Bike Week

I am thirty-one years of age. I started commuting by bike twenty years ago. I remember it so well. My dad took me out on my bike on the main roads to make sure I wasn't too nervous. I loved it! I only had to cycle a few kilometres to school, but cycling soon meant much more than transport to me - it meant freedom! I was able to visit friends in neighbouring suburbs before they were allowed come to me. I was allowed on country roads, main roads, dual carriageways and the big one - for me - the Artane Roundabout!

So began a love affair with the humble bicycle. I later cycled to college, work, play, sport, shopping, everywhere. I couldn't understand how anyone would choose the bus or train (or worse - a lift!!) when they could dust the bike off and get going. It was faster, better, cheaper and an overall far superior travel experience in my opinion. Over the years I have, very unsuccessfully, tried to talk numerous friends into cycling, but the overall response tends to be, 'No way, José! Not in Dublin!'

I still love my bike (if my brother is reading this he will argue that it is, in fact, his bike. After all these years using it, however, I claim something akin to squatters' rights!). I love cycling. My boyfriend recently bought a bike and it has been a great way to see Dublin together. I have recently moved offices and after a long time walking, I am again cycling to work. And I no longer love it. Why?

Well, after a few years abroad in the mid-2000s I noticed a huge increase in the number of cars on the roads. This didn't phase me as I am a confident cyclist. I noticed, though, that these motorists always seemed to be in a huge hurry. They seemed to take extreme risks and it really annoyed me. I felt in the heat of the moment, I wouldn't stand a chance if up against the crazed driver of a 'people carrier' or an SUV. But, over time I just got used to it and learned to live with it, and as usual weave between the cars and ultimately get home quicker than all those motorists.

In recent years, however, my point of focus has shifted. I now hate cyclists. And when I say I hate them, I mean it. They are by far the most inconsiderate and ignorant road-users in this city. I note every day with anger that I am the only one who does not cycle through the pedestrian crossing when people are walking, who does not inch dangerously through junctions, who does not habitually break lights and ignore not only the Rules of the Road, but also other road users. This especially annoys me when those other road users include older people and children. 

The problem concerns me on a pragmatic and selfish level too; if cyclists continue, en masse, to break the rules of the road and earn a horrid reputation amongst motorists and pedestrians, if anything happens to me when I am cycling nobody is going to help or sympathise with me - or even believe me - because most people have such low opinions of cyclists.

Why do cyclists feel being on a bike is a licence to break the law? Why can't they just wait at traffic lights? Why can't they wait behind the big, thick, white line and wait? Why can't they avoid the footpath? You have no right to get annoyed with motorists in the bike lane when you cycle on the footpath. You have no right to complain when tipped by a car if you're breaking the lights. I have no sympathy for cyclists when these things happen and I AM a cyclist!

And now, this week, we have Bike Week, which is supposed to celebrate all things cycling. And I don't want to participate. I would have been the first in line in the past, but now cycling just bugs me.  Bike Week aims to promote cycling as a commuting choice or a recreational activity. In general this is great; cycling is easy on the pocket, causes no harm to the environment, is a healthy choice and does not damage roads. And there is a market for such promotion as a cursory glance at the streets will show.

This cursory glance shows Dublin Bikes scheme users who don't signal when turning, wear clothes often so inappropriate for cycling that they can barely manoeuvre on the bike, break the rules, cycle in the middle of the road, between lanes, etc. It also shows women in full length skirts and inappropriate shoes on high nellies who cycle on the footpath 'looking pretty' who are more often than not incapable of correctly steering the bike as it is too heavy, big and cumbersome for them. There are also couriers who have long been the taxi drivers of cycling - known for their disregard for rules and other road users as well as their 'must get there now' attitude.

Believe it or not, life isn't an Avoca
catalogue shoot for most of us!

If you don't know the rules of the road, get off the road. If you aren't willing to sacrifice your 'look' when "cycling", get off the road. If you don't think other road users deserve respect, get off the road. If you don't wear lights and high viz in the dark, get off the road. If you want to give all road users a bad name, get off the road.

Whilst cycling may continue to grow in popularity, unless events such as Bike Week and organisations such as Dublin Cycling Campaign and Rothar address issues of bad cycling and inconsiderate cyclists, it will never be the tour de force it could and should be in Dublin. Other cities with high volumes of cyclists often cited by cyclists as nearly Utopian, such as Utrecht, Copenhagen and Amsterdam, do not tolerate bad behaviour from cyclists. If we want similar conditions and respect, we should think also of our responsibilities. Please make being a road user safe and pleasant!