Keeping cyclists in the public eye is vital

Planes, trains and … bicycles?

A ‘sit-up and beg’ carried James Coburn safely to Switzerland as the only one to experience The Great Escape, a BMX allowed E.T. and faithful followers make good their flight to freedom, and Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson chased terrorists á la bicylette in Die Hard With a Vengeance. From the emergence of the first wooden bicycle in the 1800s (nicknamed the ‘Running Machine’ due to the lack of pedals) alongside various improvements such as the ‘Hobbyhorse’, the aptly named ‘Boneshaker’ and the ‘Penny Farthing’, cycling has come a long way to reach the heights of €4000 carbon fibre models and global races that attract millions of fans. While I once enjoyed a leisurely commute to and from college, a spate of near misses (the final one involving my front wheel colliding with a hastily braking BMW) forced my early retirement.

A few years on the motoring battlefield has begun to take its toll however. The endless traffic jams accompanied by an empty wallet pale in comparison to the severe personality changes many, including myself, undergo when getting behind the wheel. And so dispirited from my motoring endeavours, I have dragged a rather rusty racer from the garage. In order to once again familiarize myself with the sport that saw many spectators take to the streets recently for the Tour of Ireland, I spoke to Corkonians who presented a variety of views both for and against cycling. Also on the agenda was the renewed debate over mandatory requirements to wear helmets, whether cycle lanes are really even necessary and a steely determination to find a dry winter’s day to take some photos.

One’s outlook on life determines a lot, as cyclist A and cyclist B will attest to (let’s call them Bob and Assumpta). Bob endures what he sees as a dangerous 20 minute commute five days a week. He encounters road-rage, rushing motorists, and seemingly blind truck drivers who enjoy forcing him into the narrowest gulley so oft assigned to cyclists.

He has so far a triple experience of receiving a hastily discarded cigarette in his face, and twice a motorist has spat out of their window, the offensive liquid luckily landing on his lower extremities each time. This hardened cyclist has so far avoided being swatted like a fly against a suddenly opened door, but sees it as only a matter of time before he endures this careless insult. Still he has greatly shortened a commute and so this becomes his routine’s saving grace. Assumpta truly enjoys cycling. The absence of traffic woes and financial benefits aside, she sees it a glorious journey that clears her head, and can’t help but chuckle at the poor sods stuck in the imitation tank bought with last month’s mortgage payment as she whizzes past.

A lamp post obstructing a cycle lane (Copyright Cork Cycling Campaign)

Attitudes aside however, there are very real dangers in many cities for cyclists and this includes Cork. While the incidence of cyclists killed by heavy-goods vehicles (HGVs) remains miniscule in comparison to Dublin, significant challenges face two-wheeled drivers on a daily basis.

Social forum The People’s Republic of Cork (PROC) is home to a legion of loyal citizens who are never short of an opinion (as well as a variety of screen-names ranging from the tame to the obscene). Readers might remember the website from a recent controversy where an admittedly humorous (but decidedly offensive depending on your hometown) video depicting Kerry GAA fans as animals was posted. Several members who cycle daily highlighted the danger spots in the city for cycling aficionados, including the narrow Douglas Rd. by St. Finbarr’s Hospital, lamp posts brazenly planted in the middle of cycling paths in Mahon, a cycle lane that begins at the steepest section of Maryborough Hill, as well as the new layout in Douglas that is difficult for motorists to manoeuvre through, never mind cyclists.

A 3km stretch on the Kinsale Road leading up to the airport in particular seems to smack of insanity, given as Corkoniense points out “It’s the last place you would want to take a bicycle. I suspect it had something to do with covering the number of km the council had to devote to bike lanes.” The rather aptly named Mr. Self Destruct comments: “Either do it right or don’t bother doing it at all. There was already a huge hard shoulder there. What a waste of money.” Bosco echoes this opinion, calling it “a shameful waste of taxpayer money.” Road quality in Cork and beyond also comes in for criticism – “I’m not just talking about patchy tarmac, but more so the lethal drainage gates and gulleys right where a cyclist would normally position themselves. Every time the road is resurfaced the crater gets deeper and deeper.”

