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Cyclist (50) killed after collision with camper van in Clare

The stretch of road is closed to facilitate an examination of the scene.

A CYCLIST HAS been killed this afternoon after a collision with a camper van.

The incident occurred at around 11.45am today on the N18 main Limerick to Galway Road near Bunratty.

The 50-year-old man’s body  has been removed to University Hospital Limerick. No one else was injured in this incident.

The stretch of road is closed to facilitate a Garda Forensic Collision Examination.

Gardaí in Shannon, Co Clare are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to contact Shannon Garda Station on 061 365900, The Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.

Read: 18-year-old woman dies after Limerick collision Friday evening

Read: 21-year-old man killed in single-vehicle crash

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96 Comments
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    Mute Anthony Byrne
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    Mar 26th 2017, 6:05 PM

    RIP.
    It seems to be one or two cyclists per week these days. Something needs to change. A lady driving a small suv passed me so close today with her left indicator on – then breaks to a stop just a few meters in front of me to turn left into a petrol station. So many drivers behave as if cyclists have no right to be out on the road.

    269
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    Mute Tony Daly
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    Mar 26th 2017, 6:16 PM

    @Anthony Byrne: the recommendation is 1 metre overtaking distance below 50 kph and 1.5 metres above that speed. I often see overtaking motorists coming much closer to cyclists than the recommended minimum distance.

    92
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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Mar 26th 2017, 6:25 PM

    @Anthony Byrne: did you keep a safe distance behind her to allow for the unexpected and was there a cyclist nearby ?

    43
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    Mute Mr. Dragmire
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    Mar 26th 2017, 7:53 PM

    @Tony Daly: I treat a cyclist like a car and overtake as if it was as wide as one. Overtaking just 1m from a person in my opinion is dangerous with the wind you can cause going by.

    29
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    Mute PJ Maguire Kavanagh
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    Mar 26th 2017, 8:01 PM

    @Tony Daly: it used to be a recommendation, it was added into the road traffic act last month

    15
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    Mute Michael Carolan
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    Mar 26th 2017, 8:02 PM

    @Suzie Sunshine: I reckon @Anthony Byrne was the cyclist…. Rather than keeping back from the cyclist until the suv driver could safely turn left, she decided to pass the cyclist and cut across his path to turn left. I have had motorists to this to many times. Motorists seem not to realise how dangerous this is. They are more concerned in the few seconds that could potentially be lost. At the junctions/turn offs where this happens to me, I move a little more over to the right to prevent the motorists to pass me like this.

    36
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    Mute Anthony Byrne
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    Mar 26th 2017, 8:06 PM

    @suzie, I don’t think you get it. I was the nearby cyclist, and I was in front until she passed me out and then stopped in front of me to turn left. All that said, I got the impression that she saw nothing wrong with the way she was driving, it was just normal driving for her. It’s infuriating. When you’re a cyclist, ‘defensive driving (cycling) is a must

    38
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    Mute Jimmyjoe Wallace
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    Mar 26th 2017, 8:12 PM

    @Suzie Sunshine: Suzie did you read Anthony’s post? She overtook him dangerously, then cut him off dangerously.

    22
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    Mute Jason Ebbs
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    Mar 26th 2017, 8:36 PM

    @Anthony Byrne: The exact same thing happened me a few weeks ago cycling in Rathfarnham. A motorist overtook me and then turned left almost immediately into an estate. I let a roar as I nearly t-boned the car. The motorist stopped and dropped their front passenger window and asked me “what’s the problem”. I told them they shouldn’t have turned left in front of me like that. I couldn’t believe my ears when the motorist replied that they had the right to turn left because… “they where the one in the car and so have the right of way” !!!!

    No words !

    32
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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Mar 26th 2017, 8:53 PM

    @Anthony Byrne: well then my apologies. . I didn’t realise you were the cyclist .

    9
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    Mute Jumperoo
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    Mar 26th 2017, 9:11 PM

    @Jason Ebbs: surely whether you’re driving or cycling, if a vehicle in front of you indicates to turn left, you either (a) slow down and let them make the turn before proceeding straight ahead yourself, or (b) go round them on the right if the road is clear and there’s no oncoming traffic. Doesn’t matter if they’ve been in front of you three seconds or three hours. Sounds like the driver was abrupt in cutting across you to make his turn all right, but he did actually have right if way – not because he had a car, but because he was in front. Assuming single lane traffic, he’s not supposed to stop before turning left in case somebody wants to pass up the inside.

