Cycle lanes - Why not use them? *NOT A RANT THREAD. PLEASE STAY ON TOPIC*

bungler

***Mods i posted this is the cycle section,but feel this section might be better***

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Hi all,

This is not a troll post or anything like it before anyone jumps down my throath.

I live in Dublin and this is becoming quite an issue and just wanted to see if i could find out why some cyclists dont use the lanes provided for them.

Last night i was driving on a main road in the bus lane as cars are allowed after 7pm. While driving, a guy on a bike was in the bus lane and right beside him is a huge cycle lane but he opted to cycle on the road. Without warning he decided to swerve right out in front of me which cause me to jam on and nearly cause an accident. After the traffic went passed me i asked him to stop and i asked him why doesnt he use the cycle lane provided and he went into a rant about all drivers are scum and i should have been more careful, fair enough if he thinks that but why not use the lane that was basically made to keep him safe.

This is getting quite common in Dublin and i wanted to know why do a huge amount of cyclists use the road when there is a great cycle lane right beside them?

As i said this isnt me having a go, i just feel that its safer if cyclists use the lane made for them and keep yourselves safe

MagicMarker

You never quite understand just how much glass/crap is on the cycle lanes until you're riding along on thin pieces of air filled rubber.

bmaxi

Some cyclists say they use the road to avoid the cars parked in the cycle lane.

namloc1980

Roads are generally better maintained than cycle lanes. That red surface coating they put on cycle lanes ends up chipping and cracking after a while. In addition stones, glass etc. end up gathering at the side of roads where cycle lanes are. It's typical really - go to the effort of paving a piece of cycle lane and then don't bother maintaining it.

Or else you get idiotic set up like this:



These are actually not too far from where I live. Best to stick to the road.

Carawaystick

cycle lanes are often full of broken glass, dogs, pedestrians.
Cycle lanes often are badly designed and force cyclists to yield at junctions, where staying on the road allows the right of way with the rest of the vehicular traffic

It is often illegal to cycle onto or off of cycle lanes as they start and stop away from the road. The lane across the new swing bridge in Dublin and the lanes on the North quays are like this also.
You have to cycle over footpath to get to the cycle lane.

cycle lanes often have dips to allow cars into and out of driveways

As mentioned cycle lanes surfaces are often poor, especially compared to a good asphalt road surface.

cycle lanes often don't go the same way as a road, and often don't allow right turns to be made safely

cycle lanes at the edge of a road encourage motorists to pass cyclists with little room, cycling in the middle of a driving lane makes motorists pass in another lane and gives a cyclist escape room to the left

The last govt changed the law to remove the compulsion on cyclists to use cycle lanes.

Has the OP any evidence the cycle lane seen was actually ``great''
Couldn't the OP have used the overtaking lane to overtake the cyclist and avoid all fuss?

foggy_lad

But surely the cycle lanes are safer? My only gripe with cyclists is with the many in suits and helmet in the city centre going to or from work who think a cycle lane gives them the right to ignore pedestrian crossings and traffic lights and cycle through groups of pedestrians crossing the street.

Just on topic I don't believe in cycle lanes as cyclists should keep to the left of the normal lane except when turning right and they are more visible and safer then restricted to cycle lanes. It is up to drivers to look out for the cyclists.

Mint Sauce

These comments are based on experiences of a daily commute in London, an occasional cycle in Dublin, and cycling around the North-West.

The majority of pedestians see them as an extention to the pavement, or dont even see the markings at all.

A very small minority of scooter/motor bike riders thinks they can use them.

Cars undertake into them and park in them, even if they are seperated by a solid white line.

Thet are usally littered with debrees and broken glass.

Alot of them mysteriously end and start in the oddest of places.

I will alot sooner ride in the road. For the amount of wits and awareness you need to keep on the main road, you need more using a cycle path.

zom

foggy_lad wrote: »

But surely the cycle lanes are safer? My only gripe with cyclists is with the many in suits and helmet in the city centre going to or from work who think a cycle lane gives them the right to ignore pedestrian crossings and traffic lights and cycle through groups of pedestrians crossing the street.

Just on topic I don't believe in cycle lanes as cyclists should keep to the left of the normal lane except when turning right and they are more visible and safer then restricted to cycle lanes. It is up to drivers to look out for the cyclists.

