roundabout in Limerick to birdhill to train EXCEPT its not open yet so at weekends the only thing I have to worry about is security who just waves at me.

When that road is open the old N7 which will become an R road will be a beltin' road for cycling on because it will have a hard shoulder but the traffic will be lighter.

Each to their own for safety but calling the Gardai will normally get nothing done because invariably they will be busy and miles away.

JamesM · 13-12-2009 11:38am

luckyfrank wrote: »

Id rather take my chance's on a footpath than a motorway

I know an old lady with a shattered pelvis that someone like you mowed down

luckyfrank · 13-12-2009 12:07pm

JamesM wrote: »

I know an old lady with a shattered pelvis that someone like you mowed down

You'd have to be an idiot to crash into an old lady

slimjimmc · 13-12-2009 12:33pm

ytareh wrote: »

slimjimc the life that was led without 'conveniently ignoring ' something would be pretty sould destroying...

Yeah, I agree some things are worth ignoring just for a bit of harmless excitement, but ignoring serious things such cycling on a motorway where 2 or 3 lanes of traffic are tearing by cms from you at +120kmh is like flying a kite in a thunderstorm, sometimes you'll get away with it, one time you won't.

Heck, it's not even safe to be on the HS in a car where you're surrounded by a steel safety cage.

13-12-2009 12:50pm

Leaving legality aside, will someone please explain to me how driving in the hard shoulder of a motorway is more dangerous than cycling on any other road in the country most of which have no hard shoulder, poor visibility and cars traveling just as fast a lot of the time, because imo its much safer on the motorway.

Hooch · 13-12-2009 1:06pm

AugustusMaximus wrote: »

Just wondering did anyone else see the cyclist on the M8 this morning between Glanmire and Watergrasshill.

2nd time I've seen this person on the same stretch of road at the same time on a Saturday morning (around 9AM) within the last 3 weeks.

If this cyclist is a regular to cycling on this stretch of motorway, I might give a ring to Glanmire Garda station the next time I see him.

Nice little letter to Fermoy Traffic Corps might be better........report report report.

Deadly dangerous.

jd · 13-12-2009 1:25pm

Cyclists and motorways don't mix. At a junction, you will have main line traffic on your right at up to 120km/hr, with traffic on your left trying to get up to speed with mainline traffic. A bicycle travelling at 40 km/hr or so should not be in the middle of it.
Even if it hasn't been designated a motorway, it is pretty irresponsible to cycle down a HQDC for the reason above.

short circuit · 13-12-2009 1:44pm

Any chance this could be a genuine mistake ...

I was cycling from Clonee to Trim today and took a short stretch on what I thought was the N3 to get to the Trim road. But as soon as I got on, I realised that all the green N-road signs had been replaced with blue motorway signs possibly to do with the construction of the M3. The road was still single lane both ways, but now there is a barricade separating the traffic going in different direction. And there was no way for me to turn back till the next exit.

And all this changed since last weekend.

I have sometimes been dumped on motorways by cycle lanes going no where. A couple of mins of distraction on the cycle lane and suddenly you are on the slipway into the Motorway with no way back.

Having said that today morning was my 1st time on a so called Motorway

Marlow · 13-12-2009 2:43pm

short circuit wrote: »

I have sometimes been dumped on motorways by cycle lanes going no where. A couple of mins of distraction on the cycle lane and suddenly you are on the slipway into the Motorway with no way back.

There is ALWAYS a way back. It's called getting of your bike, turn around and push it back to where you went wrong, staying WELL clear of the road. Mistakes hurt, but you made a mistake so you'll have to take the consequence of it.

/M

corktina · 13-12-2009 2:57pm

luckyfrank wrote: »

You'd have to be an idiot to crash into an old lady

.:eek:..arghh....must resist posting the obvious .....

daveharnett · 13-12-2009 3:58pm

Dakota Whining Software wrote: »

Leaving legality aside, will someone please explain to me how driving in the hard shoulder of a motorway is more dangerous than cycling on any other road in the country most of which have no hard shoulder, poor visibility and cars traveling just as fast a lot of the time, because imo its much safer on the motorway.

First of all, I'd dispute the notion of cars travelling 'just as fast'. In some cases, fine, but the average speed on a motorway is much higher.

Second,a driver's reaction time covers a lot more ground at 130km/h than at 110km/h, and their scope for accurate emergency manouvering is a lot less. This is why they are provided with a nice big hard shoulder to use if things go pear-shaped. In an emergency, drivers expect this safety area to be clear of hazards - after all, nobody is allowed to use it except in an emergency!
Third, proximity to fast moving trucks. The bow wake on a big truck is significant for a car. I can only imagine what it's like for a cyclist, with the much bigger differences in relative weight and speed.

