Senator takes up challenge to cycle (for first time in 51 years) in Dublin

Senator Gerard Craughwell got into an exchange with cyclists on Twitter. And to his immense credit, despite not being on a bike in 50 years, he took to Dublin traffic on two wheels

Senator Gerard Craughwell got into an exchange with cyclists on Twitter but rather than have a row, he took up their challenge of cycling in Dublin.

The Fine Gael representative said he hadn't cycled in 51 years, a fact that underlines the kudos he deserves for giving it a go, aged 66 years.

Last Monday he
Tweeted the Pat Kenny radio show on Newstalk when there was a discussion on the
programme about cyclists; perhaps the worst show on the cycling issue since
George Hook.

“Speaking
of cyclists,” Senator Craughwell said,
“I have just driven through
Terenure and, guess what, four cyclists and one motor cyclist
broke a red light.

“(They)
weaved in and out of traffic in order to continue their journey. Rules must
apply to all road users.”

There followed an exchange between himself and some well known cycling activists and generally pro-cycling voices on Twitter.

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He was challenged
during that conversation to take to the streets himself in order to gain a
better understanding of the subject he was commenting on.

And that’s
precisely what he did yesterday, on a bike organised with the help of I Bike
Dublin.

One small criticism – and we’ll hopefully rectify that by having a chat with him in the next few days – is that he provided only scant detail of how he got on.

He is set to take to the streets with I Bike Dublin on Monday but based on the cycling he has done so far he said delivery drivers were polite in allowing him time to pull ahead at traffic lights.

But those delivery drivers, he said, were also regularly parked on cycle lanes around the city, forcing him out into the road.

We’ll keep you
posted on his progress. But so far, we salute him for being willing to give it
a go!

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