"Green" policies are destroying this country

Haha. You're calling me a greenie. Have you ever been on this thread before or seen my posts? 🤣🤣🤣 You haven't a clue bud. Going to ignore you now as you're clearly illogical and emotionally driven by your hatred of cyclists. Using the RSA is the final straw. 🤣🙈

How would you know that,are there stats for the wearing and non wearing of helmets in all collisions involving cyclists?

Jaysis, the flying squad from the Cycling forum are very cranky today!

That's quite a bizarre statement about "cars." Last I checked cars were inanimate objects that didn't do anything unless someone uses it to go somewhere. Maybe I'm wrong though and as your bizarre statement implies, all of the cars belonging to people in Ireland come to life every week, get together and decide collectively who they're going to kill?

For reference, Ireland has an objectively excellent safety record, in both absolute and relative terms. Road fatalities occur at a rate of I think less than 3 per billion kilometres driven by any kind of motor vehicle, be that involving drivers of cars, trucks, buses etc. https://etsc.eu/14th-annual-road-safety-performance-index-pin-report/

When last the RSA published statistics, there were 2.5 million Full Category B drivers licenses in the State, and a total just over 2.8 million counting other license categories (motorcycle, truck etc) and learner permits. So I'm not sure how - on the basis of evidence - one can conclude that there is "Not strong enough legislation for cars"

As to cargo bicycles, I'm concerned. I used to be a daily pedestrian in Ireland's major cities and most every day I had to deal with lawbreakers on two wheels bulldozing me out of their way on the footpath and forcing me to negotiate with them at green-man crossings. What will it be like with lawbreaking cyclists using the footpath as their personal racetrack with these yokes. 😫 Going to be fun times for pedestrians.

Are you being deliberately obtuse or do you not just understand the point? Hard to know. I bet you thought that was all brilliant in your head though I'm sure. When you have to make up nonsense to "prove" your point, you don't really have a point to begin with. Also love the fact you've been "bulldozed" by someone on a bike. Any other nonsense you want to throw out there? You're on a roll bud.👍🤣

Deleted

Speaking as a regular bicycle commuter & motorist, the rules of the road apply to everyone who uses the public highway system from pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and motorists. They are there to ensure good order on the road and avoid misunderstandings that lead to damage, injury or death. The only thing that differs in the eyes of the law is the level of liability, the expectation is that most vulnerable road user is given most protection. If a cyclist hits a pedestrian, even if the pedestrian was wearing earphones, staring at their phone and did not look before stepping on the road, the law will hold the cyclist majorly responsible for the accident.

The most common offense cyclists commit is breaking lights (guilty) and I've witnessed several close calls where the cyclist escaped injury due to the vigilance of the motorist. This is very noticeable with the battery powered bikes favoured by the young guys from Brazil doing delivery. Before motorists start throwing stones, they break lights as well, usually at speed trying to beat the change. You can bet those middle aged men on bicycles you see breaking lights are motorists as well.

Key thing if you are a pedestrian or cyclist on the road make sure you are visible, motorists can see you and plan their actions. Nothing grinds motorists gears more than pedestrians and cyclists who can't be seen until you are nearly on top of them and have to take emergency evasive action. That's how most accidents happen.

1. Lights you need them, cyclists need them front and rear. Even in daylight when you get low sun and are hidden in the shadows they make a difference. That's why you see the trend on regular road users with the rear blinking red LEDs. The rules for cyclists are lights 30 minutes before sunset and 30 minutes after sunrise.
2. High visibility clothing and reflective material. High visibility colors help you stand out in low light conditions, they are no good when it's dark, you need lights. Reflective material helps, often at night the only way I know pedestrians are on the cycle path ahead of me is due to reflectors on their sneakers.
3. Don't weave around traffic and stay back from large vehicles like buses and lorries, don't filter on the inside when they are intent on turning the vehicle will come across your path. Places like Leeson street are an absolute nightmare for bus drivers to navigate at rush hour.
4. Look and clearly signal your intention to motorists behind you in advance (not last 2 seconds), especially when overtaking parked cars in cycle lanes. Taxis drives can use the bus lanes, some of the more experienced drivers will give a friendly beep to let you know they are behind you, they know most cyclists don't look behind them to see what is around.
5. Cyclists will have to dodge around potholes, sunken man holes and broken glass, experienced motorists will factor that in, this is why it's important that they can see you in advance.

The one serious accident I had on a bicycle occurred in daylight when the sun was setting, I was pedalling along at 35 Kmph doing my usual loop, the motorist turning right into the car park, sun was in his eyes and could not see me coming out of the shadows. I pulled the brakes, locked up the wheels and hit him at 20kmph. I flipped over the car bonnet, took out his windscreen and landed on the road breaking my collarbone and grazing knees. I had a helmet on which took the impact and broke, it did the job. Road cycling gloves prevented grazing to the hands. I only had rear lights on at the time. Bicycle was a write off, steel frame busted, as were wheels, handlebars and rear mech hanger. Painful and expensive, at least helmets do work.

Yes it is. I want that freedom. Im from Holland and really enjoy getting on my bike when im there. Without a helmet and the wind in my hair going slow to moderate speed,even in cities which are pretty save. I only wear a lightweight helmet when im going on a speed bike. In Holland bikes are everywhere, the cars are used to deal with them and very few people wear helmets. Mostly the very young learners. Holland is also mostly flat so no going downhill in great speed. It is way more tricky in Ireland. I would wear a helmet here. I stopped riding a bike. Too much hard work..

Like anything. There are no solutions, just trade offs. So, it all depends on circumstances. However, i think that if people do not want to wear a helmet they should be allowed to.

Yes, and the third world is in it for the money, really liking all the western self hate and compensating them for their carbon sin. You can see the logic there: put yr money where yr mouth is. And the west goes: yes, we sure will..kinda (looking around to spot the next exit because you know, voters at home..)

Yes, I find it all very strange, it was obvious from last week that this meeting was going to be all about paying money out, is this going to be a yearly thing from now on? on top of international aid money,?

Just putting my tinfoil hat on for a minute, but I kinda remember looking at that world economic forum website, them stating that money from the developed world will be shared out to the developing world to make us all more equal,or something to that effect,I wonder is this how they plan on doing it?

I'll see if I can dig it up,

As usual a very logical and balanced view on Irish agriculture and COP27 by Ciaran Fitzgerald.

https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/ciaran-fitzgerald-cop27-and-irelands-food-vision-process/

Perhaps not in your biased view. Funny how the majority on here disagree with you.