Journalism and Cycling 2: the difficult second album

Hurrache · 20-05-2020 8:33pm

Joining a queue of that length as soon as McDonald's open is a sign of western stupidity at least anyway.

work · 20-05-2020 10:50pm

After their hour wait, scoff down, im just not satisfied think I'll queue again for a sundae.
What a poisoned world we create

MojoMaker · 21-05-2020 10:01am

Out walking with the dogs this morning in the local park. McDonalds only open 24 hours and already litter from their restaurants spread across the park - coffee cups, sundae cups, straws, and paper bags. Not possible to confuse it with any other brand.

Makes me sick. Not at McDonalds itself (for now), but the low IQ/EQ of their patrons.

Duckjob · 21-05-2020 9:29pm

https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2020/0521/1139870-dublin-city-covid-restrictions/

The report predicts that public transport capacity will be reduced by 80% because of social distancing so it is aiming at a 100% increase in pedestrians and a 300% increase in cyclists.

Sounds pretty ambitious (at least by Irish standards). Could we be on the cusp of a great transformation of Dublin ?

Hurrache · 22-05-2020 8:14am

The story from the gardai and passed on by the media about the "national slowdown day" irks me with how it's being covered. Gardai are asking motorists to be more careful and to expect an increase in cyclists and pedestrians on the roads.

If anything, the increase of cyclists and pedestrians has been there the last few months, it's the re-introduction of an increased level of motorists to the roads that are the hazard.

Mc Love · 22-05-2020 9:49am

Fairly even poll so far

https://www.thejournal.ie/poll-private-cars-banned-city-centres-5105195-May2020/

Pigeon Reaper · 22-05-2020 11:08am

https://www.nationaltransport.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Covid_Mobility_Programme_21.5.20_FINAL_WEB.pdf

I'm sure this will be covered by the media shortly. It makes for interesting reading for anyone commuting by bike into Dublin.

Duckjob · 22-05-2020 7:43pm

Pigeon Reaper wrote: »

https://www.nationaltransport.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Covid_Mobility_Programme_21.5.20_FINAL_WEB.pdf

I'm sure this will be covered by the media shortly. It makes for interesting reading for anyone commuting by bike into Dublin.

Link is broken ?

Stark · 22-05-2020 7:48pm

Weird, was working earlier for me. They must have taken it down.

magicbastarder · 22-05-2020 7:52pm

seems to have a new link - linked from within this article:
https://www.nationaltransport.ie/news/dublin-mobility-plan/

edit: i assume that's the same or similar based on the name of the document. i didn't get to see the one on the earlier link.

Stark · 22-05-2020 7:56pm

Only glanced over the previous one but that looks like the same to me.

22-05-2020 8:39pm

Looks to be the same one.

Interesting the changes they are making to traffic lights.

Pigeon Reaper · 23-05-2020 9:55am

It's the same document. It's interesting reading and was picked up positively in the Irish Times. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/dublin-and-covid-19-car-restrictions-more-space-for-bikes-bus-restrictions-in-the-offing-1.4259642

tomasrojo · 23-05-2020 11:13am

Mc Love wrote: »

Fairly even poll so far

https://www.thejournal.ie/poll-private-cars-banned-city-centres-5105195-May2020/

The media keep doing this. Every plan to restrict through-traffic is a "ban on cars". Never been sure whether it's poor comprehension skills, click-baiting, or deliberately undermining a threat to the status quo..

Grassey · 23-05-2020 11:28am

https://www.fingal.ie/news/plans-underway-deliver-broadmeadow-greenway-after-planning-permission-granted

https://youtu.be/Q5uymHhtBcM

Fingal County Council will immediately commence preparations for the construction of the Broadmeadow Greenway after receiving official notification today that An Bord Pleanála has granted planning permission for the €12m project which will link Malahide and Donabate across the Broadmeadow Estuary.

The 6km off-road walking and cycling greenway route will be built jointly by Fingal County Council and the National Transport Authority (NTA) and a spectacular 280 metres long bridge crossing the Broadmeadow Estuary on the Malahide Railway Viaduct is set to become an iconic feature along the Fingal coastline.

magicbastarder · 23-05-2020 11:35am

it doesn't appear to be a separate bridge, they're using the existing rail bridge, yeah?

