Light up your bicycle rather than picking up a €40 fine, says campaign

People cycling are being reminded to “Light up Your Bike” rather than risking a €40 on-the-spot fine.

As part of a seasonal campaign, the Dublin Cycling Campaign, Dublin City Council, South Dublin County Council, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Fingal County Council, An Garda Síochána, and the Road Safety Authority have joined together to remained people to light up their bicycles, especially after the clocks went back at the weekend.

Gardai have in recent weeks been handing out small bicycle lights to people on bicycles, and campaigners in Dublin are expected to hand out lights in the coming weeks.

The usefulness of the free small bicycle lights divide opinions — some say these lights are useless, while others think the mini-lights are better than nothing and good to have as a backup if your main lights fail or you have forgotten them.

Cllr Allison Gilliland, Lord Mayor of Dublin City, said: “I am delighted to take part in the launch of the ‘Light up Your Bike’ initiative, along with colleagues… The new and additional cycling infrastructure in the city is making cycling a more viable option for more people in Dublin.”

She added: “Dublin City Council is keen to promote cycling as a year-round option for people to travel to school, work and for leisure. Using bike lights is essential and is a key way to ensure the visibility and safety of cyclists on our roads during darker months.”

Superintendent Thomas Murphy, Garda National Roads Policing Bureau, said: “An Garda Síochána is, as always, delighted to be part of this very important road safety initiative. A bicycle is not just for leisure but also used as a daily transport option. Cycling offers freedom and independence, but with that comes a personal responsibility for all cyclists to ensure they and their bicycles are appropriately equipped, protected and visible on the roads, particularly during these dark evenings and mornings.”

“The ‘Light up Your Bike’ campaign is about bringing awareness to cycling safely on our roads. An Garda Síochána is committed to playing its part in educating and protecting all road users, through the issuing of road safety advice and the enforcement of Road Traffic legislation,” he said.

Superintendent Murphy added: “It is an offence for a cyclist not to have a front lamp or rear lamp illuminated during lighting-up hours. An Garda Síochána are asking cyclists to make sure they are visible to all other road users by equipping their bicycles, and children’s bicycles, with the correct lighting, while using the roads.”

Sam Waide, CEO, the Road Safety Authority, said: “I am pleased to be supporting this very important ‘Light up Your Bike’ initiative to remind cyclists to make sure they have the correct lights on their bikes and to check them regularly. This is to help ensure that they are more visible to motorists and other road users. They must have a white or yellow light to the front of the bike and a red light at the back. As the evenings are getting darker, we need to ensure that the lights are also working on our children’s bikes and remind them to check them regularly.”

Kevin Baker, Chair of Dublin Cycling Campaign, said: “Using good quality lights on your bike is the best way to improve your visibility to other road users during darker mornings and evenings. Bike lights are a legal requirement during lighting-up hours, which is from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise.”


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