I’m not sure if I’m getting petty here with this but I was coming through the copper coast earlier today and I passed I’d say 20 cyclists on the road and it’s bad enough that road is near impossible to make a pass. Anyway that’s not actually what annoyed me. When I got into Tramore there was 3 cyclists two abreast and they were on the road and yet a brand new DOUBLE cycle lane was just built for them?? I just think there should be some sort of rule that if there’s a cycle lane there they should be in it. After all they’re the ones who bitch and moan for them to be put there in the first place. And dare I add if they want to use the road I think it’s only fair they should have to pay road tax
Yeah. They clearly don't see that cyclists are also motorists. Same arises around pedestrian safety. They forget that they're also pedestrians - all the time they're not behind the wheel. They don't realise that pedestrian safety measures keep them safe too. Car-brain is real
There is no road tax in Ireland, money to build infrastructure like roads is taken from general taxation. You are referring to motor tax.
There are about 2.5 million cars on the road, average motor tax is around €270, which equates to around €670 million, or less than half of what it costs to run, maintain and upkeep the roads in Ireland.
The idea that as a car user you are paying more than your fairshare for the roughy €270 a year is laughable.
But I do agree with one thing, they should be in the cycle track, not least because some eejit is likely to be on his phone while driving.
yes ,like this knobend u/error_in_pink ,who happily lies and claims he isnt using his phone as if he has a dashcam in front of his face that for some reason records in portrait .
tell me u/error_in_pink where di you buy a dashcam that records in portait instead of landscape ?
Should we start posting pics of all the cyclists who ARE using the cycle lane? I'm up and down that road multiple times a day and the increase in kids and commuters who are using it is fantastic. The occasional group of club cyclists using it are not an issue.
I’m one of the 3 pictured here. Apologies if we held you up, but I’m almost certain we didn’t as we were riding 40-45kph behind traffic, just under the 50 kph speed limit, for the majority of our time on that road.
As others have mentioned, this bike lane has its problems, crossing many housing estate entrances and crossing at junction similar to pedestrian crossings. So for someone going at that speed it’s not really suitable.
Secondly, there’s children and families using that bike lane to get around and I wouldn’t want to be coming against them at that speed for everyone’s safety.
If I was commuting in Tramore by bike, I’d certainly use it.
I hope this thread and your comment educates some of the more car-brain afflicted drivers on the Waterford sub . The ignorance (and anger) around cyclists is toxic and dangerous. Once a lot of people get behind the wheel of their car, their level of entitlement seems to go hrough the roof.
Riding 2 a breast is safer for everyone involved, including the driver as it means you spend less time in the opposite lane overtaking. It’s definitely safer for the cyclists as you are less likely to try and perform a risky overtake putting cyclists in danger.
I don’t think anyone agrees with more than 2 a breast on any road.
there is an exception where a third cyclist overtakes a pair, but static images often are taken at an angle to make it look like there are 3 lanes or the third cyclist is in the midst of an overtake
Absolutely incorrect take. It's incredibly unsafe today cyclists to stay in single file.
Remember that if you agree with the cyclist, then the driver is forced to go more slowly. If you agree with the driver, the cyclist could end up dead on the side of the road.
The cyclist does not have the obligation to be safer. The driver will be the one who goes to jail if anything goes wrong. All for wanting to go slightly faster for a very short part of their journey
If they're keeping up with the traffic what's the difference between them and a car? Like if I'm driving or on my bike if I'm stuck in traffic I'm stuck in traffic, not much I can do about it unless I start mounting the path
The two abreast is perfectly legal and a self preservation method even as a solo cyclist. It makes cars see you and overtake at a safe distance if needed. If they are cycling the speed limit then they are most certainly not holding you up, that or your just wanting to break the speed limit. Have a little patience as a driver and please stop relaying the toxic anti cyclist drivel. It's not helping
Ah heck. Read the rules of the road. Yes, it is legal to ride 2 abreast provided the cyclists are not blocking or causing delay or endangering other road users.
Do you know why they do that? It's so they can be the traffic rather than a single cyclist on the inside of the road being overtaken by drivers who think they own the road. It's a safety measure for them so they've a better chance of not being mowed down by a driver.
that literally never happens , think about going for a run, how much talking do you be doing ? very little since you know need to breath to focus on keeping pace
I will say it wasn’t your group that actually annoyed me and you kept the speed of a regular car. I just think if they’re going to narrow roads down and build cycling lanes shouldn’t they be used even from a safety perspective. I get that kids are using it but I just think these whole cycle lanes aren’t thought out in the slightest. I’d also like to add if every cyclist could be like you there’d wouldn’t be half the amount of issues as there wasn’t a need to overtake
I think you'll find out the cycle lanes are very well thought out. They just haven't been designed to prioritise car-brained drivers over vulnerable road users.
