Bike Park Ireland closed this weekend

covey123 · 05-06-2019 8:34pm

https://mobile.twitter.com/InsuranceRefIre

Hope this is the start of some action regarding exaggerated insurance claims

Icyseanfitz · 08-06-2019 9:18pm

seems like BPI is listed for cycling irelands bike fest, wonder how thats working, gonna head to show support if it is.

prunudo · 09-06-2019 2:34pm

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

seems like BPI is listed for cycling irelands bike fest, wonder how thats working, gonna head to show support if it is.

Possibly because its a cycling Ireland event their insurance would cover it.
But fingers crossed that they have it sorted by then although I didn't notice any updates this week which is disappointing and worrying.

Wanderer78 · 17-06-2019 6:32am

I assume they're fcuked at this stage?

prunudo · 17-06-2019 7:14am

Wanderer78 wrote: »

I assume they're fcuked at this stage?

Certainly the longer it goes on the worse it's looking. Fingers crossed I'm wrong though.

Peter T · 17-06-2019 8:08am

Big disappointment if it slips to the side. They provide a great service and are in the ideal location to attract customers from a fairly wide span. We've nothing else like it at the moment down south. We have the odd uplift day in some locations but nothing comes close to bike park

xxyyzz · 17-06-2019 9:23am

This was posted on the IDMS facebook page. There was supposed to be a downhill event hosted at BPI. Fingers crossed!

Guys, Graham at Bike Park Ireland has asked me to post the following message regarding Round 3 of the 2019 Nukeproof IDMS;

"It is with great regret, due to the ongoing insurance crisis Bike Park Ireland is not in a position to reopen for the 3rd round of the IDMS in June. The plan is to reschedule this round later in the season when Bike Park Ireland reopens. Bike Park Ireland apologizes for any inconvenience caused and hopes to reopen again sometime in July."

I am sure everyone wishes Graham and his team well and hope that the insurance crisis can be resolved sooner rather than later.

prunudo · 08-07-2019 10:28am

More uncertainty and no real news on reopening. Terrible considering it should be their busiest time of year.

Taken from facebook;

Latest news as of 8th July 2019

Due to the ongoing National Insurance Crisis in Ireland we are unfortunately Still Closed.

We are still trying everything to reopen the Bike Park as soon as possible but unfortunately we are not there yet. We appreciate that this is very frustrating for you as it is for us too.

Realistically at this stage we won’t be reopen before August. But as soon as we have news we will let everyone know.

Thanks a million for your patience and continued support.

Kind regards,
Graham, Sandi and the BPI Team.

Hurrache · 08-07-2019 5:31pm

I was only wondering at lunch what was happening. They've a great set up there, it really is a shame.

Inquitus · 13-07-2019 5:47pm

What a joke, and having read through the thread, and googled, there are a number of other outdoor adventure companies who have closed or may close in the near future due to ridiculous premium hikes. God knows what damage being closed for the first 2 months of the high season is doing to this business while they try and resolve this. It's hard to see how other businesses like GAP etc. will not run into similar difficulties. Hopefully something is done quickly to help resolve this, the ongoing Brexit drama is clearly influencing the ability to use UK insurers as mentioned, and with no sign of that being sorted in any kind of positive manner, this could be a long term, crippling issue for the entire industry.

caff · 13-07-2019 5:49pm

Nothing will be done until it starts hitting football gaa and golf clubs

xxyyzz · 13-07-2019 8:51pm

Dingle climbing wall has been closed in Kerry

Big Nasty · 13-07-2019 9:31pm

caff wrote: »

Nothing will be done until it starts hitting football gaa and golf clubs

GAA Clubs, yeah. Nobody gives AF about Golf Clubs. In fact The GAP is a former golf club.

Wanderer78 · 14-07-2019 8:20am

I know a small family business that is currently closing due to an outrageous insurance hike, this is fcuked up

cunavalos · 14-07-2019 3:00pm

Surprised local TD Alan Kelly hasn't been more vocal on this, he is typically an opportunist who will use any chance to boost his own profile by championing a local and topical cause.

DaveyDave · 14-07-2019 10:10pm

xxyyzz wrote: »

Dingle climbing wall has been closed in Kerry

Jesus is any sort of physical activity safe? A bloody climbing wall? I was there a few years ago, even on the beginner wall where a person was required to counter weight you I didn't have an issue.

