If Ireland could replicate one aspect of another country or city....

Cops like Rio, to make all the no hopers disappear. Genuine cases could be cared for by organisations, organised beggars have no right to be on the streets harassing people.

Lana Ugly Waist wrote: »

What does that even mean?

A lot of people here seem to be listing stereotypes. The grass is always greener and all that.

It means that the average VOCAL Irish cyclist wouldn't last five minutes on the infrastructure in the Netherlands et al without someone dragging them off and giving them a few slaps. People cycle around at a sedate pace with some wherewithal of what's going on around them, not like they're competing in the tour de France.

There a fecking reason it's call a 'dutch style' bike.

Stephen15 wrote: »

Even if we had the cycling infrastructure like in the Netherlands I would say there would be still some idiots who continue to cycle on the road.

Not a chance. The reason cyclists here use roads when there is 'cycling infrastructure' in place is because they are downgraded to pedestrian status at every single junction. This does not happen in the Netherlands at all and a cyclist would have absolutely no motivation to be on the roads.

Stephen15 wrote: »

They would probably be the ones that have an attitude of superiority thinking that cars, trucks and buses should have to slow down just to facilitate them.

Not sure if you are referring to this hypothetical situation of Dublin with proper infrastructure, or Dublin as it is today. I suspect the latter and shall address this point as such.

Some cyclists do have an attitude of superiority and it gives all cyclists a bad name, it's a terrible thing to see whether you're a mature cycling enthusiast or a motorist or a pedestrian. That being said, sometimes cars, trucks and buses should have to slow down to facilitate them. Just like they have to slow down to facilitate all road users. This is not an outlandish concept and seems to be at the heart of most of the hatred towards cyclists in this country. This deeply embedded idea that they have no right to exist in the first place.

I am genuinely curious as to where this attitude originated.

Stephen15 wrote: »

They would also probably upload the footage to YouTube every time someone driving steps out of line.

I know the type of cyclist you're talking about. It's a very childish way to be carrying on. But sure at least they're not doing any harm... for the most part.

Apologies if I am derailing the thread but I felt I had some valid points to make in response to this comment.

Lana Ugly Waist wrote: »

What's an "average VOCAL Irish cyclist"?

The Netherlands is flat, Ireland is not. A dutch style bike is not going to be very effective on a long hilly commute. The infrastructure is also not there. Are you really suggesting that cyclists move at a sedate pace (slowly?). From your description, doesn't sound like you ever set foot in the Netherlands, sedate is the last word I would describe a Dutch cyclist.

Your post is full of hyperbole.

Sounds to me that you're just envious looking at cyclists passing you as you sit in traffic :P

See the cycling forum.

I cycle myself and also drive. I try not to be a wanker when doing both. Something the vast majority of cyclists and motorists do. MAMIL cycling two abreast 'cos they can' on the other hand...

Plenty of experience of Dutch cyclists in a couple of major cities. Maybe they're different in rural areas but in Amsterdam and Nijmegen from what I've seen they use it as a means of transportation rather than some badge of twatery.

Pretty sure there's already threads on Boards dedicated to "4 wheels good, 2 wheels bad" and vice versa.

Or several of them.

Mysterypunter wrote: »

Cops like Rio, to make all the no hopers disappear. Genuine cases could be cared for by organisations, organised beggars have no right to be on the streets harassing people.

Puzzled. I've never been harassed by a beggar in Ireland.

Samuel T. Cogley wrote: »

It means that the average VOCAL Irish cyclist wouldn't last five minutes on the infrastructure in the Netherlands et al without someone dragging them off and giving them a few slaps. People cycle around at a sedate pace with some wherewithal of what's going on around them, not like they're competing in the tour de France.

There a fecking reason it's call a 'dutch style' bike.

Haven't been in Holland, have you?

seachto7 wrote: »

Squares like you have on the continent where people can go and sit and have a coffee at a terrace etc. parks should have these little cafes too.
Also little food places by the sea like on the continent. No reason we couldn’t have covered ones as we have the coast for it.
There is nowhere really to go and sit in Dublin city, like a square or plaza to enjoy the weather when it is fine other than a park bench. I live in malahide and the only place in the village to sit out for a coffee is by an intersection and it’s a wine bar. Joke.

St. Stephen’s Green.
Opened in 1880, St. Stephen’s Green is perhaps Dublin’s most well-known Georgian square.

Mounty Square.
Planned and developed in the late 18th century by Luke Gardiner, the 1st Viscount Mountjoy, Mountjoy Square was once Dublin’s most prestigious Georgian square.

Parnell Square.
Perched at the end of O’ Connell Street, Dublin’s main thoroughfare, Parnell Square is the oldest Georgian square in the city.

Merrion Square.
One of the best surviving Georgian Squares in Dublin, Merrion Square’s architecture has remained unchanged for 200 years. Most notably the west side of the square has the Natural History Museum, the National Gallery and Leinster House.

Fitzwilliam Square.
Only a stone's throw south of Merrion Square, Fitzwilliam Square is the smallest and the last of the last of the five Dublin Georgian squares to be completed.