Grassey · 23-05-2020 3:32pm

From reading some comments, it looks like the supports for a boardwalk alongside the rail line were put in when it was being repaired a few years back.

magicbastarder · 24-05-2020 2:19pm

great news; more than 99% of drivers now stick below the speed limit.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/more-than-1-000-drivers-caught-speeding-on-national-slow-down-day-1.4261068

work · 24-05-2020 8:09pm

magicbastarder wrote: »

great news; more than 99% of drivers now stick below the speed limit.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/more-than-1-000-drivers-caught-speeding-on-national-slow-down-day-1.4261068

Would be great if true. I drive at or below the speed limit and recently things have not been good. Going into town at the UCD flyover I have my speed set at the limit and it's like I'm parked im being overtaken so fast and frequently. This is the usual situation in most locations. I get tailgated all the time and overtaken aggressively.
I think the Gardai figures are bull for a few reasons:
1) People know where the speed checks are
2) There was national publicity on the day of action that it Would be happening.
3)Just because 90% , which I do not believe for a second, of drivers obeyed the speed limit at particular set of locations and times doesn't mean they do this in other locations or times.
I wouldn't believe these stats in a fit, in fairness the Gardai don't do too well on presenting figures. Give me a speed camera and I could pick locations where at least 90% of drivers break speed limits.

magicbastarder · 24-05-2020 8:36pm

work wrote: »

3)Just because 90% , which I do not believe for a second, of drivers obeyed the speed limit at particular set of locations and times doesn't mean they do this in other locations or times.

not 90% - greater than 99%. they detected 1,072 speeding drivers and 124,929 not speeding.
that's 0.85% were speeding. or 99.15% compliant. it's fantasy.

Peregrine · 24-05-2020 8:44pm

It's an annual stupidity test, not a speed test.

For more realistic stats on speeding, see the RSA Free Speed Survey.

magicbastarder · 24-05-2020 10:06pm

looks like policing helmet laws in australia is going slightly absurd; spotted on twitter:

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/cycling-without-a-helmet-in-these-suburbs-the-quickest-route-to-police-search-20200514-p54svz.html

cletus · 24-05-2020 10:19pm

Interesting read. What I'd really like to know is how Mr. Nic Dow got his helmet wearing exemption

magicbastarder · 24-05-2020 10:43pm

and so was (potentially) borne an uneasy alliance.
you can bet your ass verona would have her eye on ross's job.

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/simon-coveney-contacts-verona-murphy-for-coalition-talks-39229462.html

CramCycle · 24-05-2020 10:45pm

A truly terrifying thought but I can't see an independent getting such a position unless they act as an alliance. A single TD on their own wouldn't hold enough swing.

magicbastarder · 24-05-2020 10:46pm

CramCycle wrote: »

A single TD on their own wouldn't hold enough swing.

i see what you did there.

24-05-2020 10:54pm

Sickens me hole that she got elected vs some of those who lost their seats.

JMcL · 25-05-2020 11:51am

magicbastarder wrote: »

and so was (potentially) borne an uneasy alliance.
you can bet your ass verona would have her eye on ross's job.

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/simon-coveney-contacts-verona-murphy-for-coalition-talks-39229462.html

If that photo is current (hopefully not), they're taking their social distancing guidelines from the Dominic Cummings playbook

cletus · 25-05-2020 11:57am

It says the picture was from the official opening of the Georgia Southern University Global Hub. Quick google says that was last year

Grassey · 26-05-2020 7:11am

DLRCC News release

The cycling schemes and projects listed below will form part of the County-wide plan of temporary measures to address the challenges in the public realm resulting from Covid-19 related to public health and safety, mobility and to support the recovery of the local economy.

Seth Brundle · 29-05-2020 10:25am

Cycling world hits back after columnist says its ‘tempting’ to injure cyclists with wire traps

Apparently he wrote the following in the Sunday Times...

Liddle wrote in his comment piece, which focuses on the BBC but starts with a section on cyclists: “My wife has persuaded me that, strictly speaking, it is against the law to tie piano wire at neck height across the road. Oh, but it’s tempting.”

AndrewJRenko · 29-05-2020 10:35am

Seth Brundle wrote: »

Cycling world hits back after columnist says its ‘tempting’ to injure cyclists with wire traps

Apparently he wrote the following in the Sunday Times...

