Political Action Thread

petethedrummer

Oooh strong title.

Given the moaning on here (me included) about the state of cycling facilities in this country, I've started this thread so people can post any letter or email they have sent to a politician/planner/person in power and any subsequent replies.

I suppose it shouldn't be a place to debate any particular points (as we all know what happens during a helmet debate). So instead just click the thumbs up button on any post you agree with and don't if you don't.

I'll go first.

petethedrummer

To Cllr Ciaran Cuffe

Ciaran,
I would like to commend you for your opposition to the mandatory helmet motion for Dublin City. As I'm sure you are aware, there are a multitude of research articles detailing the non-impact and even negative impact such a law has on cycling participation and cycling safety.

http://www.cycle-helmets.com/helmet_statistics.html
http://www.lobv.org/15reasons.html


The following is a very eloquent quote from an online debate on bicycle helmet effectiveness conducted on the British Medical Journal website:

"It is a constant regret to me that as a civilised society we seem to have lost the desire to prioritise the rights of weaker members ("steam gives way to sail"). The message is that people driving motor vehicles should be allowed to drive as fast and close as they like, so long as people riding bicycles, horses, or just walking, wrap themselves up or preferably stay at home. "

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/318/7197/1505/a#3406

Now if you could convince those in power to repeal the mandatory cycle lane use law, it would be a great step forward for cyclists.

Regards,
me

---

To Cllr Pat Crimmins.
Pat,

Introducing a mandatory bicycle helmet law is not the way to go to improve cyclist safety on the streets of Dublin. I am not sure if you are aware but there are a multitude of research articles detailing the non-impact and even negative impact such a law has on cycling participation and cycling safety.

http://www.cycle-helmets.com/helmet_statistics.html
http://www.lobv.org/15reasons.html
http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/news/653/blonde-wigs-safer-helmets-cyclists


To sum up my feeling on this matter, the following is a very eloquent quote from an online debate on bicycle helmet effectiveness conducted on the British Medical Journal website:

"It is a constant regret to me that as a civilised society we seem to have lost the desire to prioritise the rights of weaker members ("steam gives way to sail"). The message is that people driving motor vehicles should be allowed to drive as fast and close as they like, so long as people riding bicycles, horses, or just walking, wrap themselves up or preferably stay at home. "

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/318/7197/1505/a#3406

Now if you could convince those in power to repeal the mandatory cycle lane use law, it would be a great step forward for cyclist safety. Cyclist are by law obliged to use cycle lanes that are provided on any given road. A great many of these cycle lanes are a poorly thought-out after thought and are not the safest option. So in pursuing the safest option on a bike, it is very often necessary to break the law.

Though I don't agree with your stance on the helmet issue, it is great to see cyclist safety being discussed. Cycling is experiencing a very visible rise in popularity and could almost be described as fashionable among young people, so safety is a must.

Regards,
me again

---

Right folks I know we don't all agree on the helmet issue. So don't debate it here, write your own letter to these folks and post here.

---

Gavin

My letter to Councillor Crimmins. I'm afraid it's a bit more aggressive and not as productive as yours.

Dear Councillor,
I read of your wish to make cycle helmets mandatory. I would like to
ask why you think this is a good idea and what prompted your proposal?
Has a cyclist lobby group asked you to make this proposal? Have you
consulted with any cycle representative bodies? Have you read the
research on bicycle helmet statistics?

I am asking because I would hope that a councillor representing his
constituents would fully research an issue before presenting such a
motion.

Thank you,
Gavin

No reply as yet.

petethedrummer

Gavin wrote: »

I'm afraid it's a bit more aggressive and not as productive as yours.

I prefer to sweet talk my enemies.

Húrin

Dear Councillor Crimmins,

I read in the Herald about your recent motion to the council to try to enforce the wearing of bike helmets in this city. Despite the fact that many people believe it is “common sense” to wear one, there is much evidence that shows that helmets do not improve safety. I imagine that many other cyclists who have written to you have presented such evidence. I won’t repeat it.

Helmets are a piece of sports equipment - important in racing, essential in mountain biking, but needless for most utility cycling and commuting, especially in a flat city like Dublin that lacks any major downhills. My other main concern is that while your motion was surely well-intentioned, I think that the council should be primarily promoting cycling, rather than cycle safety.

