Ian O'Doherty, the voice of reason - Mod warning post #60

Much as I hate to say it, I think O'Doherty has a point. I cycle quite a lot and it sometimes beggars belief to see how just how badly some cyclists behave with regard to the rules of the road. I've never seen any other cyclist (apart from myself) who actually stops at pedestrian crossings when the lights turn red. Most pedestrians look at me with shock when I actually stop for them. Most cyclists go through red lights as if it's their right. One morning, while stopped on a red light at a very busy junction on my bike, I couldn't believe it when I saw another cyclist flying past me with a pair of headphones completely oblivious to everything. I don't know how he wasn't hit by a car.

Don't get me wrong, I've had plenty of run-ins with motorists and have even gone to the point where I once followed one of them and had it out with her for pulling out in front of me at a T-junction but a lot of cyclists are their own worst enemy. They give the rest of us a bad name, those of us who actually stop at red lights, don't cycle on footpaths and don't go the wrong way down one way streets. From my experience it looks as if I'm in a very small minority when it comes to that.

I reckon he has a point too. I cycle as a sport, but not for commuting and I have to say the standard of riding I see out there on the way into work in the car some mornings is awful, gives the rest of us a bad name. Most are fine but there are a few folks who really are a danger to themselves and everyone else. That being said, you could say the same of many motorists and pedestrians. When I was living in Dublin and cycling down O'Connell st every morning, the number of people walking out without looking was phenomonal.

Quigs Snr wrote: »

I reckon he has a point too. I cycle as a sport, but not for commuting and I have to say the standard of riding I see out there on the way into work in the car some mornings is awful, gives the rest of us a bad name. Most are fine but there are a few folks who really are a danger to themselves and everyone else. That being said, you could say the same of many motorists and pedestrians. When I was living in Dublin and cycling down O'Connell st every morning, the number of people walking out without looking was phenomonal.

Maybe, but in the last ten years of commuting I've noticed a marked improvement in motorists and cyclists behaviour (including my own) over the last two years, as more cyclists take to the road. A shared sense of responsibility goes a long way. But, as usual, O'Doherty panders to a mock sense of middle class righteous indignation and boorish misanthropy. Change the ****ing record Ian.

On a different note but keeping with cyclist behaviour. On country roads with no hard shoulders, why do groups of cyclist insist on cycling in twos...sometimes threes? I know that legally cyclists have the right to do so but why? when there's a line of infuriated motorists behind them. I think it's an Irish thing, as a Dutch cyclist I met recently opined that Irish cyclists don't cycle according to road conditions.

Fatty O'Doherty wrote:

Take One -- I'm out walking the pooches and when I get to the traffic lights, the three of us wait until the lights turn green. I've trained the dogs to wait until the buzzer goes and we set out into the road

A small observation Fatty, but I wonder why you would need to train your dogs to wait at the lights. I mean, if like a responsible dog owner they are being walked on a lead (and you happen to pick up after your dog, which seems to be even rarer in Dublin than a cyclist stopping at a red) then surely your dogs don't need to be trained as they will be restrained?

Just an observation, I might be totally wrong of course, but I do see a lot of dogs being walked around Dublin without any leads. In fact, I was nearly involved in a bad crash in Howth when a dog ran out onto the road ahead of the owner. She didn't even bat an eye lid at my impressive skid around Fido.

tomasrojo wrote: »

Try a search. Complaints about two-abreast cycling abound on this forum. (By-three is illegal.)

EDIT:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?threadid=2056237276
There you are. One from March.

So it's for the safety of the cyclist...ok.
Would it not be safer for everyone to choose a more suitable road then the ones being used for the purpose of training?
I guess it's a bit of a stalemate and one that motorists and cyclists will never agree on.

pappyodaniel wrote: »

So it's for the safety of the cyclist...ok.
Would it not be safer for everyone to choose a more suitable road then the ones being used for the purpose of training?
I guess it's a bit of a stalemate and one that motorists and cyclists will never agree on.

Yes, drive on a motorway if you want to get somewhere faster. Seriously, I have seen some shocking cycling in Dublin city, but I can't honestly say I have ever been delayed because of cyclists riding two abreast.

Where are you going in such a hurry?

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

... I am slowed down more by traffic lights and people driving in the middle lane of the M50 at 80 km/hr. There are 3 lanes there for a reason people, no it is not a merging lane!

Not to continue the off-topic discussion but the middle lane of the M50 makes me weep for humanity ... specifically how thick Irish people can be