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HAVING NEVER OWNED a car, cycling is Paddy Monahan’s main mode of transport. “There’s constant vigilance, constant risk of incidents and you really need to have your sixth sense on.”
He regularly posts videos on social media showing what it’s like for him and his four year old to cycle in the city but he fears that he is tempting fate and one of these videos will “end up in some kind of Facebook tribute”.
Paddy’s concerns are not unfounded, according to research carried out by Noteworthy. With cyclist injuries now at over 1,000 per year, we have spent the past two months taking a deep dive into cycling. We analysed Road Safety Authority (RSA) cyclist injury data from 2005 to 2016. Check out our map of this data here where you can see the volume of collisions in your area.
By concentrating on junctions and sections of road where cyclists were killed or seriously injured, we mapped the most dangerous blackspots around Ireland. We found that, during this period:
FATALITIES:
BLACKSPOTS:
In part two of this investigation, we unveil the top cycle-related complaints to city councils, how poor infrastructure is affecting cyclists and how this can lead to injuries which cost local authorities thousands in public liability claims.
View the main blackspots we found in Dublin:
Paddy Monahan commutes on the most dangerous stretch of road that we found through our analysis of the RSA data, from Fairview to the IFSC in Dublin. “You’ve got a six-lane highway, basically in the city centre, so you’re weaving in and out of traffic,” he explained.
If you include the entire length of Fairview Park, starting at the Howth Road junction, to the IFSC, this 2.6km route had 80 collisions including two fatalities, seven serious and 71 minor injuries from 2005 to 2016.
These figures could be slightly higher, as with all our reported findings, as 1.4% of the official collision data (10 serious and 75 minor injuries) we received could not be mapped due to lack of coordinates.
A serious injury is defined by the RSA as fractures, concussion, internal injuries, crushings, severe cuts or lacerations and severe general shock requiring medical treatment. It also includes any injuries where a person is admitted to hospital as an inpatient. Minor injuries are “an injury of a minor character such as a sprain or bruise”.
The Fairview to IFSC journey is the second most popular cycling route in Dublin with over 1,500 cyclists passing over Newcomen Bridge on their journey into town on a miserable Thursday morning in November 2018. That was when the latest reported Canal Cordon took place which measures traffic passing various points and bridges in a circle surrounding the city centre.
Another regular cyclist through Fairview is Alan Downey from the campaign group iBikeDublin. He travels along it into town, often with his sons Cian (6) and Darragh (4) out the front of his cargo bike. You can watch his journey on the video below where he talks about some of the issues he encounters on a daily basis.
A new cycleway has been planned for this area for many years, the Clontarf to City Centre scheme. Segregated cycle lanes are to line the entire route with redesigned traffic layouts.
Christopher Manzira, senior transportation officer at Dublin City Council said they “are in the middle of the construction procurement process and should go to tender on it by the end of May [2020]”. The council has completed the first stage and shortlisted contractors, according to Manzira. It will take two years to build once work begins as it involves extensive ground and public realm works in addition to the cycle scheme.
Temporary measures to protect cyclists on this corridor are not planned before work on the scheme begins as “it probably means that in six months we are ripping that up and cyclists are left with no facilities at all”. Instead Dublin City Council are working on a temporary traffic plan to be delivered as part of the construction work. They are planning various configurations, with options including cars being diverted to a parallel road in order to leave space for public transport and cyclists while sections are closed for works.
Downey said it is “fantastic that it is moving to the next stage” and that they’re happy with the planned infrastructure, but “it’s been a long number of years being developed”. Though iBikeDublin’s ultimate goal is to have this proper segregated infrastructure, he is disappointed there won’t be any short term improvements as “there’s always the risk of further delays depending on the economy or build progress”.
Though Cork was the second highest county in terms of fatalities between 2005 and 2016, with 15 occurring across various locations during this period, there were only two locations we found in the county that had a cluster of serious or fatal collisions. In terms of the number of collisions per population, Cork was lower, at 12th in Ireland.
One blackspot we identified where two fatalities and one minor collision occurred in the space of three years, was on a 300m stretch of dual carriageway on the N71 between Ballinhassig and the city. There was also a 350m stretch in the city itself from Main Street to Shandon Street which had six collisions, one of which resulted in the death of a cyclist and another a serious injury.
Conn Donovan, chair of the Cork Cycling Campaign said as well as “looking at where people are getting hurt and injured, you need to look at where they are not cycling”. The 2016 census found that less than 3% of commuters cycled in Cork City and suburbs which was lower than both Dublin and Galway at 8% and 6% respectively.