And then this happens, but I'm sure it is a coincidence, right?

https://twitter.com/bellezzasolocle/status/1265317432656355329

Hurrache · 29-05-2020 12:49pm

I wouldn't bother my ass interacting, but bit of a "journalist" circle jerk thread, one of them has a recent bit of form when it comes to cyclists as she didn't take too kindly to her factual inaccuracies on the topic of the Phoenix Park being pointed out.

https://twitter.com/AarRogan/status/1266301863583813637

Type 17 · 30-05-2020 8:41pm

Something a little lighter and more romantic:

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/ian-o-riordan-dreaming-of-one-way-cycling-over-the-military-road-1.4265917

magicbastarder · 02-06-2020 10:41am

James May: scrap HS2 and buy us all a bike
After several blissful weeks riding along car‑free city streets, May has come up with a plan: take the billions being spent on the new rail link and use it to start a proper two‑wheeled revolution
As a teenager, my dream bicycle ride was probably a typical one. I would be taken, in a van, to somewhere like the top of the Cairngorms to enjoy a whole sublime day of exclusively downhill riding on my five-speed, pig-iron Raleigh racer. We thought about this, me and my mates. It would be, as Philip Larkin said, “everyone young going down the long slide / To happiness, endlessly.”

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/james-may-scrap-hs2-and-buy-us-all-a-bike-dfk33pmw7

02-06-2020 12:17pm

Paywalled

May is actually a keen enough cyclist I think, I recall him making similar statements in the past.

magicbastarder · 02-06-2020 1:22pm

hammond moreso, i think? there were a couple of their 'challenges' where he was on a bicycle in a car v bike v public transport across a city.

Thargor · 02-06-2020 2:38pm

magicbastarder wrote: »

James May: scrap HS2 and buy us all a bike
After several blissful weeks riding along car‑free city streets, May has come up with a plan: take the billions being spent on the new rail link and use it to start a proper two‑wheeled revolution
As a teenager, my dream bicycle ride was probably a typical one. I would be taken, in a van, to somewhere like the top of the Cairngorms to enjoy a whole sublime day of exclusively downhill riding on my five-speed, pig-iron Raleigh racer. We thought about this, me and my mates. It would be, as Philip Larkin said, “everyone young going down the long slide / To happiness, endlessly.”

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/james-may-scrap-hs2-and-buy-us-all-a-bike-dfk33pmw7

Deleted User wrote: »

Paywalled

May is actually a keen enough cyclist I think, I recall him making similar statements in the past.

Heres most of it:

https://road.cc/content/news/james-may-pm-bomb-us-bicycles-hs2-cash-273933

magicbastarder wrote: »

hammond moreso, i think? there were a couple of their 'challenges' where he was on a bicycle in a car v bike v public transport across a city.

I think that was just an age thing, May is always going on about bikes and e-bikes and Raleigh Chopper-style nostalgia, although Hammond says hes a bit knackered these days aswell from a couple of bad car crashes in recent years.

eeeee · 03-06-2020 11:10am

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/dublin-set-to-introduce-30kmh-speed-limit-across-city-due-to-covid-19-1003099.html

Good news for the most part, but I cannot understand why Amiens street and Crumlin road are exempt. Amiens street goes straight into the city centre, the road itself is in terrible shape design wise, and it goes straight to connolly station, one of the busiest if not the busiest in the country. There are always loads of people going to and from the station on Amiens street. :rolleyes:

Duckjob · 03-06-2020 4:21pm

eeeee wrote: »

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/dublin-set-to-introduce-30kmh-speed-limit-across-city-due-to-covid-19-1003099.html

Good news for the most part, but I cannot understand why Amiens street and Crumlin road are exempt. Amiens street goes straight into the city centre, the road itself is in terrible shape design wise, and it goes straight to connolly station, one of the busiest if not the busiest in the country. There are always loads of people going to and from the station on Amiens street. :rolleyes:

Enforcement. Enforcement. Enforcement.

a speed limit means nothing if the guards are arsed to enforce it.

Don't like to be negative about it but lower limits by themselves mean f all if taxi drivers and can easily boot down the road at 80kph when the day traffic is all gone, just like they've been doing with impunity on the quays for years now.

Enforce the limits strictly, and hand out heavy penalties for speeding in city areas.

Even better, overhaul the road design radically to permanently make the desired speed limit self-enforcing. Out with flat multi-lane tarmac, in with raised paved areas, chicanes, street furniture etc, wide cycle and pedestrian areas. (I know, I know, I'm dreaming

)

Just copy what the dutch do because they've perfected the art of regulating motorised traffic speed in built up areas and simultaneously tipping the balance in favour of active modes of transport.

ED E · 03-06-2020 4:26pm

Cameras. Cameras cameras cameras.

Red light cameras, average speed cameras, direct speed cameras. Gardai are humans, humans suck at repetitive jobs. Machines are very good.

