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Human Rights in IrelandIndymedia Ireland is a volunteer-run non-commercial open publishing website for local and international news, opinion & analysis, press releases and events. Its main objective is to enable the public to participate in reporting and analysis of the news and other important events and aspects of our daily lives and thereby give a voice to people.
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Critical Mass: A High Tension Ride dublin |
anti-capitalism |
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 Wednesday September 03, 2003 13:18 by Indymedia Kevin - IMC Éire
This Critical Mass was definitely one of the biggest and best of the summer - and also a high tension ride. As a regular Critical Masser I thought this was great - because it was a change from the normal route, but also because we were going into a residential area around Cumberland Street, Cathal Brugha Street, and Middle/Lower Gardiner Street. Old people and kids were looking out from their windows and waving and smiling at us . . .Apologies this report & photos is a few days old but havent been next nor near a computer in days. This Critical Mass was definitely one of the biggest and best of the summer - and also a high tension ride. We ambled As a regular Critical Masser I thought this was great - because it was a change from the normal route, but also because we were going into a residential area around Cumberland Street, Cathal Brugha Street, and Middle/Lower Gardiner Street. Anyway enough editorialising. The ride went down to the end of Gardiner Street, down in front of the IFSC and crossed over the Matt Talbot bridge. We then took a right turn down Burgh Quay, passing by Tara Street DART station. This was where things heated up because there's always a huge volume of traffic going down the quays - a nightmare for cyclists. (Speaking of O'Connell Bridge, it completely escaped my memory thats its roughly the second anniversary of the cyclist who was killed by a truck just at the corner there where Centra is. Does anyone have any details on this - I remember there being a two minute silence for her death on a previous Critical Mass - perhaps we could remember this in the future.) By the time we had reached the Parliament Street turn, some of the motorists had reached boiling point and were screaming the usual obscenities at us. One truck driver from the Rebel County got down from his cab, soaked in ming sweat and spit with a soft porn mag jammed in his arse trouser pocket for the long ride home, screaming and threatening people.
Then in Parliament Street, a taxi driver tried to push his way through us, getting out of his car at one point and getting aggro with someone next to him. By this time four or five Garda had come along and told him to get back in his car.
Down Dame Street more Garda joined in - including the guy on the bike, In Westmoreland Street we were fortunate to the joined by a fluorescent, middle-aged, unicycling, juggling, Australian hippy guy, Next Critical Mass will be assembling on European Car Free Day, which is Monday September 22nd, at 5pm at the Spike in O'Connell Street. It will be part of the Repaint the Streets action on that day. The Critical Massers are always saying they need more cycle lanes - so they're going to continue their DIY/direct action buzz and make the cycle lanes themselves. BYO bike & paint on the day.
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down Parnell Square from the usual starting point of the Garden of Remembrance, but instead of going straight on down O'Connell Street or eastbound on Parnell Street, we took the left turn down towards Gardiner Street.
is about showing that there's a better way for cities to work - and for people who live there who are normally used to noise and traffic pollution, to see a group of smiling, happy, clean & safe cyclists is a really positive thing.
We slow cycled all the way down to Parliament Street, and even stopped for a minute or two at O'Connell Bridge - where a motorbiker forced his way through us aggressively, shouting "get a proper fucking bike!" 
Just as we were turning the corner, a guy in an Opel Corsa bumped into a cyclist, unbalancing her. So, instead of waiting an extra minute and he would have been clear, we stalled him for another 5 minutes, remonstrating him for his recklessness and general aggro attitude. 
who it must be said seemed to be enjoying himself quite a lot. The Garda on the push bikes seem to be a bit more chilled out than their colleagues on foot or in the patrol cars - more evidence that cycling is a 
who entertained us, the cops, and all onlookers for the rest of the trip to the top of O'Connell Street. 
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last one, thank christ.
that's all for now folks. see you soon.
Great article & pics.
Great report and one of the more enjoyable rides of the summer without a doubt, is it just me or is it always sunny on Critical Mass day?
I thought it was great the way the cyclists let buses through at lights etc..
I suppose that as its getting dark in the evenings the Car Free Day will be one of the last of 2003.
There has been talk of getting an online forum together to discuss CM in the future and aparently the Dublincriticalmass.com domain has been booked, so hopefully 2004 will be bigger and better than ever!!!
Repaint the Streets......I like it!
Nice one on remembering her. I had forgotten about her death until you reminded me. The woman who was killed at the corner of Westmoreland St was Olivia Potterton. I'm not sure when the date was but I have a newspaper clipping somewhere in a box in a friend's house. Thank god, there haven't been any such fatalities over the last year in Dublin.
i think we have a troll in picture untitled number 31.