Cycling has it's disadvantages and advantages - disadvantages are when you get soaked, cold, dirty - advantages are when you can pass streets faster than cars (go mid-lanes, red lights, footpaths). Without advantages there will be probably 90% or so less people cycling.

Carawaystick

foggy_lad wrote: »

But surely the cycle lanes are safer? My only gripe with cyclists is with the many in suits and helmet in the city centre going to or from work who think a cycle lane gives them the right to ignore pedestrian crossings and traffic lights and cycle through groups of pedestrians crossing the street.

Just on topic I don't believe in cycle lanes as cyclists should keep to the left of the normal lane except when turning right and they are more visible and safer then restricted to cycle lanes. It is up to drivers to look out for the cyclists.

In an urban area cyclists should stay at least a metre right of the edge of the road. most cycle lanes are a metre or less wide so they are not safer.

Stonewolf

I think the best example of rubbish cycle lanes has to be on O'Connell St in Dublin. The cycle lane is on the left all the way up the road except outside the GPO where it's on the right and all the vehicles keep going as if the lanes were exactly the same.

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=53.348977,-6.26004&spn=0.00127,0.002411&z=19&layer=c&cbll=53.348866,-6.259992&panoid=NsiwGqPqmFOidSq7RFVjNA&cbp=12,319.28,,0,31.07

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=53.348977,-6.26004&spn=0.00127,0.002411&z=19&layer=c&cbll=53.349072,-6.260079&panoid=1p2PJvqRvPPlwZy7G4Ydnw&cbp=12,4.28,,0,31.07

BostonB

bungler wrote: »

...
I live in Dublin and this is becoming quite an issue...

Can you back that up with any stats?

Some cycle lanes are great. But many are simply a waste of money, many are dangerous especially for those with no experience who don't know when to stay out of them.

Spook_ie

Stonewolf wrote: »

I think the best example of rubbish cycle lanes has to be on O'Connell St in Dublin. The cycle lane is on the left all the way up the road except outside the GPO where it's on the right and all the vehicles keep going as if the lanes were exactly the same.

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=53.348977,-6.26004&spn=0.00127,0.002411&z=19&layer=c&cbll=53.348866,-6.259992&panoid=NsiwGqPqmFOidSq7RFVjNA&cbp=12,319.28,,0,31.07

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=53.348977,-6.26004&spn=0.00127,0.002411&z=19&layer=c&cbll=53.349072,-6.260079&panoid=1p2PJvqRvPPlwZy7G4Ydnw&cbp=12,4.28,,0,31.07

Actualy the bus lane is designated as a bus/cycle lane, the confusion arises where they decided to put that stupid surface down outside the GPO, no one actualy has a clue as to waht lane is supposed to be what because of the non standard road markings



Bus/cycle lane Before GPO

Non Standard Road Markings At GPO

Bus/Cycle lane starts again after GPO

bungler

Carawaystick wrote: »

cycle lanes are often full of broken glass, dogs, pedestrians.
Cycle lanes often are badly designed and force cyclists to yield at junctions, where staying on the road allows the right of way with the rest of the vehicular traffic

It is often illegal to cycle onto or off of cycle lanes as they start and stop away from the road. The lane across the new swing bridge in Dublin and the lanes on the North quays are like this also.
You have to cycle over footpath to get to the cycle lane.

cycle lanes often have dips to allow cars into and out of driveways

As mentioned cycle lanes surfaces are often poor, especially compared to a good asphalt road surface.

cycle lanes often don't go the same way as a road, and often don't allow right turns to be made safely

cycle lanes at the edge of a road encourage motorists to pass cyclists with little room, cycling in the middle of a driving lane makes motorists pass in another lane and gives a cyclist escape room to the left

The last govt changed the law to remove the compulsion on cyclists to use cycle lanes.

Has the OP any evidence the cycle lane seen was actually ``great''
Couldn't the OP have used the overtaking lane to overtake the cyclist and avoid all fuss?

I wasnt able to there was a line of cars in the 2 lanes beside me. Im entitled to drive in that lane without a fuss like the guy on the bike, but i cant fore see a wally in black on a bike with no lights deciding to swerve in front of me.

