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Cyclist killed, let's block the streets...

category dublin | miscellaneous | other press author Tuesday September 15, 2009 12:14author by Critical Massacre

Cyclist (51) killed in Dublin crash

(From Irishtimes.com)

"A cyclist (51) has died following a collision in Dublin City Centre this morning.
The man was fatally injured when he collided with an articulated truck at Wellington Quay at about 8.20am.
He was pronounced dead at St James' Hospital a short time later.
The road remains closed at the scene to facilitate forensic collision investigators carrying out an examination of the scene and diversions are in place."

Can we arrange a protest... each time I read of this I feel the need to take to the streets, to block traffic in protest. These streets are not safe for us!
(Although I don't know the full details of the accident).

Related Link: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0915/breaking21.htm

Comments (4 of 4)

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author by Péarspublication date Tue Sep 15, 2009 20:50author address author phone

I also think the streets need to become a safer place for everybody. This death is tragic and I pass on my respects to the family of the person that has died and my thoughts go out to the car user involved in the collision.. It is also a tragic accident that parallels the issuing of Dublin City Councils pay and ride bike's! This particular stretch of the Quays has a history of cycling fatalities. I agree with your sentiment for some sort of expression of protest and concern for our freewheelin community. I look forward to the day when Dublin has a non public transport automobile exclusion zone within the city center, when people driving give way to those cycling. when we have a awareness amongst automobile drivers that will nurture cycling culture . Who knows? maybe in the not to distant future people will talk of dangerously(criminal!?) designed cities that neglected significant members of its communities by keeping the status quo where cycling and transport is concerned. Have you considered organising a protest or quick response group for public demo's when this happens?. maybe using the internet to do so? I would be interested in a quick creative response to something like this. 1000 less cars for every bike, calories burnt (not oil), quiet more room,less vroom!
Thank you bike users of Dublin.

author by Pete.publication date Wed Sep 16, 2009 07:47author address author phone

You might as well try to roll back the tide.

When the Automobile first took to the streets in the 19th century far-sighted people predicted that it would result in the deaths of millions of people.

They were right.

Laws were passed requiring every automobile to be preceded by a man waving a red flag.
This is not a joke. See:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_flag_laws#Red_flag_law...he_UK

Quote:
"In the United Kingdom, the Red Flag Law, a policy requiring self-propelled vehicles to be led by a pedestrian, waving a red flag or carrying a lantern, to warn bystanders of the vehicle's approach. The Red Flag Law was repealed in 1896."

Around a million people die worldwide every year in road traffic accidents.
See:
http://www.factbook.net/EGRF_Exec_Summary.htm

Quote:
"Study findings also indicate that over the next ten to twenty year the number of people dying annually in road crashes may rise to 1 million to 1.3 million respectively."

It may be my turn,or your turn,soon.

.

author by Péarspublication date Wed Sep 16, 2009 16:29author address author phone

Hi. If anyone would like to contribute ideas of expression concerning this tragedy or to commemerate all cycle users killed on the roads in Dublin. Can you e-mail them here. If you want to partcipate more and feel like expressing your protest,solidarity,love of cycling,empathy with the families of those involved in incidents like this or what ever else you can vision. Then say so and maybe the energy can be harvested into action. email here. dubcycleoflife@gmail.com Maybe we could work something out for next week to the day of the tragic death on the Quays. specifically at the site? just came up O'connel st and a luas tram has collided with a number 16 bus. Are you satisfied with the peace on the roads? . Also here is the link for Dublin cycling campaign which maybe useful.http://www.dublincycling.com/contact
Looking forward
Péars.

author by Daisypublication date Thu Sep 17, 2009 15:46author address author phone

I was in Amsterdam recently, a beautiful city, their main transport being trams and bikes. Dublin streets are not safe enough for cyclists and they should have taken care of that before introducing the bike scheme. I'd sue the Dept of Transport! Sympathy to friends and famillies of those who have been hurt or killed in such accidents of which there have been too many.


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