Though there are examples of good infrastructure such as bi-directional, parking- and curb-protected bike lanes, on roads including Pope’s Quay and Anglesey Street, Donovan compares cycling infrastructure in Cork to sprinkles landing randomly on a cake. He said it is “extremely piecemeal” so only “the bold and brave” cycle there.
Nearly every day when you cycle in the city, you’re gritting your teeth, you’re frustrated, worried, stressed and anxious because cars are prioritised in nearly every instance.
Cork City Council told Noteworthy it “is very cognisant of the key role that dedicated cycling infrastructure plays in the sustainable development of Cork City. We are constantly striving to ensure that adequate resources are available to maintain these facilities to a high standard.” The spokesperson added that “this however can be challenging” and they “target available resources at locations of most need”.
Louth stood out with the second highest rate of cyclist injuries, when measured per 100,000 population.
Ollan Herr has been campaigning for many years for the town to install a Dutch-standard cycle network as part of the Dundalk Cycling Alliance. Being a relatively flat old garrison town with wide streets he feels it is a perfect place for this as “you can easily shave off two metres of road”.
Not many people cycle in the area due to being nervous about safety, according to Herr. “Only very strongly motivated people like me would cycle on the streets of Dundalk”.
A high res version of this graph can be found here.
By looking for areas with more serious fatalities in close proximity, we spotted three dangerous pieces of road in Dundalk: a 1.8km length of Avenue Road with 13 collisions, including one fatality and one serious injury within 350m of each other; a 900m stretch from Crowe Street to Barrack Street with 12 collisions, including two serious injuries; and a 350m section of the Dublin Road near Dundalk IT with two serious and four minor injuries.
Along one of the sections of road near Crowe Street, identified as a blackspot by Noteworthy, Herr had a near miss in recent years when he almost went over the bonnet of a car when it came from behind him and turned into a side street. The experienced cyclist said “it was as close as hell. I got an awful shock.”
Louth County Council said that there are cycle lanes along all of these roads. “From Crowe Street to Barrack Street has been upgraded extensively to cater for cyclists… including construction of cycle lanes on both sides of the road.”
Herr said there have been some improvements along sections of the Crowe Street area with the installation of cycle lanes that are protected by parked cars, though this came with much controversy and many objections from local shop owners at the time. However, he added that the cycle network in the town “does not properly connect up schools, shops and residential areas”.
The campaigner said that Avenue Road has painted lines rather than segregated lanes on both sides of the road, though they do not continue right to either end of the road. One major issue here is “cars frequently park in the cycle lane”.
The provision of cycle lanes that have only painted lines separating cars from cyclists was part of national policy at the time, [but] we do not believe it is sufficient to assure parents and encourage youngsters to cycle in safety to school.
The council said “there are currently no plans for additional designated cycle lanes on the Avenue Road” but added the cycle lane markings were refreshed last year.
There are also painted cycle lanes along the 350m stretch of Dublin Road we identified as a blackspot. Louth County Council said this section “is included [in] the 2021 Road Work Programme for resurfacing, including subsequent road markings cycle lanes repainting”.
The most dangerous junction outside Dublin that we found for more serious collisions was at the south junction of the Bridge of Peace in Drogheda where two serious and five minor collisions occurred. Louth County Council said that since 2016, after this injury data was collated, “the provision of vehicle restraint barriers and chevron signs have been carried out to improve safety”.
Limerick had the third highest number of cyclist collisions per head of population. We found that a 2.1km section of road from Clare Street to the Groody Roundabout was particularly dangerous in terms of collisions with three serious and 18 minor cyclist injuries from 2005 to 2016. There was also a fatality at both ends of the road.
Limerick City and County Council told Noteworthy that this road “has a dedicated, segregated cycleway for around a third of this route”. They said “there is a cycleway running parallel to the canal and then the River Shannon and almost parallel to this road in operation, which brings cyclists directly to UL”.
They added that the route from the city centre to the University of Limerick and the National Technology Park will be designated as a priority bus route in the soon to be published draft Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy “which will also provide for improved walking and cycling facilities on the very busy corridor”. This strategy has been in development for almost two years.
If these maps aren’t working for you, click here for an interactive version. For a map that covers cyclist injuries for all of Ireland, click here.
An area that may not be sufficiently highlighted by the collision data is College Green in Dublin. The new Cross City line opened in 2017, so the impact of this new piece of public transport is not reflected in the statistics.
One of the blackspots Noteworthy found ran along Dame Street from College Green to Dublin Castle with three serious, all in 2015, and 24 minor cyclist injuries along the 450m strip from 2005 to 2016. However, numerous cyclists contacted us about the volume of buses in this area and bike tyres getting caught in Luas tracks so we investigated this further.
