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NEED TO CATCH up? TheJournal.ie brings you a round-up of today’s news.
#LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST: ITV has announced that this year’s series of Love Island has been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
#ITALY: Italians will be allowed to visit relatives for the first time in nine weeks today as the country eases back the world’s longest nationwide coronavirus lockdown.
#TRUMP: Us President Donald Trump promised an early coronavirus vaccine and urged Americans to put the pandemic behind them as he launched his re-election campaign.
Everyone remember the Twilight franchise? If you don’t, it’s the series of books and films by Stephanie Meyer about vampires, werewolves and romance that attracted hundreds of thousands of fans around the world.
Well, Meyer announced that she has a new book – Midnight Sun – that will be released on 4 August.
If you were a Twilight fan as a teen, this is going to be great news. If you weren’t, you still probably won’t be able to avoid the book in a few months time.
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Excellent article thanks Allison. It’s so great to see so many kids out cycling at the moment.
My only worry is that post-lockdown we might have gotten complacent to the dangers.
There’s an urgent need now for comprehensive cycling infrastructure in Ireland. I know I risk the wrath of others here by saying this, but drivers’ awareness of cyclists and what exactly a safe pass is, still needs a lot of work.
@Dr Angela Flynn: And a lot of room !! Irish Roads don’t have !!
@Dr Angela Flynn: Yes. but the roads tho!
@Dr Angela Flynn: you don’t need drivers’ awareness tho. you just need the infrastructure
At least the picture of a mother and son in Mayo cycling down the middle of the road is accurate reflection of modern cyclists. Old fellows cycling since the time of the high nelly respect the rules of the road such as keep to the left,don’t race on the public highway (that means racing against the clock) and real common in Kerry is the pretend Tour de France crowd not stoping at roundabouts.
@Michael Duckster: all that frothing at the mouth when all you have do is overtake by 1 or 1.5m…
@Michael Duckster:
Fellas could cycle on the left because they didn’t need to take Garda advice of “cycle defensively”. If you don’t cycle in the middle of the lane, you get the “punishment pass”. The people in that picture are following all of the Garda advice, as well as the other things you guys whinge about. They’re wearing helmets and hi-vis, cycling on a quiet country road and you still have to whing about it.
It’s a small road, you want them to cycle on the grass?
@Bountyop: how can you overtake at 1.5 m when you come across 4 abreast in the middle of the road. I’ve seen cyclists take no heed to traffic behind them . When I used to cycle in groups I would always make sure that we would go into single file when there were cars behind to make it easy as possible for cars to pass. Cyclists now have no cop on to traffic and respect works both ways.
@Michael Duckster: you’re a few phrases short of bingo
@Michael Duckster: that picture shows the mother and son cycling in the middle of their side of the road, big difference between that and your claim.
@Michael Duckster: well, you should definitely be banned from driving. Your vision and perception is terrible and you just displayed that you don’t know the rules of the road.
@Michael Duckster: Some of these idiots in cars need to have speed limiters fitted, I am a driver as well.
@paul mccoy: I have not encountered 4 abreast in the middle of the road. If they are, sound your horn until they ride two abreast and pass safely as you would any other traffic on the road- see…easy! Obviously riding 4 abreast in the middle of the road would put them at risk of oncoming traffic as well, so you’d have to wonder what they’re thinking…or whether you’re just making it up
@paul mccoy: Paul I cycle through traffic jams in Dublin, and drivers pay no heed to cyclists stuck behind them. Most of them never even move over despite using slower vehicles. How rude is that?
@Michael Duckster: Son is cycling left of centre – nothing wrong with that. Mother is cycling a bit further to the right. It’s a protection position for her son.
@Michael Duckster: it’s safer to overtake 2 abreast as the length of the group to over take is half as long so you can get back on your side twice as quick, this is consistent with rsa guidelines , as a driver i suggest you go learn them before you kill someone
@Bountyop: making it up are you serious. I drive for a living all over the country and I see it often. Blowing your horn usually gets you the 2 fingers and a few foul words thrown in your direction. Not saying all cyclists are like this but I’ve come across a lot of brainless morons in my time. By the way I was involved in cycling as a sport for several years so I have some idea what I’m talking about.
@Oisín O’Connor: hear you pal . I drive for a living and sometimes I’m near breaking point.