Top Dog · 15-07-2019 9:56pm

DaveyDave wrote: »

Jesus is any sort of physical activity safe?

Not in Ireland it would seem

prunudo · 15-07-2019 10:00pm

Top Dog wrote: »

Not in Ireland it would seem

Yet we are constantly being encouraged to be more active and get out and be fit.

covey123 · 20-07-2019 9:06am

https://amp.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/thousands-of-jobs-at-risk-after-main-insurer-for-leisure-sector-pulls-out-38329493.html

More activities about to get hit,major UK leisure insurance firm backing out of Ireland

Wanderer78 · 20-07-2019 9:21am

covey123 wrote:

More activities about to get hit,major UK leisure insurance firm backing out of Ireland

Fcuking hell

cjt156 · 20-07-2019 10:19am

I'm usually not in favour of too much state intervention but the Government will have to step in. Set up a national insurance agency and fight spurious claims to the bitter end.

prunudo · 20-07-2019 10:20am

The government are going to have to step in, they can't contuine to talk out of both sides of their mouth. Encouraging healthier more active lifestyles on one hand while watching idly by as activity based business close due to insurance costs.
Not that I expect the current crowd to do anything, its all about pr and spin for them than real results :mad:

xxyyzz · 20-07-2019 11:32am

I read yesterday that even the bouncy castle businesses will be losing their insurance as most of them are insured in the UK

covey123 · 20-07-2019 11:34am

Soon,this will be true....

http://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2017/03/14/waterford-man-awarded-e179k-after-receiving-bad-pint-from-city-night-club/

InTheShadows · 20-07-2019 11:37am

rizzodun wrote: »

A model like New Zealand could work, if the political will was there.

https://adventure.howstuffworks.com/new-zealand-became-home-extreme-sports.htm

The political will isn't even there to hold their own responsible for insurance fraud.

FG are all talk and zero action.

InTheShadows · 20-07-2019 11:40am

caff wrote: »

Nothing will be done until it starts hitting football gaa and golf clubs

They could care less about football. When it effects GAA and Rugby then you will see a move.

jochenstacker · 21-07-2019 6:32pm

cjt156 wrote: »

I'm usually not in favour of too much state intervention but the Government will have to step in. Set up a national insurance agency and fight spurious claims to the bitter end.

Any claim should be checked thoroughly and ANY suspect claims contested to the absolute hilt.
There must be criminal prosecutions for fraudulent claims with serious fines and/or prison terms.
Insurances should be forced to disclose their income and claims to the last cent.
Maybe only certified, independent specialist get to certify injuries.
Instead of cash awards, make treatment available directly.
The legal profession should have a fire lit under their arse, because costs are stupid and it takes way, way to long to process anything.
And awards could be slashed by 50% and still be generous by European standards.
Unless this happens, nothing will change.
You can expect the various ambulance chasers and Doc Holidays to kick up quite a stink.

prunudo · 01-08-2019 2:57pm

Start of August now and still no positive news. The longer it goes on the more fearful I am that a solution won't be found.

drunkmonkey · 01-08-2019 3:57pm

There has to be funding they can access from somewhere that usually takes ages. I'd be hopping off the local TD's....there's one with a bit of clout not to far from them. The state should be funding things like this, but they won't fix the road as the money is gone to the children's hospital up in Dublin, ludicrous.

El Vino · 02-08-2019 11:46am

Really disappointed for them, was planning a trip this summer with the kids but have booked GAP instead, really hope they can get back up and running soon.

iwillhtfu · 02-08-2019 9:40pm

I can't see BPI opening again to be honest which is a shame.

I think the GAP is picking up the business but the trails up there are getting an absolute hammering. I was up there yesterday evening and some of the berms were more like rock gardens. I see they have done some quality repair work on some of them but others badly need a bit of TLC.

BTW if anyone is considering Thurs evenings it's a pretty cool chilled affair with burgers and beers available for €10 and uplifts are only €15 6-9pm. I'd imagine they'll be coming to an end soon enough as the evenings close in.

cjt156 · 03-08-2019 4:58pm

...I'd imagine they'll be coming to an end soon enough as the evenings close in.