Temple Bar Square.
The heart and soul of Dublin’s historical and cultural activities, Temple Bar Square is a spot popular with tourists. The area is a historical hodgepodge as it was once a medieval suburb that was redeveloped in the 1600’s for British families and then again in the late 20th century to become the vibrant spot in the city filled with pubs and restaurants.

Meeting House Square
Just around the corner from Temple Bar Square hidden down a small walkway is the much more contemporary Meeting House Square. It is Dublin’s newest square, only opening in 2011.

Mayor Square.
Located in the IFSC, Ireland’s financial epicentre, Mayor Square is another square that shows off a more cutting-edge side to the city. Surrounded by Dublin’s modern architectural additions including the Samuel Beckett Bridge, IFSC House and the Convention Centre

Grand Canal Dock.
Nicknamed Silicon Docks, Grand Canal Dock is fast becoming one of the trendiest squares in Dublin. Home to tech companies such as Facebook, Google and Airbnb.

Smithfield Square.
Cafés, Restaurants, Bars and Entertainment in the heart of Dublin 7.

There's loads more, Wolfe Tone square including with the tram cafe.

Samuel T. Cogley wrote: »

Plenty of experience of Dutch cyclists in a couple of major cities. Maybe they're different in rural areas but in Amsterdam and Nijmegen from what I've seen they use it as a means of transportation rather than some badge of twatery.

Oddly enough in one week in Italy I only saw only ONE lycra clad arse cycling on his own.
Everyone else used bikes for getting from A to B, getting shopping etc. They cycled those plain high nelly type bikes as it was explained to me a top of the range carbon fibre bike would just get robbed.

London transport and underground system. Our public transport is shambolic and ridiculously expensive. In London a 6 pound day ticket and you can use underground and buses all day as much as you want. Our trains are really slow too compared to other European countries. we've a very outdated and expensive system here.

John_Rambo wrote: »

St. Stephen’s Green.
Opened in 1880, St. Stephen’s Green is perhaps Dublin’s most well-known Georgian square.

Mounty Square.
Planned and developed in the late 18th century by Luke Gardiner, the 1st Viscount Mountjoy, Mountjoy Square was once Dublin’s most prestigious Georgian square.

Parnell Square.
Perched at the end of O’ Connell Street, Dublin’s main thoroughfare, Parnell Square is the oldest Georgian square in the city.

Merrion Square.
One of the best surviving Georgian Squares in Dublin, Merrion Square’s architecture has remained unchanged for 200 years. Most notably the west side of the square has the Natural History Museum, the National Gallery and Leinster House.

Fitzwilliam Square.
Only a stone's throw south of Merrion Square, Fitzwilliam Square is the smallest and the last of the last of the five Dublin Georgian squares to be completed.

Temple Bar Square.
The heart and soul of Dublin’s historical and cultural activities, Temple Bar Square is a spot popular with tourists. The area is a historical hodgepodge as it was once a medieval suburb that was redeveloped in the 1600’s for British families and then again in the late 20th century to become the vibrant spot in the city filled with pubs and restaurants.

Meeting House Square
Just around the corner from Temple Bar Square hidden down a small walkway is the much more contemporary Meeting House Square. It is Dublin’s newest square, only opening in 2011.

Mayor Square.
Located in the IFSC, Ireland’s financial epicentre, Mayor Square is another square that shows off a more cutting-edge side to the city. Surrounded by Dublin’s modern architectural additions including the Samuel Beckett Bridge, IFSC House and the Convention Centre

Grand Canal Dock.
Nicknamed Silicon Docks, Grand Canal Dock is fast becoming one of the trendiest squares in Dublin. Home to tech companies such as Facebook, Google and Airbnb.

Smithfield Square.
Cafés, Restaurants, Bars and Entertainment in the heart of Dublin 7.

There's loads more, Wolfe Tone square including with the tram cafe.

The poster said other than a park which are most of what you listed, and even Parnell Square is horrible as half of it is a manky looking hospital. Wolf Tone square is not successful as a public space,temple bar square is overshadowed and very small and is not a nice place to sit around in, grand canal square and smithfield are well designed imo but not very central to the pedestrian traffic of the city, the college green plaza would be a missing link that would fill the gap in the market that poster was talking about. Public space along routes where most of the city's social life occurs, is very much missing within dublin. Dublins public realm is undeniably poor, Galway for instance even though its a fraction the size has a much better pedestrian flow throughout the city and the public/pedestrian/open green spaces are much more successfully joined together than dublins public spaces

Samuel T. Cogley wrote: »

It means that the average VOCAL Irish cyclist wouldn't last five minutes on the infrastructure in the Netherlands et al without someone dragging them off and giving them a few slaps. People cycle around at a sedate pace with some wherewithal of what's going on around them, not like they're competing in the tour de France.

There a fecking reason it's call a 'dutch style' bike.

Anyone offering a cyclist "a few slaps" in any part of the Netherlands would be liable to be regarded with a distinct lack of humour by the Dutch police.

Prominent_Dawg wrote: »

Public transport, and everything about it.. It’s one of the most expensive and unreliable systems in this country compared to other European countries.. (bus eireann service would be a good place to start..)

True - especially the lack of orbital routes - a lot of places have buses to Dublin, but no route to nearby towns that aren't in a line between them and Dublin, so to get to a town 20 miles away you have to go into Dublin and back out to the nearby town.