Downey from iBikeDublin was one of the many cyclists who came off his bike while cycling at low speed beside Trinity when his wheel got stuck. He found the aftermath rather than the fall “pretty scary” because of the potential to become further injured by buses or taxis while lying on the ground.
Your first instinct is not even to check if you’re alright. It’s to run off the road and get out of the way.
Though a contra-flow cycle lane has been installed on the Bank of Ireland side of the street, Downey said this is not practical. “It’s an afterthought put in because of complaints. If you’re worried about the Luas tracks, it’s probably quicker to get off the bike and walk.”
When asked about plans for College Green, a spokesperson from Dublin City Council said improvements in this area are linked to the proposed College Green plaza. Plans for this plaza were quashed by An Bord Pleanála last November but the council has said it intends to lodge a fresh application this year.
The two way cycle track beside the Bank of Ireland was designed to link up to a dedicated two way cycle track through College Green plaza and it is the clear intention of DCC to obtain permission to create a College Green plaza with cycle links through to Georges Street. This will provide much improved cycling facilities in the area.
Noteworthy obtained emails to Minister Shane Ross from a number of cyclists who were injured after falling on tracks over the past few years, with one needing surgery and another left with detached ligaments. One was from the partner of a “pensioner” who “depends on his bicycle to get around the city safely as he cannot walk very far due to his severe arthritis”.
He fell on the same spot as Downey, outside Trinity. “Today could have been the first road fatality of a cyclist outside Trinity,” his partner wrote. “It is imperative to sort out a safe designated lane for cyclists through this junction.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Transport said that “in terms of potential dangers for cyclists on Luas tracks, cycling arrangements have been put in place along many sections of the Luas Cross City route however along certain sections there is the potential for cyclists to interact in relatively restricted space with trams, buses and taxis.”
This arrangement has given rise to safety concerns at these specific locations, with the possibility of bicycle wheels becoming caught in the grooves of the tram tracks. Because of these concerns Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has erected signs advising cyclists not to cycle along these specific sections.
Many cycling campaigners, including Downey have called for rubber inserts to be inserted “to make it safer to cycle across the other tracks”. He said that this has been done in other cities but commitment is required as they need maintenance and have to be replaced regularly.
A spokesperson for the Department of Transport said it “is aware of many trials which involve the installation of a rubber insert, or similar, into rail grooves. Those trials have not been successful, with the material becoming ripped and dislodged by the tram wheels during operation.”
The information for this graph was collated from a recent Cyclist Injury Trends report from the RSA. A high res version of this graph can be found here.
One issue with the RSA data that Noteworthy analysed as part of this investigation is that like many official datasets, it does not give the full picture. Only collisions that are reported to the Gardaí and subsequently transferred to the RSA are recorded.
Niamh O’Reilly, a PhD candidate in TU Dublin is hoping to fill in this crucial gap and help provide a better understanding of what’s happening on Dublin roads. She said that studies have been done to try to estimate how many cyclist collisions that result in more serious injuries actually get reported by comparing police and hospital records. Estimates varied from 10% in Denmark to 35% in Germany, according to O’Reilly.
In Ireland, O’Reilly found just over 11% of people reported a serious collision and under 6% reported a minor one to Gardaí, from an online survey to over 900 staff and students of the university last year.
Cyclist collisions are one of the most underreported groups in road collisions.
O’Reilly is conducting a study using the reporting platform and app BikeMaps.org which is enabling her “to find out more about collisions” and by doing that she hopes to “show where danger points are”. She wants cyclists to use this to record collisons, cyclist hazards and bike thefts in order to study the true extent of these in the city.
In the first few weeks of the app being available in Dublin, the majority of incidents reported involved a “collision with a moving object or vehicle”. Most of the cyclists were commuting and not injured but a small number had to go to hospital. The biggest hazard she found reported to date is “a vehicle in a bike lane”, something that many cyclists reported to us over the past few weeks also.
Because of this issue of underreporting, Noteworthy also took into account a number of factors when looking for bicycle blackspots. For instance, the approach roads to the Tom Byrne / East Link Bridge did not have a large number of collisions, from the RSA data, compared to similar areas of road length in Dublin.
However, it was marked by us as one of the most dangerous blackspots in the country due to the severity of incidents there and from looking at other available data.
The approach roads to the bridge (map below: red line), North Wall Quay and East Wall Road to the north and Sean Moore Road to the south, had a total of 17 cyclist injuries which isn’t significant for 3km of road in Dublin. However, the severity of the collisions was different. Of these collisions, three resulted in the death of cyclists and four in serious injuries.
