What about the TDs?

F@&k knows!

@Methinks: Unless senior managers are elected every five years and have a fear of losing their position, I don’t think they’d give a flying fig about protests.

Some are some aren’t. Depends on the issue and the managers. Facing reelection can lead to poor short term decision making as well

Dear Cyclists,

This is an open letter to you from the pedestrians of Dublin City.

Red means stop cycling. Please allow your fellow citizens cross the road when the pedestrian light is green and 99% of motorists have stopped,whereas 50% of you fly through the red light. We just want to arrive at our workplaces safely.

When we point out to you in a polite manner that the traffic light is red and you have broken the Law again,please refrain from telling us to fcuk off,we all get annoyed when someone,especially a stranger points out our wrongdoing,but most of us can internalise it and not scream abuse at our fellow citizens whom you have almost maimed. We do not expect an apology,but some modicum of decorum would be such a nice surprise from time to time.

Please cease from using pedestrian footpaths in extremely busy city centre locations where there is heavy footfall during rush hour,if you look slightly to your right or left you will notice a perfectly empty and recently made cycle lane for your,and our,convenience.

Please familiarise yourselves with the Rules of the Road for the first time,a basic understanding of the three simple colour codes on traffic lights and at pedestrian crossings,as well as hand signals,will ensure we all feel much safer in our city.

Finally,if you insist on turning up to work like a bellend in Tour de France or Giro Italia gear,try more subtle dark colours,so as to cause less annoyance to the rest of us,

Signed,

Muintir na hÉireann.

Dear Tariq, I’ll wear what I like, so fcuk off and mind your own business.

Oh my.

Tariq do you have a problem with people wearing premiership jerseys, or GAA fans wearing their county jerseys, or is it just cyclists, (who unlike the previous two jersey wearers mentioned, are actually taking part in a sporting activity) who annoy you? If so it says more about you than them.

@Tariq ibn Ziyad:

Dear Tariq,

Here is a video of cars breaking reds at a single junction in Dublin. Remember, this is just one junction. Please watch it all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWC8sT06Zi0&ab_channel=bobgoodbear

If you think cars are angelic souls who are strict obeyers of the rules, you are mad. A car is a privilege and a responsibility, it does not matter what a cyclist or pedestrian does, the motorist has the highest responsibility on the road. Your comment feeds into the notion that all are equal on the road, but this is not the case. Cars are death machines, if you cannot follow the rules to the letter you should not drive, you should not park anywhere but where you are legally allowed, you should not break speed limits, drive drunk/high, drive aggressively. Harsh punishments need to be put on motorists, because the only thing that will change the attitude of many is the fear of losing their care, not the safety of others. When you have had cars deliberately drive at you for not being on a cycle path that has cars parked in it you will realise how dangerous it is for cyclists. No excuses, car drivers need to cop on. There’s a reason children are allowed cycle bikes but not drive cars. Pity so many motorists drive like children.

@jimmyjoe a sporting activity? Cycling to work? Maybe that’s part of the issue with the speeding and racing through red lights. Do motorists feel the need to put Formula One stickers on their cars as they drive to work or dress like The Stig?

@John Smith,I don’t drive but I’m not almost knocked over by a car every morning on my walk to work,cyclists on the other hand….

@Tariq ibn Ziyad:

Try walking on the road instead. If you are not on the road you have no experience of it. Did you watch my video? I am almost knocked down by a car on every journey on my bike. The difference is if a car hits me the likelihood of serious injury or death is huge. 9 cyclists have been killed by cars this year, last year 12. 10 of the 12 last year were cause by vehicles.There was 166 deaths on Irish roads in 2015, but with only 2% of the population cycling to work that year the figure for cyclist deaths is massively disproportionate. How many pedestrians have been killed by bicycles? (The answer is zero, but a lot have been killed by cars). All responsibility on roads must be placed on cars, they are the ones that kill and must be treated with much tougher penalties and restrictions. If you can’t drive a car to the exact letter of the law you must be removed from the road, for you are a real danger to the population. No excuses, regretting you actions after you kill someone is not enough.

How many of those deaths were as a result of reckless law-breaking cyclists John? I noticed you’ve conveniently omitted the cause of these deaths. Do you honestly expect me or anyone else to believe that you don’t adopt the daredevil approach yourself at times,take the ‘odd’ chance? Pull the other one,fooling nobody.

