elections and cycling

Roderic O’Gorman in Fingal, Castleknock Ward but also seems to get involved with things around the Mulhuddart Ward which includes a decent portion of that side of Dublin that are for all intents and purposes still rural when it comes to roads and cycling, such as Hollystown to Kilbride that many here cover as part of their rides, as well as the canal greenway.

I met him one afternoon when I was loading the bikes onto the car, he's a nice guy and will give you plenty of time for a chat about whatever issues you want to discuss.

Being a green party member he's naturally pro cycling, here's an article he wrote last year concerning how to get more people out cycling
https://www.thejournal.ie/readme/cyclists-would-rather-not-be-sharing-road-space-with-lorries-buses-and-cars-4068753-Jun2018/

For anyone in the general Fingal area and have an interest in seeing which of your local councillors are pro cycling, it might be worth noting which ones voted against this, there's a definitive split in party lines.
https://www.thejournal.ie/cycling-schools-3020766-Oct2016/

These are the guys that voted against the proposal
Balbriggan: Farrell (Lab), O’Connor (Ind), Maguire (Ind), O’Leary (FG)
Castleknock: Mahony (FF), Loftus (FG), Leddy (FG), Murray (FF)
Howth/Malahide: O’Brien (FF), Guerin (Ind), Lavin (FG), Redmond (Renua)
Mulhuddart: McGuinness (Ind), Dennison (FG), McCamley (Lab)
Swords: Butler (FF), Henchy (FF), Devitt (Ind), Smith (Lab)

And those in favour
Balbriggan: Quinn (SF)
Castleknock: Treacy (SF), O’Gorman (GP), Kavanagh (AAA)
Howth/Malahide: O’Callaghan (SD), Healy (GP), Ní Laoi (SF), McDonagh (Lab)
Mulhuddart: Donnelly (SF), Nolan (Ind), Waine (AAA), Doyle (AAA)
Swords: Coppinger (AAA), Lynam (SF), Newman (Ind), Mulville (Ind)

Rebecca Moynihan in DCC voted for the Clontarf cycle route.
https://counciltracker.ie is a handy place to see who voted for what.

Robert Troy in Westmeath:

http://www.roberttroy.ie/ff-proposes-new-measures-to-overhaul-cycling-infrastructure-and-improve-safety-troy/

Paracyclist Peter Ryan is hoping to contest the local elections in Tipperary.

He's been approached by FG to stand in the Templemore-Thurles Municipal District.

magicbastarder wrote: »

residents who *don't* have permits are pissed off? maybe they should buy permits, they're only 40 quid for a year.

my wife used to work in the section which issued those permits. she has stories.

Go on...

magicbastarder wrote: »

might be an idea to have a thread where people can share knowledge of candidates (whom they know are cycling friendly) who are running in the upcoming local elections?

spurred by this chap popping into my facebook feed; i know little about him, except that he seems to be pedestrian and cyclist friendly:


he's running in cabra/glasnevin/phibsborough area. means i can't vote for him, but i do have andrew montague to vote for at least.

Neasa Hourigan (Green Party) is also running in Cabra/Glasnevin. The greens are all incredibly cycle friendly, and its unlikely they'd give it up because its politically expedient.

Hurrache wrote: »

Roderic O’Gorman in Fingal, Castleknock Ward but also seems to get involved with things around the Mulhuddart Ward which includes a decent portion of that side of Dublin that are for all intents and purposes still rural when it comes to roads and cycling, such as Hollystown to Kilbride that many here cover as part of their rides, as well as the canal greenway.

I met him one afternoon when I was loading the bikes onto the car, he's a nice guy and will give you plenty of time for a chat about whatever issues you want to discuss.

Being a green party member he's naturally pro cycling, here's an article he wrote last year concerning how to get more people out cycling
https://www.thejournal.ie/readme/cyclists-would-rather-not-be-sharing-road-space-with-lorries-buses-and-cars-4068753-Jun2018/

For anyone in the general Fingal area and have an interest in seeing which of your local councillors are pro cycling, it might be worth noting which ones voted against this, there's a definitive split in party lines.
https://www.thejournal.ie/cycling-schools-3020766-Oct2016/