    9
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    Mute Michael Carolan
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    Mar 26th 2017, 10:09 PM

    @Jumperoo: are you for real? The car driver passed by him and immediately turned left. The car wouldn’t wait behind him until he passed the junction to make their left turn. The motorist needed to weight to the risk of an accident 1) wait patiently behind the cyclist and turn left 2) go passed the cyclist and immediately take the left cutting across his path. Of those two, where is a risk of an accident occurring?

    21
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    Mute Jumperoo
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    Mar 26th 2017, 10:49 PM

    @Michael Carolan: yer man telling the story said ‘almost’ immediately turned left. The driver, if we knew who he was, would probably say there was loads of time. Truth is probably somewhere in between. And yes, I acknowledge it appears the driver was abrupt in getting in front of the cyclist. But bottom line is that if something in front of you wants to turn left, and indicates accordingly, they have the right to turn left. They don’t have to stop to allow things up the inside. You do know that, don’t you?

    10
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    Mute Jason Ebbs
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    Mar 27th 2017, 7:22 AM

    @Jumperoo: you obviously don’t know the rules of the road very well. It is up to the person making the manoeuvre to ensure it is safe to do so before making the manoeuvre !!
    I was going straight ahead, they where the one that was turning so it’s up to them to make sure it is safe to do so. Same principle when changing lane or making any manoeuvre on the road. Read the rules of the road will you ;-)

    10
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    Mute Jason Ebbs
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    Mar 27th 2017, 7:32 AM

    @Jumperoo: and just to explain “almost immediately” they drove past me and when about a car length in front of me then turned left across me. And you do know that you only have the right of way to make a manoeuvre when you can do it safely without affecting under road users ??

    5
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    Mute Michael Carolan
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    Mar 27th 2017, 7:56 AM

    @Jumperoo: but there clearly wasn’t enough time. Indicating does not give you a right. You are supposed to wait until it is safe and clear to proceed. You may call the driver abrupt but I would call it dangerous driving.

    6
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    Mute Scundered
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    Mar 27th 2017, 9:42 AM

    @Jumperoo: What on earth qualifies you to tell others what the other person would “probably” say, assuming you don’t know that person?

    2
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    Mute Alan McLoughlin
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    Mar 27th 2017, 11:32 AM

    To all of the above: Does anyone here cycling realise that a cyclist should not at any point undertake a left turning vehicle unless there is a fully segregated cycle lane (solid line)? I see so many overprivileged cyclists daily undertaking cars turning left as if they have the right of way. Let them turn, it may cost you 2 seconds, but that’s very shy of what else you could lose in a fight with a car! And if overtaking, please just take some time, look and put out your right arm.

    http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/Campaigns/Wrecked/Downloads/Cycle%safety%20booklet.pdf

    Regarding dangerous drivers, I would not defend this lady’s actions as it is simply impatience and ignorance on her part.

    Each and every road user has an equal right of way to use the road, please respect that.

    1
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    Mute Backuptron
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    Mar 27th 2017, 4:38 PM

    @Alan McLoughlin: Jason’s point was that the driver overtook him, then almost immediately turned left across his path, forcing him to jam on the brakes to avoid hitting the car. This wasn’t a case of him undertaking; more a case of the driver cutting him up. It’s no big deal if one car cuts up another car because the worst case is some bent metal. If a car cuts up a bike then the consequences are often very serious. Knowing the junction like I do, it’s highly this was the cause of the incident that killed the cyclist above.

    2
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    Mute Alan Shepherd
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    Mar 27th 2017, 9:47 PM

    @Jumperoo:, you wouldn’t overtake anything else and swerve across in front of it. If you pull out of a tee junction in front of an oncoming car you don’t suddenly have right of way because you are in front.

    1
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    Mute Angel
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    Mar 28th 2017, 1:58 AM

    And a lot of cyclists act like pedestrians shouldn’t be on FOOTpath as they cycle on same like cycopaths

    1
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    Mute Reg
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    Mar 26th 2017, 5:58 PM

    If it was the N18 then the N means it was not a motorway. Cyclists are not allowed to use motorways, you are implying that the cyclist may have been acting illegally which may not have been the case.

    97
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    Mute The Thinker
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    Mar 26th 2017, 6:10 PM

    I passed that earlier today. It was right before reaching the motorway, heading northbound, and it happened right on a slipway, exiting the dual carriageway. I can’t understand how it happened. Very sad.

