LAST week it was announced that the deal had been done - Dublin City Council had sold its advertising soul in exchange for 500 bicycles and four public toilets. The bikes will be available to rent. In theory it sounds good. But in a city that has been planned decidedly in favour of the automobile, will anyone be brave enough to bike it?
The Sunday Tribune took to the streets of Dublin for a test run. Experienced cyclist Damien � Tuama agreed to lead me on a tour of the city.
Having not cycled in over a year, nerves were frayed. And it started badly, when I cycled into a bush. Luckily that incident went unnoticed.
It was the afternoon, the sun was shining, and as we made our way from Leeson Street onto St Stephen's Green, allegations of dangerous cycling conditions seemed exaggerated. Cars were keeping a respectable distance. Buses too.
George's Street was tighter.
Cars were dotted along the cycle lane, parked. Buses hissed impatiently from behind, and pedestrians strolled nonchalantly directly into my path, evidently believing bicycles can't hit you. I thought back to the bush.
It was the turn onto Dame Street that brought reality flooding back. The road was narrow, the buses much more frequent, the drivers impatient. Coming up to the junction at Christ Church, one truck brushed so close that my shoulder hit the wing mirror. The truck roared off around the corner, and I struggled to avoid the kerb.
Crossing that junction - where seven different flows of traffic converge - seemed suicidal. But under instruction from my guide I jabbed my arm out to the right, desperately trying to indicate my need to leave the cycle lane, weave through three lanes of traffic, and swing right. I got there.
But it wasn't pleasant. Like a dodgy rollercoaster ride.
A little shaken up, the route down to the quays helped not at all. Again, thanks to my guide I made all the right-hand signals, and hugged the cycle lane. Taxis squeezed by, forcing me closer to parked cars.
At different points we abandoned the cycle lanes altogether - for safety. On a sunny afternoon with light traffic and an experienced guide, the journey was do-able. On my own in rush hour? I think I'll get the bus.
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