There were participants from across the planet – South Africa, India, Australia, the US, Spain, Denmark, Ireland and Italy – as well as from across the UK. And they came from many walks of life – activists, students and academics, transport planners, cycle trainers and bike co-op members. What united us was a passion for cycling, and a belief that cycling can change the world. Full report
How to Get More Bicyclists on the Road
Getting people out of cars and onto bicycles, a much more sustainable form of transportation, has long vexed environmentally conscious city planners. Although bike lanes painted on streets and automobile-free “greenways” have increased ridership over the past few years, the share of people relying on bikes for transportation is still less than 2 percent, based on various studies. An emerging body of research suggests that a superior strategy to increase pedal pushing could be had by asking the perennial question: What do women want? Full article.
Insanity in Galway
Inspired by this example from Harlow, Galway City Council have created this even more ambitious scheme on Doughiska Road. Unfortunately, the cost of erecting Cyclists Dismount signs at the 18 junctions, 41 private drives and 12 bus stops interrupting this 1.4km shared use pavement proved prohibitive, so they had to compromise by painting Give Way markings on the pavement.
Cyclist.ie meeting Galway Sat 25th NUIG 11a.m.
Is there a better way to share our streets?
Ben Hamilton-Baille wants cars and people to share the same street space and he believes that this will make cities safer for pedestrians and drivers. Ben Hamilton-Baillie likes taking risk. He thinks we all need more of it in our daily lives.
“How we manage and live with it is part of the natural orders of life. Trying to mollycoddle motorists and cocoon them in safety equipment is good for neither the driver nor the other road users with whom they share the streets.” Full article.
What’s the best way to keep cyclists safe from the monsters of the road?
UK Guardian: There is an ad campaign running at the moment encouraging cyclists and truck drivers to look out for each other, stressing the role of both in preventing the deaths of the former. Full story.
Cyclists! The public thinks you’re cool and normal
Kevin Myers: ‘Our society must stop celebrating lives of reckless car-crash teens’
Cycle Accidents
Rather grim reading, but essential to know: RSA publication (March 2010) about pedal cyclist road collisions 1998-2008
Do You Know A ‘Leading Light’ in Road Safety
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is calling on people nationwide to nominate ‘Leading Lights’ in road safety as part of the 2010 ‘Leading Lights in Road Safety’ Awards. The awards recognise the extraordinary contribution of people across Ireland to make road use safer for everyone. The call for entries opens this today Monday 23rd August and the winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Dublin Castle on Wednesday 13th October. Continue reading Do You Know A ‘Leading Light’ in Road Safety