    45
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    Mute Tony Daly
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    Mar 26th 2017, 6:12 PM

    @Reg: yes, the N18 is classified as a national primary route and is not a motorway.

    The hard shoulder along most of the route is very wide.

    I have regularly driven that route and often see cyclist cycling on the hard shoulder.

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    Mute oliverjumelle
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    Mar 26th 2017, 6:21 PM

    Yes but people drive at motorway speeds through there. Heading southbound. The motorway ends at the airport exit and becomes the M7 after the roxborogh interchange on the far side of the limerick tunnel. Even if it’s not a motorway. Cyclists should be banned from that section

    22
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    Mute Tony Daly
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    Mar 26th 2017, 6:24 PM

    @oliverjumelle: so speeding by motorists justified banning cyclists. I don’t agree.

    59
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    Mute oliverjumelle
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    Mar 26th 2017, 6:33 PM

    No I’m saying that cyclists should be banned from that section and all dual carriageways for safety reasons. Regardless of speeding drivers. Look last Saturday I was heading into Ennis to collect stuff for dinner. I got off the Ennis bye pass at barefield and right there on the corner was a group of 16 cyclists in groups of 4 travelling 2 abreast on my side of the road. As it was a continues white line I could not overtake! Even though that road has a hard shoulder. They were right in the middle of the road! I once bleeped at a cyclist for being in the middle of the road. He responded by giving me the finger! And people say cyclists are angels!

    49
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    Mute Tony Daly
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    Mar 26th 2017, 6:36 PM

    @oliverjumelle: it is possible that on occasion cyclists may be a temporary obstruction, even an inconvenience, but they are entitled to be on the road and should not be banned or killed.

    59
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    Mute oliverjumelle
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    Mar 26th 2017, 6:41 PM

    Look in France cyclists can have there bikes impounded by the police if they cause an obstruction on a road. Even a temporary one. In France 90% of the road surface is for cars!

    27
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    Mute Backuptron
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    Mar 26th 2017, 6:57 PM

    @oliverjumelle: you’ll find that the cyclists you encountered were riding 2 abreast for 2 very good reasons : 1. It’s safer because they’re more visible and 2. forces an overtaking car to go around them properly rather than trying to squeeze past them. That’s why the law allows it.

    46
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    Mute Tony Daly
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    Mar 26th 2017, 7:01 PM

    @oliverjumelle: in France, cyclists and cycling are respected and more than tolerated. It is a civilised country. It is a lovely country for cycling holidays.

    It makes sense for cyclists to form organised groups on the road.

    36
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    Mute Jumperoo
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    Mar 26th 2017, 7:43 PM

    @Backuptron: genuine question that I’ve yet to hear a cyclist answer. If there’s a group of say 16 out for a social spin, and travelling in an 8×2 grid – why not instead split up into four groups of four, a few minutes apart from each other? Cyclists still get their spin. Easier for drivers to get past a 2×2 grid than an 8×2 one. What reason to travel in such a large group that’s going to be an o structure no matter what?

    16
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    Mute Jumperoo
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    Mar 26th 2017, 7:46 PM

    @Jumperoo: *an obstruction*

    3
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    Mute oliverjumelle
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    Mar 26th 2017, 8:06 PM

    Ok well picture this. Your driving along and right in the middle of a bend is a group of cyclists travelling two abreast. You can’t overtake as there is an oncoming car. So you have to break sharply!

    3
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    Mute PJ Maguire Kavanagh
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    Mar 26th 2017, 8:11 PM

    @Jumperoo: it would cause more delays especially on a road with a continuous white line where a car “shouldn’t” overtake if they have to make multiple passes rather than just 1. Also why can’t motorists have bit of patience, for the sake of adding 5-10 minutes to their journey they would eliminate the risk of fatality injuring somebody just to get to their destination a little bit quicker… I cycle and I drive and honestly I’d be happy to be slightly delayed rather than causing a group of cyclists be swerved off the road potentially injuring somebody seriously… If you don’t have patience and the cop on to “expect the unexpected” then honestly you shouldn’t have a license to begin with (not you personally, just in general).

    18
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    Mute Jumperoo
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    Mar 26th 2017, 8:11 PM

    @oliverjumelle: and if there are 16 of them and you can’t stop in time, there are far more cyclists who could be injured. Not sure what you’re trying to say?