Models from 'Cycle Chic' on a fashionable ride through the city

Benefits are also abundant however in the form of boosting physical, mental and social wellbeing. An increasingly active local cycling community is also evident. Such groups, in conjunction with Cork City Council and organisations like the Cork Cycling Campaign, put on multiple annual events, such as the Cork Cycling Arts Festival (July 2010) and the upcoming Cycle Chic Fashion Show (City Hall November 7^th, free admission) which seeks to convince the people of Cork that cycling can be trendy as well as good for your health.

In addition to this, the economic up-side offered by cycling in the worst depression facing this country since the 80s will surely tempt a number of individuals to saddle up and save on petrol as well as gym membership. A dedicated campaign abroad to promote cycling in Cork City and County could even help reinvigorate the slow drip of tourism currently being experienced. For this to happen however, Irish Rail will have to change their ridiculous policy of not allowing bicycles on local trains. For example, if I lived in Midleton but worked in the city, I could not bring a bike onboard to complete my journey from Kent Station. Likewise incoming tourists from the cycling bastions of France, Holland and Germany will be displeased and less willing to come to Cork once they discover they cannot travel to Cobh or Fota by train and bring their bikes. When I asked at the information office for an explanation, I was told that “There is no room for bikes as these are commuter train only.” The attendant could but merely shrug when I asked for an alternative. Maybe when revenues begin to drop this policy might be revisited.

An unfortunately placed grill near Merchant's Quay in Cork (Copyright Cork Cycling Campaign)

For a pastime that confers such a wide variety of benefits, it is also a shame that the 2006 Census shows a decrease from roughly 60,000 individuals (over 15 years of age) using bicycles as a means of travel in 1986 to in the region of 36,000 individuals in 2006. This decline is even greater in young children, a key demographic in the war on obesity that has yet to begin.

Current Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey ambitiously targets this figure to increase by 125,000 cyclists by 2020 in Ireland’s First National Cycle Policy Framework. It seeks to address problems such as ever increasing traffic volumes, improving infrastructure through retrofits like cycle lanes and bike parking facilities and to generally make cycling an all around more attractive and feasible prospect. Like most reports it delivers generously in theory, but it remains to be seen if it will do so in practice – the lack of concrete deadlines is worrying.

While Ireland may have been head of the pack when it came to getting tough on smoking, Australia seems to be one of the few pioneers in this area – could this be a logical step for Ireland to follow? We would be in good company with countries like the majority of the United States, parts of Canada and New Zealand. Spinks argues that “There will always be disgruntled people who will not like it when a helmet wearing law is introduced; however the existing evidence still suggests the laws are beneficial.”

PROC member J argues “What are people scared of, their hair being ruined? Try your brain being ruined instead!” Madcyril, who frequently wears a helmet while cycling upwards of 20 miles each day in Dublin, remains unsure of their effectiveness however. “2 cyclists have been killed here in the last two months by trucks rolling over them. First went the legs, then the whole torso … crushed ribs … broken spine. Both died in hospital due to massive blood loss. Their helmets were fine as the truck never reached their heads.” He argues that the benefits of not wearing a helmet are often overlooked. “I sometimes cycle without it. Visibility was much better and my body temperature was a lot cooler - an all around better experience without a helmet.”

The jury remains out on the issue and further studies are certainly required that measure whether a drop-off occurs in cycling as legislation is introduced, particularly in adults. Enforcement is also an issue amongst a severely overstretched police force. Some would argue that Cork’s spiralling heroin problem should take precedence and rather let the decision to common sense and individual choice.