They run them in the dark, too. Proper lighting a prerequisite.

jayjbe · 04-08-2019 9:07am

Another wake up call...
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/suite-goodbye-from-aig-as-insurer-pulls-out-of-hotel-sector-6j7qtkcjp

Tenzor07 · 07-08-2019 9:14pm

Get Signing!

https://www.change.org/p/the-oireachtus-re-open-bike-park-ireland

Good jib! · 08-08-2019 8:09am

I've signed, but what actually happens once they get 1000 signatures?

smacl · 08-08-2019 9:25am

Signed and shared.

smacl · 08-08-2019 9:37am

Good jib! wrote: »

I've signed, but what actually happens once they get 1000 signatures?

AFAIK the idea is that with enough signatures you'll get a reaction from the media and then politicians who might act on it. As important to share the petition on your social media as it is to sign it so that it can get a head of steam.

covey123 · 08-08-2019 11:05am

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Get Signing!

https://www.change.org/p/the-oireachtus-re-open-bike-park-ireland

Did you set this up?

DaveyDave · 08-08-2019 11:38am

Do many tourists do mountain biking here? Can't imagine the government would care about any sort of outdoor activity unless it was a tourist spot like the Cliffs of Moher or something.

I know people do fly over here to ride trails when they're new and stuff, but probably wouldn't be big numbers.

It's a shame we even have to this discussion, they're just a couple of mountain bike trails. Can't have anything in this country!

prunudo · 08-08-2019 1:22pm

Good jib! wrote: »

I've signed, but what actually happens once they get 1000 signatures?

They ask to get it too 1500. After that maybe 2000. Its up to 1006 now

Lemming · 08-08-2019 1:55pm

DaveyDave wrote: »

Do many tourists do mountain biking here? Can't imagine the government would care about any sort of outdoor activity unless it was a tourist spot like the Cliffs of Moher or something.

I know people do fly over here to ride trails when they're new and stuff, but probably wouldn't be big numbers.

It's a shame we even have to this discussion, they're just a couple of mountain bike trails. Can't have anything in this country!

I will come home a couple of times a year from the UK and book two or three days - sometimes back to back - riding at the likes of the GAP, bringing my missus with me too. I've had random folk ask me about riding around Dublin/Wicklow region at the cycle show in Birmingham too because they've spotted my GAP hoodie, and one of the main drivers behind Ride Sheffield is well familiar with cycling in Ireland too, so there are people out there bringing in (or contemplating) the tourism yoyos.

Edit: also signed the petition

ED E · 08-08-2019 2:00pm

Its bigger than MTB venues folks. Same withdrawal is going to close all the bouncy castle businesses in the republic, all the paintball sites, all the airsoft sites, probably go-karting etc too.

Colossal fvck up thanks to the legal professions greed.

Lemming · 08-08-2019 2:07pm

ED E wrote: »

Colossal fvck up thanks to the legal professions greed.

It's a bigger issue than pinning it all on the legal profession. It takes joe soap to chance their arm on "entitlements" with none of the responsibility, along with an unhealthy dose of politicians too lazy to try and tackle an increasingly serious issue to the economy. I would pin most of it on the attitude of Joe Soap which is all too quick to look for compensation on a whim. For that to change, the legal mechanisms require changing so it's not seen as a frivolous pay-day adventure to the courts putting on the saddest Saddy-McSad face you can muster.

QueenMTBee · 08-08-2019 3:11pm

Lemming wrote: »

It's a bigger issue than pinning it all on the legal profession. It takes joe soap to chance their arm on "entitlements" with none of the responsibility....... I would pin most of it on the attitude of Joe Soap which is all too quick to look for compensation on a whim.

Totally agree with this. I work in the courts system and yes it could do with a good shake up but honestly the things people sue for these days is just mind boggling. What happened to using your brain / cop on and taking personal responsibility for your bloopers? I'm an extremely clumsy person! If I sued every time I tripped on a pavement or slipped on a set of stairs or split hot coffee on myself from a takeout cup, I'd be a bloody billionaire by now. If I fell over in a playground when I was little, my parents would tell me to look where I was going in future - it would never have occurred to them to sue whoever had been nice enough to put the playground there and let us use it.

