Cars parking in cycle lanes

MJI

What can I do about assholes parking their cars,vans and trucks in cycle lanes.

They completely block the lanes, forcing cyclists like myself to go around them and out into traffic.

I have taken pictures of number plates and I am considering sending them to the Garda.

I'm not sure what to do. Looking for advise.

Beasty

Go round them?

Seriously - you can't move them and the Guards are unlikely to take any action unless they are completely obstructing traffic.

You need to be confident moving out into the road as you will find plenty of circumstances where you need to do that regardless. What do you do where there are parked cars and no cycle lanes?

RustyNut

You could try posting the pics of the offending cars to the garda twitter thingy and see what response you get.

markpb

If they're parked on a Dublin city street (as opposed to Fingal, South Dublin or Dun Laoghaire Rathdown), call DSPS on 01 602 2500 and report it. Your luck will depend a lot on how close the street is to the city centre.

RainyDay

You could get it off your chest by posting on Twitter with the 'freethecyclelanes' hashtag - Dublin Cycle Campaign has been pushing this over recent months to give a clearer picture of the extent of the problem.

https://twitter.com/hashtag/freethecyclelanes

You might get some traction from companies about the parking habits of their van drivers from the public naming and shaming.

markpb wrote: »

If they're parked on a Dublin city street (as opposed to Fingal, South Dublin or Dun Laoghaire Rathdown), call DSPS on 01 602 2500 and report it. Your luck will depend a lot on how close the street is to the city centre.

I never knew that this number covered my local Dun Laoghaire Rathdown territories and Fingal too - thanks for the tip.

RustyNut wrote: »

You could try posting the pics of the offending cars to the garda twitter thingy and see what response you get.

Garda Traffic bizarrely threatened to block people who tweeted pics to them with visible registrations - don't think they ever explained why.

vandriver

I never knew that this number covered my local Dun Laoghaire Rathdown territories and Fingal too - thanks for the tip.

It doesn't ,that's what "as opposed" means

Pinch Flat

MJI wrote: »

What can I do about assholes parking their cars,vans and trucks in cycle lanes.

They completely block the lanes, forcing cyclists like myself to go around them and out into traffic.

I have taken pictures of number plates and I am considering sending them to the Garda.

I'm not sure what to do. Looking for advise.

I've a real problem with cars parking in a particular lane in Dublin - witnessed an accident where a cyclist was clipped by a car going around these parked cars which spurred me on to do something about it. No luck with the Gardai or the city council enforcement (emails ignored), despite sending them in a load of photos of the offenders over a period of weeks.

This thing is that it is unfortunately facilitated due to the zero enforcement out here. The guards are much more interested in booking cyclists breaking red lights - it makes better news stories if the can report x amount of cyclists caught and y amount of fines paid over a given period.

Into The Blue

MJI wrote: »

What can I do about assholes parking their cars,vans and trucks in cycle lanes.

They completely block the lanes, forcing cyclists like myself to go around them and out into traffic.

I have taken pictures of number plates and I am considering sending them to the Garda.

I'm not sure what to do. Looking for advise.

Go round? Same as you do when there's no cycle lane..

Into The Blue

Pinch Flat wrote: »

..witnessed an accident where a cyclist was clipped by a car going around these parked cars..

Only pull out if it is safe to do so..

Pinch Flat

Into The Blue wrote: »

Only pull out if it is safe to do so..

Yeah this was coming around a corner where the car in the cycling lane threw open its driver door, she had to take evasive action to avoid being doored. Car coming behind could have driven with a bit of due care as well. Always expect the unexpected. A cyclist may swerve inexpectedly to avoid a hazard .

Of course, if the clown wasn't parked in the mandatory cycling lane this incident wouldn't have occurred.

tunney

Pinch Flat wrote: »

I've a real problem with cars parking in a particular lane in Dublin - witnessed an accident where a cyclist was clipped by a car going around these parked cars which spurred me on to do something about it. No luck with the Gardai or the city council enforcement (emails ignored), despite sending them in a load of photos of the offenders over a period of weeks.

