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Opinion 'Cyclists would rather not be sharing road space with lorries, buses, and cars'

Providing the infrastructure would go a long way to solving these arguments, and getting more cyclists in the saddle, writes Roderic O’Gorman.

WHEN I MOVED to Blanchardstown village about ten years ago, I made a decision to start cycling again.

For me, the major use my bike gets is for activities related to my Council work – traveling to Council meetings, heading out canvassing, and meeting with constituents in their homes.

I use it four or five times a week. I don’t use it for my work commute – I find it more convenient to use those 50 minutes to answer emails on my phone while on the bus or train.

Flexibility

Living in a congested suburb like Dublin 15, the best thing about the bike it its flexibility. For short journeys around the area at rush hour, particularly if you’re passing through major pinch points like Castleknock village or the notorious Snugborough Road interchange, it is far quicker to travel by bike than it is by car.

Obviously, the cost savings over a car are pretty huge. Barring a few services over the course of a year and new tyres, there’s very little cost after the initial outlay.

A great side-effect of using a bike a few times a week are the health benefits. It definitely helps keep the weight down, particularly during weeks when the work and Council schedule doesn’t allow time for the gym. And after a long and sometimes contentious Council meeting, a cycle is a great way to clear the head.

Getting back on the bike was a great decision for me personally, and it seems others want to make that choice too.

At record levels

I’ve noticed a real increase in the number of people on their bike each day, and the stats back this up. Cycling is at record levels in Dublin – 12,500 people commute to work in the city by bike every single day. Imagine how many more would if safe, dedicated cycle lanes were provided?

Too often, debates about cycling infrastructure descend into an unhelpful cars vs cyclists argument. Trust me, cyclists would rather not be sharing road space with lorries, buses, and cars. Providing the infrastructure would go a long way to solving these arguments, and getting more cyclists in the saddle.

Dublin’s population is growing, and we simply have to make provision for people to get to and from work without a car. Modern European cities manage to do this – there’s no reason why Dublin and other urban centres can’t do the same. The result will be less congestion, cleaner air and a healthier population. It’s common sense.

Health benefits

More people cycling on their daily commutes will be good for society. I mentioned the personal health benefits I get from cycling, but this has wider, knock-on effects. In the Netherlands, for example, where cycling is widespread, a study estimated that the health benefits from cycling saves their health service $23 billion per year. With savings like that, why wouldn’t we encourage cycling?

We also know that traffic congestion is bad for the economy – in Dublin alone it costs the economy €350 million per year. This is projected to rise, and rise sharply.

So what can we do to tackle the traffic gridlock? While we’re waiting on MetroLink, and DART Underground, and BusConnects, and all the long term public transport projects to be completed, our best bet is to get people on their bikes.

Bike Week

Dedicated cycle lanes, cyclist friendly ‘Dutch roundabouts’ at major junctions and proper parking stands would go a long way to making is safer and more attractive. The network of cycle lanes is increasing, but too often these start and stop in an arbitrary way, with little consideration for how cyclists can safely join or leave them.

This Bike Week, it’s time for the government to commit to cycling, and reverse the declining investment levels we’ve seen in recent years. Fund the projects, and they’ll pay for themselves. It’s good for people, good for the economy, and good for society.

Roderic O’Gorman is a Green Party Councillor on Fingal County Council, representing the Castleknock Ward. Follow him on Twitter @rodericogorman.

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    Mute JP SHERRY
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    Aug 5th 2012, 10:43 AM

    Maybe it was the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Hero’s in a half shell, Turtle Power!!!

    449
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    Mute connor graham
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    Aug 6th 2012, 1:03 PM

    Was this manhole outside The George pub?

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    Mute Pat Keating
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    Aug 5th 2012, 11:13 AM

    So, let me get this right. There is a hole in the ground and the gardai are looking into it.

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    Mute Seán O' Sullivan
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    Aug 6th 2012, 3:52 PM

    gas

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    Mute John Burke
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    Aug 5th 2012, 11:04 AM

    Criminals are working from our sewers now? Next they’ll be robbing from the financial centre, trapping Dublins Gardai down in the sewer with a series of planned explosions and a guy in a strange mask will be interrupting a GAA match to tell us he has a big bomb and that he’s giving Dublin back to the people. Until we are saved by the Dark Knight. The one they call, ENDA!

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    Mute Francis Cussen
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    Aug 5th 2012, 11:12 AM

    and Joan Burton is the sexy cat woman. meow!!

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    Mute Nora Butler
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    Aug 5th 2012, 11:55 AM

    Brilliant one for comment of the week!!