This is because the more cyclists there are, the greater the safety in numbers effect. To date, the excessive focus on safety has made people think that cycling is an activity that requires a lot of extra “gear” that isn’t worth the trouble. Helmets are probably the worst of this lot of gear, and do the most to dissuade people from getting on two wheels.

If your council began to install wide, segregated cycling lanes such as exist in cities like Copenhagen, cycling would appear to be far safer, and indeed become so. This necessity becomes especially apparent in heavy rain, such as fell yestarday afternoon. It tends to result in cyclists and pedestrians weaving in and out of motor traffic, impatient to reach their destinations. This has dangerous resulting spin-off effects on the other road users.

If cycle lanes were segregated, much of this madness could be avoided. I know that such lanes cannot be installed on many of our city’s narrow streets, but on the likes of O’Connell St, Gardiner St, Dorset St, Thomas St and Dame St, it is surely quite possible. I implore the council to research and implement such genuinely pro-cycling schemes as this. Mandatory helmet laws will only serve to discourage people from cycling and that's not good.

Thanks for reading
Ian

petethedrummer

Wrote this for my own amusement to Joanna Tuffy of Labour:

Joanna,
In this article - http://www.independent.ie/national-news/new-cycle-to-work-scheme-gets-just-one-query-1658186.html - in the Independent, dated March 02 2009, you were quote as saying the cycle to work scheme was "tokenistic" and a "cosmetic exercise" by the Greens.

As it turns out, many bike shops in the Dublin area are already out of stock on certain ranges of the larger brands e.g. Trek and Giant. Here is a link to most of the bike shops in Dublin, if you would like to research for yourself: http://www.awaycity.com/wiki/Dublin/Cycle_Shops

Also any bike shop I have been into in since the start of the year has reported an increase in business due to the scheme.

Will you be revising your opinion of the scheme any time soon? Or do you have a better proposal to encourage cycling?

Regards,
Pedro

ednwireland

no cycling facilities here so nothing to complain about - no counciller from our town on the county council ( due to political infighting) so no point complaining

i used to be apathetic but now i cant be bothered

petethedrummer

Ah go on write a letter to someone. I have no idea who Joanna Tuffy is or where she's from but I thought I'd educate her or whoever reads her emails.

Anyways, the point of this thread is to just post up what you have written to a politician not to get into a debate over it. It will probably just become a journal of my ramblings.

lukester

Impressive amount of activity.

Don't want to derail the thread, just a comment- it's kind of preposterous to try on one hand to make helmet wearing mandatory while at the same time introducing a Velib' like bicycle rental scheme to the city, which presumably is for the benefit of tourists as well as locals.

They would have to have helmet rentals for tourists. Stupid.

petethedrummer

lukester wrote: »

Impressive amount of activity.

Don't want to derail the thread, just a comment- it's kind of preposterous to try on one hand to make helmet wearing mandatory while at the same time introducing a Velib' like bicycle rental scheme to the city, which presumably is for the benefit of tourists as well as locals.

They would have to have helmet rentals for tourists. Stupid.

No debate, write a letter/email, post it here.

Ghost Rider

Dear Minister Gormley,

Any chance you could draft a piece of legislation that bans threads about helmets on Boards.ie? It started out as a pretty interesting and balanced debate but then it went all crazy and fanatical. At this stage, as the man with the steering column protruding from his groin said, it's driving me nuts.

Take it handy,

Ghost Rider.

P.S. I hate my name too.

petethedrummer

WOAH! 20 minute reply.......fair play to her. See what a bit of letter writing does......a reasoned response too. Pull your fingers out folks.

Peter,

For your information I did say to the journalist that it was a good thing in itself. I was phoned and asked for my opinion on the level of take up of the grant and I said what I thought in response. My argument was and still is that the grant scheme in the context of the Green Party stated aim of subtantially reducing transport emissions is cosmetic etc. At the same time Dublin Bus was being asked to cut back on bus services.

If you have any information about how many grants have been paid out under the scheme since the article was published I would be very interested to know because it is has been proving difficult to get information in that regard, although I will probably put a further PQ myself on the issue next week. There may be an increase in business due to other factors. How many bikes have been purchased under the scheme and how much will those extra bikes bought under the grant scheme reduce transport emissions?

Regards,

Joanna

---

Joanna,
Thanks for the reply. The way the article was structured it implied you thought the CTW scheme was not a good idea, but I'm glad you approve of it, pesky journalists!