BostonB wrote: »

Can you back that up with any stats?

Some cycle lanes are great. But many are simply a waste of money, many are dangerous especially for those with no experience who don't know when to stay out of them.

Stats? I said I live in Dublin and its becoming an issue, i didnt say anything about stats. Do i have to have stats to be able to have an opinion on something that I see happening?

Paparazzo

Too many are put down just to up the councils statistics I reckon. A random 100m stretch with no cycle lane leading too or from it, where a lane isn't necessary. They just throw them down on odd stretches just to have a certain amount of new cycle lane in the end of year report.

-Chris-

bungler wrote: »

I wasnt able to there was a line of cars in the 2 lanes beside me. Im entitled to drive in that lane without a fuss like the guy on the bike, but i cant fore see a wally in black on a bike with no lights deciding to swerve in front of me.

So what you're saying is that you were driving in a lane with another vehicle in front of you, travelling slower than you.

The other lanes were full so you were unable to change lanes and overtake this vehicle, and you didn't have room to overtake the vehicle within the lane.

The other vehicle found itself in a situation where they had to take an evasive manoeuvre, and you had to brake suddenly because you had left insufficient reaction distance between yourself and the vehicle in front.

You also forgot the basic driving maxim of "expect the unexpected".


Do I have that all correct?

Tombones

Dont forget to mention Autumn when leaves fall and turn to abolsute mush and are left in the badly maintained bike lanes for a few months.

bungler

-Chris- wrote: »

So what you're saying is that you were driving in a lane with another vehicle in front of you, travelling slower than you.

The other lanes were full so you were unable to change lanes and overtake this vehicle, and you didn't have room to overtake the vehicle within the lane.

The other vehicle found itself in a situation where they had to take an evasive manoeuvre, and you had to brake suddenly because you had left insufficient reaction distance between yourself and the vehicle in front.

You also forgot the basic driving maxim of "expect the unexpected".


Do I have that all correct?

The other viehicle decided to dress in black, have no helmet on, have no reflective gear or have any lights on and swearvess out in front of me you left that bit out.

Iwannahurl

zom wrote: »

Cycling has it's disadvantages and advantages - disadvantages are when you get soaked, cold, dirty - advantages are when you can pass streets faster than cars (go mid-lanes, red lights, footpaths). Without advantages there will be probably 90% or so less people cycling.

Irish cyclists and Irish roads engineers -- a match made in heaven?

-Chris-

bungler wrote: »

The other viehicle decided to dress in black, have no helmet on, have no reflective gear or have any lights on and swearvess out in front of me you left that bit out.

OK, I'll accept the point on visibility/lighting. I'm not defending the cyclist in this regard.

Is the rest of my post correct?



As another question - why did you stop the cyclist and suggest they use the cycle lane when the obvious issue here (based on your post above) is that you should have stopped them and suggested they put lights on their bike and make themselves more visible?

bungler

-Chris- wrote: »

OK, I'll accept the point on visibility/lighting. I'm not defending the cyclist in this regard.

Is the rest of my post correct?



As another question - why did you stop the cyclist and suggest they use the cycle lane when the obvious issue here (based on your post above) is that you should have stopped them and suggested they put lights on their bike and make themselves more visible?

I did say to him to get a light and again he screamed at me and called me a scum bag, I genuinely tried to help him from getting killed by putting lights on but he had no interest as far as he was concerned he was right. As i originally said im not having a go at cyclists, yes there loads of great cyclists but i was talking about people like him, who have no lights and think its ok to swerve in front of a car

-Chris-

bungler wrote: »

I did say to him to get a light and again he screamed at me and called me a scum bag, I genuinely tried to help him from getting killed by putting lights on but he had no interest as far as he was concerned he was right. As i originally said im not having a go at cyclists, yes there loads of great cyclists but i was talking about people like him, who have no lights and think its ok to swerve in front of a car

So..... was the rest of my post correct? :)

Cookie_Monster

because the vast majority of them are full of junk and so badly designed that they are actually dangerous

The road is much safer IMO so I nearly always use it

bungler

-Chris- wrote: »

So..... was the rest of my post correct? :)

The rest of your post would be correct and mean something if the vechile in front had lights on to warm vehicles behind that they are there and on the road. You cant expect something in the dark to be clearly visable

seamus

bungler wrote: »

think its ok to swerve in front of a car

That depends on circumstances tbh. He clearly didn't come out of nowhere, so you did know he was in front of you. In reality, he had to swerve to avoid a pothole, and I'm guessing you were just about to overtake him when he did, which is what annoys you the most.

