Critical Mass
dublin |
rights, freedoms and repression |
news report 
Thursday October 01, 2009 14:07
by Conor. M
dublin-critical-mass at googlegroups dot com
'we are traffic'
The first critical mass in Dublin for years was a great success, but more importantly, it was great craic. In the doom and gloom of it all it was nice to take to the streets for a different reason.
The cm left the meeting point at around 6.45, Friday 25th Sep.
There were between 45-50 people. We rode around the city (as you do) as pedestrians looked on ammused. It was the most fun you can have on two wheels. But there is another aspect to having a cm.
We stopped for a moment at the spot the 51 year-old man was killed by a truck. The fact the man was killed was not because he was not wearing a helmet or a hi-vis, it was because the roads in the city centre are simply unsafe for cyclists.
As the new bike sceme got off to a succesful start, one wonders how people who have never cycled the roads in Dublin could manage to navagate through the 'bike-unfriendly' city. One way to assert your rights on the road and to cycle them safely is to cycle them, together!
We made our presence felt, and the mass certainly did not go unnoticed as we took the roads back for the short time we were there. But, it is not all serious. The people who took part had a great time. It was fun and nice to see the roads heavy with bike traffic. At the end of the mass we went to a park to relax and have a chat. The atmosphere was positive and friendly, and some passed around treats and tea!
The next mass should be bigger and better. The only was this can happen is if YOU get involved!
Watch this space...
Comments (4 of 4)
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Aint pedaling for votes
Twenty bicycles can be parked in the same space taken up by one car
On a bicycle you weigh about six times more than your vehicle
In 1986, 7% of all trips to work in Ireland were made by bike. By 1996 that figure had fallen to just over 4%.
Over 45,000 people drive 2km or less to work in Dublin
.
Nationally over 200,000 people drive 4km or less to work
There are an estimated 1 billion bikes in the world
Cycling is the quickest mode of transport in an urban environment for trips up to 6kms
75% of cycle accidents occur at junctions
In 1986, 7% of all trips to work in Ireland were made by bike. By 1996 that figure had fallen to just over 4%.
Every cyclist in Dublin should get involved in helping to organise the cm, come to the next meeting everyone!!
I'm just checking out the article about the last Critical Mass now. It was an idyllic evening: as we cycled down the quays under a pink and golden September sky, I looked at the ribbon of cyclists stretching in front and behind me and I was pierced with the knowledge, that the city could belong to cyclists, that cycling was a righteous pursuit, that next time we could cycle in our hundreds, that with a valiant heart nothing is impossible!
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