This thing is that it is unfortunately facilitated due to the zero enforcement out here. The guards are much more interested in booking cyclists breaking red lights - it makes better news stories if the can report x amount of cyclists caught and y amount of fines paid over a given period.

As a cyclist in the city centre I would say the blame lies with the cyclist for using the cycle lanes in the first place. The cycle lanes are there to tick a box at best and to get cycles "out of the way of traffic" at worst with no regard to safety. Just blame old don't use them and then at least you have consistency in where you cycle.

Qualitymark

Beasty wrote: »

Seriously - you can't move them and the Guards are unlikely to take any action unless they are completely obstructing traffic.

But they are obstructing traffic - the cycle traffic that's meant to be on the cycle lane! It's a bit bats to build a cycle lane so cyclists have a safe, direct lane to cycle in, and then ignore the fact that it's blocked by drivers leaving their cars there! Would you say the same to a cyclist who decided to leave his bike locked in the middle of a car lane?

It's not just an Irish problem - look at this foaming-at-the-mouth-with-rage US cyclist who's selling "I PARKED IN A BIKE LANE" stickers! http://iparkedinabikelane.org/stickers.php

Pinch Flat

tunney wrote: »

As a cyclist in the city centre I would say the blame lies with the cyclist for using the cycle lanes in the first place. The cycle lanes are there to tick a box at best and to get cycles "out of the way of traffic" at worst with no regard to safety. Just blame old don't use them and then at least you have consistency in where you cycle.

Yeah coming home on Friday evening, I probably wouldn't be here if I had of been a good little cyclist and kept to the lane. Clown in an air coach just swerved left with out warning or indication to avoid a car moving right at the new luas bridge on the quays. A 200 lumen flashing strobe front light that lights up a radius for several hundred meters around me obviously not enough.

Beasty

RainyDay wrote: »

Garda Traffic bizarrely threatened to block people who tweeted pics to them with visible registrations - don't think they ever explained why.

It's quite obvious why and for the same reason we do not permit posters to identify others they claim to be breaking the law here. A photo is not proof (and could even be photoshopped). You are effectively claiming someone is lawbreaking which could be construed as defamatory. It's simply good practice for online sites not to permit anyone to also this as it could also prejudice any legal action (and I'm talking more the wider principle of alleging illegal activity rather than the specifics relating to alleged motor offences)

Qualitymark

By the same token, how do people blur the numbers on car pictures? (I'm not a Photoshop genius; in Photoshop Elements I've failed for months to discover how to stop my "crop" button from putting rounded corners on the square it uses to crop.)

markpb

RainyDay wrote: »

I never knew that this number covered my local Dun Laoghaire Rathdown territories and Fingal too - thanks for the tip.

It's only for Dublin city as far as I know. However, even in Dublin, they're reluctant to leave the city centre. Call them about an illegally parked car on Merrion Square and they'll send out a hit squad and the A team. Call them about the same thing north of the NCR and they start asking how to spell the road name.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Qualitymark wrote: »

By the same token, how do people blur the numbers on car pictures? (I'm not a Photoshop genius; in Photoshop Elements I've failed for months to discover how to stop my "crop" button from putting rounded corners on the square it uses to crop.)

Paint over it in MS Paint. Unless you're a professional (or close to one) you don't need Photoshop for simple photo editing.

Qualitymark

Maria Rotten Reimbursement wrote: »

Paint over it in MS Paint. Unless you're a professional (or close to one) you don't need Photoshop for simple photo editing.

What is this MS Paint? Is it available for Macs? Is there a long learning curve to use it?

OldBean

Qualitymark wrote: »

By the same token, how do people blur the numbers on car pictures? (I'm not a Photoshop genius; in Photoshop Elements I've failed for months to discover how to stop my "crop" button from putting rounded corners on the square it uses to crop.)

Select tool
Circle Reg plate
Filter>blur>Gaussian blur
High blur value
Save

Qualitymark

OldBean wrote: »

Select tool
Circle Reg plate
Filter>blur>Gaussian blur
High blur value
Save

High blur value? Can't see any way to change the blur value?

