• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

belgianwaffle

  • Home
  • About
  • Archives

Taking my life in my hands

16 September, 2009
Posted in: Ireland

When I say that I cycle in and out of work, people treat me as though I am some kind of lunatic. When I say that I do it without a helmet and a high visibility jacket (in daytime people), they decide that I am a weird freak and try to talk to someone else. Dubliners firmly believe that there is nothing more dangerous than going out on a bike. My father cycled until he was 80. I cycled in and out to school regularly as a teenager, I cycled in Brussels (ok I didn’t cycle in Rome but that was because I had a moped), I feel cycling is safe enough. I even did a bit of research on it, so phased was I by the horror and awe with which my activities were treated. It’s safe enough. In fact, having cycled to work for many years, I think Dublin is far safer now than it used to be: no juggernauts on the quays; far more cycle lanes; extended car free zones.

Recently, Dublin has put in place a free bike scheme like Paris, Brussels and Copenhagen. The Irish media being what it is, this has been a national news story for well over a week now. This has tempted cautious Dubliners to try out the bicycles. There was a man on the telly the other night who announced joyfully that he had cycled up and down O’Connell Street. Something that he could have achieved very easily even before the scheme was introduced but he had just been too scared. Still, I do feel it’s a good thing. There seem to be far more bikes on the roads which, of course, makes it safer for everyone. Every hire bike rack I pass has someone struggling excitedly with the technology. In fact, the only real danger in all this is when someone who hasn’t cycled for 20 years wobbles nervously into my way on the cycle path but this is a price I am more than willing to pay to get more of us out on the roads.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. queenofparks says

    17 September, 2009 at 08:19

    Yay! Go bike riders. And it’s good to see free bike schemes going ahead even in the midst of economic implosion.

  2. queenofparks says

    17 September, 2009 at 08:20

    Why no helmet, just out of interest? Aesthetics or statistics?

  3. Sarah says

    17 September, 2009 at 09:18

    We saw the bikes being installed when were on holiday. They looked, erm, solid. Good thing Dublin’s flat.

  4. BroLo says

    20 September, 2009 at 08:54

    Would you be surprised to learn that Rome now has bicycle paths? You can ride for kilometers along the Tiber, and there are plans to extend the path all the way to Ostia. It’s not quite to the level of other European cities yet, but they are making progress.

  5. belgianwaffle says

    21 September, 2009 at 20:38

    QoP, the bike scheme costs nothing – it’s given in exchange for free advertising. The eonomists’ dream.

    Helmet is just a bit of a pain to tote around and tie up to be honest and statistics appear to indicate that it’s not really likely to save my bacon if I am run over by an articulated lorry like some poor punter on the quays last week.

    Sarah, have tested the bikes. They are v. solid and rather slow but, you know, handy. Wouldn’t fancy an uphill trek though.

    BroLo, surprised and astonished.

Primary Sidebar

Flickr Photos

2017
More Photos
September 2009
M T W T F S S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
282930  
« Aug   Oct »
Tweets by Belgianwaffle

Categories

  • Belgium (144)
  • Boys (836)
  • Cork (200)
  • Daniel (585)
  • Dublin (439)
  • Family (582)
  • Hodge (46)
  • Ireland (817)
  • Liffey Journal (7)
  • Michael (572)
  • Miscellaneous (71)
  • Mr. Waffle (521)
  • Princess (1,039)
  • Reading etc. (553)
  • Siblings (198)
  • The tale of Lazy Jack Silver (18)
  • Travel (156)
  • Work (184)

Subscribe via Email

Subscribe Share
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

© 2003–2022 belgianwaffle · Privacy Policy · Write