Adam D’Arcy, spokesperson for the Cork Cycling Campaign, is adamant that cyclist and motorist can co-exist. “The objective is to get more and more people cycling. The greater the numbers the safer it is because motorists and other drivers become more aware and better educated as a result.” Part of the campaign also revolves around liaising with Cork City Council, CIE and other groups in an attempt to improve conditions and promote cycling. This campaign is a branch of a much bigger revolution taking place in Ireland and is housed virtually at http://www.cyclists.ie,, a national organisation that includes Dublin, Waterford, Galway, Limerick, Maynooth and Skerries.

An avid cyclist, Mr. D’Arcy holds a positive opinion of cycling in Cork – “It’s a very compact city meaning you can get around very easily by bike. It’s often faster than driving. There are a few things that could be done to make cycling safer, such as possibly restricting HGVs in the city. Thank god we haven’t had too many fatalities here but in Dublin, a lot of cyclists get killed by lorries.” Larger types have in fact been restricted in the capital, but those outside the restricted categories continue to contribute to cycling deaths and injuries. An obvious solution is to ride on the relatively safer footpath.

Indeed it is a firm favourite in the real capital for a proportion, the keener behaving as if undergoing a trial run for the last stage of the Tour de France. Mr D’Arcy explains - “What happens is that traffic is so busy that some people just get scared and end up on the footpath. Cyclists are caught between annoying pedestrians and getting mashed in traffic. I understand why people do, but if forced to then they should absolutely give priority to pedestrians and go slowly.”

Mr. D’Arcy also sees raising awareness amongst motorists that cyclist exist as vital, particularly as regards allowing enough clearance for cyclists. “Most motorists are good but there are always a few that just don’t see cyclists. It doesn’t register with them as a vehicle and according to the Rules of the Road, cyclists are drivers of vehicles.” His other gripe is that often little room is allowed for cyclists in the city area, particularly on the quays where 2-4 lanes of whizzing traffic are unforgiving for cyclists caught between the motorist and the pavement edge.

The condition of road surfaces is also cause for concern, where ill-fitting manhole covers, jutting drains and potholes can all end in a serious fall for cyclists in an area with a 50km/h speed limit that a significant minority of motorists abuse.

This limit may soon change however, with such a proposal already passed in Dublin City centre. The limit will be reduced to 30km/h on January 31^st 2010 and the debate has already begun on the benefits of such a measure in Cork. While many motorists may mutter an inward curse at the thought, it is in fact quite a clever idea. First of all, a proportion will always exceed the allowed speed no matter what is on a sign. By lowering the limit, these drivers will be more likely to at least be going slower than before.

An overhaul of the traffic light system in the run-up to the introduction of the new limit also promises to reward the more law-abiding, meaning driving at the limit increases the likelihood of a magical green light at the next junction.

Mr. D’Arcy highlights that it should be heralded as good news for all road users (boy racers aside of course) - “As far as I’m concerned the traffic light system in Cork is dangerous. The whole world knows the traffic light up ahead is going to turn red so they race up to it to get through it. There are also very long intervals for some lights to change so no wonder they’re ploughing through.”

An upcoming project that could also contribute to a more positive cycling experience in Cork is a welcome prospect. The Cork Cycling Campaign in conjunction with the City Council and UCC are working on an interactive web portal whereby lay citizen and cyclists alike can contribute through identifying hazards and obstructions or even highlighting a popular bike shop or destination.

The most attractive feature is that the information will come from the most logical source – the road users themselves. The City Council will then be in a position to respond far more rapidly then is currently possible. With a likely launch date sometime next year, it certainly seems like an affordable way of making life more comfortable for all road users.

Just like motorists, cyclists experience factors that impact on their safety on the road. Rather than blaming any one faction, it is worth remembering that across every mode of transport reside individuals who shouldn’t go beyond walking, but unfortunately do. Excess speed combined with stupidity account for quite a high percentage of the blame for accidents, whether you’re driving, cycling or walking. Whatever the pros and cons of cycling lanes and helmets are, eternal vigilance while on the road is something you can never afford to leave at home.