As for the sales figures, unfortunately all I have to go on is anecdoctal evidence from the staff of the many bike shops I frequent and the experience of cycling acquaintances in regards to stock issues.

As its clear were both in agreement that the scheme is a good idea, I will end the correspondence here. I will now attempt to lobby the journalist into writing an article praising the scheme

Regards,

Peter

P.S. I had posted my first email and your reponse on this forum http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055504073 not expecting a response. If you would like the correspondence removed from the forum, I can do so, as I feel its only fair to let people decide if their letters/emails should be used publicly.

---

Peter,

Posting the correspondence on the thread is fine by me.

Regards,

Joanna

---

unionman

That is all:)

Bunnyhopper

Another email to Cllr. Crimmins. I too went for the "softly-softly with a dash of flattery" approach. (I did have a more irritable draft but thought better of it.) No reply as yet, but then it was only sent a little over three months ago...

Dear Councillor Crimmins,

I understand that you proposed to the City Council that helmets be made compulsory for pedal cyclists in Dublin. I appreciate that the proposal was well-intentioned and I'm glad to see consideration being given to cyclists' safety. However, although I'm a regular cyclist who always wears a helmet, I oppose compulsory helmets.

I'd suggest that, if you haven't already, you take a look at

http://www.cyclehelmets.org/

There you will find a range of material that gives a balanced account of the arguments for and against helmet use. The pros and cons are complex, as I'm sure you know, and often the data do not appear readily to support the anecdotal or intuitive sense that a helmet is always better than no helmet. Even the arguments in learned publications such as the British Medical Journal are ongoing.

As I said, I do always wear a helmet when cycling, but I believe there are many better ways than compulsory helmets to address the needs of those who already cycle in Dublin, to encourage more people to cycle in Dublin, and to help them all do so safely. I do choose to wear a helmet but I feel that the evidence is not sufficiently clear to justify compulsion and that the adverse impact of compulsion on cycling generally would overwhelm any possible benefits that might accrue.

I hope you won't be discouraged by my disagreement, and I'd like to emphasize that I am always glad to encounter a public representative who genuinely cares about cyclists.

Thank you,

Me

petethedrummer

Email to Noel Dempsey

Minister Dempsey,

When is the abolition of the Mandatory Cycle Lane Use law time-tabled to take place?

It is great to see common sense prevailing on this matter.

Regards,
Petey

Macha

Hmmm the letter must have reached Ciaran Cuffe:

From: Green Party Press Office <greenparty.press.office@gmail.com>
Subject: Greens propose dedicated fund for cycling infrastructure
To: "Green Party" <greenparty.press.office@gmail.com>
Date: Wednesday, 17 June, 2009, 2:56 PM

17 June 2009

Greens propose dedicated fund for cycling infrastructure

-Drop mandatory use of cycle lanes and introduce car-free Sundays once a month says Cuffe

The Green Party has proposed the creation of a dedicated fund for cycle projects. Speaking as the country celebrates National Bike Week, Green Party Transport spokesperson Ciaran Cuffe TD said a specific budget should be allowed for improvements in cycling infrastructure.

Deputy Cuffe said: “Ireland is twenty years behind many other countries such as Germany and the Netherlands in providing facilities for cyclists. I believe that the time is right for the creation of a stand-alone fund from which monies can be drawn down for the provision of cycle lanes and facilities. We already have a separate fund for ‘non-national’ roads. We now need a similar one, with a dedicated budget for cycle facilities.

“Local Authorities must do more for cyclists. I believe that every City Council in the country requires a dedicated Cycle Liaison Officer to spearhead improvements for cyclists. In many areas there is a lack of joined-up thinking on provision of road-space for cyclists.”

The Green Party has also proposed that the requirement for mandatory use of cycle lanes should be dropped. This would involve changes in the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) (Amendment) Regulations, SI 274 of 1998.

“There’s huge variation in the quality of cycle lanes,” said Deputy Cuffe. “Some lanes are very poorly designed, and cyclists should not be obliged by law to use them. Cities should also provide contra-flow cycle lanes on one-way streets that prevent cyclists from taking a direct route to their destination.”

In addition, the Green Party has called for a car-free Sunday once a month on the Liffey Quays. “This would be a great opportunity each a month to give part of Dublin city back to cyclists, and would be good for the city and for tourism. Many cities around the world have similar initiatives that can boost the city’s image,” concluded Deputy Cuffe.