Just to clarify - I'm not specifically targeting people on this thread but a lot of people raging about the insurance crisis could probably start by looking a little closer to home.

xxyyzz · 08-08-2019 4:41pm

A buddy of mine rear-ended somebody accidentally in a traffic jam 2 years ago, nobody hurt and minimal damage. Last week he was notified that she is claiming for 60k. That is what we are dealing with. It's going straight to the high court. Basically it's a game of chicken between her solicitor and the insurance company, the insurers want to settle out of court for 20k so the claimant is trying to get the max settlement as they know the insurer doesn't want to go to court. My buddy can't even be told on what medical grounds she is making the claim due to the data protection act.

Solicitors know that there is free money to be had so long as you have the brass neck to stick it out.

bogmanfan · 08-08-2019 5:05pm

Similar story here - my wife touched another car while in stop-start heavy traffic. Zero damage to either car, not even a tiny scratch. She took pics of both cars. The other guy was super nice. Both continued on their way. 6 months later she finds he's claiming €30k for injuries. And the insurance company settled. This is why we're in this situation.

I don't remember the exact details, but there was a kid in court a few months back. Got a cut above his eye which left a 1-inch scar, which the judge noted was 100% covered by his eyebrow. He got around €30k.

Then the girl who decided to try to hang onto a moving LUAS and fell off. She got over €550k.

Until these ludicrous payouts stop, then I don't really blame insurance companies for pulling out of the country.

xxyyzz wrote: »

A buddy of mine rear-ended somebody accidentally in a traffic jam 2 years ago, nobody hurt and minimal damage. Last week he was notified that she is claiming for 60k. That is what we are dealing with. It's going straight to the high court. Basically it's a game of chicken between her solicitor and the insurance company, the insurers want to settle out of court for 20k so the claimant is trying to get the max settlement as they know the insurer doesn't want to go to court. My buddy can't even be told on what medical grounds she is making the claim due to the data protection act.

Solicitors know that there is free money to be had so long as you have the brass neck to stick it out.

xxyyzz · 08-08-2019 6:10pm

bogmanfan wrote: »

Similar story here - my wife touched another car while in stop-start heavy traffic. Zero damage to either car, not even a tiny scratch. She took pics of both cars. The other guy was super nice. Both continued on their way. 6 months later she finds he's claiming €30k for injuries. And the insurance company settled. This is why we're in this situation.

I don't remember the exact details, but there was a kid in court a few months back. Got a cut above his eye which left a 1-inch scar, which the judge noted was 100% covered by his eyebrow. He got around €30k.

Then the girl who decided to try to hang onto a moving LUAS and fell off. She got over €550k.

Until these ludicrous payouts stop, then I don't really blame insurance companies for pulling out of the country.

xxyyzz wrote: »

A buddy of mine rear-ended somebody accidentally in a traffic jam 2 years ago, nobody hurt and minimal damage. Last week he was notified that she is claiming for 60k. That is what we are dealing with. It's going straight to the high court. Basically it's a game of chicken between her solicitor and the insurance company, the insurers want to settle out of court for 20k so the claimant is trying to get the max settlement as they know the insurer doesn't want to go to court. My buddy can't even be told on what medical grounds she is making the claim due to the data protection act.

Solicitors know that there is free money to be had so long as you have the brass neck to stick it out.

Yeah and they just need some quack to sign off on the "injury" and it pretty much can't be contested in court.

covey123 · 08-08-2019 6:15pm

These guy's highlighting this madness

https://m.facebook.com/Insurance-Reform-209539666285334/

https://mobile.twitter.com/InsuranceRefIre

Get liking, sharing etc

QueenMTBee · 08-08-2019 7:00pm

I get that judges and insurance companies are partly to blame but why aren't you putting any blame at the door of the people claiming these exaggerating injuries? They don't have a gun to their head. They aren't all scrotes and scobies, they are "normal" people who see a way to make a quick buck. If people didn't make exaggerated claims and claim for dumb stuff they do then there would be no court case and no massive payout. The Joe Soap chancing their arm for some "free" money are equally at fault here.

QueenMTBee · 08-08-2019 7:02pm

xxyyzz wrote: »

Solicitors know that there is free money to be had so long as you have the brass neck to stick it out.

You mean people know that there is free money to be had so long as you have the brass neck to stick it out. The solicitor isn't forcing them to exaggerate their injuries to their doctors and the court.

Bike Park Ireland closed this weekend

Comments