‘The Deadliest Year For Cyclists In Over A Decade’

at

Tomorrow evening.

At 5.30pm.

Outside Leinster House.

A vigil and demonstration to call for more Government action and measures to be employed to help prevent cyclist deaths.

Dublin Cycling Campaign writes:

In the past week two more people lost their lives while cycling on Irish roads, bringing the total number of cyclists killed in 2017 to 14. That is four more than were killed in all of 2016, and it makes 2017 the deadliest year for cyclists in over a decade.

“We are sick and tired of the inaction by government, both local and national, when it comes to cyclists’ safety. We have been calling for increased funding and resources for cycling, but those calls have fallen on deaf ears, and cyclists continue to be killed as a result.

“[Tomorrow], we are joining forces with our colleagues from I BIKE Dublin, Stayin’ Alive at 1.5, Cyclist.ie – The Irish Cycling Advocacy Network to let the Government know that the issue of cyclists’ safety can no longer be ignored.

“Join us from 5.30pm as we hold a vigil and demonstration in memory of the people killed while cycling on Irish roads.”

Stop Killing Cyclists – Vigil & Demonstration (Facebook)

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37 thoughts on “‘The Deadliest Year For Cyclists In Over A Decade’

      1. Tarfton Clax

        Cyclists may be really irritating a lot of the time, but wishing death upon another human, merely for choosing a different mode of transport to oneself speaks of a shallow souled individual whose horizons are limited by inadequacies and deficiencies beyond the scope of this brief comment.

        1. why?

          No I was being completely serious. What the world needs are more unnecessary and avoidable deaths. That way cyclists will learn how to be better people. You have to break some eggs to make an omelette.

          1. why?

            wishing death upon another human, merely for choosing a different mode of expression to oneself speaks of a shallow souled individual whose horizons are limited by inadequacies and deficiencies beyond the scope of this brief comment.

          2. Ciarán Ferrie

            Hey Broadsheet – are you going to let this disgraceful comment stand? Three men dead in the last week (including one in Derry) – three families in mourning – and this anonymous poster thinks this is a good thing?

          3. Nigel

            It’s a good thing if you’re only pretending out loud on a public forum, where relatives and friends of people who died in such accidents might conceivably read it and appreciate your scathing and provocative irony, so it’s a persona, a bit like Al Porter.

      2. GoddessDurga

        Hopefully

        So because some nitwit who happens to use the same method of transport as I do doesn’t have lights on his bike, you’re hopeful that I’ll be killed?

        Well, ok then, I saw three drivers “breaking the lights” today; that gives me the right to break the headlights on two random cars and key one. OK?

      3. Yeah, Ok

        I really wish someone would carry out a comprehensive study on which category of road user breaks the law the most. As a cyclist, driver, pedestrian, and public transport user, my admittedly anecdotal experience is that car drivers are far and away the most reckless and law-breaking category of road user. In the taxi subcategory my experience is that they actually break the law almost as often as they abide by it.
        For every cyclist I see breaking a light there are at least as many car drivers who’ve either broken the red/amber themselves (minimum 3 through on red almost without fail), or have stopped in the cyclists’ advance stop box, the yellow box, or the cycle lane. This isn’t even accounting for the fact that cyclists can filter up to the lights whereas the first car to stop blocks the way for the others, meaning that presumably many more drivers would break these rules if they could filter to the top as well. For every cyclist going the wrong way down a one way street there are at least as many cars parked on double yellows and cycle lanes, or blocking pedestrian crossings.
        Not that I’m condoning it for a second, but the vast majority of light-breaking cyclists do so through an empty junction on a contraption that moves slowly and can stop instantly. The vast majority of light-breaking drivers do so while actively accelerating their 2.5m wide, 2 ton metal box through someone else’s right of way.

        And it goes without saying that we surely all know which category actually does the killing on the roads. Hint: it ain’t cyclists.