By your own admission, he was already in front of you, so he couldn't have "swerved out in front of you", instead he had to take an evasive manouver to avoid a hazard while you were overtaking, or about to overtake.

I can't say if he did or did not do the right thing. When I have to avoid a hazard, I will often opt to move left if I can. However, since most hazards are big holes that go from the centre of the road to the kerb, most of the time I have to move right, in which case I'll check for following traffic before doing so. If I don't have time, then I'll usually opt to bear it and go over it. Many cyclists aren't experienced, and will instinctively swerve to avoid a hazard.

There are two people at fault here - the cyclist, for failing to check following traffic before swerving, and you for driving too close to a cyclist and failing to give adequate room in case the guy needed to avoid a hazard.

The appropriate thing to do would be to wait behind the cyclist until there's a break in the traffic in the lane on your right, then move wholly or partially into that lane to do your overtake and give the other road user enough room.

That he was wearing black and lightless is irrelevant in your scenario, because you could still see him. That is, even if he had lights, it wouldn't have changed the scenario.

You can take it for granted that if a cyclist is not cycling in the cycle lane on the left-hand side of the road, there's a good reason for it. I will typically sit at the far right of a cycle lane, except when I know that the surface of the cycle lane is not safe for cycling on (such as on the Rathmines and Rathgar Roads).

bungler

seamus wrote: »

That depends on circumstances tbh. He clearly didn't come out of nowhere, so you did know he was in front of you. In reality, he had to swerve to avoid a pothole, and I'm guessing you were just about to overtake him when he did, which is what annoys you the most.

By your own admission, he was already in front of you, so he couldn't have "swerved out in front of you", instead he had to take an evasive manouver to avoid a hazard while you were overtaking, or about to overtake.

I can't say if he did or did not do the right thing. When I have to avoid a hazard, I will often opt to move left if I can. However, since most hazards are big holes that go from the centre of the road to the kerb, most of the time I have to move right, in which case I'll check for following traffic before doing so. If I don't have time, then I'll usually opt to bear it and go over it. Many cyclists aren't experienced, and will instinctively swerve to avoid a hazard.

There are two people at fault here - the cyclist, for failing to check following traffic before swerving, and you for driving too close to a cyclist and failing to give adequate room in case the guy needed to avoid a hazard.

The appropriate thing to do would be to wait behind the cyclist until there's a break in the traffic in the lane on your right, then move wholly or partially into that lane to do your overtake and give the other road user enough room.

That he was wearing black and lightless is irrelevant in your scenario, because you could still see him. That is, even if he had lights, it wouldn't have changed the scenario.

You can take it for granted that if a cyclist is not cycling in the cycle lane on the left-hand side of the road, there's a good reason for it. I will typically sit at the far right of a cycle lane, except when I know that the surface of the cycle lane is not safe for cycling on (such as on the Rathmines and Rathgar Roads).

The thing that annoyed me is i drove passed the pothole a few minutes ago to have a look and right at the pothole there is an option to go into the bike lane without having to go up a curd or anything dangerous. This is my beef rather than be safe and go into the bike lane he moves in front of a car. The place im talking about is heading south just after the Whitescross junction just before the bus lane

monument

Why do you think you are more entitled to the out-of-hours bus / cycle / taxi lane more than a cyclist?

Why don't you use the perfectly good other traffic lane/s?

bungler

monument wrote: »

Why do you think you are more entitled to the out-of-hours bus / cycle / taxi lane more than a cyclist?

Why don't you use the perfectly good other traffic lane/s?

I never once said i was more entitled did i??????

I started the post not as a rant or to bitch but to find out why. I simply wanted to know for saftey sake why not use them, but from the responses i got i fully accept and understand why they are not prefered.

Zebra3

Agree with a lot of what has been said about cycle lanes.