@Tariq ibn Ziyad:

Zero. Yep, actual none. You want to compare cars and bikes like they are equal, but not bikes and pedestrians. Bikes shouldn’t be on the footpath, but the comparison of danger between a cyclist and a pedestrian and a car and a cyclist are in no way logical. It doesn’t matter what a bike does, the car should be the most aware. This moaning about cyclists breaking the rules is a moot point, no one has been killed by a cyclist, but all but two have been killed by a motorised vehicle. Last year, out if 166 deaths, 164 were caused by motors. 1 in 82 was not. What does that tell you? A person is in control of a vehicle, they should always be able to stop. I don’t care what you believe, trust me, I care about getting killed for the simple action of using pedal power to get myself from a to b. If you cannot treat those on the roads that are not cocooned in metal with internal bags of air to cushion you if you crash with the utmost respect and humility you need your privilege revoked. It doesn’t matter about helmets, lights, cycle paths, whatever other excuse you use to justify why you drive bad, it matters about your actions. Of course the thing that will keep a cyclist the safest is not a piece of protective gear or reflective clothes, it is a camera. Expect this to increase in the future until all cyclists will use them. A car won’t be so bold when there is evidence of their actions.

@Tariq ibn Ziyad: As a regular motorist, cyclist and pedestrian in Dublin city I have to say that you cant point the finger at cyclists or motorists for being dangerous without mentioning the fact that most pedestrians have their heads firmly planted in their own arse. Pedestrians are generally like lemmings, crossing the road at dangerous places and times and expecting that they have the right of way. Every day I cycle to work I have to be 100% alert to the fact that some idiot is going to step out in front of me on the road or on the cycling lane because they dont hear a car coming they just go without thinking there could be a cyclist coming. I narrowly missed someone last Friday who stepped off the curb into the cycling lane and gave me the dirtiest of looks when I had to jam on the brakes and swerve around them.

Anyway, everyone needs cop on, not just cyclists or motorists.

@Tariq ibn Ziyad: Well done Tariq for taking on the burden of speaking for the whole of Ireland. Many a politician has tried and failed at that. You have a bright future making decisions for others based on your vast “common knowledge”.

I’m a motorist, a cyclist and a pedestrian. Perhaps you can change my mind, which is based on my 20 years experience of navigating Dublin traffic, when I say that you are unqualified to preach about the dangers of cycling? The danger is predominantly to the cyclist. Jaywalking is not illegal in Ireland, but it is certainly dangerous. We all need to be wary when using the roads. The most important rule of the road is to watch out for other traffic. This applies across the board and is a better focus than targeting specific road users as dangerous. Roads are dangerous. Be safe, use the Safe Cross Code!

:)

@Tariq ibn Ziyad: Dear Tariq, F**kk off and mind your own business. What happens in Ireland has nothing to do with you. If people want to wear skin tight, canary yellow lycra gear, that’s their business not yours. Please feel free to continue to ruin Bradford with your silly beliefs.

Couldn’t agree more. I’m a cyclist and nothing pi**es me off more than a cyclist breaking the lights. Usually the same people who have headphones on with no helmet and hi vis. Garda need to issue more on the spot fines before a major crash happens.

It wasn’t meant to be funny, ask anyone who has been unfortunate to crash into a cyclist (and vice versa) breaking a red light.

They should also be fined. Not saying we need to replace one fine with another

And/or a annual registration fee!!!

@Derek Byrne: i agree those who break the lights should be brought to book but helmets are a choice. I dont wear one and no one is going to force me to wear one when I cycle.
We live in a free country not communist canada

Or by cars that break the lights?

@Rothar Man: its mostly cyclist..in fact im the only cyclist i know who does not break light.. every cyclist i see does it

And motorists who break lights, for bad driving, illegal parking etc, etc.

It would be paid for by next Friday.

Our fining drivers who use phones, block bike lanes , drive in us lanes, accelerate through red lights etc

No issue with fining cyclists for breaking lights, provided we treat all road users the same. Including fining pedestrians for jay walking.
I often go just before the lights change (when I have learned their rhythm I wait for the opposite light to go red and move during the gap before my light goes green). I do this partially for safety, particularly at busy junctions it’s good to get out before the traffic behind you, so you know you can be seen.
I never cross when there is a pedestrian light on…. But I accept that some people will have an issue with it and wouldn’t do it if I was at risk of being fined.
However, I have twice recently while doing this, been abused by pedestrians who themselves are jaywalking and they don’t seem to see the irony.