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    Mute Vinny Healy
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    Aug 5th 2012, 2:33 PM

    Classic

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    Mute Seán O' Sullivan
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    Aug 6th 2012, 3:53 PM

    Comment of the year my friend!

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    Mute Phil Mc Donald
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    Aug 5th 2012, 10:47 AM

    It was B-Bop & Rock-Steady

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    Mute Claire Whelan
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    Aug 5th 2012, 11:50 AM

    Hey lighten up. This could be a serious thing. What if they were planting a bomb under streets of Dublin where your kids and family walk or drive daily? Well done to the concerned citizen who spotted them and reported it. Pity more of us are not so observent. I think the gardai have a difficult job in todays climate and I for one want them to have sufficient traning and resources to do their job properly to keep our streets safe for everybody citizens and tourists alike. The amount of drug use, drunkeness, attacks on innocent people in this country is absolutely apalling and it HAS to stop NOW. The country will be lawless if these criminals, drunkards, doped up fools are allowed to do whatever their devious brains (i.e the criminals) or drunk or drugged up brains allow them freedom to do. The wanton stealing of road art, peoples property, ancient church property, lead from roofs, copper from vacant or not vacant houses etc etc etc etc has to be stopped and for some we will have to depend on observent citizens to report it……………..like whoever reported the manhole guys. Help the gardai to nail these people. I for one are proud of our guards ……. keep doing a good job lads and Enda and his ilk give them all the help they need and that goes for us too…..report anything suspicious……….it may save trauma or lives.

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    Mute Paul Harvey
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    Aug 5th 2012, 1:23 PM

    Maybe you shouldn’t have started your rant with, “hay lighten up”

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    Mute Sean Mc Avinue
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    Aug 5th 2012, 1:26 PM

    It would want to be some bomb to plant under “streets” of Dublin What group or organisation would be planning this or what motive would they have?

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    Mute Kevin O'Brien
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    Aug 5th 2012, 3:30 PM

    Maybe you’re a part of the conspiracy Claire and you’re here to avert suspicion until it’s too late? Oh no wait, that’d just be excessive paranoia.

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    Mute Sinead Fox
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    Aug 6th 2012, 1:26 AM

    Sean, the foundations of Dublin castle among others are down there, there are gatherings of the eu heads of state due soon in Dublin castle, there are known al quieda (i know i can’t spell) cells in Ireland among other terror groups who would love to have a shot at it!

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    Mute BILL RYAN
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    Aug 5th 2012, 11:02 AM

    Crime in the slime possibly.

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    Mute Watching from above
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    Aug 5th 2012, 10:50 AM

    It’ll be known as the waddle in the poddle

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    Mute Petr Tarasov
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    Aug 6th 2012, 11:48 AM
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    Mute Imran Ali
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    Aug 5th 2012, 11:55 AM

    Is there a law against climbing down into a sewer or what?

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    Mute Nikolas Koehler
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    Aug 5th 2012, 1:42 PM

    Yes, there is, oddly enough. They’re infrastructure, not public spaces, and access must be granted by The Corpo if it is not a Corpo worker.

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    Mute Imran Ali
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    Aug 5th 2012, 3:45 PM

    Seems reasonable enough

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    Mute Nikolas Koehler
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    Aug 5th 2012, 3:56 PM

    I doubt you’d get life without parole if you were caught soon a bit of exploring, but they have to have a rule otherwise there’d be hell to pay of someone wandered down there, had an accident, and put in for an insurance claim against the corpo. This was how it was explained to us when I was a teenager and a few of us were caught hanging around in a flood drain network. They were a handy place for a sneaky smoke and an underage naggin.

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    Mute Sean McNally
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    Aug 5th 2012, 11:24 AM

    Next Tuesday morning’s headlines: millions believed stolen in weekend bank robbery. Thieves believed to have gained access though . . . . . . .

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    Mute Jill Magan
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    Aug 5th 2012, 11:53 AM

    There was an episode of “Creedon’s Cities” on RTÉ recently which featured this, showed access to the river, what’s down there, and where the tunnel leads to (there’s a hole in the wall of the Liffey between the Ha’Penny and Millennium bridges) Some pretty interesting stuff down there!

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    Mute Les Rock
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    Aug 5th 2012, 10:59 AM

    Their not down there anymore. Jaysus have they not thought they’ve got out somewhere else!!

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    Mute Hank Scorpio
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    Aug 5th 2012, 12:03 PM

    There’s a river under the city ? Can we tax it ?