These are the guys that voted against the proposal
Balbriggan: Farrell (Lab), O’Connor (Ind), Maguire (Ind), O’Leary (FG)
Castleknock: Mahony (FF), Loftus (FG), Leddy (FG), Murray (FF)
Howth/Malahide: O’Brien (FF), Guerin (Ind), Lavin (FG), Redmond (Renua)
Mulhuddart: McGuinness (Ind), Dennison (FG), McCamley (Lab)
Swords: Butler (FF), Henchy (FF), Devitt (Ind), Smith (Lab)

And those in favour
Balbriggan: Quinn (SF)
Castleknock: Treacy (SF), O’Gorman (GP), Kavanagh (AAA)
Howth/Malahide: O’Callaghan (SD), Healy (GP), Ní Laoi (SF), McDonagh (Lab)
Mulhuddart: Donnelly (SF), Nolan (Ind), Waine (AAA), Doyle (AAA)
Swords: Coppinger (AAA), Lynam (SF), Newman (Ind), Mulville (Ind)

I think its a bit simplistic to say those who voted for the motion are Pro cycling. It would appear there was genuine concerns on the practicality of implementing such a general policy. The council themselves raised the concerns and the councillors agreed. It should be worth noting a subsequent motion for specific cycle routes to schools was passed. I am also uncomfortable with the idea of someone basing a decision to vote for a public representative purely based on their views on cycling. Why not see which ones support Liverpool or Man U if its going to be such a limited and arbitrary criteria.

brocbrocach wrote: »

It's not limited and arbitrary. A favourable outlook on cycling in my local authority may well improve my chances of survival and increase my happiness factor. How much more basic can you get?

Your view as you have stated could not be more basic which unfortunately in my opinion does make your voting decision limited and arbitrary. If you are happy to vote for candidates from political parties just based on their apparent views on cycling go for it. I would like to be aware of the different political parties and their polices on other issues outside of cycling, this will inform my decision when I decide who to vote for. I for one would like to know a bit more on someone I’m voting for then if they like cycling or not.

[QUOTE=detones;109468341If you are happy to vote for candidates from political parties just based on their apparent views on cycling go for it. [/QUOTE]


No, I'm showing you how it's not limited and arbitrary. In fact you could say that a cyclist voting for somebody who has shown indifference to the needs of cyclists is a fine example of voting to your own detriment. Other factors obviously must be weighed up.

Ray Bloody Purchase wrote: »

He has a page called Paddy Monahan Soc Dem. He made the same post there and i have to say, i lost faith in humanity after reading some of the ignorant comments on it.

One numbnutts was giving out to him about not giving a sh1t about the homeless problem, that there was more to worry about than traffic congestion! It was as if it was the only issue out there!!!

Someone else was orally farting about number plates and taxing cyclists.

Absolute dickholes. The general public are spastics.

Every time I read the same old scutter about "road tax" a few more brain cells fall out of my ear. How many times does the same thing need to be explained to these knuckle draggers?

magicbastarder wrote: »

might be an idea to have a thread where people can share knowledge of candidates (whom they know are cycling friendly) who are running in the upcoming local elections?

spurred by this chap popping into my facebook feed; i know little about him, except that he seems to be pedestrian and cyclist friendly:
https://www.facebook.com/SeanMcCabePhibsborough/

he's running in cabra/glasnevin/phibsborough area. means i can't vote for him, but i do have andrew montague to vote for at least.

An odd justification for considering a possible candidate. Given one get elected on under 1000 votes I suppose it's no worse than voting for any loon that tells you what's wrong with your life and how they as councillor can make you feel good. A lot of the big stuff on transport is at national level and involves spending on infrastructure councils couldn't afford.

Hurrache wrote: »

Is that so?

You know we're talking about local elections, were we get to even direct how we like issues in our local communities looked at?

I do and voters just use them not to vote for any of the shower who apparently make their life a misery. Councils have little to no power and spend most of their time,tweaking bye-laws, taking money off the LPT and not agreeing budgets. Some of these issues have to be resolved financial or otherwise at national level.

magicbastarder wrote: »

that's perfectly fine so, i don't expect my councillors to be lobbying on motorways or the electrification of the moon or whatever.
but i have exchanged emails with them about bad cycle lane design in the area, so your (weird) critique is noted but not relevant.

Well if that's why you voted for your councillor it really is not. I have a dim view of councillors in general and public representations help make them look like they're doing something useful. We had a minor road issue, a new yellow box, apparently "resolved" by one local councillor. Now he thinks we're BFF and sends us letters every few months on how brilliant he is.

TDs are worse as you can end up on their Christmas card list.