What is Jay walking? ;)

I do both by the way and motorists treat cyclists like shit.

Are cars allowed to break lights really slowly when there’s no pedestrians or traffic?

No, but it’s much easier to control a bicycle. Also when a cyclist turns left it doesn’t impede incoming traffic.

Mrs Parrot cars break red lights all the time, I saw four yesterday. They accelerate just after the lights change to red to get through before the cars coming the other way start to move.

@king Tut: there was a social media campaign that ensured big numbers.

Peter Smyth: In a car, one can quickly change from turning left to turning right, and visa versa … that is NOT easy to do on a bike travelling at any sort of speed. Why are so many cyclists so anti-motorists when they are so blind to their dangerous treatment of pedestrians?

I’m not a cyclist, I’m a motorist. Cars are more dangerous, simple physics.

Cars can cause more damage than bikes,but cyclists are more dangerous than motorists,this is common knowledge.

Tariq, this is a serious issue. You’re clueless, f#$k off ok

Another angry cyclist using foul language,please don’t put us in A&E when you’re out on the bike emily,if you’re that aggressive on a keyboard Lord knows what damage you could do on two wheels.

That doesn’t even make sense. Btw there was 9 cyclists deaths by vehicle and if I can recall there was one by bike. And that Ped was in cycle lane. So how exactly are they more dangerous? For sure not based on facts..

Joe,I suggest you research the cyclist to pedestrian injury ratio and stop harping on about cars to hide the recklessness of bike users.

Well give me a link to that report you are signing bout. I was talking deaths because it’s smaller numbers. Injuries by cars are in hundreds. There isn’t a report on Garda page in regards to cyclists injuring pedestrians or actually killing someone. Because there isn’t a significant %

I’ll tell you why I’m so aggressive towards you Tariq, it’s because some cyclist hating gobshíte like yourself, I’ll informed and with an over inflated sense of entitlement on the road, could possibly kill me some day, and justify it to yourself because I’m a cyclist and a legitimate target in your mind.

Tariq – how do you define danger? If it isn’t cause more damage?
I am genuinely concerned reading your comments that you dislike cyclists so much that you are a danger to them.
I would encourage you, just once to cycle into town, safely and as slowly as you like, to see the genuine danger that cyclists face every day.
Most people on here cyclists and non-cyclists agree that those cycling on paths and (unless it is because the cycle path just ended and there was no other option – happens twice in Smithfield) breaking pedestrian lights are ars£holes and should be fined
But you seem to be dangerously angry and I think getting on your bike might give you more perspective.

@kal ipers fair enough Kal. But there are many fine purpose built cycle lanes like the completey safe n4/m50 or Clondalkin Grange Castle route which are recklessy underused by cyclists

@Valthebear: There is nothing reckless about cycling on the road! I don’t know the route but as I have never seen a well designed cycle lane in this country I doubt what you are saying.

If you are cycling 20km or more and have to constantly stop because the cycle lane disappears. Why would you use it? Totally impractical so I stick to the bus lane unless the bike lane has equal priority to the road. Engineers need to use their heads when designing these otherwise these lanes are useless tokens.

Cyclists are the true victims here. Imagine being asked to stop at a red light. The f*cking cheek.

Val, if you got off your arse and cycled in one of those cycle lanes you’d know that often they are in terrible condition. It is not mandatory to use them

It is always reckless, and completely inconsiderate of other road users, to cycle in the road if there is a cycle track available. Always. Always. Always.

@emily davison: I’m not trolling. It’s a deadly serious issue. Every time someone rides in the road when there is a cycle track available they are disrespecting every road user starting with themselves. They’re showing that they have no regard for the safety of ANYONE on the road, not even themselves.
They make rationalisations (that’s a fancy psychology word that means “excuses” in plain English.) about their reckless behaviour such as “there’s glass on the cycle track” or “it’s bumpy” or “I have to go 10 feet out of my way at every junction” or “I have to stop more frequently” These are all bogus arguments. If the tyres on your bike can’t handle riding over whatever condition the cycle track is in, then you have the wrong tyres on the bike, or more probably the wrong bike.
We have tons of people out there riding bicycles on the road that are only suitable for riding in a velodrome, and that’s just nuts. If your bike belongs in a velodrome, keep it there and get a bike suitable for riding on roads and cycle tracks to ride on roads & cycle tracks.