This part of the city is different from the centre as being near the port it has lots of larger vehicles and trucks. In fact, two of the three fatalities involved a truck. There has been a HGV ban in the city centre since 2007 on trucks with five or more axles.
For this investigation, See.Sense, a smart bike light company based in Belfast, provided us with data supplied by their customers on the top 24 points of road in Dublin that had a combination of poor road surface, swerving and heavy braking by cyclists. Two of the top three locations were near the East Link (map below: purple points): one at the roundabout at the bridge on the northside which was also the location of one fatal and two minor collisions. Another at the roundabout near the port on the southside.
Philip McAleese, See.Sense co-founder and chief executive officer, explained that their smart lights work by using sensors to “enable the light to be bright where it needs to be”. This was initially done to conserve the light’s batteries but people can opt in to share their data with the company which they use to work with “cycling infrastructure planners and people who are responsible for that infrastructure”.
The points that he shared with Noteworthy are “an aggregated view of tens of thousands of journeys and billions of sensor readings”. McAleese and his team combine their data on surface condition, swerving and braking as they “feel that cyclists are taking the most avoiding action on the poorest road surface, which feels like a recipe for bad news”.
Manzira from Dublin City Council said they are looking to develop the entire Point area from behind Fairview Park to the bridge and added that their “intention is also to provide a crossing at the Liffey”.
In order to build this new cycle bridge, they need an agreement with Dublin Port Company which they hope to have achieved by the end of the summer. “Once we have those agreements, it means we can immediately move into the planning process which would enable us to start building next year.”
The port area of the city was also heavily featured on mapping done by Liberty Bell, a smart bike bell platform, with 31 points recorded by cyclists around the East Link Bridge. These included comments such as “very tight and sometimes dangerous for cyclists to cross [the] bridge” and “poor surface”.
Conor Cahill is founder and developer of the platform and explained that the smart bike bell records the location when people ring it and they can write about their experience at that spot after their journey. He cites “pinch points” at the East Link Bridge and along the quays and said “it’s hard to see them resolved without leadership allocating more space for cyclists in the city”.
A lot of the time there were conflicts with other road users and that seems to be amplified when there is not enough space allocated for cyclists.
Brian Farrell, communications manager with the RSA said that Ireland is “still in the mindset where the car is king for a whole host of reasons” but vulnerable road users need to be prioritised. According to Farrell, conflicts between road users were found to be reduced in other cities such as Seville, Copenhagen and Eindhoven when they became more cycling friendly.
In order to speed up the implementation of this cycle infrastructure in Dublin, the City Council has taken “a more aggressive and affordable approach”, according to its senior transportation officer, Manzira. They hope to install ten kilometres of protected lanes this year, with twice that in 2021.
The removal of loading bays and parking spaces as well as the installation of lane separators and bollards along a number of streets was announced earlier this month to allow extra space for people walking and on bikes. This temporary measure is to help combat the spread of Covid-19 and “in many cases” will revert back to previous road layouts, according to Dublin City Council.
The areas included were Ranelagh, Rathmines, Stoneybatter, Dorset Street and Capel Street. A counter flow cycle lane will also be installed on Nassau Street. “There will be additional locations as the situation evolves”, according to the council.
Though some blackspot areas we found are in these locations, such as on Ranelagh Road, Manor Street and Blackhall Place (along the Cabra to Ellis Quay route) as well as one of the most popular cycling routes through Drumcondra on Dorset Street (Binn’s Bridge route), the council told Noteworthy that “the first areas are small targeted measures outside of locations where people are queuing on footpaths”.
Further measures may be needed, added the spokesperson, but at the moment these additional protections for cyclists do not cover the majority of the collision prone junctions and sections of road that stood out from the RSA data we analysed.
Though the move was welcomed by cycling campaign groups, there have already been posts on social media of these new lane separators and bollards being ignored. Dublin City Council said “the measures are by nature temporary… In some location[s] there may be a requirement for more semi-permanent measures to ensure effectiveness.”
About 120km of bike lanes are needed in Dublin City and Manzira explained that this will take “five years for protected cycle lanes and maybe another five years for the higher quality schemes”.
In order to be a cycling friendly city, it is realistic we could achieve this by 2030.
For Downey, ten years is a long time and his sons will be teenagers by then so for them “it’s almost a lifetime of unsafe cycling in the city” when the Great Dublin Area Cycling Network Plan has been out there since December 2013.
You’re worried about cycling but at the same time, it is how I’ve gotten around for the past 20 years. I want to encourage [my sons] that the city is possible to cycle in. Dublin is a great way to get around by bike with all of its flaws.
