Journalism and cycling

Grassey

Bikes put spanner in works of Dutch driverless car schemes

Driverless cars detect other road users using a variety of cameras or laser-sensing systems to ensure that they stop if an object is detected in their path.

But the varying sizes and agility of cyclists, with their sudden changes in speed and loose adherence to the rules of the road, present a major challenge to the existing technology.

That challenge is particularly stark in the Netherlands, where 17 million people own 22.5m bicycles.

The 'loose adherence' is a bit of a loaded comment - that entire section could refer to pretty much any road user.

Chips Lovell

Although, in fairness to the Dutch, their first thought is to segregate the driverless vehicles, not the cyclists.

Grassey

That kinda thinking will never catch on! Madness Ted...eh Charlus...!!!!

site_owner

Michael joseph wrote: »

guy I know drives from Rathmines to haddington road and back - 5 days a week.
Journey's about 25 to 30mins for him. Just under 3km. Getting into start work at 9.
Doesn't need the car for work.

The journey has taken him an hour at times when the traffic is going nowhere but that's maybe twice or three times a year. Still it's madness driving that distance.

is he provided with parking at work or does he have to walk from a multi storey?

tomasrojo

Fian wrote: »

I suspect most cycle commutes are >10km. My own is only 7.5

If you factor in all the short journeys that begin and end in city centres, where cycling rates are highest too, I think the average is probably under 10km. But I don't know that for sure.

Pinch Flat

The car dependency can be very strong in some people.

Our local rail station put in paid parking a few years ago. People were up in arms about it. Where were people to park etc.

I got chatting to one of my neighbours. “Well, at least I’ll get a space in the morning”. We live about 600 meters from the station.

rubadub

Pinch Flat wrote: »

The car dependency can be very strong in some people.

this can be due to the expense, the vast majority pay an annual charge for insurance etc, rather than per mile or having a limitation on mileage like I hear a classic car might, some want to use the car as much as possible otherwise it is seen as "going to waste". I have the use of a car a lot of the time if I want but cycle instead, on average it is a lot faster and enjoyable on my commute, and I get some exercise. I was saying this to a friend of mine as he was also going to the gym, and paying a fair bit to do so, as well as having to take up time outside of work. But the thought was "well jaysus I am paying a fortune in tax & insurance, I am hardly going to leave the car at home and not get some use out of it".

I can understand it too, if my local chipper/chinese had an annual charge for "all you can eat" I would be a lot fatter than I am. If petrol stations had annual "all you can use" charges roads would be even more clogged.

Corca Baiscinn

Mickiemcfist wrote: »

To be fair, between Dublin bikes & Bleeper bikes, there's a solution. You're right though, it only takes one time trying out cycling & a lot of drivers wouldn't look back - I only converted last year.

True to an extent but for real multi-modal bike-at-both ends commuting secure parking at home end bus or train station would be a big help. Time advantage lost if I have to walk 25 mins to the station because there's no bike parking even if can hop on a DB or Bleeper at the other end

Corca Baiscinn

Michael joseph wrote: »

he sees cycling and walking more for students etc.

But when then does he fit in his recommended minimum 150 mins of physical activity per week? Walking and cycling commuters fit in in without extra hassle whereas he prob has to go to the gym or confine it to the weekends.

Pinch Flat

I’m heading for 50 and I’m in better shape than I was at 30. Back then I was driving a few kilometers to work, then driving to the gym in the evenings to go exercise on a bike. Jaysus when I think of it.

JMcL

tomasrojo wrote: »

If you factor in all the short journeys that begin and end in city centres, where cycling rates are highest too, I think the average is probably under 10km. But I don't know that for sure.

I'd agree with that. I never owned a car when I lived in Dublin and walked or cycled pretty much as a rule. I was in Kilmainham, so when I was working in the city Center, it was 3km tops, Park West out the canal wasn't much more. There's a high density of people living between the canals with short hops to work which would I imagine would bring the average down and with reference to Fian's other point as well, should also be reflected in the median.

There'd be figures to be had in the census data, this map doesn't say anything about distance, but shows the highest concentration travelling to the city center and N11 corridor, which probably isn't surprising. Don't have time at the moment to look further as I could see the day disappearing quickly if I were to start!

magicbastarder

Bikes put spanner in works of Dutch driverless car schemes
Report highlights problems bicycles cause to self-driving cars’ detection systems
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/13/bikes-put-spanner-in-works-of-dutch-driverless-car-schemes

Duckjob

What Username Guidelines wrote: »

This attitude is more prevalent than you’d think.

Plenty of people see sitting in traffic as a badge of honour or a status symbol.

And the data is there to prove it...

https://twitter.com/theagenda/status/959272692049354753?s=21

Had a chap in a suit last year tell me, from his 2010 Lexus, to “pay road tax” or “get a car like the rest of us” while kind of nodding to his steering wheel. Was tempted to tell him about the car sitting in my driveway but thankfully didn’t lower myself to the dick swinging contest he was trying for.

In fairness he has a lot of time to contemplate how he's socially superior to you while he sits trapped in his badge of social superiority going no-where.

cdaly_

CramCycle wrote: »

They don't take that much care driving a car, its a reach they would do any better with a bike.

Bald tyres
DRLs or no lights or one blown
Cranking on AC to cool themselves down instead of taking off a jacket or running to the car in a lighty shirt and blasting the heating.

The last point will only annoy enviromentalists and people who are light on money but the other two are a risk to all road users.

Just my bit of pedantry but blasting the heating has almost no environmental impact as the engine produces much more waste heat than is used by the interior heating system. Different in an e-car though...

CramCycle

cdaly_ wrote: »

Just my bit of pedantry but blasting the heating has almost no environmental impact as the engine produces much more waste heat than is used by the interior heating system. Different in an e-car though...