RainyDay

Beasty wrote: »

It's quite obvious why and for the same reason we do not permit posters to identify others they claim to be breaking the law here. A photo is not proof (and could even be photoshopped). You are effectively claiming someone is lawbreaking which could be construed as defamatory. It's simply good practice for online sites not to permit anyone to also this as it could also prejudice any legal action (and I'm talking more the wider principle of alleging illegal activity rather than the specifics relating to alleged motor offences)

There seems to be a bit of confusion here.

The Gardai don't own Twitter. They aren't stopping me from posting photos with reg numbers on Twitter. They aren't reporting photos with reg numbers to Twitter to be removed. If they were doing either of those, there would be a certain consistency and logic to their position.

As it currently stands, by threatening to block users who tweet photos with reg numbers to them, they are roughly doing the same as a young child who puts their hands over their ears and sings 'la la la' to avoid hearing whatever they don't want to hear. They are just avoiding the issue.

And defamation is a civil matter - nothing at all to do with the Gardai.

markpb wrote: »

It's only for Dublin city as far as I know. However, even in Dublin, they're reluctant to leave the city centre. Call them about an illegally parked car on Merrion Square and they'll send out a hit squad and the A team. Call them about the same thing north of the NCR and they start asking how to spell the road name.

I've called the clampers out to various parts of the south city suburbs - Rathmines, Ranalagh, Clonskeagh - and they don't bat an eyelid. I don't hang around to see if they ever actually arrive, mind you.

Wishbone Ash

MJI wrote: »

What can I do about assholes parking their cars,vans and trucks in cycle lanes

Are you familiar with the regulations associated with the cycle tracks you refer to? There are several exemptions which apply to commercial vehicles and utility vehicles.

MJI wrote:

.....forcing cyclists like myself to go around them and out into traffic.

You are also 'traffic'. The perception of a cyclist as being different from other road users perpetuates the myth that the cyclist is a second class road user.

Pinch Flat wrote: »

....Car coming behind could have driven with a bit of due care as well. Always expect the unexpected. A cyclist may swerve inexpectedly to avoid a hazard...

Isn't that a bit contradictory? I would think the cyclist should also expect the unexpected.

JBokeh

Qualitymark wrote: »

What is this MS Paint? Is it available for Macs? Is there a long learning curve to use it?

You can use preview, hit the edit button and draw a square over it. Using photoshop to blur a reg plate is like stirring your tea in a blender

Fireball XL5

Dont disagree with the OP but it must be pointed out that the Rules of the Road do seem to allow for at least temporary parking in certain types of cycle lane.

---

"Cycle tracks
A cycle track or lane is a reserved part of a roadway for bicycles (not motorcycles).
Some cycle tracks are bordered by a continuous white line on the right-hand side. These are only for bicycles and motorised wheelchairs, so no other drivers may use them or park in them.
Other cycle tracks have a broken white line on the right-hand side. Other drivers may make temporary use of this type of track if it is not occupied.

Cycle tracks are reserved 24 hours a day, unless an upright information sign at the start of and/or the side of the track shows another period of time.

A cycle track can also be a reserved part of a footpath or other area off the road.
If a cycle track is two-way, meaning bicycles travelling in opposite directions at the same time can use it, cyclists should stay as near as possible to the left-hand side of their track.
You must obey cycle track lights."


I know there is a whole area of discussion about mandatory cycle lanes. I am just quoting. It goes on to say -

"Parking
No driver may park a vehicle in a mandatory cycle track.

A driver may park in a non-mandatory cycle track for up to 30 minutes, but only if they are loading or unloading their vehicle and there is no alternative parking available. Remember the basic duty of care and do not obstruct a cycle track."

Just to add to the discussion - no particular stand being taken.

roverrules

Fireball XL5 wrote: »

Dont disagree with the OP but it must be pointed out that the Rules of the Road do seem to allow for at least temporary parking in certain types of cycle lane.