With his kids out the front of his cargo bike, Downey said he gets annoyed at drivers who don’t pay attention but “this brings it back to needing safe segregated infrastructure”.
“That’s what’s going to keep us safe. You can’t rely on somebody in their car as even if they follow all the rules they might get distracted and I can’t control what they’re going to do.”
Part two of our investigation, which you can read here, reveals the top cycle-related complaints to city councils, how poor infrastructure is affecting cyclists and how this can lead to injuries which cost local authorities thousands in public liability claims.
This is part one of an in-depth investigation carried out by Noteworthy, the investigative journalism platform from TheJournal.ie. It was proposed and funded by you, our readers, as well as with support from the Noteworthy general fund.
With the volume of data we obtained, we took the decision to expand the investigation in order to conduct sufficient analysis and create multimedia visualisations. If you would like to help towards the cost of this additional work, please support the general fund here.
You can also support our work by helping to fund one of our other investigation proposals or submitting an idea for a story. Click here to find out more >>
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Alot of cyclists dont consider that they’re sharing the road with car users, as a cyclist and a driver I see it from both sides. A lot of cyclists in the wrong
@Ferdia McManamon: is that all you take from a good article focused on cyclists’ fatalities? And that’s an unbiased view from someone who drives and (claims to) cycle? There’s no hope then…
@Ferdia McManamon: and vice versa
@Ferdia McManamon: and vice versa .
@Ferdia McManamon: yes, I see bad cycling as well. As a car driver, ex motorbike and pretty much a ex cyclist I see it from all sides and see bad and good from everywhere but just back from walking (2 km around my area) and I saw three cars break lights. True not many cars around but 2 taxis went through red lights and 1 garda car break lights. I think we should all cop on
@Ferdia McManamon: Do you have a point? The RSA found that drivers are at fault for most crashes with cyclists. They also found that 98% of drivers break 30kph speed limits. So clearly a lot of drivers (the vast majority) in the wrong too. But I’m sure you wouldn’t question their right to safety.
@Ferdia McManamon: As a pedestrian I have issues every day with morons cycling on the footpath. Some with headphones on and no regard whatsoever for the law. As a driver I see them going through red light after red light every single day. I know and i see responsible cyclists also but it’s very hit and miss. Every driver knows the rules of the road. I seriously even half of cyclists do.
@Ferdia McManamon: Whether a driver does it or a cyclist does it they are all in the wrong. Cyclists are vulnerable on roads, clearly a lot more dangerous for them. God there are terrible drivers. Cyclists are worse. Two cyclists in front of me both veered out into middle of road. Then put out hand to signal..and neither looked over their shoulder once. The way a cyclist should cross lanes is to look over shoulder, look straight, signal, then look again, then move.
We all see cars break lights, speeding etc and it’s terrible. However, cyclists are vulnerable on the road, and know that there are terrible drivers. That’s why it makes me mad to see cyclists who don’t know the basics in their hand signals or even general use of road or general rules of the road. And i see it everyday.
@Tommy C: stand at a busy junction for an hour and count the amount of cars that go through red lights, it seems as though the first 2 or 3 cars to approach a red light seem to think it’s ok to keep going
@Eugene Tyson: Drivers in vehicles kill pedestrians, cyclists , animals and other drivers.
@paul kelly: I have never killed a single person in my life and driving for 20 years.
Volume of mechanical vehicles would indicate that the likelihood of someone travelling by foot or bike would be in some sort of incident, it’s basic laws of probability.
@Stephen McManus: Cool story square head
@Ferdia McManamon:
How many car drivers do cyclists kill each year?
@Tommy C: ‘Every driver knows the rules of the road’. Ha ha.
Great piece. Thanks to Maria and all the people at Noteworthy for dealing with this topic so thoroughly.
It’s clear in the comments here that most cyclists are off their Frocking heads, They have been lead to believe anything they do is ok, while all motorists are wrong,
As I have said before
1- If there is a cycle lane use it, No excuses.
2- Do not talk with your buddy while cycling two abreast on the ROAD causing tailbacks.
3- Lycra is NOT your friend.
4- Stay fit by all means, But keep out of my way, do not hold me up.
@Brian Ó Dálaigh: I did always wonder why cyclists won’t use lanes provided. Good to know. Designated cycle lanes away from traffic and then the laws could change for everyones safety. Will probably never happen but we can dream.
@Dave Nomates: 4 “but keep out of my way, do not hold me up” you sound like a bell-end
@Dave Nomates: Lycra very much IS your friend if you don’t want chaffing around your bits
@Oisín O’Connor: The attitude in number 4 is the main problem.
