Franconian Beer Message Board
In the News, not Really Beery |
| Posted by barry on 2014-12-13 06:24:28 |
| Quite a lot of worry about cycling in Ireland. The Independent reported last weekend that, up to now this year, 11 people had been killed while cycling - the highest total since 2008. However, there has been an improvement in cycling safety since 1998, when 21 cyclists were killed; bear in mind as well that many more people are now cycling than in the 1990s, Cycling Ireland report a 600% increase in membership over a decade. Doubtless due to a combination of health reasons and years of austerity. I was trying to work out some comparisons: with a population of just over 4 million, this means a death rate of just over 2 per million. In the UK last year, 109 cyclists were killed - with a population of around 60 million, this works out at somewhat under 2 per million. You have to bear in mind that Ireland is not a very cycle friendly country: there is little tolerance for cyclists from other road users and there are very few dedicated cycle lanes in cities and virtually no cycle tracks elsewhere. I used to be quite keen on cycling but, even in my very quiet rural area, I wouldn't venture out on a bike - I have two rotting away in a shed. I wonder how these figures compare with Deutschland? |
| Followups: |
 In the News, not Really Beery by Nick B. on 2014-12-14 04:37:28 |