@kal ipers Doubt away Kal. Unfortunately these threads tend to degenerate into a them v us slagging match. The new cycle routes I mentioned are indeed well maintained, separate from the road and are either enclosed or segregated from motor traffic by fencing. Clontarf coastal path is quite good too. Try them some day, I have no problem cycling them. But still a certain cohort of cyclists refuse to use them, imperilling themselves and others .

Todd. If you were driving on a road with two lanes and in one lane you could to work in 30 mins and in the other it took 45 mins. Plus in one lane you could relax into a routine but in the other you had to keep moving in and out and looking over your shoulder. Which would you use?

@Methinks: Let’s see… given that if it takes me only 50% longer, but I almost completely eliminate any chance at all of being killed, or of someone ELSE being killed because I’m being an inconsiderate ass… I’d spend the extra 15 minutes on the safer path, and so should everyone else.

I gave you the benefit of the doubt, Now you’re just trolling. Your argument is that I should inconvenience myself so I don’t inconvenience you. Go away.

@Methinks: No. My argument is that *EVERYONE* gets inconvenience as little as possible, while *EVERYONE* enjoys maximum safety, and *EVERYONE* ends up respecting everyone else. You have just as much MORAL responsibility as a cyclist, not to endanger other road users, as every car driver ,and so does every pedestrian. You apparently choose not to live up to yours.

@emily davison I cycle as well as drive Emily. So I suggest you put your arse on your bike and cycle down those lanes I mentioned. They are in excellent condition but are routinely ignored by cyclists who insist on using the multi lane roads beside them. It’s the common sense of safety. A little give and take by all helps.

@Todd Hebert: Cycle lanes are more dangerous than the roads. I wish more drivers did a bit of research without coming out with this nonsense. Cycle lanes are shunned cos we have no National Standards. The roads are safer. You could have checked this for yourself and didn’t bother so I suspect you just want to hate cyclists.

@Jayo Breathneach: It’s a matter of safety. The road is safer. Fewer yields, fewer junctions. Using the cycle lane is riskier, that’s why the cycle lanes are shunned. They’re rubbish.

Todd, if a cyclist isn’t using the cycle path it’s because it’s not fit for purpose. I use the full length of the n11 between shankill and town every day and there several places I can’t use the cycle path because it’s poorly maintained , littered with glass etc

@brian magee: Or are shared-use, so you have kids, dogs, pensioners milling around.

Todd – I am both and motorist and cyclist. And before i cycled I too thought that cycle lanes ‘eliminate risk’. They absolutely do not.
Many paths cross other roads, often multiple times, cars are not looking for cyclists on paths as they turn into these roads/drive past the stop sign/yield sign before stopping further up.
On top of that cycle lanes as well as all the issues mentioned by others, very often have cars parked in them, pedestrians walking in them or simply end, forcing the cyclist back onto the road.
In both instances above the driver is not looking out for the cyclist and thus danger for cyclist is massively increased, then a situation where the driver can see the cyclist at all times (even if they are mildly inconvenienced by having to go by them).
The final point is that cycle lanes are not mandatory (just as bus lanes are not mandatory for buses but are there for convenience). Beeping at cyclists for not using them and delaying you for a fraction in passing them, often causes shock to the cyclist which is way more dangerous than the fact the cycle lane isn’t used.
In saying all the above I am not excusing the idiot cyclist that breaks the law. Not using a cycle lane tho is not breaking the law.

@Augustus hoop:

The danger when you are not using a cycle lane that is provided for all the valid reasons listed above cars think it is acceptable to swerve at you as a punishment. Happened to me with a taxi last week, he pulled in with about an inch to spare in front of me. I was so angry that if I had caught up to him I would have dragged him out of the car by the head. I’m not an angry person but when someone uses a car as a means to intimidate it gets your goat. An in-experienced cyclist would have come off the bike. And a taxi is supposed to be a professional driver, some of these guys need their licenses removed, they are a dangerous menace on the streets.

Or like several off road cycle lanes that just end. That’s it. They just dead end. Usually in junctions sometimes even for no reason even on straight streets. So how the hell are you supposed to get somewhere when the road just ends?

