Journalism and Cycling 2: the difficult second album

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

The barriers are up at the entrance at present, so parking is free - though I presume that is a temporary measure.

Too late - barriers now down at the Village Centre, as noted on my final nostalgic drive southbound through the village yesterday.

buffalo wrote: »

What happened to all the H conspiracy posts? Removed by mod or OP?

(Agents of 'H'. I have no time to write more. If they catch me writing this, they will harm me.)

Stark wrote: »

Afaik Conor Faughan "is a cyclist himself" (TM) so stays clear of going too far overboard on the vitriol even if his livelihood is protecting the status quo.

He cycles to work.

Stark wrote: »

Afaik Conor Faughan "is a cyclist himself" (TM) so stays clear of going too far overboard on the vitriol even if his livelihood is protecting the status quo.

Let's not confuse cyclist with "bicycle user", there is a difference.

magicbastarder wrote: »

i suspect whatever issues the locals who actually live on strand road might have with a one way system will be tempered by the knowledge that it will at least halve the HGV traffic heading for the port or the east link, coming past their houses.

HGV traffic (5-axle) is not permitted on Strand Road in normal circumstances. Also, whatever traffic is not going on the Strand road will just migrate westwards to flow through Sandymount or Merrion. As much as I am happy to see dedicated cycling facilities being installed, Strand Road is desperately unable to cope with reduced capacity being a major artery to/from the east link.

I will be delighted to be proved wrong on this, but I can't see this being successful for most people.

magicbastarder wrote: »

it used to be on my commute, before lockdown. there were quite a lot of HGVs ignoring the ban in my experience.

Semantics I know, but ignoring or having a lawful exemption ? Either way, it boils down to the same thing - trucks on the road.

It's on my commute too and I live in Ringsend area so I use the road a lot and I have never found it dangerous or inconvenient to cycle on. That's by-the-by but I do think that this will negatively affect the Ringsend/Irishtown and Sandymount areas.

Used to cycle strand road daily, I had my fair share of close passes, cars pulling out at roundabouts, tailgators and even an attempted assault. It was a perilous dash twice a day, every day. However despite the danger it was a million times better cycling it than driving it. If the local residents are supportive its a great idea to re-allocate space to cyclists from motorised transport and the closest thing to the Utrecht traffic calming model that we have seen in Ireland.

Eamonnator wrote: »

I cycle to the shops, so I'm a bicycle user.
I cycle on a road bike in lycra, so I'm a cyclist.
I ride a MTB, so I'm a mountain biker.
Funny thing is , when I'm out on a bike, I always feel as if I'm the same person.
Funny that.

Nope, you're a cyclist Eamonnator. You have a demonstrated passion for cycling, a love of bikes, a determination to put your bike ahead of other easier forms of transport, someone who cherishes their rides, looks after your equipment, and looks forward to getting out on the bike / any bike as often as possible, has more than one bike, and actively consumes a variety of biking-related media and information, often with a deep interest in the sporting side of affairs - unless of course I've taken you up incorrectly all these years

^^ As are most regular posters on this forum. Occasionally an interloper will wind their way in here spouting "...but I'm a cyclist too..." in order to defend/deflect the actions of others towards those that have a grá for the bike.

Cletus, you wouldn't have laboured hours of love into your Muddy Fox resto if you were just a bicycle user. By definition you're a cyclist too.

I make a strong distinction between the two, without apology. More often than not the actions of bicycle users reflect poorly on the cyclist community - those in their cages or on their footpaths see us as all one. By and large the cyclists I know and see (a) are courteous to non-cyclists, (b) obey the rules of the road, (c) look after their equipment, (d) know how to ride capably and display this clearly and consistently.

Bicycle users on the other hand struggle with much of the above. Plenty of room for all of us of course, for the love of God just don't pretend that Conor Faughnan is a cyclist :pac:

I'm afraid that, despite the kudos and plaudits, Mojomaker, I have to agree with magicbastarder.

If you are on a bike, you're a cyclist. If you are driving a car, you're a motorist, etc and so forth.

We can't exclude people from any of the many groups they inhabit because we don't like the behaviour they exhibit. There are good and bad people in every walk of life.

Biker79 wrote: »

Mojomaker is 100% correct.

You earn the right to be a cyclist by riding a bike regularly and competently, with some degree of passion, I would say.

Shame that it has been hijacked by lefty weirdos, who seem to be more concerned with social media validation. But I guess it was inevitable.

So who is the arbiter of this group 'cyclist'