Comments for Cyclist.ie

Comment on How many studies into obesity does it take to build one cycle path? by John

John — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:56:05 +0000

Witness the chat on the radio this morning: no conceivable school PE programme, worthy effort that it may be, can raise the physical activity levels of all children sufficiently. So long as children are unable to walk or cycle to school, and the habit of a lifetime is ingrained, our health problems will not go away.

Comment on Courtesy traffic system campaigner seeks green light by John

John — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:58:07 +0000

See Thinking Streets

Comment on Dublin cycling officer loses job after funding cut by Hans Voerknecht

Hans Voerknecht — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 08:54:00 +0000

Indeed appalling news in these dark days before Xmas. Of course from here in Holland we cannot do much, but I hope that the Irish will take action. I totally agree with Herbert about the value of Ciaran as a key person for the upsurge of Irish cycling. And this idea of cutting funds is crazy if you realize how much money is saved by more cycling. Think back on the mid-70s when massive cyclists demonstrations urged our government to take up bicycling as a serious means of transport.

Comment on Dublin cycling officer loses job after funding cut by Ciaran mc Manus

Ciaran mc Manus — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 09:11:27 +0000

When you put this together with the recent report on the quality of public transport in Dublin, it obliges an active response: cyclists on your bikes for a mass rally outside the Dáil. Ministers, make up the savings out of some of those infamous double pensions that you receive!!
Ciaran Mc Manus
Brussels

Comment on Dublin cycling officer loses job after funding cut by Herbert Tiemens

Herbert Tiemens — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 21:29:11 +0000

It is an appalling decision going against progress, against sustainability. Ciaran is a real action man who has had a real influence in making Dublin more cycling friendly. Last October we had successful workshops to raise awareness than cycling improves the quality of health and living on the streets in Dublin. We learned it is a real battle to convince people that cycling in a city is the best way to go around. For that reason, the city needs a cycling officer to inspire and to work on the initiatives to make the city more livable, accessible and healthy. We didn’t make the plans to put them in the drain.
Keep on doing the good work with Ciaran as the cycling officer!

Comment on Getting children cycling to school – it can be done by Yaseen Butt

Yaseen Butt — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 13:25:19 +0000

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Comment on Replicating Danish cycling rates would cut EU emissions by 25% by John

John — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:25:36 +0000

To say nothing of the massive benefits that would accrue to the personal and social health of the population(s)

Comment on Courtesy traffic system campaigner seeks green light by Mike McKillen

Mike McKillen — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 12:43:36 +0000

Gerry -

Thanks for your useful analysis and warning.

Comment on Courtesy traffic system campaigner seeks green light by Gerry Dornan

Gerry Dornan — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 17:28:09 +0000

This is a variation on the shared space concept – the idea that all road users can happily co-exist in the absence of traffic lights, signs and lines. It may work in a location where traffic is relatively light and/or car dependency is not at the levels found in the English speaking world but even in the Netherlands, shared space streets are avoided by cyclists because they are not felt to be safe and the idea that a motorist in a hurry for a so called “important” appointment is not going to follow the car in front but instead give way to a cyclist or pedestrian is nonsense.

Ben Hamilton-Baillie has discussed shared space in Dublin and after coverage in the Irish Times (I think), out of 138 comments arising from the article, approximately 95% were from motorists complaining about current delays at traffic lights. Traffic lights are generally not put in to help traffic flow – (that is why traffic flows better when lights are broken) – they are put in to help pedestrians. Taking out traffic lights will help the main flow of traffic but the ones who will suffer are motorists on side roads and vulnerable road users – pedestrians and cyclists.

The tenor of the article ‘courtesy campaigner’ and ‘equality streets’ make good sound bites but where is the equality between a cyclist and a HGV? The Equality Streets website sets out their philosophy…….

We oppose regulation which contrives conflict, dictates our behaviour, and deprives
us of choice. Based on a trust in human nature rather than an obsession with
controlling it, Equality Streets could launch an era of peaceful co-existence on our
roads.

It sounds more like a manifesto for the British League of Motorists. Cyclists should vigorously oppose shared space/equality streets in any guise. Finally, the opposite of shared use is segregated facilities but that is for another day.

Comment on Courtesy traffic system campaigner seeks green light by John

John — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 18:41:55 +0000

This deserves our support. Any move towards a culture of shared road use is directly in our interest. Our main adversary is the opposite: the notion the roads “belong” to motorists. Roads are public space, owned by the public and for use for the public – all of them.