The latter was actually a rant against people in my family who crank the heat up, to levels I am deeply uncomfortable with rather than just putting on a jumper. I didn't even realise I said it.

CramCycle

cdaly_ wrote: »

Just my bit of pedantry but blasting the heating has almost no environmental impact as the engine produces much more waste heat than is used by the interior heating system. Different in an e-car though...

I actually meant to refer to a/c rather than blasting the heat, having the heat on through air flow around the engine does not increase fuel consumption much at all, although it is slightly better to leave it all sealed up, the difference is negligible. Although the danger from your car getting steamed up is probably far more dangerous.

homer911

Ok, its not cycling but..
https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/man-has-lucky-escape-after-his-scooter-collides-with-dublin-bus-904713.html

I'm a bit surprised the Gardaí didn't make a point about these things being illegal

mr spuckler

homer911 wrote: »

Ok, its not cycling but..
https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/man-has-lucky-escape-after-his-scooter-collides-with-dublin-bus-904713.html

I'm a bit surprised the Gardaí didn't make a point about these things being illegal

well they tried to make it about cyclists themselves :pac:

Gardaí posted pictures of the crash online showing the bike wedged under the double-decker, and they warned people to stay safe when on the roads.

Muahahaha

There's a program screening on RTE1 this coming Monday at 7.30pm called Now You See Me. The focus of it is on the problems cyclists face cycling around Dublin. It will also show how cycling is in other European cities. The ad for it looked good even if it is presented by Simon Delaney.

Muahahaha

Muahahaha wrote: »

There's a program screening on RTE1 this coming Monday at 7.30pm called Now You See Me. The focus of it is on the problems cyclists face cycling around Dublin. It will also show how cycling is in other European cities. The ad for it looked good even if it is presented by Simon Delaney.

Saw it advertised earlier, on the face of it the ad made it look to be worth a watch.

Corca Baiscinn

Muahahaha wrote: »

There's a program screening on RTE1 this coming Monday at 7.30pm called Now You See Me. The focus of it is on the problems cyclists face cycling around Dublin. It will also show how cycling is in other European cities. The ad for it looked good even if it is presented by Simon Delaney.

It does look interesting but no doubt we'll need a mute button for the ensuing SM backlash. Phil Skelton of Stayin' Alive at 1.5 suggested on twitter that RSA and Garda Traffic could usefully engage with the uninformed comment and disabuse people of their ignorance . (That's my paraphrase of what he said) But unlike West Midland Road Harm Reduction Team, Met Cycle Cops and Surrey Police they never have up to now.

Pinch Flat

https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/editorial/the-irish-times-view-on-gridlock-in-dublin-going-nowhere-1.3795232?mode=amp

The comments from some motorists:)

Edit on the FB story link

AndrewJRenko

Pinch Flat wrote: »

https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/editorial/the-irish-times-view-on-gridlock-in-dublin-going-nowhere-1.3795232?mode=amp

The comments from some motorists:)

Edit on the FB story link

Presumably, the 'no free riders' policy from the Times means no more free parking of cars on public streets anywhere, or in public car parks. Let's get charging all those cars parked on the streets in the 'burbs for the public space they're taking up so.

bingobars

Sorry now as FB is hardly journalism but it is to lots of people I guess. A blood boiler here

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2297543520276441&id=100000624465130&ref=content_filter

The cyclist looks like he met an oversized vehicle in a narrow section of road, who got there first? Is that a weight limit sign to the left of the truck? Anyway professional drivers stirring up hate for whatever agenda is brutal behavior.

amcalester

Life’s too short, cyclist should move out of the way so everyone can get on with their life.

magicbastarder

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Presumably, the 'no free riders' policy from the Times means no more free parking of cars on public streets anywhere, or in public car parks.

they seem to be reasonably explicit about what they mean:

Part of the reason for this relates to the continuing availability of free off-street car parking spaces in the city centre, particularly for public servants. If the users of such valuable spaces had to pay a benefit-in-kind tax or daily parking charges at the going rate, they might think twice about taking their cars into town. There should be no free riders.

I've been in this situation a few times over the years usually with cars and tractors w/wo trailer as I'm sure many here have but never with a truck on a road that small. It's never ended like that , in the car there's usually a conversation about how far back it is for either party to reverse to get each other by, it's agreed and waves are exchanged, on the bike I'd ask him to stop, shoulder the bike and wait for confirmation I'm clear as no way he was able to reverse.

Couple of times over the years I've heard tractors coming on a narrow road like this around a bend, in that situation I'd stop well before the bend in the middle of the road and wait so they see me and stop and again the same procedure.

Whether the truck should have been there or not is another question but life is too short for that messing.

Seth Brundle

Student doctor spared criminal record for hitting cyclist
Lana Alghabra says sun in her eyes when she knocked down woman, who then cycled off

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/district-court/student-doctor-spared-criminal-record-for-hitting-cyclist-1.3797865

What Username Guidelines

Seth Brundle wrote: »

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/district-court/student-doctor-spared-criminal-record-for-hitting-cyclist-1.3797865

Bizarre that the victim couldn't be traced, yet a witness was able to get the case all the way to court.

Cetyl Palmitate

bingobars wrote: »

Sorry now as FB is hardly journalism but it is to lots of people I guess. A blood boiler here

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2297543520276441&id=100000624465130&ref=content_filter

The cyclist looks like he met an oversized vehicle in a narrow section of road, who got there first? Is that a weight limit sign to the left of the truck? Anyway professional drivers stirring up hate for whatever agenda is brutal behavior.

This is idiotic stuff altogether from the cyclist in particular.
Stand to the side, let the truck past, and get on with enjoying your ride. I'd even suggest a wave from each one to the other to acknowledge the off situation of such a big truck on such a narrow road.