[ENDS]

Information
Ciaran Cuffe TD: 087 265 2075
Nicola Cassidy, Press Office: 01 618 4088 / 087 914 8175

petethedrummer

Joanna Tuffy emailed me out of the blue:

Hi Peter,

I recently put down a question, on your behalf, to the Minister for Finance regarding the 'Cycle to Work Scheme' and I am attaching, for your attention, the Minister's response. You will note that he refers to a Circular in the PQ and I am attaching the Circular for information.

If I can be of further assistance to you with regard to this or indeed with regard to any other matter, in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards,

Joanna Tuffy, T.D.

Lumen

taconnol wrote: »

In addition, the Green Party has called for a car-free Sunday once a month on the Liffey Quays. “This would be a great opportunity each a month to give part of Dublin city back to cyclists

I quite like driving into the city centre on a Sunday. It's the one day it can be done without excessive sitting in traffic.

If people want to dawdle around on bikes near the quays, sorting out the ped/cyclist conflicts in the Phoenix Park would be a better idea.

petethedrummer

Minister Dempsey,

When is the abolition of the Mandatory Cycle Lane Use law time-tabled to take place?

It is great to see common sense prevailing on this matter.

Regards,
Petie

---

Received 01 Jul 09

Dear Mr Thedrummer,

I refer further to your email dated 16 June 2009 regarding the abolition of the mandatory cycle lane law. I intend to do so this year by way of Statutory Instrument. It will be one of a number of measures I will implement to improve the lot of cyclists. I am also committed to implementing a range of demonstration projects to focus on delivery of the new National Cycle Policy Framework.


Yours sincerely,

__________________
Noel Dempsey TD
Minister for Transport

---

So there you go......He's removing it this year, with some sort of blunt instrument.

paulmcd1973

To: info@culgreen.ie

Would it make sense to set up a cycle park where bicycles could be left securely for people going to matches in Croke Park? I cycle to and from work, but when going to matches in Croke Park, there's never anywhere safe to leave a bike. Has there been any other interest in this idea?
Regards,

Paul

Got a reply to the effect that it was something that they'd look into.

paulmcd1973

I think I took the friendly approach with Clr Crimmins, no reply for me either.

Pat,
I read about the proposal you brought about looking to make the wearing of helmets compulsory for cyclists. I'm glad to see that the interest you have in cycling within Dublin, however as a cyclist who's cycled in cities Sydney, London, Copenhagen as well as Dublin, I have to say the wearing of helmets is the least important aspect of cycling safety that needs to be addressed. In general 99% of other users of the road are aware of cyclists, of cycle lanes, to look out for cyclists when turning left. There is still a small number of motorists that don't take cyclists into consideration when making their manouevres, possibly because of the relatively small numbers of cyclists on the streets of Dublin. Making the wearing of cycling helmets compulsory puts another obstacle in the way of the casual cyclist who may only need the bike to travel less than a kilometre. The more cyclists on the road, the more aware motorists will become and judging by how safe cycling- friendly cities such as Amsterdam and Copenhagen are, I'd expect to see less collisions between cyclists and other road users in Dublin.

Another aspect that I'd also express concern about is the lack of cycle lanes as well as the low standard of cycle lanes that are provided in Dublin. My own commute of 11km has approx 3 km of cycle lanes. Some of these lanes are designed so that I'm forced to give way to traffic turning left across the cycle lane. Other cycle lanes in Dublin are built like rollercoasters going up and down across driveways into houses, and in recent years I've started to see the surfaces crumbling away, making the lanes even more dangerous.

I'd hope you'd look into these ongoing concerns for cycling in Dublin which if improved could make Dublin a safe place for all to cycle with increased numbers taking it up. For it's size, Dublin is perfect for cycling, it just needs to be made safer and more accessible.

Regards,

Paul

petethedrummer

Minister Dempsey,

In response to my email in June 2009 regarding Mandatory Cycle Lane use, the law was to be abolished by the end of 2009.

"I refer further to your email dated 16 June 2009 regarding the abolition of the mandatory cycle lane law. I intend to do so this year by way of Statutory Instrument."

The reponse is attached.

Will this be done by the end of 2010? Or has there been a change in policy on this matter. Cycle lanes are not improving and repealing this law would make life safer for cyclists.

Regards,
Peter

---

Dear Mr.TheDrummer,

I wish to acknowledge receipt of your e-mail dated 12 October 2010 regarding mandatory cycle lane usage.