He looks like he belongs to me...I think he was on the last one too
i no for a fact that he is.
its not him in the last one
hes not a rts man or anything like that but he does turn up to the "safer" demos
Anthony mentioned a woman cyclist killed at Westmoreland Street a couple of years ago.
There was another woman cyclist killed at the corner of Westmoreland Street back in December 1991. She was Dympna Meaney, a well known activist, very active particularly on issues relating to Central America. She was killed by a jugernaut which was turning left onto the quays. She is sorely missed.
I'm sure these deaths are just the tip of the iceberg. Does anyone have figures for the number of cyclists killed and injured in Dublin every year?
Keep on doing what you are doing, don't be intimidated by the motorised thugs.
Nice article an pics
Looks like fun
Will definitly be there at the next one with paint
Met my solicitor today to talk about the case against the guy who drove into me in his car when I was cycling, he will think twice next time
There is a cycle from Howth to blackrock and back!! on sept 21, a Sunday, should be a fun day out
More details to follow
Thankyou Precision Man for remembering the death of cyclist Dympna Meaney in December 1991. It was actually 10 December - International Human Rights day. Also Greens Party Agriculture spokesperson Michael Curtis was killed by a truck on a very warm Friday afternoon 4 May 1990 at the corner of Clare St and Merrion Square. I remember the day well.
Do you know I keep meaning to go on these critical mass bike rides but I keep forgettingg the date. Annoying. I spend a lot of time in London as well as Dublin and in London the ride is always the last Friday of the month. I wish the rides were a bit better advertised. I bet if they were there would be at least ten times the number of cyclists on the streets.
Can't you lot do something about this? Why are not all the schools in the Dublin area encouraged to join in? All very well riding around annoying the motorists but why not get the word around. A few posters around the city centre would not go amiss. Who organises these rides? They could do a lot better. Why not a few topless women riders? A few naked men riding? It would get headlines in the yellow press. The so-called journalists and news reporters would be all over you.
New VW-bug "what you breathe" sticker (163k) for download and printing
This was my first critical mass though I've been hearing about it for ages. It was much larger than I'd expected [being dublin and not some mad place like london or boston]. I don't know the story, but I think it's a parade. If someone wants to be a anarcho-destructivist, great! do it at night. After work is for the mainstream, yo. I come to have a laugh, and I think most peeps that came exhibited good humour with noisemakers , smiles, and waves [and there was the excellent display of juggling on a unicycle - praise be].
Unfortunately, when people get in cars their brainwaves short out with the start of the ignition; this is pure scientific fact. I hate cars as much as the next self-righteous cyclist risking their neck on the dublin streets, but the fact is: cars are bigger than bicycles. I don't believe that they're in the right for being bigger - it just is. If you've ever watched a small yappy dog get aggressive with a pit bull, you might understand how I see things when cyclists egg on motorists.
On friday, there was one particular fucker in a blue car who would not settle down, and was being further driven [har,har] to the brink of insanity by his raving passenger. This guy was bullying us along the quays from westmoreland street until parliament street, honking, cursing, and promising to hunt and batter each one of us, individually. Dialogue, which I couldn't hear, was exchanged between driver and a few cyclists whilst meandering along. When we arrived at parliament street, and were stopped at the lights waiting to turn, I found myself directly infront of this guy and his abuse. I turned around and said "It's the same as a parade; you've just got to relax and calm down." During that second the light changed and he began frantically waiving at me to fuck off. I turned to go and he jump the gun and hit into my back tire. I don't really think he was aiming to hit me for he could've done far more damage; this was more of a forceful tap. Now, like any little dog who recognizes the risks, I raged on him and punched in the hood of his car screaming "don't touch my bike!" with the intent to shock him into the defensive, and protect myself from any further agression.I think it worked. I would have much rather this guy had kept his angry distance and let us proceed without incidence, but people are fuckers. I chilled out on the sidewalk and waited for the adreneline to pass.
I'm down with the idea of critical mass : a bunch of cyclists hooning around in good humour, having a ride and a laugh. I maintain it is in our best interest to keep things as peaceful as possible through effective communivation. I mean, you can say something to a pissed off motorist with the intention of calming the situation, or you can speak with the purpose of proclaiming your righteousness. Anything said will set up limited options for feasible replies. These car-people are in attack mode, so disingage from that argument. I am not accusing any of us of bearing fault for the actions of lunatic drivers, but people are not going to climb out of their cars for good in the next five years so we're going to have to transit alongside them for the time being. The donkey who now has a bashed in hood on his car is probably going to be much more likely to run down some poor commuter for the actions transpired. Or maybe not- I don't really know. Either way, it isn't my fault, and I don't think it was the responsibility of anyone at the mass to deal with the fool.