Many are of appalling standard, have no continuity, and are full of parked cars. I had to pass one parked car two weeks and onto the footpath as some aul wan in a 4x4 had the good grace to not be on the road using her phone. So instead she drove up over the grass verge and parked on the cycle lane so she could talk to someone. I've even had arguements with guards about them parking in cycle lanes.

I was out cycling in Leixlip yesterday morning and the staff working for KCC (not sure if they are their own staff or contractors) on the road outside Intel put temporary signs on the cycle lane. :rolleyes:

Cookie_Monster

zom wrote: »

advantages are when you can pass streets faster than cars (go mid-lanes, red lights, footpaths). Without advantages there will be probably 90% or so less people cycling.

eh, no, you can't are not allowed do the highlighted actually.


other than that:
good for your health
saves money

i71jskz5xu42pb

I use them if it makes sense (i.e. is better than the road)

For example there's a cycle lane that runs from about Quinns in Drumcondra to Fagans. If I cycle on the cycle lane I have to give way to the 2 roads that join the Drumcondra road. If I cycle on the road I have right of way. No brainer, I'll cycle on the road thanks.

This is even before the points already raised about people in the cycle lanes, conditions of the cycle lanes, etc.

HivemindXX

bungler wrote: »

I started the post not as a rant or to bitch but to find out why. I simply wanted to know for saftey sake why not use them, but from the responses i got i fully accept and understand why they are not prefered.

I don't think this is true. If it is why do you keep gilding the lilly with more stories? You claim you have a basic question. That the cyclist supposedly swerved in front of you is not really relevant. That the cyclist was wearing black is not relevant. That the cyclist had no lights is not relevant.

If you really wanted an answer to your question you wouldn't be bringing all that up.

As far as I'm concerned a lot of cycle lanes exist purely to get cyclists off the road and out of the way. The classic, and common, example of this is the lane that brings you up to the footpath and then stops 10 or 20m later at which point the cyclist is expected to press a button and wait for the pedestrian light to go green. If a cycle lane does that it should suprise nobody that cyclists don't use it. Since there are such a high number of very bad cycle lanes it's not too surprising that cyclists are reluctant to use any of them.

BostonB

bungler wrote: »

...
Stats? I said I live in Dublin and its becoming an issue, i didnt say anything about stats. Do i have to have stats to be able to have an opinion on something that I see happening?

You do if you want to demonstrate its a problem. If its a problem with the cycle lane on your route, then it would explain why you see it and other people don't.

Usually drivers have no experience of cycling in traffic, on these lanes, so don't can't understand or anticipate cyclists movement. Theres lots of reasons a cyclist might leave the cycle lane.

BostonB

Where I live theres about 5 roundabouts, the cycle lanes on each on are designed completely different.

1. Cycle lane can't get to the roundabout, they go round the corner only
2. Cycle lanes suddenly spit the cyclist from footpath into middle of roundabout
3. No cycle lanes
4. Cycle lanes take cyclist off road along footpath. But one side only.
5. Cycle lanes ends just before roundabout, and no means of getting off it, to road.

Complete chaos.

The easiest way, and probably safest for the commuter is to stay on the road and command the lane. Or find a route to avoid it if the runabout is too big, fast. Costs nothing vs the hundreds of thousands they spend on these useless cycle lanes.

Cycle lanes off the road are useful for young kids and people not used to cycling on roads.

woodseb

i think the OP does have somewhat of a point here, i've had a few occaision where i've had a cyclist swerve in and out in front of me when there's a perfectly good cycle lane available - two of the incidents were along clontarf road for example

i also cycle an awful lot too so spare me the, 'you don't cycle, so you wouldn't understand line', granted there are places where its easier to stay on the road rather than try to follow a haphazard cycle lane, but in many cases i think cyclist should do there best to make use of the extra lane provided specifically for them

monument

bungler wrote: »

I never once said i was more entitled did i??????

I started the post not as a rant or to bitch but to find out why. I simply wanted to know for saftey sake why not use them, but from the responses i got i fully accept and understand why they are not prefered.

If a cyclist has the same or more entitlement to use the out of hours bus lane as you do then you have no point. None whatsoever.