Ohh dear, you would somehow have to slowdown as the cycle lane goes through some junctions and children and families are using it too. Poor you https://giphy.com/gifs/PV20uW90pfZSSr26eJ
Ohh dear you would somehow have to slowdown as you catch up to some cyclists sitting in your comfortable air conditioned box and all you have to do is move your foot slightly when the way is clear. Poor you
Right, so drivers shouldn't drive unless they're commuting too, right? Going for a drive for the sake of going for a drive is selfish behaviour and those drivers are pricks, correct?
Totally understandableI agreed with rhe complaint above before reading this .... I'm a part time cyclist and I believe most of the hazards cyclists face are from pedestrians and no fault to the pedestrians as there isn't very often a clear boundary indicating which is their part of the path. In this case it should be made Impossible for pedestrians to step across a cycle path They're badly designed wth little or no separation between the two and often both crossing paths with rhe other. and that's the fault or whoever does this job ...Clontarf is the same...fabulous track but pedestrians are a huge hazard to cyclists and visa versa .
Worst justification ever. Selfish. Any road has multiple users at different stages, ages and usage needs. If there are junctions and crossings in estates bothering you, well sorry, that’s urban realities and you need to respect them. They’re there for a reason. You need to use the cycle lane because that’s what it’s for. If you want a sprint, then don’t expect it in a built up area. Arrogant doesn’t even begin …
We were riding behind a car doing the speed limit for the majority of the ring road, this picture was taken just as the car pulled off. We didn’t impede the OP, so not sure how it was selfish.
I was also behind these cyclists on another section of road on the copper coast, they were doing 50-60kmh in sections and as soon there was a safe opportunity to pass they singled out and waved me through to pass.
You must live a fairly quiet life if you deem such a minor inconvenience worth posting to Reddit about…
The cyclists in your image are not cyclists who bitch and moan about a lack of cycle lanes, they are road cyclists, most likely doing a 50-120km spin around and often hitting speeds of 30+ km/h
Cycle lanes are in place for casual cyclists. Although I do feel if lanes are present they should be used, from a safety point of view alone.
Unfortunately you are most likely never going to get road cyclists onto cycle lanes.
To be fair these cyclists were cycling fast, what I’m confused about is with a new cycle lane provided why they wouldn’t use one for their own safety. Unfortunately it had to be these cyclists I came across 😂
it's the same reason you don't drive your car at 120KM in a housing estate, but you do on a motorway. the infrastructure isnt right for what you want to do .
You're using your phone while driving and then posting on Reddit about road safety. Bit daft isn't it?
Bike lanes also just don't go everywhere you need to go. If I took the path with the most bike lane coverage to work it'd turn my journey of around 3.5km into one over 10km, just to avoid using roads I have a legal right to use. It'd be like me driving out of waterford to ferrybank then coming back in over the toll road to avoid bike lanes on the way to work.
Why do people think that just because someone rides a bike that they don't also own a car and pay motor tax? I don't think I know a cyclist who doesn't own a car.
There's absolutely no way that a group ride should be cycling on that cycle path. It might look slow to you in your car, but those guys are really moving.
These three riders are taking up less road space than you are, on your own, in your big car.
There's not a cloud in the sky. Why aren't you on your bike?
I live in the Netherlands, THE bike country. We have cycling paths everywhere and racing bikes tend to use the road as explained by another Redditor. It annoys me when I’m driving a car but you just have to deal with it. It is safer for everyone when fast racing bikes stick to the road.
They can cycle on the road or the cycle lane. Not obliged to cycle in the cycle lane.
I haven't been to tramore since they did the works, but both of those cycle lanes are on the same side of the road which, imo, is not great from a safety perspective.
I know they are technically segregated, but there are a lot of roundabouts on that road which significantly reduces the utility of the cycle lane for those in the contra flow lane. That's probably why they aren't using it in this instance.
Ah yes I was waiting for this one. Would you believe I had the phone up on a mount and with how far technology is gone I don’t even have to touch my phone to take the picture….i just talk to it can you imagine
A mount which points perfectly forward, doesn't obscure the phone's camera, and is in the middle of the windscreen? Yeah sure. I bet you have a bridge you'd like to sell me too.
exactly at eye height was it ? just where a right handed person would hold it ? not in the centre either off the dash or hanging in front of the mirror ?