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    Mute Alvaro
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    Aug 5th 2012, 10:49 AM

    It was Bebop and Rocksteady. They only nipped down there to finish a pizza

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    Mute UrbexJunkie
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    Aug 5th 2012, 11:58 AM

    This is blown out of pre portion. It was Urban Explorers like myself looking to photograph the drains. I know people who are regular visitors to it. It just so happens they lifted the wrong manhole.

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    Mute Sean McNally
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    Aug 5th 2012, 11:25 AM

    . . . .or even THROUGH . . . . .

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    Mute Joey Dempsey
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    Aug 5th 2012, 11:37 AM

    Its no mystery really, perfect hiding place for thos various high profile G******* that attended the recent Quinn rally, we are told they have all suddenly ducked for cover, can’t think of a better place for them to hide!

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    Mute Faceless Man
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    Aug 5th 2012, 11:43 AM

    Unconfirmed reports that it’s Peter Darragj

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    Mute Matt Donovan
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    Aug 5th 2012, 1:02 PM

    No Bertie isn’t back he’s just gone home.

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    Mute Matt Donovan
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    Aug 5th 2012, 12:28 PM

    All the reports say that 2 men lowered a ladder into the sewer & climbed down; there was no ladder found when Gardai began & the photographs of the sub aqua unit descending into the manhole show very cramped conditions; so my question is where is this ladder?

    It didn’t vanish & it couldn’t have been taken with them. Certainly an unusual occurrence but if there was an innocent explanation ie photography then surely they’d have come forward by now? As to why the Gardai are so concerned then consider that apart from subversive/criminal motives there is also the possibility that these people might have become trapped. Certainly a story to keep an eye on.

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    Mute Jambbie
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    Aug 5th 2012, 3:29 PM

    They put in their sport billy bag.

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    Mute Anthony O Rourke
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    Aug 5th 2012, 11:33 AM

    Very misleading headline… I’m left disappointed.

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    Mute Micheal
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    Aug 5th 2012, 11:53 AM

    We must make the Dark Knight Return!

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    Mute UrbexJunkie
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    Aug 5th 2012, 3:56 PM

    Maybe it was all the trolls coming out of hiding.

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    Mute Niall Boylan @ Night
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    Aug 5th 2012, 2:06 PM

    It was Enda and Gilmore ! They are staring in a new remake of “Pinky and the Brain” and one cay they ” WILL TAKE OVER THE WORLD !!!!!! “

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    Mute Adam Walsh
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    Aug 5th 2012, 12:43 PM

    BERTIE Is back uh oh .

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    Mute Timmy O Toole
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    Aug 5th 2012, 1:33 PM

    “I never thought i`d end up here but it f%$£!n suits me, wha?!”

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    Mute Matt Donovan
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    Aug 5th 2012, 11:26 PM

    2 guys apparently caught trying to tunnel into a bank over the bank holiday weekend. Read it in one of today’s papers but can’t remember which one.

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    Mute Stephen McConnell
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    Aug 5th 2012, 4:04 PM

    It’s looks like Bane is operating in Dublin now.

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    Mute Ru Ni Digs
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    Aug 5th 2012, 9:15 PM

    Ah sure it was only Bertie and Brian returning to their sewer…

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    Mute Cormac Grendon
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    Aug 5th 2012, 12:05 PM

    It’s not criminals. It’s our top paid bankers and government that is in hidding. Or as previous comments stated they could be dressed as Ninga Turtles.

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    Mute Fulano de Tal
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    Aug 5th 2012, 6:37 PM

    The worst part of the story is people like JP sherry and pat keating passing off as their own other peoples original jokes from the first article posted about this story.

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    Mute JP SHERRY
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    Aug 5th 2012, 7:21 PM

    ??? Sorry did I upset you ??? I’ll do more research in future and be sure not to unknowingly say something someone may or may not have said before. Uptight much??

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    Mute Petr Tarasov
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    Aug 6th 2012, 11:54 AM
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    Mute Pat Keating
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    Aug 6th 2012, 7:09 PM

    I’m sorry. I didn’t read the first article as I was reading ’50 shades of Grey.’

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    Mute Gary O Connor
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    Aug 5th 2012, 5:19 PM

    did the police think to contact the drainage companies incase it was a blockage and needed to be chked as they have to enter the main drainage, just a thought…..

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    Mute Vinny Healy
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    Aug 5th 2012, 7:30 PM

    Oh I’d say not maybe you should phone them up

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    Mute S. og mc Liam
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    Aug 5th 2012, 8:44 PM

    Someone turn on the Bat signal

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