You make me laugh mate. Go from Crumlin to Tallaght only by using cycle lane. I will give you any bike you want from my shop with any kind of equipment. You won’t make it half way. Bet ya that bike! #DublinLovesBikes

The cycle lane on the n4 is full of glass and debris. Yesterday there was a Garda car and bike blocking the whole lane! It is not well maintained I cycle it every day to work and I’m forced to use the bus lane

Yeah I’ve had the car swerve at me punishment – once by a van, who then waited further down the road for me to pass to try again. The other time by a taxi.
Even if I was doing something illegal (which I’m not) – swerving at someone can (and will sometime) kill or seriously injure someone and for what? In both instances they were able to and did pass me…..

May surprise you Ben but a lot of cyclists also own cars and pay road tax

@David Kelly: Pssst, I’ll let you into a little secret. They don’t pay road tax

@king Tut: Sorry king tut, *Motor tax

I bet if you check, you’ll see that you pay MOTOR Tax. For yer big effin motor.

@Eddie Byrne: Eddie, I am a cyclist and most days cycle to work. On the wet days or if I have to run errands, I take the car. I pay car tax and insurance.
I also take my life in my hands cycling in cycle lanes with buses and taxis. In Galway, it is dangerous to cycle and relatively few do.
So, to all in Dublin on the protest this evening, you carry the hopes of many outside the capital.To the protesting pedals, I say thanks!

I already pay insurance for my bike, it’s mixed in with the house insurance. Why would I want to insure it twice?

Especially the children

@Eddie Byrne:
I agree with you Eddie. Why should motorists have to pay for the enhancement of cycle lanes? If cyclists want better facilities then let them pay road tax & insurance.

When motorists start paying Road Tax, then we’ll look at cyclists paying it.

Third party liability outside of house not covered !!!!

@Jane Waters: Yes, you should only pay tax for the services you use. Therefore people without kids shouldn’t have to pay for schools. People who don’t get sick – their tax shouldn’t go to the helth service. Make sense?

@Jane Waters: Motorists don’t pay for the roads general taxation does. Motor tax doesn’t come close to paying for the roads and is mostly spent on the emissions penalty they cause. So using your logic cyclists could be asking why is my tax money paying for the roads for cars and not the cycling infrastructure? That is what the protest is about as only 1% of the money set aside for transportation goes to cycling.

@Eddie Byrne:@Eddie Byrne: good plan, overlooking that 22,000 cyclists already have voluntary insurance. 100,000 uninsured drivers likely to be more of an issue.

@king Tut: I will gladly pay this road tax if I can get an exemption for having to pay for highways, old age pensioners and free childcare.

@Eddie Byrne:

When did money paid for any insurance go towards building roads? Are roads insured and when they get crashed into they claim a payout so they can be rebuilt?

@Ro Brett: You missed the point dopey. There is no such thing as road tax. People do not pay tax because the use the roads. They pay Motor Tax, because they have motor vehicles. And guess what? The bigger the motor, the higher the tax. So, putting all that together, can you see a reason why cyclists, or pedestrians for that matter, don’t pay motor tax? It boils my piss that motorists shiiiitteee on about road tax and that they pay road tax to use the roads. Gobshiiiiiitteessss. http://www.motortax.ie

Feels like I’m wearing nothing at all, nothing at all. Nothing at all!

Stupid sexy Lawless!

Bob, in the mornings traffic doesn’t flow as its full of single occupancy cars that are choking the city.

Jimmy: that’d be a day when a road is closed specifically for a race. Or when a pelothon just makes it seem closed. You have the full road to use. Gavin: I do cycle. My mountain bike had huge knobbly tires that could happily take on the glass and debris. My 63 year old Raleigh also has sturdy tyres. My objection is to super slick super skinny tyres only fit for the middle of the road. Brian, I agree: single occupancy cars are a waste of space, time and fresh air. Even the bus is better. I’m just arguing for practicality and consideration for others.

Bob you want people to cycle a mountain bike on the road and not to use road bikes is that Correct? That’s the same as people using land rivers in the city. I have a 35km commute each day , I think I’ll stick to my 25mm wheels with reinforcements.

I did not say that. My knobbly tyres were fine for 10k in and out, and more. Normal racing tyres are fine for 50k and more within 9 inches of the kerb. Super skinny tyres are for the middle of the road on a race day. That’s what they are designed for. Otherwise you get no added benefit. Just risk and punctures. They’re about as practical as a spoiler on a yaris.