    6
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    Mute oliverjumelle
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    Mar 26th 2017, 8:11 PM

    Look I’m French. If the police in France see cyclists travelling two abreast and forcing cars to break sharply then they get there bikes impounded. Cyclists can use the roads yes. But SINGLE FILE ONLY!

    17
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    Mute Backuptron
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    Mar 26th 2017, 8:13 PM

    @Jumperoo: it’s quicker to overtake 8×2 than 2×2 4 separate times. 8×2 is still shorter than a truck or a bus. Should trucks and busses be outlawed too?

    11
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    Mute brian magee
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    Mar 26th 2017, 8:13 PM

    @oliverjumelle: what happens if there’s a tractor , horse, slow moving car etc? If you need to Brake sharply you are going to fast…

    Also if the bikes are slow moving you would have seen them going in to the bend

    19
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    Mute oliverjumelle
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    Mar 26th 2017, 8:17 PM

    Look a tractor goes around 25 mph. A cyclist goes around 10 mph. Get your head examined.

    9
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    Mute oliverjumelle
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    Mar 26th 2017, 8:19 PM

    No I was able to stop in time. My problem is that they were holding up traffic by being in the middle of the road while the hard shoulder was completely free.

    9
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    Mute PJ Maguire Kavanagh
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    Mar 26th 2017, 8:20 PM

    @oliverjumelle: i dont know what road cyclists you’ve observed.. most cycling groups move at minimum 25kmh and up to 35kmh

    20
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    Mute Hughiealonso
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    Mar 26th 2017, 8:25 PM

    @oliverjumelle: perish the thought! Might cost you 30 seconds?

    16
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    Mute oliverjumelle
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    Mar 26th 2017, 8:27 PM

    Sorry read my comment again please? I’m not talking kmh. I’m talking mph!

    5
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    Mute PJ Maguire Kavanagh
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    Mar 26th 2017, 8:32 PM

    @oliverjumelle: well this is Ireland and we measure speed in kmh. And besides even in mph your comment is inaccurate.

    18
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    Mute Jumperoo
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    Mar 26th 2017, 8:57 PM

    @Backuptron: whether you realise it or not, you’re an example of how many cyclists do themselves no favours. I’m asking a genuine question about why not split into smaller groups a few minutes apart (BTW, I’m talking five to ten minutes apart, not say 100 to 200 yards, so what the other contributor says about continuous white lines doesn’t come into it). And here you are, with the chip on your shoulder, suggesting that I’m saying things should be outlawed. No point trying to have a reasonable discussion with somebody like you. Good night.

    12
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    Mute Backuptron
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    Mar 26th 2017, 9:02 PM

    @Jumperoo: lol. You asked a question. I explained how one large bunch could be quicker to overtake than lots of small ones and then you take off in a huff. You’re a funny guy.

    13
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    Mute Jumperoo
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    Mar 26th 2017, 9:41 PM

    @Backuptron: you asked me ‘should trucks and buses be outlawed too’. I never mentioned outlawing anything. Funny you forget what you said. Funny guy.

    3
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    Mute Declan McArdle
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    Mar 26th 2017, 10:17 PM

    @Jumperoo: less wind resistance #stayinaliveat1.5

    5
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    Mute brian magee
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    Mar 26th 2017, 10:48 PM

    @oliverjumelle: a cyclist on a country road will be average 30kmh

    9
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    Mute brian magee
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    Mar 26th 2017, 10:50 PM

    @oliverjumelle: the hard shoulder is full of debris and not suitable to cycle in.

    Monday to Sunday cars take up the city streets and cause endless queues. Try driving around any city and you’ll be stuck behind single occupancy cars , that’s a real issue , not a few cyclists has kid g cars up for a few seconds in a road where they can easily make up lost time when they get around the cyclists

    5
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    Mute brian magee
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    Mar 26th 2017, 10:52 PM

    @oliverjumelle: 10 mph is 16,000 mh or 16kmh. Roughly half of what actually happens.

    7
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    Mute Llewey Byrne
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    Mar 26th 2017, 10:54 PM

    @oliverjumelle: I’ve ridden in France/Belgium/Spain etc. loads of times and often ride in groups side by side. Police often give us a nod at us as we ride by and locals respect us, not treat us like vermin. The idea that they’d take our bikes off us is laughable. Whereabouts in France are you from? Yes some cyclists are no angels and I’m embarrassed sometimes at fellow riders behaviour but the default attitude of a lot of motorists in the U.K. and Ireland is we are on a mission to inconvenience them and shouldn’t be on “their roads”. Someone’s family has been devastated today and will never be the same again. We shouldn’t loose sight of that. RIP.