        1. Cork bayee

          If it’s of any relevance a recent statistics from LUAS operator in Dublin shows cyclists to be the least responsible for emergency brake application among their fleet. The are at fault only 8% of the time demonstrating they are more spatially aware than other road users.
          These statistics were supplied after a safety video campaign by LUAS that Demonised cyclists above pedestrians and drivers.
          https://www.google.ie/amp/www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/luas-reveals-number-incidents-cyclists-drivers-pedestrians/amp/

    1. Cian

      The stats from other countries seem to suggest that the more cyclists there are the safer it is for each cyclist (albeit per 1000 cyclists).
      Doubling the number of cyclists should not result in double the deaths.

      But you are correct – the more cyclists, the more deaths that will occur.

    2. GoddessDurga

      More cyclists, more cyclists deaths sadly.

      Not so. The Netherlands, Germany and Denmark have a lot more cyclists than Ireland, and a lot fewer people on bikes are killed, because they have good infrastructure.

      Virtually all deaths of people on bikes in Ireland involve cars, trucks or tractors. Build proper cycleways – in Dublin, build the 2013 Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network for a start – and the deaths will cease.

  1. Jake38

    “We are sick and tired of the inaction by government, both local and national, when it comes to cyclists’ safety…”

    It’s hard to get worked up about the Governments inaction on cyclists safety when so many cyclists, such as those with no lights on their bikes, have no interest in the issue themselves.

    1. Cian

      Ooh – victim blaming?

      I agree that there are a lot of cyclists out there that should do more for themselves (as you said – lights, also reflective gear, not breaking lights, etc. ) BUT there is an also an onus on the local government to improve infrastructure to allow safer cycling – both for the ‘good’ cyclists as well as the ‘bad’ cyclists.

      1. Twunt

        There is a fella that lives on my road, who I see cycling home at 5 pm most evenings. There are no streetlights and no footpath. He has no lights, only a reflector on the back. I beep him every evening for his stupidity.

        When he gets knocked down it will be his fault.

          1. Twunt

            The law says cyclists are required to have one front lamp and one rear lamp during lighting up time. So it’ll be his fault.

          2. Hansel

            The law says if I can’t see a pedestrian or cyclist while I’m driving, it’s their fault for getting themselves killed by my car.
            Everyone knows this.

            It’s the same law that says truck drivers are allowed to ignore red lights etc: “might is right”.

            See also: women in short skirts are “asking for it” etc.

          3. Twunt

            @Hansel

            You morons think it is acceptable for cyclists to use dark roads with no lightning.
            Is it any wonder you are dying in record numbers.

    2. pok

      Yes Jake but that does not give other road users the right to assume all cyclists are reckless and that somehow therefore all cyclists are unworthy of due care and consideration ; it is high time however that the cycling lobby groups give greater ephhasis to the promotion of better behaviour by errant cyclists

      1. GoddessDurga

        Umm, “cyclist lobby groups” regularly give out free lights to people cycling without them. More light, less heat, please.

    3. Paddy at the Howth Summit

      It’s hard to get worked up when the government provides tax breaks for employers to help employees (PAYE) buy bikes more cheaply. It’s time that scheme was stopped.

      1. Ciarán

        It’s hard to get worked up about 14 dead cyclists because the government subsidises sustainable transport modes? Okaaayyyy……..

  2. Bs

    You know what cuts down on cyclists getting hurt on the road by other road users? Cyclists wearing helmets and obeying the rules of the road.

    Car drivers and bus drivers, and the usual over aggressive taxi drivers need to also show more consideration

      1. manolo

        of course s/he doesn’t. The fact that most, if not all, of this year’s fatal victims were wearing helmets and all accidents were during the day appears to be irrelevant.

        1. Just Sayin

          The best way to survive as a cyclist is to assume you’re invisible to other road users.
          Faith in a magic hat and a magic vest won’t keep you alive.

          1. The Old Boy

            “It’s all well and good being in the right when you’re spread across the road”

            -The Old Boy’s old boy, fadó fadó

  3. Just Sayin

    There’s no point “being in the right on a bike” when the other guy has a juggernaut, my point is never assume that they will see you, or cede right of way, always assume the other guy is an idiot and will turn across your path without indicating. That’s more likely to keep you alive that the magic hat or the magic white line that creates an area that only cycles can enter.

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