Girls with bike are evil!

Disclaimer: Apologies, dear Irish friends, this has nothing against you, but the great service we all experience everywhere, here in Ireland. I've had enough :-) as well!

This is one of my latest adventures in the DART, Dublin Area Rapid Transit, or in other words - the Dublin suburban train. It happened last Saturday, and it still makes me angry when I think of it, so I decided to share it with you.

I was supposed to take my bike (bicycle, not a motorbike) from our offices' parking lot, since other employees who are cycling into work daily are having great difficulty in finding a parking spot.

The only way I can do that is by: 1. Cycling home. On a fair day it should take me about 1.5-2 hours. I live about 20km away from the city center, and have to carefully share the roads with the crazy Irish drivers. By the way, not too long ago I was informed that 50% of the accidents are actually caused by a certain East-European country's citizens, that Dublin (also Ireland) is flooded with.
2. Since the weather's crappy in the last few months (It's still winter here, you know) - the other option is taking it home on the DART. Therefor, not too long ago, I asked the cashier whether it is possible, and he told me that basically it is not allowed, but on weekends it shouldn't be a problem, especially late evening hours.

So last Saturday was I had the perfect opportunity to take it home on the DART. It was after 22:00, the trains are usually empty those hours, because everybody's in the Pub already. So I unlocked the bike, took it to the deserted train station, and about to go towards the platform, but, alas, there were 3 security guys, preventing me from doing so. So I started to argue with one of them, who was very much willing to help... with finding another solution for me taking the bike back home to Howth... He was also calling the bus company in order to check whether I can take it on the bus. But unless it's a folded bike, the answer is no.

Then he suggested that if it was another train station, say, a more deserted one, it could be possible. Then I suggested to go to Lansdown Road, and he said it would be perfect.

So I put on my helmet, vest, lamps, and I was driving there so fast and I made it in 4 mins (should take 7 usually). But then there was someone in the ticket office... And he was talking like a robot, repeating himself the way only Irish service providers know. I argued again, of course. Didn't help. Did I mention it was cold outside, raining and I didn't have my bicycle gloves?

So I had to ride back to the work, lock the bike, and make it to the train in 8 mins, unless I felt like waiting for the next one, 45 mins later. Which wasn't that bad, I could just sit on the massage chair and read a book. but I was so cold and wet...

The most difficult part was locking the bike, since my fingers were frozen, I could hardly do that, and till now I can't remember how good I locked it and if it's still there. But I'm quite sure it's still there.

I made it just on time, running to the platform in order to get on the train that just arrived, and get home as soon as possible and take a very hot shower.

I was sitting there for few mins until I could breath properly. Then I was looking around me, at the people I was sharing the carriage with. Then I noticed 2 guys in front of me, very loud speaking and drinking. From big bottles of vodka and something else that seemed more likely to be scotch rather than beer or wine.

Later on few teenagers got on the carriage, each is carrying his/her own six packs, and drinks from another can or bottle of some other alcoholic drink.

And that is the lesson of this experience: having drunk people on the train is soooo much safer than having a bike in it.

Until the train driver has to stop it for 20 mins and wait for the Garda (Police) to come and evacuate a drunk who's causing trouble on the train and refused to get of it.

No News, Some Mews and a Police Car Bed-Time Story

Whenever I go to the gym during lunch time, from some reason one of the TVs will always show the mid-day British Parliament broadcast (The house of Commons). It always looks like a big bunch of arguing teenagers. Politely arguing, though. There is a Speaker of the House, and s/he grants the permission to speak to whoever is on the list. Each one speaks for few minutes. While speaking, the rest of the parliament members in the house support or oppose the each speaker. How do they vote? Members shout out "Aye" and "No". Their votes are recorded, by the way.
That specific moment that the first one starts shouting, and everybody else join, is quite an hilarious moment, which reminds of the above mentioned high-school kids.

That's the only type of news I consume nowadays. For example, only today I discovered that the Israeli high-school teachers are on strike for 1.5 months. The Universities are on strike for a month, by the way. But what am I talking about, you probably know it already.

And as promised, a short story:
It was early in the morning, the sun was still somewhere else, only the newspaper people are at the streets, even the Cafes were still closed. Only one car was slowly driving the streets. And when we came across each other, I had to give way to that police car before crossing the street.

That moment changed everything. I just gave up and admitted defeat in my own private war against Irish car drivers. And I became one of them, the passive, frightened, miserable, running from the cars like a rat that is being chased by a cat, Irish pedestrians.

You Should be More Careful!

That's what the nice Irish policeman said to someone I know, after crossing the street. Why did he say that? Because a car driver saw a pedestrian crossing the street, and that was a good-enough reason to speed up. Why not making the poor pedestrian sweat a bit and feel like this could be his/her last moment in life?

That's how it is here in Dublin. The streets of Dublin (or any other place in Ireland) are not a safe place! The unwritten law is that cars and drivers have the priority to drive (and maybe run over people as well???...), the pedestrians must be more careful and more responsible, and wish they had a car. That way we'll feel much safer.

After being here for almost a month, I can understand where it comes from. The streets of Dublin are very narrow and crowded. There are more traffic lights for cars than pedestrians. We have to cross the street whenever it seems safe enough. But there's always a car with a mad driver behind the wheel, just around the corner. Pedestrians always have to press a button if they want to cross the street, even at the city busiest junction. Otherwise the light will never change to green on most pedestrians' traffic lights.

The police' approach is to reproach and preach. At least they don't give pedestrians reports for crossing the street on red light and/or carelessness . Like in Israel. But at least in Israel pedestrians are more taken care of. the police do a lot in those cases, and give away many reports to rogue drivers. I read and saw on the news!

I know some might disagree. I know it sounds absurd, but wait till you are here, and then understand what I'm talking about. Yes, I do mean that Israeli drivers are more careful than Irish. Despite the fact that they can stab you when you argue with them. Well, I'm exaggerating, as almost always, but it does happen, sometimes. That, too, was written and on the news. From time to time.

I have one last tip. If you're in Dublin, try not to accidentally hit the mirror of the car next to you with our elbow, or the driver will start beeping like crazy and shout at you like crazy. Based on a true story. Not mine. Yet.

How to Destroy a Shiny New Mercedes

Today's tip is courtesy of our company's shuttle driver.

If you should park your bus, first make sure there's a Shimmery Beige New Mercedes parking from behind. Then switch the gear to reverse mode and push the gas pedal. Please make sure you don't use your side-mirrors as you continue progressing with the reverse mode. Ignore the shouting of "Ya Maniac".

Don't stop until you realize the Mercedes driver is alerted enough to not let you destroy his precious one, by driving backwards as well. Then you should realize you better give up, as the Mercedes driver is foiling each and every one of your attempts.

After you surrendered, please allow the Mercedes driver get out of his precious one, while the keys are left inside, walk toward you, inside your precious bus, and scream and yell at you.
Don't forget to point at each other and call each other names.
And enjoy the moment, of course!

Sweet, sweet surrender....