Fourth, sliproads - as others have mentioned cyclists on Mways will have to interact with vehicles which are trying to merge with 120+kph traffic.

Fifth, drivers do not expect you to be there, and don't know how to react to you. ROTR (afaik, but certainly roadcraft) dictates that you should overtake a bike in the same way you would a car - giving them lots of room to allow for gusts of wind, wobbles, changes in speed etc. Doing this could be catastrophically dangerous on a busy Mway.

Mr.Boots · 13-12-2009 6:33pm

I agree with all of you saying it is mad cycling on a motorway...but as a cyclist.....i feel safer on a motorway than on secondry roads ( i have only used them a couple of times)
You feel very vuneruble on a secondry road with trucks, galanzas and civics whoooring past.
Pity the goverment didnt spend the euro cash (when they had it) on adding seperate cycle lanes to our road network rather than just silly painted sections.
Just look at france....the cyclist and his/her life is taken into consideration when building roads.
Goverment here are to fat and lazy to consider investing in sport...plus some of them probably have a similar atitude to some of the posters here towords cyclists in general.

just to add...i have never had a seroius accident off my bike but the minor ones involving cars/trucks all happened on secondry roads...not motorways/ duel carriageways. and all were caused because the road aint big enough for cyclist and vehicle.

daveharnett · 13-12-2009 6:48pm

Mr.Boots wrote: »

Pity the goverment didnt spend the euro cash (when they had it) on adding seperate cycle lanes to our road network rather than just silly painted sections.

It's true. Alas, at the current rate of exchange, there aren't enough billboards in the world to get jc dacaux to stump up the cash for this job:rolleyes:.

DirkVoodoo · 13-12-2009 7:15pm

Dakota Whining Software wrote: »

Leaving legality aside, will someone please explain to me how driving in the hard shoulder of a motorway is more dangerous than cycling on any other road in the country most of which have no hard shoulder, poor visibility and cars traveling just as fast a lot of the time, because imo its much safer on the motorway.

You don't have cars merging with the main traffic flow on country roads at the speed they are on a motorway. Like I said, I've cycled on dual carriageways and the most nerve wracking part is continuing straight on past an on/off ramp.
The actual cycling alongside the road is the easy part.

As for the guy who is talking about cycling on the footpath and swerving past old ladies, this is also illegal, dangerous and stupid. If you can't manage to cycle safely on the road and find you need the footpath, get off and walk.

Stark · 13-12-2009 7:16pm

AugustusMaximus wrote: »

Just wondering did anyone else see the cyclist on the M8 this morning between Glanmire and Watergrasshill.

2nd time I've seen this person on the same stretch of road at the same time on a Saturday morning (around 9AM) within the last 3 weeks.

If this cyclist is a regular to cycling on this stretch of motorway, I might give a ring to Glanmire Garda station the next time I see him.

A whole cyclist? This is a serious issue.

Bee · 13-12-2009 7:51pm

AugustusMaximus wrote: »

Just wondering did anyone else see the cyclist on the M8 this morning between Glanmire and Watergrasshill.

2nd time I've seen this person on the same stretch of road at the same time on a Saturday morning (around 9AM) within the last 3 weeks.

If this cyclist is a regular to cycling on this stretch of motorway, I might give a ring to Glanmire Garda station the next time I see him.

I had a similar scenario on another stretch of motorway.

I did not have much luck ringing the Gardai (probably too busy booking drivers of alledged 1kph over the motorway speed limits to bother)

I contacted a local TD (awful that you have to do that to get any reaction) and the problem was then resolved after a TD's letter to the local Garda station supremo:rolleyes:

daveharnett · 13-12-2009 8:06pm

Bee wrote: »

I had a similar scenario on another stretch of motorway.

I did not have much luck ringing the Gardai (probably too busy booking drivers of alledged 1kph over the motorway speed limits to bother)

I contacted a local TD (awful that you have to do that to get any reaction) and the problem was then resolved after a TD's letter to the local Garda station supremo:rolleyes:

Wow. So is it a really efficient postal service, or was it a really slow cyclist?:D

TimAllen · 13-12-2009 8:31pm

Bee wrote: »

I had a similar scenario on another stretch of motorway.

I did not have much luck ringing the Gardai (probably too busy booking drivers of alledged 1kph over the motorway speed limits to bother)

I contacted a local TD (awful that you have to do that to get any reaction) and the problem was then resolved after a TD's letter to the local Garda station supremo:rolleyes:

I think that the problem is always one of enforcement. The lack of identity plates means that the cyclist has to be caught in the act to be identified.
I guess, when a cyclist is inevitably killed on a motorway this issue will be taken seriously

Cyclist on M8 this morning

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