Is this aggression "normal"? MOD WARNING: read post #219

Callan57

Can anyone explain why after the council spent thousands of taxpayer money on a cycle way between Ennistymon and Lahinch you cyclists still choose to cycle on the road? I had reason to be on that road a few times last weekend and not once did I see anyone cycling on the cycle path but there were lots of cyclists on the road. I've mentioned it to a few locals and the shrug & just say they seem to prefer the road!
I'm not a cyclists but just very curious?

Raam

Callan57 wrote: »

Can anyone explain why after the council spent thousands of taxpayer money on a cycle way between Ennistymon and Lahinch you cyclists still choose to cycle on the road? I had reason to be on that road a few times last weekend and not once did I see anyone cycling on the cycle path but there were lots of cyclists on the road. I've mentioned it to a few locals and the shrug & just say they seem to prefer the road!
I'm not a cyclists but just very curious?

I've never cycled it, so it wasn't me.

CramCycle

Callan57 wrote: »

Can anyone explain why after the council spent thousands of taxpayer money on a cycle way between Ennistymon and Lahinch you cyclists still choose to cycle on the road?

Surely a better question for the council, why would they spend ( not invest) that money without consulting, let's say, some cyclists? I know we are not a homogeneous group but even asking commuters and leisure cyclists in the area with a survey, or even the local cycling club? Who did they consult before wasting our money?

Jawgap

Callan57 wrote: »

Can anyone explain why after the council spent thousands of taxpayer money on a cycle way between Ennistymon and Lahinch you cyclists still choose to cycle on the road? I had reason to be on that road a few times last weekend and not once did I see anyone cycling on the cycle path but there were lots of cyclists on the road. I've mentioned it to a few locals and the shrug & just say they seem to prefer the road!
I'm not a cyclists but just very curious?

Raam wrote: »

I've never cycled it, so it wasn't me.

not me either.....

......just a guess, but perhaps not every cyclist wants to go to either Lahinch or Ennistymon?

Lusk_Doyle

Callan57 wrote: »

Can anyone explain why after the council spent thousands of taxpayer money on a cycle way between Ennistymon and Lahinch you cyclists still choose to cycle on the road? I had reason to be on that road a few times last weekend and not once did I see anyone cycling on the cycle path but there were lots of cyclists on the road. I've mentioned it to a few locals and the shrug & just say they seem to prefer the road!
I'm not a cyclists but just very curious?

We don't like the colour of it.

Dermot Illogical

Callan57 wrote: »

Can anyone explain why after the council spent thousands of taxpayer money on a cycle way between Ennistymon and Lahinch you cyclists still choose to cycle on the road?

We had a meeting and decided unanimously to boycott it until they build another one from Lahinch to Ennistymon.

monument

Callan57 wrote: »

Can anyone explain why after the council spent thousands of taxpayer money on a cycle way between Ennistymon and Lahinch you cyclists still choose to cycle on the road? I had reason to be on that road a few times last weekend and not once did I see anyone cycling on the cycle path but there were lots of cyclists on the road. I've mentioned it to a few locals and the shrug & just say they seem to prefer the road!
I'm not a cyclists but just very curious?

I can't find a single image of the cycle path but looking at the road I have to asked:

Is this a cycleway / cycle path or a shared footpath?
How wide is it?
How does it start and end?
How is it designed where it crosses junctions and the many driveways along the route?

Jawgap

monument wrote: »

I can't find a single image of the cycle path but looking at the road I have to asked:

Is this a cycleway / cycle path or a shared footpath?
How wide is it?
How does it start and end?
How is it designed where it crosses junctions and the many driveways along the route?

It's 4km long and cost €400k!

mamax

monument wrote: »

I can't find a single image of the cycle path but looking at the road I have to asked:

Is this a cycleway / cycle path or a shared footpath?
How wide is it?
How does it start and end?
How is it designed where it crosses junctions and the many driveways along the route?

It's a shared cycle/footpath afaik

monument

Jawgap wrote: »

It's 4km long and cost €400k!