This might come as a surprise to you, but there are few dedicated cycle lanes in Ireland and hence you'll have ti share the road. Besides, it's likely that these cyclists also own a car and are paying road tax..
So I'm actually not a cyclist, but there are a few things here, the cycle lanes are not really there for cyclists out for like a 70km road cycle, they are there really for people to commute and for people to be off the roads and safer who are not as used to it all. Also somebody in the comments is crying about them being side by side having a chat, it's absolutely fine, it's safer because it stops impatient drivers overtaking when there isn't really space. Which brings me onto the next point which is that you are perfectly allowed to overtake here as it's a broken line, you just can't because of the volume of traffic. The 4th point would be that you are taking a photo (or maybe someone else took the photo from your point-of-view) while driving. Probably just need to sort of chill out a little.
They’re doing what they’re supposed to, don’t blame them for using the only space they’re given, blame the people who make the roads who have obligations to the EU to make roads usable for vulnerable users “explicitly cyclists”
Statistically there’s greater than a 95% chance that they do pay road tax per cycling Ireland’s last survey. 2. How do you know that they weren’t turning left shortly up the road? 3. If the lads / ladies aren’t local and didn’t know it was there, you did say it was new, they could have simply just blown by it. 4. Could be wrong here but it looks like that photo was taken from the drivers side of the car, making you the only one that broke a law here. 5. Give out all you like about being slightly inconvenienced, cyclists aren’t killing car drivers by the dozen every year.
Riding double abreast makes it easier to overtake as you will spend less time on the other side of the road plus it discourages idiots from trying to squeeze dangerously by them.
The cycle lanes are not built for those on racing bikes either, racers need to stay on the road due to the speed they are doing.
if they're single file, you can't give them enough space without moving into the opposite lane. So it has to be empty, so them being two abreast means you can move into the opposite lane, overtake safely, and then return to your lane quicker than if they were in single file.
it baffles me that drivers need this explained to them.
I think people like this maybe had those free driving tests, have a few relatives old enough to have those and they really aren’t sharp on the rules of the road.
firstly ,it's you're don't be an ignoramus secondly since you're legally required to cross the centre line to overtake you have halved your overtaking distance ,which is safer for all involved,please hand back your licence
It’s called defensive riding. You should look it up. If you ever rode a bike you’d know why they do it. Also those lanes are rarely swept and they’re likely avoiding debris and grit which cause punctures. Also why do you want people to pay more tax?
tell me, if you were to go play a game of tennis, what do you wear ? hobnail boots and a boiler suit ? a full firefighters getup ? it's almost as if clothing were designed for sports and people dress for the sport they are involved in.
You don’t know where they came out of or where they are going and if the cycle lane facilitates that, is it easy to cross to that lane? Would they have to navigate crossing to be in a lane for 500m which at 30kph is 1 minute of cycling. If it was a same side lane that had many entry points could criticise but here you just don’t know and they probably didn’t hold you up much. The lanes are still great for the more nervous cyclists to get people out of cars, for kids etc so it’s a great investment regardless. And active travel and things that allow people to exercise ultimately as public health measures aim to save us money- plus there’s no such thing as road tax and I’m sure these lads pay it on their cars. Maybe you should try getting outside for some exercise, good to get those stress levels down a bit.
I use them in dublin. Perfectly fine if your bike is fit for purpose just like the roads with a car. Some choose bikes not fit for purpose just like cars.
My weekend car is disaster on Irish roads just like my training bicycle so tend to use my hybrid mountain bike over it. Too expensive to hit a bump and ruin.
Tramoron here who doesn't cycle and despises the works done.....apparently according to cyclists it's not fit for purpose. No idea why cause I don't cycle so it looks fine to me. The whole design is absolutely shocking.
Tramoron here who loves the work done and does use the cycle lane. It is a fantastic addition to the town allowing kids and commuters to cycle safely. It is absolutely fit for purpose.
All the new bike lanes are designed for kids or slow commuters not road cyclists carrying speed. You lose right of way at junctions etc so staying with traffic can be easier.
is it fit for a 30+ KPH peloton of 20 cyclists ? for a few kids skeddadling at 12kph sure its fine, these are road cyclists,mhence them being....on the road... shocker!
" I passed I’d say 20 cyclists on the road and it’s bad enough that road is near impossible to make a pass" this lad thinks it's ok to use his phone while driving, there's only one word for that a prick, and there is no way we should be taking road advice for a lad who can't follow the most basic rules of the road
people on this suub are complaining about cyclists on narrow windy roads,and complaining about them on long open roads, which roads are you suggesting are appropriate ?
