Bicycle Lanes in Dublin

Slideshowbob

Can anyone tell me if cyclists are legally obliged to use bike lanes if provided?

Was anyone ever prosecuted for not using them?

Are there are circumstances where they do not have to be used?

Thanks

cyclopath2001

Slideshowbob wrote: »

Can anyone tell me if cyclists are legally obliged to use bike lanes if provided?

Yes.

Slideshowbob wrote: »

Was anyone ever prosecuted for not using them?

I've never heard of it happening.

Slideshowbob wrote: »

Are there are circumstances where they do not have to be used? Thanks

Where the lane is bounded by a broken white line and you're turning right & have indicated by extending your right arm into the path of passing traffic. Also, where a vehicle is legally parked in the cycle track and again, you're riding with one arm controlling the bike.

You're not permitted to pass illegally parked vehicles in cycle tracks.

Regulations by courtesy of the PDs (c) 1998.

The Greens have not indicated any intention to reform the regulations.

72hundred

cyclopath2001 wrote: »

Where the lane is bounded by a broken white line and you're turning right & have indicated by extending your right arm into the path of passing traffic. Also, where a vehicle is legally parked in the cycle track and again, you're riding with one arm controlling the bike.

You're not permitted to pass illegally parked vehicles in cycle tracks.

Regulations by courtesy of the PDs (c) 1998.

The Greens have not indicated any intention to reform the regulations.

In a situation where the cycle lane is unsafe for bicycles?

cyclopath2001

72hundred wrote: »

In a situation where the cycle lane is unsafe for bicycles?

Bless, you, I think you're under the rather silly impression that cycle facilities and regulations are for the benefit of cyclists.

Refer to answer #2.

Thomas_S_Hunterson

As far as I have picked up from here, you only have to cycle on them if they are technically cycle lanes by as defined in the law.

They must be marked with a specific sign.

Alkers

cyclopath2001 wrote: »

You're not permitted to pass illegally parked vehicles in cycle tracks.

Rofl

cyclopath2001

Sean_K wrote: »

As far as I have picked up from here, you only have to cycle on them if they are technically cycle lanes by as defined in the law.They must be marked with a specific sign.

There are two signs: RUS009 and RUS009a. The former is a white bike on a blue background and the latter is a black bike on a red background in a red circle. Both have identical meanings. In addition the cycle track, if it is on-road must be marked on the right by RRM022 or RRM023. The former a continuous white line, the latter as broken white line. On a footpath, a cycle track must be marked on both sides by RRM023.

Footpaths signed with a blue sign showing pedestrians and a bike and which have no surface markings indicating the location of the cycle track are of completely unknown legality. One theory is that they're 'informal' cycle tracks which may be used but are not obligatory.

You'll have to decide yourself what you're legally supposed to do.

kenmc

Has anyone ever seen the RUS009a flavour of sign, and if so, where? I've not.

steve-o

The coastal cycle path near Clontarf has some. In most other countries it means "bicycles prohibited" so I'm sure any tourists who see it are confused.

kenmc

yeah thats what I wa thinking - usually the red border is a prohibition - no parking - no entry - no right turn - don't go above 50km/h etc. Never seen a red-bordered positive sign.

cyclopath2001

steve-o wrote: »

The coastal cycle path near Clontarf has some. In most other countries it means "bicycles prohibited" so I'm sure any tourists who see it are confused.

That might explain the walkers, joggers and free-style rollarbladers.

Húrin

I wouldn't worry. I doubt that anyone has ever been arrested or even cautioned for not using a bike lane. The Gardai know the facilities for cyclists are ridiculous, and as long as you're not cycling dangerously they'll be fine with it.

DirkVoodoo

I get the odd beep from angry taxi men. Ironically, the last time I got beeped on my ridley was on the way to a saturday spin and some knob boy-racer using the bus lane sped up behind me and beeped.

I gave him my usual response and flipped the bird.

Malari

Is this just Dublin? There are precious few in Cork and mostly they are impossible to use anyway...appearing 50m before a traffic-calming island, over the 5inch high kerb of the island, and the same out the other side, covered in broken glass and half the ditch. Seriously.

petethedrummer

Malari wrote: »

appearing 50m before a traffic-calming island, over the 5inch high kerb of the island, and the same out the other side, covered in broken glass and half the ditch. Seriously.

Its the same here, they are laughably bad. Is there a website featuring all the crap cycle lanes in Ireland? I'd love to take pictures of the ones on my route.

Húrin wrote: »

The Gardai know the facilities for cyclists are ridiculous, and as long as you're not cycling dangerously they'll be fine with it.

A bike gard told me they were optional and that I should only use them if I want to. He may have been misinformed.

Harpz

Yeah Ive been thinking about doing something like that for a while.
Can the technically minded (computer nerds...you know who you are) work out how we could do this. Perhaps using google maps and the wiki?
There is a website which has a map of ireland and all the car accidents on it...something similare whould be good.

Ideally people could take pictures of terrible cycle lanes, have a small piece of text outlining the problems with it and show its location on the map.

