Category Archives: Irish Posts

Ireland, see also NI

Cyclist.ie and ‘Fixed Charge Notices’

Cyclist.ie respects the decision of the Minister for Transport Tourism & Sport (DTTAS) to introduce Fixed Charge Notices (FCNs) for a limited number of cycling offences. We submitted proposals to the Minister prior to the recent announcement and some of these were taken on board. However we wish to state clearly our ongoing position on FCNs below:

  1. We are not in favour of law breaking and dangerous cycling. The same reasoning applies to drivers of motorised vehicles. We understand the need for a deterrent to bad cycling behaviour that puts other road users at risk​, but deterrents already exist in law and merely require application/enforcement of that law.
  2. We are not convinced that the ‘risk’ element associated with these proposed FCN offences has been properly assessed​ in the context of overall national road safety policy.  Do cyclists kill other road users?  What level of injury/offence is caused by cyclists in comparison with motor vehicles?  What quantum improvement in road safety will be achieved through the introduction of these FCNs?  We have yet to see real analyses / figures, or be convinced by anything other than anecdotal comments.
  3. The overall thrust of road traffic policy ​should be the safety of all road users.  To this end the continued investment in, and development of, high quality infrastructure for both cyclists and pedestrians and 30km/h speed limit zones needs to be accelerated in line with national aspirations, as enunciated in the National Cycle Policy Framework, and in various Local Authority development plans.  Present investment in cycling related infrastructure is totally disproportionate to the investment in general roads infrastructure.
  4. The media stories on the proposals for FCNs were leaked on the Monday of National Bikeweek, which is coordinated by the Smarter Travel Unit of DTTAS.  Bikeweek is meant to be a celebration of all things ‘bike’, and yet another arm of DTTAS felt fit to leak this issue to the press, which in turn raised a negative ‘storm’ about cycling, directly during the week when the Department is supposed to be encouraging cycling!
  5. Dublin Cycling Campaign are working on the possible roll-out of a ‘RESPECT’ Campaign, to encourage all road users to be aware of, and respect other road users. We feel that at this point in time a positive national initiative such as this, to encourage better behaviour by all road users, would serve as a constructive counterpoint to the FCN approach of penalising cyclists.
  6. Ireland needs to catch up with the rest of Europe in promoting cycling by introducing standard initiatives such as contra-flow cycling and red light initiatives
  7. While noting the above we are satisfied that FCNs have been introduced at the lower rate of €40, but we need to see an agreed monitoring and reporting strategy put in place, so that any ‘benefits’ of the approach can be properly assessed.

In Summary

  1. We feel that the introduction of FCNs at this point in time was premature and reactionary, and may in the long term negatively affect the government’s sustainable transport initiatives.
  2. We urge the Minister to:
    • Actively promote positive and respectful behaviour by all road users
    • Introduce a monitoring and reporting strategy to assess the impact of these FCNs
    • Seek the introduction of European standard initiatives such as contra-flow cycling, and red light initiatives for cyclists
    • Immediately increase direct investment in the improvement of cycle and pedestrian facilities.

Kilkenny Exploits Cyclists during Bikeweek!

The Kilkenny Cycling and Walking Campaign (KCWC) wanted to find away of getting people back on their bikes, but at the same time find out what was keeping from cycling in the City. We needed to find out what were the views of pedestrians and drivers of the behaviour of cyclists. How could we do this, while at the same time communicate our findings easily and effectively to the decisions makers in the County Council and other stakeholders such as tourism, the chamber of commerce and the general public? Free bikes and cup cakes was a good place to start!

Using funding through LA21 and the County Council we organised 4 bike rides around Kilkenny city of 30 minutes duration during bike week. The routes were to show the types of infrastructure available in the city, and the short cuts that are only available to cyclists and pedestrians in a city with a medieval fabric. Getting a free bike tour with a cup cake came with the price of giving feedback on cycling in Kilkenny by a voxpop. We were successful in attracting cyclists of all levels of experience, age and gender to participate doing 2 trips for novices and 2 trips for experienced riders. We even got some tourists to come along, and we ended up doing 5 trips in the end.