A further reply will issue to you as soon as possible.


Yours sincerely,
Noel Dempsey

CheGuedara

Same as what I got

tomasrojo

I think the clock is going to run out on this. FG/Labour will not rescind mandatory use.

Dandelion6

PQ reply earlier this week

310. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport Information Zoom when he will remove the mandatory use requirement for cycle lanes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37218/10]

Minister for Transport (Deputy Noel Dempsey): The removal of the requirement to use cycle lanes where provided is one of the undertakings in the National Cycle Policy Framework. Subject to finalising some safety aspects of the proposal, I hope to make the necessary amending Regulations by early 2011.

coolbeans

Well done to all for keeping the pressure up on this.

rp

Hey all, great work being done here, and nice to see our paid representatives actually responding. One thing though, is the message is getting a bit mixed? Perhaps it might be more effective to figure out our demands in the form or a manifesto: say half a dozen headline points, principles we want to see put into practice in law, infrastructure and road user awareness campaigns.
Also, a cool name for this would help fix it in peoples heads.
Here is a first stab at it:
* Abolish "mandatory use" for cycle paths / tracks, acknowledging the studies that show greater risk to cyclists inherent in mandatory usage
* Where cycle facilities are provided, must meet international safety standards (e.g., Bypad)
* Introduce "strict liability" legislation (European), or "duty of care" (Californian)
* Provision of secure parking facilities as integrated transport policy
* Measure to encourage facilities in the workplace (showers, drying rooms, parking)
* Set-up cycle training: in schools, for adults; inc. ROTR

petethedrummer

I started this thread because at the time people were moaning about nothing being done for cyclists and thought this would be a chance for them to post if they had bothered to contact a political representative. You can see by the time gaps between posts that noone on here is gonna start a concerted campaign. There's cyclist.ie and other such groups for that. Actually most of your manifesto is already in the Government Cycling framework, its just a matter of putting some pressure on representatives to implement it.

I have some time off for the next few weeks so I should be posting a few more correspondences.

tomasrojo

This is a selfish thing to say, but I hope the government lasts till early 2011. And I really don't like this government.

coolbeans

tomasrojo wrote: »

This is a selfish thing to say, but I hope the government lasts till early 2011. And I really don't like this government.

Presumably because you wish to see them around long enough to repeal the mandatory use requirement...

tomasrojo

coolbeans wrote: »

Presumably because you wish to see them around long enough to repeal the mandatory use requirement...

Yes. Sorry, should have made myself clearer. It's taken thirteen years of lobbying to get that commitment, and once this government is gone it's back to Square One, as far as I can see, unless they follow through and rescind the requirement.

CheGuedara

Finally got a reply to my query re. repealing mandatory cycle lane use today, only four months after emailing. Pretty much a copy of the reply Dandelion6 got.

No answer to a query of introducing minimum safe overtake distances but getting an email is about as much as one can hope to get from the Government at the mo without being taxed, charged, levied or otherwise wallet r@ped...

Mr Darth Dempsey wrote:

Dear CheGuedara,

I refer further to your query in relation to mandatory cycle lanes.

The removal of the requirement to use cycle lanes where provided is one of the undertakings of the National Cycle Policy Framework. My Department is currently awaiting a response from An Garda Síochána in order to finalise some safety aspects of the proposal. Subject to their response I hope to make the necessary amending Regulations by early 2011.

Yours sincerely,

Noel Dempsey

So what apparently needs to happen is somone in the Gardai needs to answer an email or two from Darth, and then we have to hope that the regulation required to change the law is put into play before whatever election comes around...

petethedrummer

actually i got the same response a few weeks ago, but forgot about it! He must like me better.

CheGuedara

I figure he just got stuck into his much ignored email inbox before he got labelled a tratior by a frustrated ignored member of the public and had to replace his windows again...

petethedrummer

CheGuedara wrote: »

I figure he just got stuck into his much ignored email inbox before he got labelled a tratior by a frustrated ignored member of the public and had to replace his windows again...

I wonder who it is from the Gardai that is dealing with this. I might write back and ask.

CheGuedara

petethedrummer wrote: »

I wonder who it is from the Gardai that is dealing with this. I might write back and ask.

There's a few members in the Club - might ask around and see if they might have any idea/contacts that could be followed up on

tomasrojo

CheGuedara wrote: »

I figure he just got stuck into his much ignored email inbox before he got labelled a tratior by a frustrated ignored member of the public and had to replace his windows again...