    10
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    Mute Shawn Rahoon
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    Mar 26th 2017, 11:33 PM

    @oliverjumelle: If you have to break sharply then you are driving too fast for that bend.

    6
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    Mute brian magee
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    Mar 26th 2017, 11:56 PM

    @oliverjumelle: if you are indeed French , why would you use mph, you’ve been using the metric system since you were born.

    I smell cow dung.

    8
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    Mute oliverjumelle
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    Mar 27th 2017, 12:22 AM

    Because the car I drive is a 97. The main speed dial is mph with metric in small writing. Oui je suis francais. He suis arrivee en irlande en 1990.

    1
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    Mute oliverjumelle
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    Mar 27th 2017, 12:29 AM

    Well you were obviously on a country road. With barely any traffic. I’m from bordeaux. Look do cyclists pay road tax? No. Car drivers yes. And yet we have to treat you equal to us. Car drivers pay to use the road so I think they should have priority over 100% of the traffic lanes. Cyclists use hard shoulder!

    1
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    Mute Backuptron
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    Mar 27th 2017, 12:39 AM

    @oliverjumelle: that’s your opinion, but the law says something totally different. The law says cyclists can ride 2 abreast in the carriageway (not the hard shoulder because that’s for emergencies only) and they have exactly the same rights and obligations as any other road user, except where they’re excluded (i.e. motorways). The law doesn’t care if you’re on two wheels or four, or if you’re required to pay motor tax or not (and most cyclists do by the way). Once you and your ilk get that into your heads, then the roads might get a little safer, and fewer families get deprived of a loved one.

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    Mute Shawn Rahoon
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    Mar 27th 2017, 3:42 AM

    @oliverjumelle: So cyclists should be banned from the Long Mile Rd, isn’t that a dual carraigeway? What about O’Connell St or New St just a few to mention, as they are also dual carraigeways.

    1
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    Mute Steve Mac
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    Mar 27th 2017, 10:25 AM

    @oliverjumelle: so you beeped your horn at a cyclist who was actng perfectly legally in cycling on a road. You deserved more than a finger tbh.

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    Mute Steve Mac
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    Mar 27th 2017, 10:27 AM

    @oliverjumelle: there’s no such thing as “road tax”. It’s a motor tax and is based on Co2 emissions. It’s illegal to use any road vehicle (bike or car) in a hard shoulder – it’s for emergencies. I think it’s time you retook your theory test before you’re allowed behind the wheel of a car again as you obviously have no clue about the RotR.

    4
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    Mute Tony Daly
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    Mar 26th 2017, 6:02 PM

    Sadly, that is now 3 cyclists killed in a short interval of time.

    Despite the demonisation of cyclists, they are far more likely to be the victim of road deaths than the cause of road deaths.

    105
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    Mute Tony Daly
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    Mar 26th 2017, 6:07 PM

    The reports of cycle deaths always express it as the cyclist colliding with a vehicle, never vice versa. This is right across the media.

    I would it express is neutrally as “a collision between a campervan and a cyclist” or a collision between a “cyclist and a campervan”.

    My previous comments pointing this out are always deleted.

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    Mute Virtual Donal
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    Mar 27th 2017, 8:59 AM

    @Tony Daly: I have noticed the same trend. It always reads as thought the cyclist is at fault. Strange breed of cyclists out there who throw themselves bodily in the path of motor vehicles!

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    Mute Aaron Gibson
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    Mar 26th 2017, 8:46 PM

    I know cyclists can be a nuisance. A lot of them don’t follow rules of the road etc. I cycle myself and I always follow the rules for my own safety and others, but a lot of drivers I come across everyday don’t give a shite. On my 45 minute cycle to work this morning 3 drivers cut me off at junctions. Drive up along side me and pull in front of me to take the corner. Forced to pull hard on my brakes and nearly coming of my bike on top of nearly being smashed off it by multiple cars.

    At the end of the day, a driver and a cyclist get in to an accident and it’s the cyclists who lose everytime. Pay attention to what you are doing. I’m just trying to get to work just like you, the only difference is my mode of transport.