It would be a useful tool to beat the local authorities into improving/not building poor cycle lanes. At the moment there is just piecemeal anecdotal evidence that bike lanes could be better and this isn't really taken seriously by anyone who can do something about it.

markpb

Húrin wrote: »

I wouldn't worry. I doubt that anyone has ever been arrested or even cautioned for not using a bike lane. The Gardai know the facilities for cyclists are ridiculous, and as long as you're not cycling dangerously they'll be fine with it.

I was stopped by a GTC member about a year ago for not using the shared cycle/pedestrian facility in Drumcondra. He parked (in the bus lane) to watch me and make sure I didn't go back onto the road.

Harpz wrote: »

It would be a useful tool to beat the local authorities into improving/not building poor cycle lanes. At the moment there is just piecemeal anecdotal evidence that bike lanes could be better and this isn't really taken seriously by anyone who can do something about it.

You can't shame someone into fixing something they don't see a problem with. I've discussed the problems with members of the QBN office (not that they're responsible for many) and in most cases, they think they're okay.

Malari

Húrin wrote: »

I wouldn't worry. I doubt that anyone has ever been arrested or even cautioned for not using a bike lane. The Gardai know the facilities for cyclists are ridiculous, and as long as you're not cycling dangerously they'll be fine with it.

No so the case! I got beeped at by a guard in a squad car a couple months back. I was on a dual carriageway with no bike lane...still no idea what he was objecting to.

petethedrummer wrote: »

Its the same here, they are laughably bad. Is there a website featuring all the crap cycle lanes in Ireland? I'd love to take pictures of the ones on my route.


A bike gard told me they were optional and that I should only use them if I want to. He may have been misinformed.

A guard misinformed? Well, wonders never cease :rolleyes: Few cyclists I know were told last week by a guard they weren't to cycle two abreast.

cyclopath2001

Malari wrote: »

A guard misinformed? Well, wonders never cease :rolleyes: Few cyclists I know were told last week by a guard they weren't to cycle two abreast.

You're normally not committing an offense by doing so, but a Garda has the authority to direct you to ride in a particular way (for traffic or emergency reasons) and ignoring a Garda's (lawful) instruction would be an offense. So: "yes Garda, thank you Garda...".

mmclo

cyclopath2001 wrote: »

ignoring a Garda's (lawful) instruction would be an offense.

Emphasis on the lawful surely, you would have to be prima facia commiting an offence to be cautioned etc.

cyclopath2001

mmclo wrote: »

Emphasis on the lawful surely, you would have to be prima facia commiting an offence to be cautioned etc.

No you don't have to be committing an offense. For reasons of traffic management or public safety, a Garda can direct you to something or go somewhere and as long as that action is lawful, you'd have to do it. So if instructed by a Garda to ride in single file, you'd have to do it. At least, for as long as your're in his sight and the circumstances (e.g. a big traffic tailback or an blockage caused by an accident) prevailed.

kenmc

Could he also instruct you to do something which is normally unlawful - e.g. cycle the wrong way up a one way street?

blorg

kenmc wrote: »

Could he also instruct you to do something which is normally unlawful - e.g. cycle the wrong way up a one way street?

I would imagine so, they certainly direct you to break red lights often enough when they are managing traffic on a junction.

kenmc

Jeez thats the biggest loophole ever then. "Oh sorry guard, I was just doing what I was told by the other guard earlier on. He then jumped on his motorbike and sped off. No I didn't get his number or name, but he was dressed just like you"

Gavin

markpb wrote: »

I was stopped by a GTC member about a year ago for not using the shared cycle/pedestrian facility in Drumcondra. He parked (in the bus lane) to watch me and make sure I didn't go back onto the road.

To be fair, that is a dangerous section of road for a cyclist. There are railings along the side, so if a car or bus was to turn up the side roads there is no bailout option. They have also improved the 'on-path' cycle facility by making the path wider and putting solid lines and bike marks down.

markpb

I totally agree but this was one of my first times cycling through Drumcondra and I honestly didn't have a clue that the dark, dingy, barely wide enough for a bike, covered with leaves slip lane led to a dedicated cycle lane This was also before the improvements at the other end when it was a deathtrap to exit from.

Gavin

Yeah that's true, it's a cunningly hidden entrance alright. I like the new bit at the end, one can exit at speed through the chicane. Actually that's probably the best bit of real, useful cycle infrastructure I've encountered in Dublin, letting you get back onto the road without having to wait for thundering buses to go by.

Malari

cyclopath2001 wrote: »

You're normally not committing an offense by doing so, but a Garda has the authority to direct you to ride in a particular way (for traffic or emergency reasons) and ignoring a Garda's (lawful) instruction would be an offense. So: "yes Garda, thank you Garda...".

Yeah, but that's not what I said. They were told they should be cycling in single file. Full stop! Not on this one occasion. I'm not saying they shouldn't do anything but obey a guard, my point was that guards don't have a clue about the rules of the road when it comes to cycling.

cyclopath2001

Malari wrote: »

my point was that guards don't have a clue about the rules of the road when it comes to cycling.

It doesn't help them that the RoTR misquotes the regulations and makes out, incorrectly that single file is obligatory by law in 'heavy traffic', and on then on the road, the Councils make such a mess of signing and marking the 'facilities'.

This is Ireland.