Why Olympic medallist Chris Boardman chooses not to wear a cycle helmet when he’s on the roads. Video clip here
See also Helmet Links 3B (left sidebar)
Cycling and Bonding in Sofia with our Continental Colleagues
Cyclist.ie – the Irish Cycling Advocacy Network is one of eight national organisations taking part in the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF) Leadership Programme. This means that – along with the national organisations of Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Greece and Austria – Cyclist.ie is recognised as one of the most effective and rapidly-growing European advocacy organisations.
Last week, all eight groups took part in a training programme in Sofia, kindly hosted by the Bulgarian Cycling Association. Cyclist.ie was represented by National Cycling Coordinator, Damien Ó Tuama. This training aimed at helping us to plan ahead, improve our lobbying, organise more effective campaigns, increase members and fund-raise – all with the bigger aim of creating strong cycling cultures in our countries.
At the meetings, we came to realise that it is not just in Ireland that car-centric transport planning still dominates or that government departments do not yet fully see the potential that cycling offers to solve congestion, public health and other problems. Equally, national cycling organisations across Western, Central and Eastern Europe face very similar challenges in transitioning from operating just with volunteers to also having a paid professional dimension to campaigning. There is so much work we need to do, yet we are all over-stretched and need more funding and volunteering energy in order to thrive.
The meetings and training sessions in Sofia helped to build stronger alliances between all eight national organisations. They also mean that when we organise future Skype or phone calls amongst ourselves so as to collectively advance various issues, these conversations are more meaningful and productive when we have met each other in person and cycled the streets of Sofia en masse!
A big thanks to Kevin and Elina in ECF, and Evgeny and colleagues in the Bulgarian Cycling Association for a very successful meeting! Photo below taken by Andrzej Felczak from www.radlobby.at
For more on the Cyclist.ie participation in the ECF Leadership Programme, see ECF.
Call for co-ordinated plan to combat soaring bike theft
Bicycle theft in Ireland has doubled in Ireland since the introduction of the Bike to Work scheme in 2009. Almost 4,500 bicycle thefts[1] were reported in Dublin in 2013, but the actual number of bike thefts is likely to be in the region of 20,000 in 2013 according to Irish household surveys[2] and international experience[3,4]. The chances of a bike thief being caught is low, with a conviction rate of only 2%[5] or reported thefts. Approximately 230,000 bicycles are imported into Ireland each year[6]. “Bike theft is a low-risk, high-reward crime. If cars were being stolen at this rate there would be uproar.” Says Keith Byrne, Chairperson of the Dublin Cycling Campaign. Continue reading Call for co-ordinated plan to combat soaring bike theft
Extraordinary coalition of businesses support bold Cycle Superhighway plans
The CEO of Microsoft UK, Michel Van Der Bel, gave his support today to the Mayor of London’s ambitious plans to build two new Cycle Superhighways. He joins an extraordinary coalition of businesses urging Boris Johnson to build the routes.
Microsoft joins over 120 employers who have sent letters of support for the Cycle Superhighways – including RBS, Unilever, Orange, Deloitte, Coca-Cola, the Financial Times, and law firms Olswang,Allen & Overy, and Herbert Smith Freehills.
Read article, but there is also opposition
Could the same thing happen for Dublin’s Quays? – see also the latest in the Irish Times
New European Commission should maximise growth and jobs by investing in cycling
Today the European Parliament has approved the new European Commission. ECF is particularly looking forward to working with Ms. Violeta Bulc, the new Commissioner for Transport. During her hearing in front of the European Parliament, Ms. Bulc stated that she loves nature and that she supports the polluter-pay and user-pay principles.
The European Cyclists’ Federation expects that the Slovenian Commissioner will soon present her vision on cycling as a means of transportation. Our organisation has also requested a personal meeting with the former Slovenian minister who will be in charge of transport in the EU for the next five years. Read article
National Land Transport System – Cyclist.ie Submission
Cyclist.ie has responded to the public consultation process associated with the publication by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport of their Review of the National Land Transport System. The submission is here. Overall, we are alarmed at how little attention is being given to health, quality of life and climate change issues by DoTTAS.
Gathering of Greenway and Rural Cycleway Groups in Ireland Sat 18th Oct
Saturday 18th October 2014
Tailor’s Hall, Back Lane, Christchurch, Dublin 8
13:30 for lunch / 14:00 start / 16:30 finish / informal socialising afterwards
Hosted by Cyclist.ie – Irish Cycling Advocacy Network Continue reading Gathering of Greenway and Rural Cycleway Groups in Ireland Sat 18th Oct
Department of Transport Tourism and Sport – Statement of Strategy 2015-2017
Department of Transport Tourism and Sport – Statement of Strategy 2015-2017: call for submissions
The Cyclist.ie submission
The next Cyclist.ie submission will be in response to a review of Strategic Framework for Investment in Land Transport
The Cycle of Terms
There’s a long tradition of Cambridge University students cycling to their studies. With the new term in full swing we celebrate the morning pedal to lectures. View
Prof. Brian Caulfield of TCD researches cycling issues
His latest work with his graduate student researcher, Jack Short, involved analysing two data sets containing information on serious injuries happening to cyclists on both our roads and off-road in driveways, gardens, MTB trails, etc. We know from the international research road safety research literature that police forces don’t necessarily record all cases of serious injury happening to cyclists from impacts with vehicles (these are called RTCs) on public roads so that there is considerable under-reporting of serious injuries. Continue reading Prof. Brian Caulfield of TCD researches cycling issues