Fully signalised pedestrian crossings can cost €100k, so €400k for a 4km shared path which likely includes reworking and redoing the roadway a bit, sadly, does not sound all that bad.

No Pants

Callan57 wrote: »

Can anyone explain why after the council spent thousands of taxpayer money on a cycle way between Ennistymon and Lahinch you cyclists still choose to cycle on the road? I had reason to be on that road a few times last weekend and not once did I see anyone cycling on the cycle path but there were lots of cyclists on the road. I've mentioned it to a few locals and the shrug & just say they seem to prefer the road!
I'm not a cyclists but just very curious?

It smells of fart.

I've a question for you; how come Lewis Hamilton never eats broccoli?

magicbastarder

Callan57 wrote: »

Can anyone explain why after the council spent thousands of taxpayer money on a cycle way between Ennistymon and Lahinch you cyclists still choose to cycle on the road?

the council ****ed up the design, so it manages to be uphill running east, *and* uphill running west.

Skrynesaver

CramCycle wrote: »

In general there are the rules for approaching a roundabout and what lanes to take but in some cases, generally larger ones, the council have decided that that they will change the usual lane for traffic so on a roundabout with 3 lanes coming in you might have a left only, straight or right and a right only (or some random variation that half the idiots on the road can't seem to follow), rather than the typical unmarked roundabout where left lane is for left or straight on and the right lane is for turning right.

A long time ago a colleague of mine suggested that the only way to teach Irish drivers lane discipline on roundabouts would be a Gun enplacement operated by cyclists...

I regularly come through multi-lane roundabouts on my route home and I don't believe more than 10% of Irish drivers know what lane they should be in, when they should indicate to turn and when they should move into the outside lane.

(re-reading that, a desire to take an FN into the middle of a roundabout could, under certain circumstances, be construed as abnormal aggression, but it's for their own good

icebergiceberg

Coming out of my driveway I can not see what is coming along the path due to pillar. The footpath is very inviting to a cyclist as its is on a kind of a crest of a small hill. I edge out inch by inch in the event of a cyclist cycling down the path. All it would take is the smallest of touches and there is an accident.

No need to walk out to the path first to check if anyone is coming because by the time I get in my car someone could already be on the way. I am a motorist chiefly and the liability is on me as I understand it?

RainyDay

icebergiceberg wrote: »

Coming out of my driveway I can not see what is coming along the path due to pillar. The footpath is very inviting to a cyclist as its is on a kind of a crest of a small hill. I edge out inch by inch in the event of a cyclist cycling down the path. All it would take is the smallest of touches and there is an accident.

No need to walk out to the path first to check if anyone is coming because by the time I get in my car someone could already be on the way. I am a motorist chiefly and the liability is on me as I understand it?

Lower the pillar?

Or fit one of those mirrors that will give you a view?

icebergiceberg

RainyDay wrote: »

Lower the pillar?

Or fit one of those mirrors that will give you a view?

It is in fact more than the pillar, it is the pillar and the garden and whole front wall in fact . When I exit I have to edge out and look sharp left. The hill means that the front wall gets bigger and bigger as you go up the hill making it impossible to see anybody until they are just there.

RainyDay

icebergiceberg wrote: »

It is in fact more than the pillar, it is the pillar and the garden and whole front wall in fact . When I exit I have to edge out and look sharp left. The hill means that the front wall gets bigger and bigger as you go up the hill making it impossible to see anybody until they are just there.

I guess you need some mirrors so.

icebergiceberg

RainyDay wrote: »

I guess you need some mirrors so.

Mirrors would not work. The pillar is on my left. Also, anything attached would not last long. It would be ripped off in ten minutes.

evolving_doors

icebergiceberg wrote: »

Mirrors would not work. The pillar is on my left. Also, anything attached would not last long. It would be ripped off in ten minutes.

Toot your horn and flash your lights like a lunatic as you pull out.

John_Rambo

icebergiceberg wrote: »

Also, anything attached would not last long. It would be ripped off in ten minutes.

Do you live in bear country?