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    Mute Backuptron
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    Mar 26th 2017, 8:20 PM

    @Leroy: as a cyclist and a motorist, the only thing that infuriates me more than seeing a casual cyclist ignoring the rules of the road is the motorist that uses it as justification for treating all cyclists as second class road users, endangering lives.

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    Mute Luke Collins
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    Mar 26th 2017, 6:56 PM

    RIP to this poor man… condolences to all his family and friends.

    We as a country need to cop-on on the road respect all other users irrespective of mode of travel. It seems we are aiming for a record.. just read today’s article there is no need for this kind of loss of life.

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    Mute Luke Collins
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    Mar 26th 2017, 7:03 PM

    @Luke Collins: I count approx 7 deaths or serious injuries on our roads this week just via journal articles

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    Mute Irish big fellow
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    Mar 26th 2017, 7:21 PM

    Most public roads are not fit for cycling. The hard shoulders on most cases are too rough for cycling especially racing bikes. Our roads are generally poorly designed and badly marked out. As the number of cyclists increase it is inevitable that there will be unfortunately more serious injuries or fatalities. The RSA have a big job to do to educate cyclist and drivers to have respect for each other.
    Respect is all is needed.

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    Mute Tony Daly
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    Mar 26th 2017, 8:11 PM

    @Irish big fellow: I have cycled on hard shoulders with 28 and 32 tyres with no difficulty at all.

    Out of necessity, cyclists are careful of motorists but some cocooned motorists are somewhat disregarding if cyclists.

    In a collision, the cyclist may die or be seriously injured. The motorist may have some damage to the vehicle but the cyclists are not easily repairable.

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    Mute Jimmyjoe Wallace
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    Mar 26th 2017, 8:18 PM

    @Irish big fellow: our roads are not that much different than most countries, in other countries, though not all, cyclists are treated with more respect than they get here. I was in Italy cycling last year and the rural roads are similiar, though the surface were poor. In the cities there were proper segregated cycle lanes, very well laid out and safe.

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    Mute Hughiealonso
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    Mar 26th 2017, 8:21 PM

    This is happening all too often. Need to change the attitudes of a huge % of road users. People overtaking cyclists on blind bends, swerving in front of cyclists or passing within cm of them. It takes a huge amount of the enjoyment out of cycling if you are worried about your safety.

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    Mute Tony Daly
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    Mar 26th 2017, 9:24 PM

    Law abiding, careful and responsible cyclists can still be killed by vehicular traffic.

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    Mute Rachel Didleu
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    Mar 26th 2017, 6:53 PM

    Hurlers’ Cross.

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    Mute Brian MacCarthaigh
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    Mar 26th 2017, 8:36 PM

    @Leroy: You sound like a sad bitter individual. A man died today and you make a disgusting comment like that.

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    Mute Hughiealonso
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    Mar 26th 2017, 8:28 PM

    @Leroy: they kill so many motorists each year….. oh wait, no they don’t

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    Mute Tony Daly
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    Mar 26th 2017, 9:19 PM

    @Leroy: hatred is a step on the way to killing.

    I can understand frustration, irritation, even dislike, but people who hate other road users are dangerous on the road.

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    Mute Llewey Byrne
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    Mar 26th 2017, 11:09 PM

    Roads in Ireland are not the problem. Tarmac has never killed anyone. Lumps of metal piloted by one human hitting another human being at speed is what kills people. RIP to that poor person today.

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    Mute Tony O Dwyer
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    Mar 27th 2017, 8:54 AM

    Condolences to the mans family
    A lovely day he heads out on a lovely cycle and never returns
    Consideration has also to be given to the driver , he/she has to live with this
    A lot of people are making comments on an incident without knowing the facts of same

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    Mute Paul Kelly
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    Mar 26th 2017, 5:58 PM

    Was it on the motorway?

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    Mute Anthony Byrne
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    Mar 26th 2017, 6:11 PM

    That’s a green sign on the left carriageway. Not motorway. Also, if you’re cycling from Limerick to bunratty or vice-verse, You have no option but to use that road, or else go miles out of your way on old boreens.

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    Mute Tony Daly
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    Mar 26th 2017, 6:14 PM

    @Anthony Byrne: it strikes me as a suitable route for cycling, especially so on the hard shoulder.