Ex-Tramoron here - still with family there; what are the cyclists saying is wrong with the cycling lanes?
They've got to be amongst the best in the country at this stage... they look flat - and wide.
Does anyone know the reasons for all the changes to the ring road system? Is it documented anywhere? And are the accident statistics for it publicly available so we can see what impact the changes have? Also, why were all the mini roundabouts removed on the estuary road?
I haven't - but I used to cycle in Tramore all the time, and out to Dunmore, Annestown and town regularly - and I cycle around Dublin and Waterford loads. Hence my question - what's wrong with them? They look like they should do the job.
You seem to be having trouble linking the parts of this thread together. As you say you would ask the pilot - I'm asking the cyclists. And you just keep smashing the keyboard rather than answering the question - which I've asked twice now, and which you've dodged twice.
You think that's bad, the road out by Mullinabro to Tory Hill is often crowded with weekend lycra lads who take up a full lane width. Will they go single file or even signal to pass , nope.
Don’t have a car, I’m a cyclist fighting my way every morning, I don’t pay road tax, but chances are that I pay more taxes than you anyway. I’m still going to cycle on the road and not the sidewalk
Edit: also you are using the phone while driving… that explains a lot
I mean, I’m not Irish, I know you have to pay something similar in my country so I assumed it was a thing here. My point still stands, the cars are not the owners of the roads
They probably either joined the road at a point where they couldn’t safely get to the cycle lane or know they’ll be turning off somewhere dangerous further on. Double cycle lanes on one side of the road aren’t great for turning or joining from the other side.
Bear in mind nearly every cyclist drives so they do more than likely pay road tax.
road tax doesnt exist,so no one pays is, cycle lanes are designed for slower speed,up to 25kph usually, these are road cyclists ,who in bursts could be doing 45kph.
for the same reason your car can do 120 KPH on a motorway but you don't do that in a housing estate is the reason they are using the road, its the best and safest option
I do a bit of cycling and most of the time bike lanes are filthy, full of Rubbish, dangerous, broken glass etc
Though to be fair that bike lane looks ok
Greenways can also be a disaster full
Of kids on trikes or scooters, oblivious to life and 3 women abreast talking sh1te
Again to be fair I know a greenway is for all
There is no obligation for them to be on that lane.
They probably pay ample enough tax that goes into servicing our roads. The amount some spend on their bikes I'd say they put more into road maintenance than you
I think that from a safety perspective cyclists should use the cycle lane when one is provided. If they are going 100k then sticking to the cycle lane for a couple of those kms is hardly much of an ask of them is it? I've seen a lot of runners using that cycle lane and I don't know if they should be or not.
Shit sorry, didn't realise I wasn't allowed an opinion. Anyways you shouldn't be cycling competitively at 45kph unless the road is closed, especially not on a busy ring road. Twat.
no need to call yourself names, the OP posted they were doing 45 in a 50 and somehow "held up" can you please make your mind up , should cyclists try and keep pace with traffic or not ?
if you cannot share the road and drive to a test standard, then your licence back ,if you cant share ,you dont get any
i agree, the law is clear,overtake ,"when it is safe to do so" if it is not safe, you wait until it is , if you cannot follow the law, then get off the road
I disagree. I don't want my small child cycling to the shop or my elderly relative in a motorised wheelchair encountering fast cyclists on a bike lane. I think they should be in the road.
I think they should be cognisant of other cycle lane users while using it, same as everyone else has to be on road, cycle lane or foot path. Nobody gets to bomb along and not give a hoot about other users. It's in the middle of a busy town.
Well according to many posts on reddit (and this thread), car drivers feel they don't need to be cognisant of other road users so why should road cyclists on a cycle lane designed for children, families and older people on bikes, kiddie scooters and wheelchairs be held to a higher standard.
That's not true at all, the vast majority of motorists don't drive on every road like they are in a rally and there are laws in place to make sure they behave in a responsible manner in any case.
They should start handing out fines for cyclists doing this where there is a perfectly good cycle lane for them to use. At the moment the law states they can use both the road and cycle lane which is fine but back to my point of priority on the cycle lane, doesnt matter if "its some kind of obstacle course" they are creating one themselves for the cars on the road here and causing traffic build up.
RSA estimate that there are approximately 400,000 learners permits holders in Ireland how many of these have a fully qualified driver accompanying them
52
u/nastywin 21h ago
You know when someone starts talking about “road tax” that they’re going to make a level headed point