With my initiation over and my membership card surely in the post after that brutal display of pure cycle-riot, I will now assert my suggestions:
I'd like to see more fun. More colour, more flags/banners/anything. RTS' "repaint the streets" is on the 22nd, and I'm going to try to make a costume. I'm builing a dayglo pink bike. Anyone interested in exchange of idears and actions could get in touch via email. Anyone who thinks I'm an asshole for comparing cyclists to little dogs can fuck off because I'm obviously so much more anarcho-cyclist than you.
Something some of you might be interested in ....................
......WELCOME TO THE DUBLIN BAY FUN CYCLE (Sun 21 Sep 03) FROM HOWTH VILLAGE TO BLACKROCK PARK AND BACK. BRING YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND ANYONE YOU KNOW WHO CAN RIDE A BIKE!
FOR YOUR INFO PACK E-MAIL YOUR ADDRESS AND CONTACT DETAILS TO US AT info@diabetes.ie (DON'T FORGET TO TELL YOUR FRIENDS)
ALTERNATIVELY PHONE US ON 1850 909 909 AND SPEAK TO US DIRECTLY 9AM - 5PM OR LEAVE A MESSAGE AFTER HOURS
Jim Barkley (Bella Doyle) & Sue Cleaver (Eileen Grimshaw) pictured at the launch of the Dublin Bay Fun Cycle
Top soap star on Ireland ’s third TV channel joined forces with a rival across on channel one today to highlight the importance of the number seven to people with diabetes.
Jim Bartley, also known as ‘Bela Doyle’ from ‘Fair City’ — which is broadcast on RTE1 — linked up with TV3’s Coronation Street character, Eileen Grimshaw [a.k.a Sue Cleaver] to launch the Dublin Bay Fun Cycle.
The event will attract thousands of riders and raise funds for Irish-based diabetes research. Diabetes affects about 100,000 people in Ireland with probably a further 100,000 people unaware that they have the condition.
The fun cycle is organised by the Diabetes Federation of Ireland. It has the theme ‘Life is Better Under Seven’ because it aims to raise awareness among the 200,000 Irish people with diabetes of a vital long-term blood sugar reading known as A1c.
Patients with diabetes who do not keep their A1c under seven, as a result of poor management — and doctors say just one in five are aware of this — are at risk of developing serious long-term health problems including stroke, heart disease, blindness, kidney failure and amputation.
Sue Cleaver has diabetes and said that those with diabetes should ask their doctor about A1c.
"Having diabetes myself, I know how important it is that people understand the importance of diagnosing diabetes and them managing it properly to avoid long-term health problems," she added
Diabetes occurs when sugar levels in the blood are abnormally high due to insufficient insulin production or the body not being able to use insulin properly. It is important to maintain normal blood sugar levels on an ongoing basis and A1c tests allow doctors to assess if those with diabetes are doing this over an extended period of time.
Dr. Seamus Sreenan, a diabetes consultant based at James Connolly Memorial Hospital in Dublin commented: "Diabetes is the commonest cause of blindness in the working population and this is just one example of the long-term implications of the disease. However recent landmark research studies have shown us that with good long-term control of blood sugar levels, these complications can be prevented.
"This emphasises how extremely important it is that awareness of diabetes is increased amongst the Irish population and in particular that the issue of controlling blood sugar levels in the long-term is communicated to patients in a simple and easy-to-understand manner."
The Dublin Bay Fun Cycle is happening on Sunday 21st September between Howth Village and Blackrock Park and back. Participants can cycle at their own pace, stopping along the way at conveniently and friendly pit stops.
For further information on how to participate please contact the Diabetes Federation of Ireland on 1850 909 909 or log onto www.diabetes.ie
NOTE TO EDITORS
Ø There are two ways in which blood sugar control can be monitored: daily fasting blood glucose measurement and regular A1c measurement in the longer term. It is believed that A1c gives the best overall measurement of control as it reflects changes in blood glucose levels very accurately.
Ø In addition to having serious implications on patients’ lives, poor blood sugar level control also has knock-on effects on the economy. The burden of diabetes accounts for approximately 10% of the total Irish health budget, with the majority of funds being spent on preventable and expensive complications.
Ø Profits from the Dublin Bay Fun Cycle will be invested in Irish-based diabetes research.