@Seamus McLaughlin: I have to agree with this bellend so. I was trying to get to a go appointment before this Covid broke and a group of about 20 cyclists thought it was very funny to block the whole road not letting me pass safely . It’s a country road. I beeped and put my hazards on to indicate that I needed to get by but that made it worse and at the only straight stretch of the road they moved across to both sides to stop me passing. When they reached the pub they pulled in and had a good laugh as I passed by with my sick child in tears . Sorry but I cannot stand cycling groups since. I don’t mind the ordinary people cycling but these cycling clubs are absolutely disgusting.
@Dave Nomates: Will you stop holding cyclists up Dave? The majority of the delay to drivers are caused by other cars. 100% of the delays to cyclists are caused by cars sitting still and blocking up the road.
@Dave Nomates: u ok hun?
@Dave Nomates: What is the cycle lane has cars parked in it or massive potholes?
@Dave Nomates: I disagree with everything you said (except the lycra, that’s a crime!).
@Dave Nomates: Appropriate user name.
I’ve been cycling for 3 years glasnevin to middle of town not many incidents with cars. But pedestrian’s just walking out on phones not looking I’ve had 2 major hits n a few taps. And heaps of near misses. Most people in possession of some transport are paying attention but pedestrian’s are like the walking dead going around
@John Elliott: you just have to go slow enough to stop if you have to, knowing what kind of hazards are likely to arise. Same as a car.
@SC: Hmmm…..not sure even going 5kph will help of a pedestrian just walks out in front of you?
@Sal Paradise: what about where the cyclist is on the footpath /cycletrack which is the same thing in glasnevin
Alot of cyclists dont obey the rules of the road.
Constantly continuing tru red lights, no highviz or helmets,weaving thru traffic, kids travelling to scool using footpaths, cycling 3 abreast on the road and weekends its worse.
If there on the road there should be a permit / cycling awarness test for inner city in high traffic areas .and yes contribute to road tax in built up area’s. It annoys me how much they moan.
@Eddie Michael: it annoys you how much THEY moan? Just listen to yourself you whinging ape
If you stop and think about it for a minute, the whole process of being a road user is a truly terrifying ordeal, the level of trust you have to put into hundreds if not thousands of other people hands every time you set out on your journey is massive. I haven’t cycled on the roads for over twenty years and when I see some of the level of driving on display there isn’t a snowballs chance in hell I’ll be setting out on a bike any time soon. I think our roads are not fit for cyclists, our infrastructure needs a major overhaul, and until that happens, our roads are not safe for them. Some will argue that cyclists can be dangerous drivers, but the big difference is when a cyclists makes a mistake they rarely end up killing others, motorists on the other hand,,,well just look at the statistics.
@devils avacado: You are annoyed by others moaning? Read your own comment. You’re giving out about kids tying to cycling to school safely. Of course cyclists weave through traffic why would they sit and be delayed by your inefficient car?
Hi-vis and helmets are not a requirement in Ireland.
@Dublin Pedaller: emmm,, are you sure I said that pal??? I think you might want to read my comment again,, then apologise, and maybe lay of the drink at this hour of the morning….;)
@Dublin Pedaller: helmets and hi viz are not a requirement yet which would you prefer a head injury or a bad hair day as most cyclists who refuse to wear helmets sy it wreaks their hairstyle headway ireland has the figures on how many cyclists come through their doors with head injuries and there is a lot im a pedestrian and am more afraid of cyclists than cars because cars can be seen and heard coming and dont usually drive on the footpath
The Gardai in Anglesey Street in Cork City are very helpful where I have had previous cause to make complaints as a cyclist against a driver. Curiously, the drivers involved are, almost without fail, also driving without indate tax and insurance discs, and occasionally with existing penalty points to boot ( no correlation there….). Nor is there any relationship between the standard of driving on Irish Roads, and the fact that Minister Barrett waived the need to test to an entire generation of road users, in 1979. Rights and responsibilities naturally flow both ways however, and I would support bike licenses, theory tests for the Rules of the Road, and enforcement of cyclists that think the red light doesn’t apply to them – such dis credits those cyclists that obey the rules.
@Martin Peter Rahill: I follow the rules of the road as a driver and as a cyclist and I don’t think that bad cyclists discredit me as a cyclist anymore than bad drivers might affect my ‘image’ as a driver. This bad-good cyclist behavioural link is only in the imagination of some.
@Stephen McManus: as do I. Of course where a cyclist does not obey the rules they affect the perception of other cyclists. That’s the basis of stereotypes – “I’ve seen it once/twice, therefore it is the rule”.
