Cyclists are striking back during city bus dispute

CYCLING has certainly got a lot more popular in Dublin this month thanks to the bus strikes, and many of us are finding that it’s a healthy commuting choice that often beats all other traffic into the city.

There are plenty of great outlets on the Northside to purchase a bike, including Rothar in Phibsboro, Halfords in Coolock and Duff Cycles in Omni Park Shopping Centre, Santry.

Frank Duff from Duff Cycles recommends hybrid bikes for the average commuter, as they’re suitable for most journeys. He suggests spending about €400-€500 on a bike.

“Most bikes in Dublin are now bought on the Cycle to Work Scheme, which gives people the chance to spend an extra bit of money on a good bike,” he said. “You’re not doing yourself any favours buying a cheap bike, you’ll be constantly working uphill.” 

Frank’s top piece of advice is to try before you buy and he recommends spending at least 10 per cent of the value of the bike on a secure lock.

“Solid secure bike locks cost about €40 to €60 and you should probably buy a silver rating and up,” he said.

“Ideally you should be locking your bike with two different styles of locks.”

Another handy tip from Michael McKenna, secretary of the Skerries Cycling Initiative, is to buy a folding bike and he recommends the Dahon, Brompton and Bike Friday models.

These bikes can be taken on a commuter or DART train without restrictions.

Safety when cycling is very important too and coming into the dark, winter months make sure you are equipped with a high-vis vest and lights or reflectors on either end of your bike.

Once you’ve got your bike, there’s plenty of scenic routes to travel around North Dublin including through Phoenix Park, along the Royal Canal, Tolka Valley and by the Clontarf coast.

Looking to the future, DIT and Northside Partnership have joined together to develop a cycle route called the Santry River Greenway. It starts near Dublin Airport, and follows the Santry “river” through to Ballymun, Darndale and Raheny before finishing at Bull Island. 

David O’Connor, a Transport and Mobility lecturer in DIT, said: “It’s a great cycle route with a huge amount of potential”.

The quiet off-road journey connects major parks and green areas, including the Coolock Lane Park and the Stardust Park.