I joined in the mass near Butt bridge and was quickly immersed in the fun (red-faced taxi-driver trying to bully his way through and abuse freely flowing in both directions).
I noticed that the reaction of most pedestrians was curiousity as to the purpose of the demo. Several asked me what we were protesting, I gave a broadly accurate answer "anti-car", "these streets are for us too" which delighted most of them.
I also noticed the utter cluelessness of the Gardai. They only picked up on the ride before Parliament Street and i witnessed one gobshite trying to steer us into the bus lane. His abject failure was expressed when I heard him uttering "Jaysus Christ" to himself. On O'Connell bridge as we were waiting for the lights to go green, I heard a Ban Garda speaking into her radio; "They're on O'Connell Bridge and THEY'RE REFUSING TO MOVE!!!" I heard another on his radio calling Store Street for help. Well the lights turned green and that put an end to that.
Anyway, great day, congrats to all and Kevin for the story and pics and especially to the Assie hippy who brought the perfect touch of class to the day.
Well, it was also my first Critical Mass. I just wanted to say that it was very cool! And thanks to everyone involved for making it a really fun day! Hopefully there will be an even bigger crowd on Sept.22nd! I know i'll be there!
See u there, and on 21st, at the diabetes cycle!
I was surprised that the author of this excellent piece thought that "Critical Massers want more bike lanes". I for one don't. This topic came up on the last CM report here on indymedia too and there were good reasons given for why bike lanes are a bad idea for cyclists.
Currently there are major moves amony the Irish cycling community to have the existing badly-designed and poorly-implemented "bike lanes" along with their possibly illegal "mandatory use provisions" respectively removed and repealled.
Research on several continents has shown that except in a very few situations (and none of them are dense urban ones) bike lanes have a negative impact upon the safety of cyclists and the number of cyclists.
This is because they dimish the status of the bicycle from being a vehicle to being a toy and banish it to a narrow lane at the side of the road into which car doors are opened, rubbish is swept and road-works are conducted. These bike lanes usually end in a preciptous manner which causes confusion, especially at intersections (the vast majority of car/bicycle collisions occur at intersections). More importantly they were created and promoted as a tool to get bicycles off urban roads so that cars could travel at higher speeds (see the Galway Cycling Campaign's information on this) and were not intended to increase the safety and comfort of cyclists.
The introduction of "bike lanes" in Dublin is correllated with a circa 20% decline in the number of cyclists as measured by the Quay Cordon Census studies. (It should be noted that correlation is not causation here, but it's food for speculation).
On a final personal note I have never felt the need for cycle lanes and feel that their introduction has caused me more safety problems by pandering to the motorist mindset and reinforcing the perception that I am not the driver of a vehicle.
Critical Mass is many things to many cyclists and it's the prerogative of the writer of this excellent article to see it as a way of expressing support for more bike-lanes, but that's not why I do it -- I do it to have fun and if there's any immediate practical demands they are:
1. Removal of the dangerous network of "bike lanes".
2. Introduction of a Dublin-wide 25mph speed limit. Immediate withdrawal of license for 1-week on first offense. Impounding of car on second offence. Jail term and life-ban on third offense. The automobile should be treated like a firearm or other dangerous weapon based upon the number of lives that it takes daily.
3. Provision of showers and secured bike parking in all workplaces. Appropriate fines and confiscations if not implemented.
4. The complete banning of vehicles larger than a circa 1980's station-wagon from the city center except for buses.
That's all.
I agree wholeheartedly with "Bike Lanes are dangerous - Working Class Cyclists". The attitude behind them is that bicycles (and other human-powered vehicles) are not "proper" vehicles, or are some glorified kind of pedestrian (hence most of these bike lanes are placed on pavements rather than roads).
Bicycles are vehicles and belong on the road. I know some cyclists feel very intimidated by motorised vehicles, and that is why they want to be separated from them, but bicycles are as incompatable with pedestrians as they are with heavy motorised vehicles.
According to the Irish Independent the scheduled September 22nd car-free day in Cork City has been reneged upon by the city's councillors "due to pedestrianisation and urban renewal programs"! They claim that city traders would suffer additional business loss on top of the problems stemming from "urban renewal and drainage schemes".
ever cycled in amsterdam? you never get any agro from car cunts. on most streets bike lanes have a 'ledge' that seperates from the rest of the street. in the city centre area cars are scarce and cycling is pleasure. in dublin we need to close o'connell/dame/college and kildare streets off from cars- bikes only! on the next critical mass maybe we could bike round by the dail holding up the FFers and their beamers for a couple of hours.. might make em listen a lot quciker