EM - August/September 2013 - (Page 22)
22
August/September2013 www.esb.ie/em
HEALTH & HABITAT
Image in-box
a selection of your photography
SAFE DRIVING BUREAU
CYCLING IN THE SUN
By Grainne Coogan
ALL DRIVERS HAVE
A RESPONSIBILITY TO
LOOK OUT FOR AND
PROTECT VULNERABLE
ROAD USERS, OF WHICH
CYCLISTS ARE ONE
GROUP
1.
2.
•
•
TIPS FOR
DRIVERS
• Cyclists are much smaller, can be
difficult to see and a larger vehicle
passing too close or too fast could
blow them over
3.
•
•
• Remember your blind spots
– check all mirrors before
manoeuvring.
• Check for cyclists if you are
opening your door onto the road
• Slow down – the faster your drive,
the less time you have to react
• Proceed very slowly round lefthand bends – there could be a
cyclist around the corner
• Use daytime running lights – it is
much easier for all traffic to see
you, including cyclists. You are
making them more alert to the
presence of an oncoming vehicle
and giving them a better chance of
avoiding it
4.
5.
There are also measures that cyclists
must take to protect themselves
when using the roads and to comply
with the rules of the road:
TIPS FOR
CYCLISTS
1. ‘Coolkeeragh Rainbow’ by James Hockley. 2. ‘Coolkeeragh Sunrise over the Foyle’ by P. Doherty. 3. ‘Fire on Howth Head’ by Roisin
O’Hea. 4. ‘Power to the People at Dunlewy, Co. Donegal’ – Anon. 5. ‘Common ringed plover’ by B. Robinson.
WHAT’S NEW?
ON YER BIKE!
By Dave Walshe
THE ‘NEW’ PHENOMENON
that is cycling has really taken
off in recent years. Lots of
lycra-clad bodies are familiar
sights on our roads, with a lot
more joining them.
The increase is down to a
number of factors, including
the ease of getting around – the
Bike to Work Scheme, health
benefits and the proliferation
of suitable clothing.
There isn’t a fundraising
meeting held in this country
where a charity cycle isn’t top
of the agenda because of the
large potential participation.
For cyclists, the level of
organisation required to run
such an event is appreciated
as I experienced first-hand
when I recently cycled from
Mizen Head to Malin Head. If
I was to undertake organising
this myself I doubt if I’d have
attempted it. Training for this
was very enjoyable and has led
me to take part in many more
cycle challenges. Once you get
the bug you will be looking to
take part in events, such as the
Wicklow 200 and the Ring of
Kerry. ESB International has,
for the past number of years,
cycled between the Dublin and
Cork offices (The O2O Cycle)
in a day.
Despite all the plusses
related to cycling, our current
initiatives into cycling are
somewhat less than ideal.
There is new legislation coming
to provide for fixed penalty
fines for cycling transgressions,
most notably breaking red
lights. Non-cyclists see this
as a major transgression, but
in some parts of France it is
allowed and encouraged. In the
UK, Kensington and Chelsea,
councils allow cyclists to go the
wrong way up/down a oneway street because, remember,
one-way streets are for traffic
calming measures and make no
sense when applied to cyclists.
We spend multi-millions on
road infrastructure, but little
on pathways/routes for cyclists.
More people use bicycles than
public transport in Dublin.
Cycling is a fast and effective
way of getting around and its
wider adoption should be seen
as a health and transportation
positive and earmarked for
• Remember, you are sharing the
roads with other machines, much
bigger and faster than you
• It’s law to have a bell on your bike
more funding and positive
initiatives.
Some cycling musts are
insurance and proper protective
equipment and clothing. Do
not get on a bike without a
helmet; in the same way as you
•
•
•
•
•
•
at all times and to have working
lights, white or yellow to the front
and red to the rear, after dark
Obey the rules of the road – they
apply to all. Obey rules applying at
traffic lights, pedestrian crossings,
pelican crossings and zebra
crossings
A cyclist must use a cycle track if
it is provided and must obey cycle
track lights
Don’t ever ride or attempt to ride a
bicycle while under the influence
of alcohol or drugs – it is against
the law
Make yourself as visible as
possible at all times – wear a
reflective belt and/or reflective
vest
Wear a correctly-fitting cycle
helmet
When making a turn, look behind
to check, signal clearly with your
arm held out, look again and move
into new position
Make sure your brakes work –
check your brake blocks and
replace when worn
When passing parked cars give a
wide berth in case someone opens
the door
Don’t use a personal
entertainment system or a mobile
phone while cycling
Don’t take up a position on the
inside of a large vehicle out
of view of the driver. Instead,
stay behind if the large vehicle
has stopped at a junction with
the intention of turning left.
Remember, all vehicles have blind
spots and the driver may not be
able to see you. n
For more information contact Gráinne
Coogan, Communications Officer. Tel:
(01) 463 1721; email: safedriving@
esb.ie; web: http://esbnet/safedriving.
wouldn’t drive or be driven in
a car without a seatbelt. But
please do ‘get on yer bike’.
You’ll be glad you did. n
For more information on the Bike To Work
Scheme, visit www.biketowork.ie.
http://www.esb.ie/em
http://esbnet/safedriving
http://www.biketowork.ie
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of EM - August/September 2013
EM - August/September 2013
Contents
News
Innovation
Generation & Wholesale Markets
BSC & Electric Ireland
ESB Networks Ltd
Health & Habitat
EM - August/September 2013
http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/zahra/em_20150203
http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/zahra/em_20151201
http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/zahra/em_20141011
http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/zahra/em_20140809
http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/zahra/em_20140607
http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/zahra/em_20140405
http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/zahra/em_stormspecial
http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/zahra/em_esbenergy
http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/zahra/em_20140203
http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/zahra/em_20141201
http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/zahra/em_20131011
http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/zahra/em_20130809
http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/zahra/em_20130607
http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/zahra/em_20130405
http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/zahra/em_20130203
http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/zahra/em_20131201
http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/zahra/em_20121011
http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/zahra/em_20120809
http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/zahra/em_20120607
http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/zahra/em_20120405
http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/zahra/em_20120203
http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/zahra/em_20111201
http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/zahra/sa_2011
http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/zahra/em_20111011
http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/zahra/em_20110809
http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/zahra/em_20110607
http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/zahra/em_20110405
http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/zahra/em_20110203
http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/zahra/em_20101201
http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/zahra/em_20101011
http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/zahra/em_20100809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxteu/zahra/em_20100607
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com