By and large cycling is a relaxing activity. Pedalling outdoors is the cardiovascular exercise that the body so desperately needs and modern life has taken away. It also lets the cyclist enjoy fresh air and cool breeze. However, there is one type of cyclists who can barely enjoy cycling, namely commuters.
Whoever cycled in Dublin during the rush hours came across this type of cyclists. In fact, he or she is probably one of them. The stress caused by the need to get to work fast drives many cyclists nuts. Many of them carry on the stressful behaviour on the way back as well, since they want to get home quickly. It's sad to watch them missing the old wisdom: "getting there is half the fun".
And as everyone commutes at the same time, there are even traffic congestions caused by cyclists! Nevertheless, a cycling congestion is far better than the one caused by cars and lorries. It usually fades away as soon as the lights change and in any case, unlike motor vehicles, it causes no air pollution.
The photo above was taken on a busy morning on 18 July 2012 at 8:39 am. This location, where the Grand Canal cycle path meets the N11 at Leeson Street Bridge is a tricky bottleneck. Whoever designed it didn't do a good job and thus pedestrians and cyclists are in a constant conflict, struggling to find space in this narrow pathway.
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