@paul mccoy: I cycle to work and for exercise and we own two vehicles so I know what I’m talking about as well if that’s your required qualification…
Roads might be quieter but there’s still been the same number, or there abouts, of non driver deaths. I think people really need to make sure their children are competent and confident in the basics before putting them out on the road. I’ve come across a few children being a bit more than wobbly (non diet related, though they exist too) the last few weeks, they seem fine when nothing is about but when a car is overtaking they loose their sh!t. And no I don’t speed, same road can’t go above 100 despite what the sign says!
@ThatLJD: the non driver deaths are by and large caused by the drivers, not the victims. It’s up to car drivers to leave enough space when overtaking, especially if it’s a child more especially if they look a bit wobbly. The lighter traffic has seen an increase in speeding by drivers, so much so that the gardai have at least twice in recent weeks, had to call on drivers to slow down.
@Connoroconner: sorry I wasn’t turning this into a driver v cyclist debate. The reason I notice the nervous wobbles is that I drive slow overtaking or at times have to wait behind as there is not enough room to overtake, which I know isn’t helping them but can’t squeeze them off the road and they won’t stop or pull over. What should I do in those situations? (I cycle myself for leisure and I did previously on a daily basis around town so well aware of the dangers and how I want drivers to behave etc). That’s mainly my point on ensuring they’re competent and confident to begin with or parents have told what to do or react. I think a lot of parents don’t know either. And yes many drivers do speed and overtake with limited space. Obviously all dangerous.
@ThatLJD: The only way they can learn is by cycling. They’ll be fine if you give them plenty of space and overtake at a moderate speed. You’re the one in the two-tonne vehicle – the onus is on you
@Blue is the Colour: I do act like that and I do give them time. A lot of parents who bring the kids out cycling I think could do with reading this article and understanding just cause little timmy is able to cycle on the driveway it’s not the same. Anyway it’s cool. I wasn’t meaning to get into a discussion on car v cyclist. I was in agreement with a lot in the article. 2T vehicle! Where you going mate, 5T, I’ve had to make a lot of adjustments and armour plating over the few weeks waiting for the mad max type world we’ll live in. Prediction could have been a bit off.
@ThatLJD: no me neither. But as drivers we need to approach all kids on bikes with the attitude that they might be new to it and allow them the space, by proper overtaking and not coming up too close behind them.
@ThatLJD: if you overtake too close 50k or above your car pushes a wave of air which causes the wobbling similarly there is a dead space for air at the back so you initially get pushed out the sucked in , below 50k or with a proper distance this is negligible but I can tell you even as an experienced cyclist this happens to me sometimes as the aerodynamics of a big flat object pushing the air beside you has its effects
Before it does start off with cyclists vs driver debate… road tax was abolished in 1937and added into general taxation which EVERYONE pays, you pay motor tax because your car pollutes the environment. Simple…
A new way of living has arrived, the world we knew in December is gone for good…
Fewer vehicles on the road will mean more space for children to play and cycle, more room for disabled persons to move around, fewer people on the buses because more are walking or cycling means more room for seniors, more room for outdoor dining, cleaner air for breathing which is better in the fight against coronavirus. Weak lungs are not good in the fight against the virus. A better life in general for everyone including motorists with fewer cars.
Enjoy the clean air…
@Fun Gerry :): There will be less room for Persons With Disabilities under the cycling plans.
Persons With Disability rather than disabled persons. Person first. Like Handicapped or Cripple, disabled person is insulting to a lot of people in the disability community.
You speak the cycling is good speak lobbing in my community as a bonus.
We are not a bonus and our access actually comes before cyclists in the Street Hierarchy.
Cycling has been called a cure for just about everything not its for Covid-19.
@Gary Kearney: First of all I didn’t mean any disrespect…
If we have wider footpaths and fewer car lanes we will have plenty of room for everyone. Of course, a person with disabilities come first, pedestrians next and so on…
I think you missed my point about cycling. Cycling is great for general health including the lungs> No it is not a cure for COVID 19 but if you have stronger lungs. You might have a better fighting chance against the virus, was the point I was referring too.
Loved this article Allison! Will use this when out on our daily cycling trips.
I must say that driving standards are a bit better when I’m out with my daughter. More than usual giving wide berths overtaking or holding back on narrower local roads. But still have a few on each trip that are well above the speed limit or doing risky overtakes.
Great article and love seeing families out and about but yes I fear for when cars return at speed, usually the fathers of such families in their 4 by 4 monster cars! Think there should be more cycle schools and respect needs to be a two way thing for safety of all.