03-06-2020 5:27pm

ED E wrote: »

Cameras. Cameras cameras cameras.

Red light cameras, average speed cameras, direct speed cameras. Gardai are humans, humans suck at repetitive jobs. Machines are very good.

The approach depends on the objective.

If, like the Dutch, you want to lower speeds, improve safety and give over space to other modes, you alter the street scape to make it physically difficult to exceed the limits.

If you want to generate income, you go the London way, change the limits, whack up cameras and fine those over them.

magicbastarder · 03-06-2020 5:55pm

Parents call for cycling infrastructure as roads become busier

Booming bike sales and a Sports Ireland survey showing a 73% increase in the number of adults cycling suggests that thousands of families have been taking the opportunity due to the Covid-19 restrictions to go for a bike ride together.

However as motor traffic has returned to the roads parents around the country are reporting that their family cycles are becoming more risky and less fun.

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2020/0603/1145254-bike-cycling/

Duckjob · 04-06-2020 9:28am

Not exactly cycling related, but meanwhile....

https://www.msn.com/en-ie/news/uknews/girl-5-struck-while-riding-go-kart-in-horrific-hit-and-run-in-finglas-dublin/ar-BB150Y9x?ocid=spartandhp

Seriously, how much of an absolute cnut do you have to be to drive off after hitting a little five year old girl out playing out in the sunshine in her pedal kart. But then of course, it must have been one of those damned driverless cars:

He [Garda spokesman] added: "The CAR failed to remain at the scene. No further information is available at this time and enquiries are ongoing"

Steoller · 04-06-2020 9:29am

Deleted User wrote: »

The approach depends on the objective.

If, like the Dutch, you want to lower speeds, improve safety and give over space to other modes, you alter the street scape to make it physically difficult to exceed the limits.

If you want to generate income, you go the London way, change the limits, whack up cameras and fine those over them.

The Dutch aren't shy about nailing you with fines for speeding either.

Duckjob · 04-06-2020 9:41am

Steoller wrote: »

The Dutch aren't shy about nailing you with fines for speeding either.

True enough, but on the other hand I think the Dutch really understand that revenue from speed fines etc is nothing more than short-term cashflow and is more than offset by the much much greater costs of mopping up the after-effects of people speeding and being reckless.

As a result of this understanding, they invest heavily in prevention by way of thoughtful design of their streetscapes to make people slow themselves down and not drive in a reckless manner in the first place.

Hurrache · 04-06-2020 10:00am

Duckjob wrote: »

Not exactly cycling related, but meanwhile....

https://www.msn.com/en-ie/news/uknews/girl-5-struck-while-riding-go-kart-in-horrific-hit-and-run-in-finglas-dublin/ar-BB150Y9x?ocid=spartandhp

Seriously, how much of an absolute cnut do you have to be to drive off after hitting a little five year old girl out playing out in the sunshine in her pedal kart. But then of course, it must have been one of those damned driverless cars:

Ah sure it's no wonder they asked the car to remain at the scene, it was apparently the car that done it anyway. Must have rolled out of the driveway when someone left the handbrake off, and continued rolling to the point of disappearance.

"It's reported a car collided with a female child on a Go Kart on the road

snailsong · 04-06-2020 12:04pm

Also, "....the careless driver...."
Not dangerous, not criminal, just careless. Good that that's been established.

magicbastarder · 04-06-2020 12:24pm

Hurrache wrote: »

Ah sure it's no wonder they asked the car to remain at the scene, it was apparently the car that done it anyway. Must have rolled out of the driveway when someone left the handbrake off, and continued rolling to the point of disappearance.

this is one area where i find myself at odds with quite a few people.
in the context of 'the cyclist was involved in a collision with a car' you often see mention that there's no word of the motorist.
the suggestion would appear to be that the motorist should be mentioned, but 'the cyclist was involved in a collision with the motorist' is wrong, and 'the cyclist was involved in a collision with a car driven by a motorist' is clunky and tautological (unless the cyclist cycled into a stationary car, but that's not the context).

'the motorist left the scene' makes perfect sense though.

Curb Your Enthusiasm · 04-06-2020 12:36pm

Costa have gotten themselves into a bit of a pickle with their wording on their last few tweets...

https://twitter.com/CostaCoffee/status/1268457889242505216?s=19

https://twitter.com/CostaCoffee/status/1265985869099552769?s=19

Journalism and Cycling 2: the difficult second album

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