When I saw that story, I regretted a little that it wasn't the offices of the Minister for Education that had been daubed with the word 'Tratiors!'. At least it would have been an amusing irony.

Jawgap

I think with the election looming you can forget about this for at least 9 to 12 months.

Like all other SIs it will likely be parked until the new minister is appointed, and by the time they sort out the ministers of state and everyone gets to grips with their briefs (ooh-aah missus!!) it'll be up against the summer recess before they're ready to start doing some actual governing.

Lumen

Jawgap wrote: »

I think with the election looming you can forget about this for at least 9 to 12 months.

Like all other SIs it will likely be parked until the new minister is appointed, and by the time they sort out the ministers of state and everyone gets to grips with their briefs (ooh-aah missus!!) it'll be up against the summer recess before they're ready to start doing some actual governing.

And the rest. I'm going straight to Angela Merkel. Cut out the middleidiots.

Jawgap

tomasrojo wrote: »

When I saw that story, I regretted a little that it wasn't the offices of the Minister for Education that had been daubed with the word 'Tratiors!'. At least it would have been an amusing irony.

I think irony got a good outing in the Department of Education when Calamity Coughlan got appointed. Really, is the best person for that job someone who......

.......thinks Einstein developed a theory of evolution.....

.......referred to the Greens as "na glasrai" (that's vegetables for our UK audience)

......thinks the US is heavily unionised.......

.....forgot about a cabinet meeting she had presided over....

.....got confused over the words "budget" and "election".....

Dandelion6

Jawgap wrote: »

.......referred to the Greens as "na glasrai" (that's vegetables for our UK audience)

In fairness I think she was on to something with that one.

tomasrojo

So farewell Noel Dempsey. I guess we're stuck with mandatory use. At least it's almost never enforced.

See you all on the red bit of the footpad!

Jawgap

tomasrojo wrote: »

So farewell Noel Dempsey. I guess we're stuck with mandatory use. At least it's almost never enforced.

See you all on the red bit of the footpad!

I'm sure Pat Scary Carey, our new Minister for Transport, will sort it out.....

dited

tomasrojo wrote: »

At least it's almost never enforced.

Except by bus drivers, evidently ...

CheGuedara

Well Darth Dempsey's clearing out and Mr Varadkar is in.

Email sent to him this evening (they're working on our euro, we should make them earn it so no honeymoon period for this lot!) to enquire if he will repeal the mandatory cycle lane use legislation and investigate introduction of a safe overtake law given the abject failure of his predecessor to get the finger out before it came time to scuttle into retirement.

Will post an update if anything comes of it.

Dandelion6

Dáil Question No: 26
To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to remove the mandatory use requirement for cycle lanes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Seán Crowe. (Nominated by: Dessie Ellis).

For ORAL answer on Wednesday, 20th April, 2011.

Answered by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport
Leo Varadkar
REPLY

The removal of the requirement to use cycle lanes where provided is one of the undertakings in the National Cycle Policy Framework. Subject to finalising some safety aspects of the proposal, I hope to make the necessary amending Regulations later in the year.

RobFowl

Dandelion6 wrote: »

Dáil Question No: 26
To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to remove the mandatory use requirement for cycle lanes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Seán Crowe. (Nominated by: Dessie Ellis).

For ORAL answer on Wednesday, 20th April, 2011.

Answered by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport
Leo Varadkar
REPLY

The removal of the requirement to use cycle lanes where provided is one of the undertakings in the National Cycle Policy Framework. Subject to finalising some safety aspects of the proposal, I hope to make the necessary amending Regulations later in the year.

Common sense in Dail shocker ........

thebouldwhacker

Will they still be protected from cars parking or driving on?

AstraMonti

thebouldwhacker wrote: »

Will they still be protected from cars parking or driving on?

Now you're just asking too much dude!

thebouldwhacker

That just means they are taking away our cycle lanes for the benefit of cars!!! A complete injustice, someone should start a political action thread to stop this abuse of power designed to promote the car and disincentivise people from cycling!!!





:pac:

enas

thebouldwhacker wrote: »

That just means they are taking away our cycle lanes for the benefit of cars!!! A complete injustice, someone should start a political action thread to stop this abuse of power designed to promote the car and disincentivise people from cycling!!!

Is this sarcastic? If not, then how did you come to understand this?