@Bernie Kelly: I cycle my daughter to school everyday and can confirm its women and men in equal measure in all shapes of vehicle that put us in danger.
I’m sure Journal posters will immediately complain about them riding 2 abreast, running red lights, not paying tax/ insurance, riding on the footpath. Those pesky children…
@Bountyop: tax no, not at all. I don’t think insurance is a non runner though and I’m open to correction but the likes of bike clubs, couriers, just eat etc is that beyond dialogue that they should require it?
@filthypete: This article is about kids enjoying cycling- I think you just proved my point
Putting their lives at risk all their doing is exercising their legs
@Richard Russell: and hearts and lungs and improved their moods and probably got where they were going faster… I’ve cycled every day since I was a little girl. My grown up children are too scared and lazy to cycle – I don’t know where I went wrong with them. You can’t beat cycling.
@Richard Russell:
Gives them independence too. Irish kids stay infantalised because they get driven around, reliant on mammy and daddy to go anywhere.
It’s only a risk due to reckless driving, soft regulation by the Gardai, and a disgusting judicial system that refuses to punish people for their crimes (Recent case of a man hit by a lorry who now has lifelong brain damage and needs a carer. The lorry driver got away with a 1500 fine and a 4 year driving ban. Lorry was shown to be speeding and overtaking on a bend where it was illegal. Our soft touch judicial system doesn’t provide adequate disincentives for crimes)
Cyclist bashing in 3… 2… 1… aaaaaand…
“WHAT ABOUT THE HELMETS” “DAMN CYCLISTS THEY INVENTED GAYNESS” “SOMETHING SOMETHING BREAKING LIGHTS” “MY DAD WAS MURDERED BY A CYCLIST”
@: some incredible strawmen you have constructed there i could use them to scare the crows
Sorry but that photograph of child wearing a cycling helmet completely wrong is irresponsible and should be deleted immediately.
Either that or caption the photo “HOW NOT TO WEAR A CYCLING HELMET.
Most cycling impacts are frontal and the cycling helmet should be approx 1-2cm over your eyes. Not on the back of you bloody head. If that young lady goes over the handlebars there’s a good chance her face and forehead will take the full impact not the helmet.
“Students from St. Colman’s College, Claremorris, Co. Mayo practise on-road cycle safety skills”
@Gavin Prepare for the cycling lobby to attack you for daring to bring up helmet use.It is one of the hot buttons.
They will trot out the Australian report that says they dont work and all the others.
They have a point, helmets do not stop all forms of head trauma and traumatic brain injury.
They do however stop a lot of them.
Am I am expert on Traumatic Brain Injuries. Yes I am. I have lived with them for 11 years.
Also the children in dundalk Hi Viz are way too big.
@Gary Kearney: you forget to include the fact that the distance that motorists give to cyclists decreases based on if they wear hi vis helmets etc. , there is no conclusive study that helmets improve safety on bicycles, there are conclusive studies that it helps motorists so why not start by getting motorists to wear helmets
Children + bicycle + roads = great risk. Until there are designated roadways for bikes, it’s too big a risk and one a responsible parent shouldn’t take.
@Bramley Hawthorne: its not the fault of the parent if the road isn’t safe its the motorist that causes the harm , thats like asking women to stay home so they wont get raped
https://www.facebook.com/68916935456/posts/10163870805775457/?d=n
Look at this for a joke, an unauthorised quarry that is supposed to be closed for the past year and open all through this lockdown in Letterkenny, Donegal is sharing a promoted registered council walkway at the minute along with mums dads children and young cyclists, you couldn’t make it up
Doesn’t stop impatience and stupidity by drivers
@Johnsinker: the killer about driving licences is you get them for life , you get a forklift licence its good for 5 years , a lad of 17 is somehow still qualified to drive at 74 regardless of change of laws reaction time etc.
Open Halfords so we can buy/service bikes.
Can’t understand why hardware are open, selling what??
Won’t open garden centers for limited customers at a time or Halfords that had a safe work practise letting no one into the shop, all orders taken outside or over the phone.
Can someone explain please
… and before kids venture onto a road, its practical to get plenty of practice on grass. Difficult progress on a soft lumpy surface is excellent preparation training. and thick denims somewhat save frustrating skinned knees and elbows…. Time enough to eventually graduate to thin tyres & lycra someday if that’s your thing…
https://www.facebook.com/groups/655281361704116/?ref=share
This group on facebook may help parents- cycling Ireland learn to cycle group
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