For "saftey sake", if you think there is some issue, you should use the normal traffic lane.

woodseb wrote: »

i think the OP does have somewhat of a point here, i've had a few occaision where i've had a cyclist swerve in and out in front of me when there's a perfectly good cycle lane available - two of the incidents were along clontarf road for example

i also cycle an awful lot too so spare me the, 'you don't cycle, so you wouldn't understand line', granted there are places where its easier to stay on the road rather than try to follow a haphazard cycle lane, but in many cases i think cyclist should do there best to make use of the extra lane provided specifically for them

The cycle tracks along the Clontarf Road are great if you're going from one end to the other or even a good distance along it. But it's useless if you are using one of the turns off or if you're cycling only a short distance alone the road.

Clontarf Road seems like a high standard track, but it's very poorly designed for people cycling short distances along the road. There's no crossing points and mostly a wall in the way. It would be laughed at in the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany etc.

Cyclists are sometimes the worst people to ask about designs. Just because it looks like or is "a perfectly good cycle lane" for you, does not mean it is for everybody.

Spook_ie

Perhaps the answer lies in more education, both for cyclists and other road users, maybe even time to revist that age old one of licensing cyclists!!

-Chris-

Start off by enforcing the existing laws before you make new ones - fine the cyclist for no lights and give the driver a talking to for following too close with poor anticipation.

**Timbuk2**

I always thought it was the law that if there is a cycle lane present, you have to use it? Am I incorrect, or has this changed? If it is not the case, then that's great

seamus

Spook_ie wrote: »

maybe even time to revist that age old one of licensing cyclists!!

And how would you ensure compliance? I've never once been stopped by a Garda while cycling. I don't see that changing

Iwannahurl

Spook_ie wrote: »

Perhaps the answer lies in more education, both for cyclists and other road users, maybe even time to revist that age old one of licensing cyclists!!

Oh no.

Then again, what about licensing wheelchair users too?

MagicMarker

Iwannahurl wrote: »

Oh no.

Then again, what about licensing wheelchair users too?

Let's not forget about children with wheels on their runners.

Cunning Alias

seamus wrote: »

And how would you ensure compliance? I've never once been stopped by a Garda while cycling. I don't see that changing

Checkpoints I would imagine. They work wonders for cars.

bungler

Cunning Alias wrote: »

Checkpoints I would imagine. They work wonders for cars.

And motor bikes

Cunning Alias

To follow up on the license issue. Would you be happy to pay a cyclist tax if the cycle lanes were maintained?

MagicMarker

Cunning Alias wrote: »

To follow up on the license issue. Would you be happy to pay a cyclist tax if the cycle lanes were maintained?

Would you like to pay road tax on top of your motor tax?

Pineapple stu

I there any chance that cyclists can be shown how to use the bike lanes properly. Just because its a bike lane it doesnt mean you can ride in any direction. Go in the direction of traffic and no against it, its not difficult.
The worst cyclist i saw breaking a red light was in Phibsborough when this fool rode across the junction whilst the traffic was going across in the other direction from left to right and he was going straight on. It was like a game of frogger.
Until you start paying road tax then stick to the bike lanes and go in the proper direction.

hardCopy

monument wrote: »

The cycle tracks along the Clontarf Road are great if you're going from one end to the other or even a good distance along it. But it's useless if you are using one of the turns off or if you're cycling only a short distance alone the road.

Clontarf Road seems like a high standard track, but it's very poorly designed for people cycling short distances along the road. There's no crossing points and mostly a wall in the way. It would be laughed at in the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany etc.

Cyclists are sometimes the worst people to ask about designs. Just because it looks like or is "a perfectly good cycle lane" for you, does not mean it is for everybody.

The only good thing about that track is the surface.

It's mobbed by pedestrians the whole time. There's a running club that actually meet on the surface of the cycle track at Vernon Avenue for a chat before their run, they then run on the cycle track.

There's also a car park at the same spot where people park before taking their kids out for a walk on the prom. Take kid out of car, let kid wander off while you rummage in the car, kid wanders out in front of cyclist. Hopefully the kid survives with nothing more than a dirty look.

At the bottom of Castle Avenue there is no gap in the wall to enter the cycle lane, there is a gap 50 feet to the right, but there's no ramp in the kerb there. The only way to access it is to get off the bike, bunny hop the kerb or mount the path at the pedestrian crossing and cycle along the path to the nearest hole in the wall.