@Martin Peter Rahill: disagree with licensing. A licence is for a motorised vehicle. Bicycles are not motorised. Motorised vehicles are age-restricted. Bicycles are not. How do you stop 8-year olds from cycling? Or 15-year olds? If it’s a case that it’s because they use the roads, then the same licensing should apply to anyone who walks the roads. Technically, footpaths are part of the road network, too, so even to walk a footpath would subsequently require a licence.
@Stephen McManus: You should consider that insurance companies charge more for premiums across the bored based on the actions of bad drivers (or so its claimed), so while in this case your ‘image’ is irrelevant, I’m sure the effect the actions of bad drivers has on your wallet isn’t.
@Brian Ó Dálaigh:
A vehicle is a vehicle, motorised or other. Horse drawn vehicles have licenses so that is you point made invalid
Is that way with hardly any cars on the road the cyclists have decided to cycle on the paths????
@Koochulan: More likely the cycle paths are not full of pedestrians…
@Koochulan: have seen this nowhere.
Get the cyclists off the road – and on to proper cycle tracks – it is for everybody’s safety.
Many of the “shared” cycle lanes are less then even paying lip service to the idea. In some places like on some of the canal bridges the road is just not wide enough – one could had a walk and cycle bridge beside the road bridges and stop pinching traffic into inadequate space.
I am all for the safety of cyclists but I also recognise that road sharing will always lead to space conflicts and accidents….. there is a question though for some cyclists to ask when competing with buses and cars – who will come off worse if I insist on my right of way? That said it is my experience that if we all cooperated on the road life would be less stressful and there would be less accidents and it only costs 2 seconds to be polite and does not change the time it takes to reach your destination. When no one is at fault then everyone is at fault.
I wouldn’t cycle around Dublin for love nor money. Watching motorists tailgating cyclists gives me the shivers.
Serious injuries to motorists and pedestrians have dropped in the past twenty years.
Serious injuries to cyclists have risen 700%.
The Irish roads are a dangerous place for cyclists.
@Billy Hanley: |The number of cyclists has rise, the hire bikes means people who do not know the rules of the road or the traffic conditions in this country are cycling all over the place.
Of course accidents have risen
Think it’s time to ban all cars doing journeys of less than 2 miles. A black box in the car to control. Too many lazy ignorant car drivers around. Coming from a ex hgv driver.
@John Ticksy: So a person with disabilities or an older person or a person who is ill must walk or get public transport.
Very inclusive thinking.
Cycle traffic and motor traffic can’t mix. Pedestrian traffic has its own exclusive lanes (footpaths) and cycling needs the same. Cycling through motor traffic makes as much sense as walking through it.
The propaganda for cycling – often aimed at children – is based on a myth that it is possible to do this safely. The result is tragedy.
@Bramley Hawthorne: Footpaths are only in urban areas , to keep pedestrians out of the way of motorcars.
@paul kelly: yes a lot of city streets the footpath is not even suitable for pedestrians try walk on some streets in the city centre pushing a buggy then think how a wheelchair user feels or try crossing some of the road junctions blindfolded to see how a cane user feels. cycle lanes should be fully segregated away from roads and footpath
@paul kelly: Footpaths are footpaths to create safe place for pedestrians with no vehicles of any kind in it
@Gary Kearney: No, actually its to keep pedestrians out of the way of cars. Otherwise they have to slow down.
I loveed cycling to work, for the 4 years out of 25 that i could. the rest was all by car as i actually needed to get to work. unfortunately i work in the 21st century where jobs are 24/7 and public transport is still 9 to 5 , mon to fri. How have they not figured this out by now
Motorists Vehicle Drivers need licensing/laws to use the roads where as cyclists / pedestrians have a human right to use them. So its all down to how one has respect for each other and addressing traffic laws
@Criostoir Mac Ranghaill: incorrect. Motorists need licensing to operate a motorised vehicle. Considering the vastly different consequences of an accident when it comes to a motorised vehicle, it’s no real surprise there are different laws. Everyone – motorist, cyclist, and pedestrian alike – have the same rights to the road.
@Brian Ó Dálaigh: No they do not. Pedestrians can only enter the road when crossing at a correct crossing when it is safe to do so and with the aid of crossing lights in their favour.
The road is for vehicle traffic which includes cyclists but not pedestrians.
@Ciaran Daly: this is true only where a footpath is provided. Pedestrians are free to use the road where they cannot use a footpath. Also it is ridiculous to think bikes must use the same roads as cars, lorrys and trucks. I’d love to see proper bike lanes away from high traffic areas. Much safer. I’d love to cycle but I think it’s too dangerous. While I drive, I have witnesses such aggressive stupid behaviour from drivers and I have witnessed an equal amount of stupid behavior from cyclists. Everyone has a responsibility here but cyclists need to have responsibility for their own safety also. I’d love to see cars stop needlessly over taking at speed on blind bends. Cyclists don’t stand a chance if there is an on coming car your gonna just whip back in out of reaction.
