Journalism and Cycling 2: the difficult second album

There's a whole load of people telling people where they can't do stuff lately. A few I've witnessed are swimmers telling boaters they can't launch on a public slip (designed for launching boats), people telling dog walkers they can't walk their dogs off leash (where they actually can according to bylaws). Motorists and pedestrians telling cyclists they can't cycle where they actually can. Cyclist admonishing a motorist for being nothing but cordial and respectful. Middle aged people acting like a skateboarder approaching them in a park is comparable to a charging chariot with steel scythes attached to the wheels. Joggers bullying through other pedestrians.

In my experience male pedestrians very very quick to hassle female cyclists with kids and very quick to scuttle off when dad arrives on the scene.

Not sure if it's a post Covid indignant self righteous thing but it's getting tiresome. If you're constantly pissing and moaning you're not enjoying it. Take up golf where there's a clear set of rules and etiquette on private land with similar minded people.

Exactly. I walk about 7k a day and constantly meet cyclists, e-scooters, scooters, skateboarders etc... on the footpath. I also meet them as they go through the lights when the green man is flashing and I've never had a crash, a near miss or hassle, just the odd nod or hello.

Yet if you read other people experience on boards.ie their walks are like the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan.

Another peach to add on top of all the bullshit around the gardai on patrol saying it’s not within their remit :

”Cllr Cooney said the gardaí have not yet looked at the CCTV footage as the investigating garda in the Bridewell Garda Station is not on duty.”

Pretty awful case alright, according to the article it was a shared use path so it wasn't a case of the woman cycling on the footpath just because

We were only discussing what "on duty" and "in pursuit of their duties" meant in terms of guards breaking driving laws the other day. "Not my district/precinct" is an interesting wrinkle in that calculation.

The article is fine, but it seems to me that he starts from a false premise

I had similar years ago while still living in Dublin. Went into Pearse St to report an aggressive bellend in a van that cut me off aggressively twice in the "bike lane" at Christchurch, first time at the lights on the top of Winetavern St, which I let go, but then filtered past to have him do it very deliberately the second time opposite Jurys, followed by a heap of effing and blind from your man - albeit returned in spades. Anyway long story short, you could see the look of relieve spread over the waste of space behind the desk in Pearse st when he heard where it happened and told me I'd need to report it to Kevin St. He's probably an assistant commissioner now...... Now if only they had access to a computer system where details of an incident could be reported for action.....

Finally a good news story!

"They don't even have insurance, Joe!"

Ireland tops EU league of shame for uninsured cars on road (msn.com)

Can only imagine that however high the rate of uninsured cars is, the numbers not bothering to pay tax or get NCT is much, much higher. But of course, the problem is really uninsured eScooters and tax-dodging cyclists.

Agree with all of that. It's the standard fare in this country - pretend we care about something/ encourage something, but actually we'll turn a blind eye on the basis of not actually giving a f**k and hope that the cohort of law abiding, civic-minded citizens is enough to keep up the appearance of a working system.

But I suppose the reason I posted it here, in this forum, is to highlight/ emphasise the stupidity of those who immediately reach for the "but they don't pay road tax" and "they should all have to have insurance... what if one crashes into my car" nonsense. If the authorities can't/ can't be arsed enforcing compliance in respect of people driving multi-tonne vehicles who kill/ seriously injure thousands every year resulting in a cost to society of millions upon millions of Euro, do those idiots actually think that the authorities will have any more success chasing cyclists around the streets?

Most of all, I was just having a rant to make myself feel better.

NCT changed completely the type of cars that are on our roads. They are cnuts but I'll give them that.

Suspension springs typical just fail by cracking with any wear prior to that difficult to spot.

Most other components show obvious wear be they bushings, brakes, shock absorbers etc.

How did you know to bring car to garage or was it just a regular service?