After on-and-off parking in one of Ireland’s busiest cycle lanes since before Christmas “that red car” was towed this morning.
Despite being reported by different individuals to both the Gardai and clampers the car continued to be parked on Aungier Street until this morning when action was taken.
The street — which is around the corner from the traffic policing headquarters of the Gardai — links to George’s Street where at the junction of Dame Street cyclists account for over 30% of traffic, in counts which include the large amount of pedestrians in the city centre.
A silver car previously parked at the location was towed just after two days. It is understood at at some point that there may have been a missing clearway sign but was fixed before action was taken and it would not have been the only possible offence — it’s unclear why authorities were unable or unwilling to act.
Gardai and Dublin City Council have yet to respond to questions send to them by this website on Tuesday last. UPDATE AT 18:00: The Garda press office said that “the offending vehicle has been warned and removed from the area.”
Earlier this week, the Ireland edition of The Times reported that the Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan said: “I am concerned that there are continued risks to cyclists on Irish roads. While pleased that there has been an increase in the issuing of fixed charge notices for parking in a cycle track, I am fully aware that more can be achieved to make cycling safer. Roads safety is a collective responsibility, and I would urge the public to be aware of such responsibilities towards other road users, especially vulnerable users such as cyclists.”
A Twitter user posted an image of the car being towed this morning:
In contender for ‘Earliest Christmas Miracle 2019’ I bore witness this morning to THAT red car we have come to know and hate being town away down George’s Street this morning at around 7.30am. I am a proud witness to this moment in history! pic.twitter.com/8JLy1xGfRM
— Jerranice (@SoCoMumdrum) January 10, 2019
Users on Twitter also posted videos or images of tge car on at least 6 days in the last month:
Yesterday morning:
7.50am this morning Aungier street #freethecyclelanes @dublincycling @ibii @Cyclistie @IrishCycle @journal_ie @IrishTimes @Independent_ie pic.twitter.com/d1ST79z5mA
— Paul corcoran (@Paulcorcoran10) January 9, 2019
The day before:
I have two theories: he’s Mr John Paul construction + the Guards dare not touch him, OR he is Mr John Aungier, the owner and operator of Aungier St@dublincycling @IBIKEDublin @IrishCycle @dublinblockers @GardaTraffic pic.twitter.com/ywOaNc89QJ
— Matthew D’Onnelly (@MatteoDonneo) January 8, 2019
2/01/2019:
This lad now a permanent feature in the clearway @GardaTraffic @dublincycling @IBIKEDublin @IrishCycle @dublinblockers pic.twitter.com/bL1AXiJO9x
— Matthew D’Onnelly (@MatteoDonneo) January 2, 2019
21/12/2018:
I think this makes 5/5 weekdays causing an obstruction. Scores of Guards on the streets… but everyone knows you’ll still get away with it handy. @dublincycling @IBIKEDublin @IrishCycle @dublinblockers @GardaTraffic pic.twitter.com/NJkTdP5MJG
— Matthew D’Onnelly (@MatteoDonneo) December 21, 2018
19/12/2018:
Three in a row pic.twitter.com/cp7ie7eGoi
— Matthew D’Onnelly (@MatteoDonneo) December 19, 2018
18/12/2018:
Here we go again. Monday and now tuesday morning rush. The record is four days in this exact location..@dublincycling @IBIKEDublin @ccferrie @GardaTraffic @transportdublin pic.twitter.com/KOYM9uWOrf
— Matthew D’Onnelly (@MatteoDonneo) December 18, 2018
There was a red van parked in the exact same spot at 8.45am this morning.
So do we have any metrics on how efficient the company in charge of towing vehicles is? What I mean is – is there any data on response times? This car was here for weeks without action. From the evidence of this episode the company should not have the contract.