CramCycle

Skrynesaver wrote: »

A long time ago a colleague of mine suggested that the only way to teach Irish drivers lane discipline on roundabouts would be a Gun enplacement operated by cyclists..

My father was a professional driver for years, he was disgusted by the driving skill/manner level of "professional" drivers in Ireland. If our supposed professional drivers often display no sense of intelligence or decency on the road what hope do regular road users have, what expectations are realistic?

I use the word manner for a reason, as it is my firm belief that it is our issue in Ireland, in some cases a lack of intelligence, in the majority, a lack of basic manners.

RainyDay

icebergiceberg wrote: »

Mirrors would not work. The pillar is on my left. Also, anything attached would not last long. It would be ripped off in ten minutes.

Not unless the vandals have a ladder. The mirrors are generally mounted high enough to keep them out of reach of vandals.

No Pants

icebergiceberg wrote: »

It is in fact more than the pillar, it is the pillar and the garden and whole front wall in fact . When I exit I have to edge out and look sharp left. The hill means that the front wall gets bigger and bigger as you go up the hill making it impossible to see anybody until they are just there.

Who gave planning permission for such an exit/entrance?

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Just back from a week in Munich, the respect that most road users have for each other is absolutely fantastic. This country is disgusting in comparison.

fits

Deacon Thousands Joint wrote: »

Just back from a week in Munich, the respect that most road users have for each other is absolutely fantastic. This country is disgusting in comparison.

Much more comprehensive driver training in Germany.

Raam

I cycle a fair bit around the south Munich area. Most drivers are fine but there always a few who want to pass too close at high speed.

icebergiceberg

Thanks for all your responses so far.

1. Tooting the horn I think might be the best option. It would be legal (?) ie warning of a danger ahead. Flashing the lights, would that be legal? Would it not distract passing cars?

2. The mirror? I am not sure how that would work. As I said the danger is to my left. Where could it be mounted? The pillar etc is all to my left. Logically, would I not need a mirror to my right? But that is not an option.

3. Planning permission? House was built in mid 1920s so I am not sure what PP was enforceable then.

Mirrors, planning permission and horns aside I am sure you have seen house entrances that are very dangerous if a foolish cyclist uses path and an accident happens. The blame is with the driver.

RainyDay

icebergiceberg wrote: »

Thanks for all your responses so far.

1. Tooting the horn I think might be the best option. It would be legal (?) ie warning of a danger ahead. Flashing the lights, would that be legal? Would it not distract passing cars?

2. The mirror? I am not sure how that would work. As I said the danger is to my left. Where could it be mounted? The pillar etc is all to my left. Logically, would I not need a mirror to my right? But that is not an option.

3. Planning permission? House was built in mid 1920s so I am not sure what PP was enforceable then.

Mirrors, planning permission and horns aside I am sure you have seen house entrances that are very dangerous if a foolish cyclist uses path and an accident happens. The blame is with the driver.

You need something like this, so that you can effectively see around the corner;
http://www.trafficmirror.com/

Maybe even two of them, one for each side.

I don't think it is correct to say that the blame is with the driver. If someone is cycling on the path, they will share responsibility. There could always be pedestrians on the path, including families with small kids maybe, so you really need to be able to see your exit.

ThisRegard

icebergiceberg wrote: »

2. The mirror? I am not sure how that would work. As I said the danger is to my left. Where could it be mounted? The pillar etc is all to my left. Logically, would I not need a mirror to my right? But that is not an option.

Sounds like you might live on a small rural road ? Most people stick it on a pole or tree on the opposite side of the road if possible.

icebergiceberg

RainyDay wrote: »

You need something like this, so that you can effectively see around the corner;

Maybe even two of them, one for each side.

I don't think it is correct to say that the blame is with the driver. If someone is cycling on the path, they will share responsibility. There could always be pedestrians on the path, including families with small kids maybe, so you really need to be able to see your exit.

Thanks for reply.

I always assumed the driver is at fault even if driver is not at fault-if you know what I mean!
Wonder has any cyclist been hit by car in above circumstances and what happened.