Tag Archives: Cycling

screen-shot-2016-09-29-at-12-10-47

It’s on.

Finally.

The Dublin Cycling Campaign writes:

Cycling continues to get the crumbs at the table when it comes to overall national transport spend. Of the €10billion allocated for transport investment in the Capital Investment Plan for 2016-2021, active travel (encompassing walking, cycling and other such measures) is allocated just €100million.

That means that cycling is to receive approx 0.5% (half of one percent!) of the transport pie. If that wasn’t bad enough, we heard in the last few weeks of further cutbacks in future funding for cycling projects for Dublin City Council by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport – as reported on Irishcycle.com.

This all comes at a time when we have had nine cyclist fatalities in Ireland this year already, the most recent of which was the tragic death of Donna Fox at the junction between Seville Place and Guild Street in the north inner city.

Dublin Cycling Campaign is calling on everyone who uses a bike in Dublin – for transportation or for leisure – to join our protest on Monday 3rd October so as to send a loud-and-clear message to the Minister that he needs to recognise that the status quo is not good enough – cycling needs proper funding to make it safer and to enable Dublin to reach its potential as a world class cycling city.

We are calling on the Minister to allocate cycling a better share.

Gulp.

Cycle Protest to Demand Proper Funding for Cycling! (Dublin Cycling Campaign)

Poster: Andrea Figueira

109d752ada85665214d757d9cf91a48e__20150514102115

Sign on a cycle lane in Phoenix Park last year

Further to Michael Cullen’s letter, in which he recounts seeing seven people breaking the law within 10 minutes, it should be a record, but is probably not.

Cycling on the footpath is not subject to a fixed-charge notice (on-the-spot fine), but it is against the law and is subject to a fine of up to €1,000, and possible imprisonment for three offences within 12 months.

This law should be enforced because cyclists do not have third-party insurance. If knocked down and injured by a cyclist, a pedestrian would be unlikely to obtain compensation.

Michael Regan,
Donnybrook,
Dublin 4.

Cyclists and footpaths (Irish Times letters page)

bride

Bride Street, Dublin 8

A ‘Shook Up Cyclist’ writes:

I know you don’t usually do this, but I would like to offer my apologies to another road user.

I was cycling down Bride Street [Dublin 8] this morning when a van started to overtake me with it’s left indicator on.

Very frustrating as a cyclist (are they going to slow down to let me go or are they going to cut across my path??).

But the van slowed to a stop a couple metres short of the turn so I thought that the driver wasn’t that inconsiderate after all. I continued on through the junction and quickly realised that he had not stopped to let me go but rather because there was a car in front turning left.

It was a very close miss and I was almost wiped out by the car that had been preparing to turn. I gave the driver stink for indicating at the last minute because in the heat of the moment I didn’t realise that my view had actually been blocked by the van until it was too late.

I would like to apologise to the driver of the red car and his passenger. It scared the sh** out of me and I know that it probably scared the sh** out of you too.

In fairness.

Pic: Google

13880309_10153835092562939_1851987859019266154_n

Yesterday.

Jacky Grainger defied death cycled from College Green to Westmoreland St and on to O’Connell Street in Dublin.

The journey prompted her to write an open letter to Dublin City Council.

She wrote:

Hi Dublin City Council, after nearly being crushed to death under a car wheel [yesterday] morning trying to cycle in one tiny lane shared by buses, cyclists, cars and taxis, from College Green on to Westmoreland St, I then faced, (as all cyclists on this route do every day) the prospect of this ‘wall of steel’ in order to get from Westmoreland St straight down onto O’Connell St.

This is the scene every single day here, right outside Bewleys (Starbucks, whatever) if you’re going straight ahead. I am not a nervous cyclist by any means, but this is absolutely *terrifying*.

Most bus drivers here do their best I feel to look out for us – but they shouldn’t have to! And I’ve had more than one conversation with bus drivers hanging out their window who think it’s ridiculous too!

There is NO provision for cyclists here and it is only a minor *miracle* that’s someone has not been killed yet. What is being done about it and when can we expect change?

In fairness.

90388895

15dublin

“As with the two previous indexes, this year offers surprises. Copenha­gen and Amsterdam continue to dominate, but new cities storm into the top 20 at the expense of others. Buenos Aires stomps the competi­tion and nails the South American continent, at the expense of Rio de Janeiro, which seems to have lost interest. Europe continues to have a strong presence, though Germany is slacking—Berlin falls, Munich slips off the list entirely, and Hamburg is hanging on by a thread.”

The third Copenhagenize Design Company’s Index of bike friendly cities. The top 20 out of 122 are presented at link below.

Dublin is 15th.

Down five places on 2014.

But WHY?

Choosing substandard infrastructure along the quays is not exactly the way to go. The bike-share program rocks, but now a comprehensive network and bicycle strategy should be developed and followed to the letter….

Fight!

The 20 Most Bike Friendly Cities On The Planet (Wired)

Thanks John Gallen

90306082

Transport Minister Paschal Donohue

 This morning.

Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe will unveil the seven cycling offences that will be subject to fixed charge notices.

Offences now the subject of €40 fines are:

1. Cyclist driving a pedal cycle without reasonable consideration.
2. No front lamp or rear lamp lit during lighting-up hours on a pedal cycle.
3. Cyclist proceeding into a pedestrianised street or area.
4. Cyclist proceeding past traffic lights when the red lamp is illuminated.
5. Cyclist proceeding past cycle traffic lights when red lamp is lit.
6. Cyclist failing to stop for a School Warden sign.
7. Cyclist proceeding beyond a stop line, barrier or half barrier at a railway level crossing, swing bridge or lifting bridge, when the red lamps are flashing.

Fight!

Cyclists face on-the-spot fines for seven road traffic offences (Irish Times)

(Laura Hutton/Photocall ireland)

Screen Shot 2015-05-26 at 14.10.40
Anne-Caroline Chausson on stage seven.
Greg Callaghan on stage two.
Greg Callaghan is greeted as he approaches the finish.
Greg Callaghan savours the moment.
Under 21 womens podium.

Scenes from the Chain Reaction Cycles Emerald Enduro last weekend in Glenealy, Co Wicklow.

The Enduro World Series is an eight race World Series for Mountain Bikes that started in New Zealand in March finishes in October in Italy.

Ben Marchant writes:

Enduro is the fastest growing discipline in mountain biking as it reflects what the vast majority of riders do. Think Rally car racing on a mountain bike. 4-7 hours on the bike with timed downhill stages. Riders have to complete the course within a time limit and the fastest finisher on the timed special stages is the winner.

Dubliner Greg Callaghan’s winning time was 27 minutes and 43 seconds but he was out on the trail for 6 hours.

It was an incredible day with thousands of spectators who lined the stages and literally carried him home. A monumental day for Irish mountain biking.

It wasn’t all about him though as Ireland claimed 4 podiums on the day including Leah Maunsell who won the Under 21 female category at the tender age of 16, with a time that would have had her 14th in the elite women. A serious talent for the future.

Emerald Enduro (Facebook)

From top: Race map; Anne-Caroline Chausson on stage seven; ; Greg Callaghan on stage two; coming into finish; savouring his victory; the Under 21 podium with Leah Mansell in gold position.

Pics: Matt Wragg/EWS