Friday, November 23, 2012

Co. Mayo, IRL's Video on How Cars S/Pass Cyclists


Not sure what the law is here, as even the Dublin Cycling Campaign people admit on their web site that there is a lot of conflicting language in how Irish law treats its cyclists. But at least this kind of stuff, that the cyclists.ie people jointed ventured with a car insurance carrier, is out there. 

Back in California, we can't even get a simple three foot passing law, passed by the state house and senate, beyond our governor's reckless vetoes (two and counting).....

Btw: In the comments section, I found the below note.
Considering only four million people live in Ireland, the sentence I highlighted in bold is chilling......

Date: 25th May 2011
Have you ever cycled on a busy road and felt intimidated by passing cars ? A video clip is to raise awareness among motorists on how to over take a cyclist safely, one of the greatest concerns parents and cyclists have is how motorists come too close to cyclists when overtaking them. This awareness campaign is been promoted to co-inside with a national campaign to promote cycling with national bike week been held on 18th June – 26th June.
This campaign aims to prevent collisions between motorists and cyclists by educating the public about bicycle safety and encouraging cars and bikes to share the road.
A recent report by the Road safety Authority revealed Over 600 cyclists were killed or seriously injured on Irish roads between 1997 and 2010. This video clip reminds motorists to allow plenty of space when overtaking a cyclist and always anticipate a cyclist having to make a sudden move to avoid a pothole or obstruction. We are also reminding cyclists that it’s everyone’s responsibility to pay attention and take care on the roads. Simple actions such as wearing a helmet and high visibility jacket, obeying the rules of the road, anticipating what drivers may do, and most importantly never use an i pod when cycling.
“ As more people are starting to cycle on our roads it’s vital that drivers know how to overtake cyclists in a safe manner. Cyclists must also practice the rules of the road. Mutual respect between the driver and cyclist will result in happy and safe roads.” Miss Eva Gannon Green Schools An Taisce
‘’The idea behind this campaign is simple – we’re asking everyone to accept responsibility to look out for each other on the roads so more people can experience the health benefits of cycling said Miss Thelma Birraine health promotion HSE West.
Improving bike safety is a two-way street, “Drivers need to know that cyclists have a right to the road and cyclists need to know that drivers are looking out for their safety. That’s why we all need to work together to take simple steps to share the road and keep our roads safe.” said Noel Gibbons road safety officer.
Thérèse Ruane, Chairperson of Smart Travel Castlebar, said:
“Cycling is becoming more and more popular. Using your bike is the fastest, cleanest and most efficient way of getting around town. But it’s really important that motorists and cyclists act responsibly on the road to ensure safety for everyone. This video clip will go along way to ensure that we can all share the road in a safe and responsible way.
Paul Moloney, Head of Corporate Affairs at AXA Insurance added: “At AXA we are big supporters of road safety initiatives through our AXA Road safe Road show series. We welcome any campaign that highlights the importance of sharing the road with other road users, as this remains a major contributing factor to road deaths in Ireland each year”.
END
Regards
Noel Gibbons
Road Safety Officer
Mayo County Council
MAYO
Ireland

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