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    Mute Gerry Ryan
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    Mar 26th 2017, 6:14 PM

    @Paul Kelly: Near Bunratty it says, that’s not Motorway. Met a Tractor and Trailer on that stretch early today and a few cyclists. It’s Dual carriageway with a 100kph limit. Sad event for everyone involved.

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    Mute Backuptron
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    Mar 26th 2017, 6:35 PM

    @Paul Kelly: no. Not a motorway. Just a 100kph dual carriageway. There’s another 2 exits before the motorway starts at the Shannon Airport turn-off. The N7 between Shannon and Limerick is a popular road with cyclists because it’s relatively safe with wide hard shoulders and no tight bends.

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    Mute Tony Daly
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    Mar 26th 2017, 6:37 PM

    @Backuptron: yes, visibility is excellent for traffic in the usual circumstances.

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    Mute Joe Smith
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    Mar 26th 2017, 6:52 PM

    @Tony Daly: its a fine road for both motorists and cyclists but it should really have a section of the hard shoulder laid out as a cycle lane. I often see cyclists either just inside the hard shoulder and sometimes just outside it on the left main lane. AFIK, they are allowed be there but it is extremely dangerous for all involved.

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    Mute Tony Daly
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    Mar 26th 2017, 7:02 PM

    @Joe Smith: it is only dangerous if vehicular traffic does not pay due regard and attention.

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    Mute Joe Smith
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    Mar 26th 2017, 7:14 PM

    @Tony Daly: I cycle myself, and drive too, and you can bang your drum all you want about cyclists are entitled to the road too. Which they are, but not all drivers are as diligent nor cyclists as careful as you seem to be.
    My dad used to qoute a rhyme about some lad who used always keep maintaining his right of way and is still as dead as if he was wrong.
    I think a cycle lane would be a good solution to the issue between Shannon and Limerick for everyone.

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    Mute Joe Smith
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    Mar 26th 2017, 7:14 PM

    @Tony Daly: BTW, cyclists are classed as vehicular traffic as well

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    Mute Tony Daly
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    Mar 26th 2017, 7:18 PM

    @Joe Smith: I have no problem with a dedicated cycleway providing their is a physical barrier. In Dublin, vehicular traffic pays scant regard to cycle lanes unless physically separated.

    The natural tendency, I’m primarily a motorist, is to blame cyclists but blaming victims is not a sold step towards improvement.

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    Mute Joe Smith
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    Mar 26th 2017, 7:33 PM

    @Tony Daly: I’m not blaming cyclists, just like you I’m primarily a motorist, but would probably cycle more if I thought I could do so safely.
    The dual carraigeway between Shannon and Limerick is plenty wide enough for 2 lanes of traffic, a hard shoulder and a cycle lane without needing a physical barrier.
    And there wouldn’t need to be one if road users are properly instructed how to use them and punished appropriatly when caught misusing them.
    And when I say road users, I mean road users- the whole lot of us.

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    Mute Fr.Todd Unctious
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    Mar 26th 2017, 7:54 PM

    @Joe Smith: the hard shoulder is sufficient enough. What difference would it make if a bicycle was drawn on it?

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    Mute Joe Smith
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    Mar 26th 2017, 8:04 PM

    @Fr.Todd Unctious: Probably not a bit except it gives the cyclists their own space on the road where they can cycle safely.
    Besides aren’t hard shoulders only meant for emergency use and as it stands, cyclists are actually entitled to be in the main lanes?

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    Mute Backuptron
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    Mar 26th 2017, 8:16 PM

    @Joe Smith: its more than “entitled”. By law a cyclist is supposed to ride in the carriageway. They’re not supposed to use the hard shoulder at all

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    Mute Scundered
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    Mar 27th 2017, 9:47 AM

    we need mandatory sentences for drivers who make bad decisions, they are in charge of half a ton of metal at speed, they have the potential to do massive damage or kill at any time. They just don’t seem to realise this.

    That’s the big difference to why they need to be even more responsible.

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    Mute Backuptron
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    Mar 27th 2017, 4:52 PM

    @Scundered: I’d put it more simply than that. The gardai in this country have zero interest in enforcing most of the laws on the road. The regular gardai consider traffic enforcement beneath them, and the Traffic Corp focus on the low hanging fruit such as speed checks and tax/insurance checkpoints. It needs to be every guard’s responsibility to issue tickets on the spot. Until that happens the conduct of road users on 2 or 4 wheels will continue to be abysmal.

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