We got a vast amount of feedback on people’s experiences to help identify the barriers to cycling in Kilkenny, but also the views of shoppers and tourists who are the core of the city’s economic life.. We are editing it all into a 6-7 minute clip which we will then circulate and hopefully help influence the decisions and attitudes of the Council and Chamber of Commerce in future infrastructure development

Contact KCWC @kilkennycwc

Proposed quantum of monetary fine for cyclists’ traffic law offences

Dear Minister,

I am writing to you on behalf of Cyclist.ie – The Irish Cycling Advocacy Network – to express my concern about the high quantum of monetary fine mooted (€50) by your officials to deal with road traffic law infractions being made by some cyclists – as compared with the fines faced by those driving motor vehicles – but please note that we do not oppose the concept of a fixed-fine regime for cyclists.

Read letter

Galway-Dublin Greenway

The Galway to Dublin Cycleway will be the first inter-city greenway in a proposed national network. Stretching 276 km from coast to coast, this will be a world-class amenity for families, communities and tourists to enjoy, providing a cross-country route away from busy roads. From west to east the route passes through counties Galway, Roscommon, Westmeath, Meath, Kildare and Dublin. It will travel by rivers and through woods, along a disused railway line and old canal paths, and on well-signed, purpose-built cycle paths, offering rural tranquillity in a safe and traffic-free environment to everyone who uses it. Work on the cycleway commenced in 2013 with funding from the NRA and in collaboration with the local authorities. For more information see our website and map

5 great Irish cycles

Mind the Mayo tornadoes

On our first trip to Co Mayo we hired bikes and cycled part of the Great Western Greenway, a 38km round trip from Mulrany village to Achill town. My six-year-old – “a big boy now” – wanted his own bike; it was a long cycle for young kids but so much fun. We stopped for drinks and snacks along the way and enjoyed beautiful scenery. We had our packed lunch in a picnic area in Achill town, followed by a 99 from SuperValu. Read more

Four in five disqualified drivers holding on to licences

Almost four out of five drivers disqualified in court are failing to surrender their licence, figures from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) show.

These figures also show some disqualified drivers are continuing to drive and to commit motoring offences while they should be serving the six-month driving disqualification.

According to the RSA, 9,611 drivers were disqualified in court between October 29th, 2013 (when the RSA took over responsibility for driving licences) and a further 476 received disqualifications for accumulating 12 penalty points.

Read article

Man given 6½-year sentence for causing death of cyclist

A 23-year-old man has been sentenced to six and a half years for dangerous driving causing the death of a 42-year old cyclist near Killarney.

Shane Fitzgerald of Knockeen, Meelin, Newmarket, Co Cork, had denied the charge of dangerous driving causing the death of father-of-four Paudie O’Leary (42) at Scrahan Fada, Gneeveguilla, near Killarney on July 1st, 2012.

Judge Thomas E O’Donnell, handing down sentence said the collision “blew Mr O’Leary off the road,” so much so that his body and his bike were some distance behind a hedge.

Read full article

Highlighting road safety issues around large trucks

HGV Project Video

Large fleet operator – Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland, renowned city centre school – Belvedere College, An Taisce Green-Schools and Cyclist.ie, the Irish cycling advocacy network, will run a demonstration to highlight dangers of “blind zones” around Heavy Goods Vehicles(HGVs) for students at the Belvedere Sports Grounds on the Navan Road on 16 April 2015 (from 2 – 4pm).

Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland, the operator of a fleet of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) delivering to over 222 SuperValu and 465 Centra stores nationwide, together with Green-Schools, and Cyclist.ie, have organised the demo to raise awareness of an important road safety issue which impacts road users and pedestrians on a daily basis. Belvedere College is currently working on the Travel theme of the Green-Schools programme., which aims to promote sustainable and active modes of transport to school, including cycling

Green-Schools Travel

An Taisce has been working on the national Green-Schools Travel programme, which focuses on promoting sustainable travel on the school run, since September 2008. The Travel theme is funded by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and supported by the National Transport Authority under Smarter Travel Schools.

To date, over 1500 primary and secondary schools countrywide have taken part or are taking part in the Green-Schools Travel programme, implementing sustainable travel action plans in their schools. Since 2008 970 schools have been awarded the Green Flag for Travel, representing successful completion of the travel theme of the Green-Schools programme.

The ultimate aim of the Green-Schools Travel programme is to encourage students, parents and teachers to walk, cycle, scoot, Park ‘n’ Stride, use public transport or car pool instead of using the private car on the school run.