On another note, all cars need to slow down at the moment. It seems 40 percent of essential drivers at the moment are also dangerous drivers. The insanity on the roads at the moment is not nessesary given the lack of traffic.
@Brian Ó Dálaigh: Incorrect, you dont need a licence to drive on private land. You need a licence to use a motorised vehicle on a public road.
@Ciaran Daly: 80% of our road network has no footpath provided. When a footpath is provided, it is considered part of the road network.
@paul kelly: the general public is typically excluded from private land, is it not?
It’s all well and good having cycle lanes but they need to be maintained properly so cyclists can use them safely. A lot of the time rubbish and debris from the road ends up in the lanes making them unsafe to use or causing punctures. The local county councils need to be keeping the cycle lanes clean as they would with the main section of road.
Also these shared pedestrian/cycle lanes are a joke. The cycle part is often used by pedestrians, joggers and even parents with prams who will be quick to shoot you a dirty look if you dare to use the lane.
@Handsome McWonderful: shouldnt be any shared spaces plain and simple
@Handsome McWonderful: You are on a moving vehicke and can cause the pedestrian and the child in the buggy serious injury or death if you collide with them. Wjhat do you want them to do cheer you on!!
The Venn diagram of people here complaining about people who cycle and people who didn’t read the article: a perfect circle.
I have never cycled on a footpath.
I have never broken a red light.
I have never hit a pedestrian.
I pull over to let buses past.
I always use cycle lanes where safe to do so (I don’t use cycle lanes that are on footpaths because they put pedestrians and the visually impaired at risk, or if i’m turning right)
Now, am I allowed to point how the things that are wrong with cycling in Dublin or will I just have people reply to ME about the actions of some randomer you seen a few weeks ago?
I’m SICK TO DEATH of this IDIOTIC CONVERSATION that is had under LITERALLY every single article that even mentions cycling.
It’s a complete double standard. Would you find comments from people about the amount of people killed on Irish roads under an article about a new road? No you wouldn’t. But that’s the reality. Hundreds of people killed every year.
Open your eyes on any street in Ireland and you will see dozens of cars parked on footpaths. That’s illegal. Is it ever brought up? No. Because when drivers break the law it’s fine, but you see a Deliveroo driver go through a red light and apparently every cyclist from here to Mayo does it all day every day.
Sick of it.
Come up with something new to say.
A road
Speaking from personal experience as a cyclist, by far the greatest threat to my safety is posed by jaywalkers in city centre locations. I rarely feel anxious or threatened in heavy traffic because the vast majority of motorists are vigilant and careful and will leave you sufficient space.
Many cyclists – it has to be said – are reckless and display scant regard for the rules of the road and the safety of others.
In evidence I cite : Breaking red lights, travelling along one-way streets in the wrong direction, no hand signalling when turning or changing lane, weaving around stationary traffic, not wearing reflective clothing, no bike lights after dark and riding on the pavement (a particularly heinous offence).
Bray Main Street is listed as an accident hotspot. It is an accident hotspot for pedestrians too; every day cyclists go sailing up and down the footpaths.
Strand road in portmarnock is only a 50km zone, ye have it in as a 80km. Or is it a case the car was travelling at 80km…
it is not possible to put rubber guards on the Luas track and this has been tried even after it was explained it would not work. Yet people still blame the track and not the fact they should not be cycling on the luas track. They should cross them at a 90 degree angle. if they dont they can have an accident. Yet when they do it is not there fault.
shared pedestrian and any type of vehicle space is dangerous and should not be allowed. Dont start with it works in Copenhagen, it does not nor in Holland.
Not for pedestrians thats for sure.
That cargo bike is a heavy piece of equipment carrying 3 people and yet anybody can load up and of they go. No insurance no knowledge required..
Cycling should be safe but penalising everybody else is wrong.
Maybe you may have to slow down or stop, maybee take a longer route.
Everybody stops on journeys or takes a longer journey due to the law and the traffic design.
Yet cyclists dont accept that. They want direct routes , no slowing down or stopping and the right to go through traffic lights when they want.
Pedestrians first is the Street Hierarchy and this has been forgotten.
With all of these accidents, how many were found to be the fault of .ne person driver or cyclists
If you thought about that for half a second you might see the two points are related
Sad that some people are pushing their own agenda in the middle of a pandemic.
@Gary Kearney: Hi Kettle have you met pot?
have your say