Dublin cycle lane protests to re-start as city “remains a hostile place for people cycling”

I Bike Dublin, a campaign group, is to re-start cycle lane protection protests in Dublin — the group has not yet disclosed where the first location will be, but it will be on Monday, June 27.

Ciarán Ferrie, a spokesperson for the group, said: “I Bike Dublin will carry out its first bike lane protection in over two years, to raise awareness of the continuing need for safer cycling infrastructure and better enforcement in Dublin city.”

“Five years ago I Bike Dublin carried out its first bike lane protection action on St Andrew’s Street in Dublin city centre to highlight the poor provision of cycling infrastructure in the city and the chronic misuse of this infrastructure by people driving cars and other vehicles,” he said. “Since that time there has been some improvement in cycling infrastructure in the city, but the city overall remains a hostile place for people cycling.”

He said this puts people who cycle in unnecessary danger and prevents others from making the choice to take up cycling as a more sustainable and healthy modes of transport.

I Bike Dublin said that the installation of plastic bollards along almost all the cycle lanes where it had carried out previous protest actions is welcomed but that “this can only every be a temporary solution”.

Ferrie said: “The wands do not provide the necessary level of protection, are not robust enough to withstand the damage caused by vehicular traffic and when damaged, they create a further hazard for people cycling. The also create more visual clutter in a city that is already blighted by an excess of poles, signs etc.”

“We need to see a more robust, effective and attractive solution to segregated cycleways, one that does not make the city less accessible for people with disabilities,” he said.

On enforcement, Ferrie added: “We also need to see a paradigm shift in the way illegal and dangerous driving behaviour is enforced. The policy of persuasion and education that An Garda Síochána has followed to date hasn’t worked. We need to see more proactive policing and heavier penalties for parking on footpaths and in cycle lanes, driving in bus/bike, speeding in urban areas, breaking red lights and dangerous overtaking – all of the illegal and dangerous driver behaviours that impact on the safety of people cycling.”

The group is asking followers to keep an eye on its socal media accounts for updates on its next Monday, June 27

While most of the locations which I Bike Dublin has staged actions at have now bollards, one notoriours spot, Westland Row, has had it bollards removed. Dublin City Council said that the bollards were removed on Westland Row for BusConnects.

2 comments

  1. Drumcondra Road Upper (between Homefarm and Church Avenue) would be my vote. The infrastructure there is completely pointless as it is perpetually blocked by parked cars

    Reply
  2. Rathfarnham Road from Dodder Bridge into Terenure Village gets my vote
    This is a Bus Lane but is populated by commuter traffic on a continual basis
    No enforcement whats so ever
    Major failure to use Camera Technology to keep our Bus Lanes and Cycle ways for the purpose they were intended for

    Reply

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