I use the cycle track a lot, but only because there are so many parked cars on the main road and drivers have a tendency to side-swipe any cyclist who strays off the designated cycling area.

Bear in mind that this is one of the best in Dublin and you may begin to understand why the majority are safer to ignore.

seamus

Cunning Alias wrote: »

Checkpoints I would imagine. They work wonders for cars.

They do? When's the last time a Garda asked for your licence at a checkpoint?
Once, in ten years, I've presented my licence to a Garda at a checkpoint. And that's because I was on a motorbike and carried my tax in my wallet along with my licence.
Are they going to put shickalonies at the entrance to every estate and laneway as well to catch cyclists who veer off to avoid the check point? What about people who just jump of the bike and wheel it along? Will you be required to hold a licence to wheel a bike?

Checkpoints are for tax & insurance. Two things which are not necessary for bicycles (theoretically or in reality).

There are already plenty of laws there governing cyclists. Adding more won't make a blind bit of difference.

Would you be happy to pay a cyclist tax if the cycle lanes were maintained?

I would happily pay a small cyclist tax (let's say €10 per year) to have all cycle lanes removed and get rid of the ambiguity once and for all.

hardCopy

Pineapple stu wrote: »

I there any chance that cyclists can be shown how to use the bike lanes properly. Just because its a bike lane it doesnt mean you can ride in any direction. Go in the direction of traffic and no against it, its not difficult.
The worst cyclist i saw breaking a red light was in Phibsborough when this fool rode across the junction whilst the traffic was going across in the other direction from left to right and he was going straight on. It was like a game of frogger.
Until you start paying road tax then stick to the bike lanes and go in the proper direction.

This annoys other cyclists as much as it does drivers! Happens all the time outside DCU where the young lads from St Aidan't 'salmon' up the bike lane going the wrong way.

These people are idiots, the fact that they are on bikes doesn't make them the same as the rest of us.

I pay motor tax by the way, can I now cycle the wrong way up the road? Can I now drive the wrong way up the motor way?

dynamick

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

I always thought it was the law that if there is a cycle lane present, you have to use it? Am I incorrect, or has this changed? If it is not the case, then that's great

The law does require cyclists to use bike lanes where present and correctly signposted. The minister for transport stated in the dáil last month that he would revoke this regulation.

To the OP: even in the circumstance where a cyclist in front of you is breaking the law by for example failing to use a bike lane or lights, you still have a duty to look out to prevent what is a predictable accident from occurring. Bus lanes tend to have cyclists and nobody wants to explain to a grieving family that it's not your fault because the other guy had no light on his bike.

Bus lanes are not for overtaking, they are the leftmost lane on the road, so if you are using this lane to skip ahead, you may well be in breach of the law yourself.

A number of posters have explained why cyclists don't use bike lanes. Biggest one for me is the risk of being knocked down by a car during the frequent on-off sections where the bike must always give way to cars when the bike lane dumps its traffic at an intersection. I have also seen a cyclist hit by a car exiting a driveway.

As a driver of a vehicle weighing over a tonne you have a duty to ensure you act very carefully around vulnerable pedestrians and cyclists.

edit==
legalities discussed here: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=53810940&postcount=21

bungler

seamus wrote: »

They do? When's the last time a Garda asked for your licence at a checkpoint?
Once, in ten years, I've presented my licence to a Garda at a checkpoint. And that's because I was on a motorbike and carried my tax in my wallet along with my licence.
Are they going to put shickalonies at the entrance to every estate and laneway as well to catch cyclists who veer off to avoid the check point? What about people who just jump of the bike and wheel it along? Will you be required to hold a licence to wheel a bike?

Checkpoints are for tax & insurance. Two things which are not necessary for bicycles (theoretically or in reality).

There are already plenty of laws there governing cyclists. Adding more won't make a blind bit of difference.
I would happily pay a small cyclist tax (let's say €10 per year) to have all cycle lanes removed and get rid of the ambiguity once and for all.

They could use the guards that patrol on bikes to stop other bikes and ask for their licence. To be fair i live in Cabinteely and they always have a check point just before the Bray motorway and i have been asked for my licence a load of times and also the road besdie Leopardstown race course