---

"Cycle tracks
A cycle track or lane is a reserved part of a roadway for bicycles (not motorcycles).
Some cycle tracks are bordered by a continuous white line on the right-hand side. These are only for bicycles and motorised wheelchairs, so no other drivers may use them or park in them.
Other cycle tracks have a broken white line on the right-hand side. Other drivers may make temporary use of this type of track if it is not occupied.

Cycle tracks are reserved 24 hours a day, unless an upright information sign at the start of and/or the side of the track shows another period of time.

A cycle track can also be a reserved part of a footpath or other area off the road.
If a cycle track is two-way, meaning bicycles travelling in opposite directions at the same time can use it, cyclists should stay as near as possible to the left-hand side of their track.
You must obey cycle track lights."


I know there is a whole area of discussion about mandatory cycle lanes. I am just quoting. It goes on to say -

"Parking
No driver may park a vehicle in a mandatory cycle track.

A driver may park in a non-mandatory cycle track for up to 30 minutes, but only if they are loading or unloading their vehicle and there is no alternative parking available. Remember the basic duty of care and do not obstruct a cycle track."

Just to add to the discussion - no particular stand being taken.

And to add further, there are some mandatory marked lanes that have time restrictive plates attached, Westland Row by Pearse St Station for one I think

Unknown Soldier

http://getgreenshot.org/

Best free tool on the net.

Obfuscate

tampopo

RainyDay wrote: »

I've called the clampers out to various parts of the south city suburbs - Rathmines, Ranalagh, Clonskeagh - and they don't bat an eyelid. I don't hang around to see if they ever actually arrive, mind you.

Yeah, they're not likely to stray that far from the city centre.

rubadub

This is the worst spot I know of, you'd swear its a taxi rank as its such a perfect line of carsl

https://www.google.ie/maps/@53.2764576,-6.2176299,3a,75y,323.09h,74.34t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1swDp6aaaxuDhZcnqvhtkiqA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

The line does become broken in some spots. But there would be alternative pay parking nearby.

The did not blur out the eircom van.

DirkVoodoo

I agree with Beasty, you need to be comfortable going around them as you would any other hazard.

The only time it really irks me is when a car parks at the mouth of an off-road cycle lane (not legally obliged to cycle on though) and then you get honked and blasted for cycling in the bus lane because "There's a perfectly usable cycle path there!"

Psydeshow

While I broadly agree with 'you need to be comfortable with hazards' approach to cycle lanes. People parking in counter flow cycle lanes mean you have to move out and cycle into oncoming traffic, which is mental. Infront of the old Beamish brewery in Cork is the one I hate every morning.
https://www.google.ie/maps/place/Cork/@51.896967,-8.476929,3a,66.8y,341.04h,81.03t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1slL1rIKHIKd3w3jePCCBhPA!2e0!4m2!3m1!1s0x4844900891beb961:0xa00c7a99731c5d0

In fairness they're mostly curbed off to stop this kind of thing but where they're not is head wrecking.

DirkVoodoo

Psydeshow wrote: »

While I broadly agree with 'you need to be comfortable with hazards' approach to cycle lanes. People parking in counter flow cycle lanes mean you have to move out and cycle into oncoming traffic, which is mental. Infront of the old Beamish brewery in Cork is the one I hate every morning.
https://www.google.ie/maps/place/Cork/@51.896967,-8.476929,3a,66.8y,341.04h,81.03t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1slL1rIKHIKd3w3jePCCBhPA!2e0!4m2!3m1!1s0x4844900891beb961:0xa00c7a99731c5d0

In fairness they're mostly curbed off to stop this kind of thing but where they're not is head wrecking.

Ah, Cork! I don't know of any like that in Dublin, but you are right, that has moved from "inconvenient" to "dangerous" and incidents like that should be treated with a heavy hand: tow the car, crush it into a small cube and deliver a notice to the owner to remove his cube or face an illegal dumping charge. /homer

Thinkingaboutit

The big annoyance for me is not vans, they don't give a siht, so I've no expectations of them not parking in cycle lanes. Rather it's those cycle lanes that are meant to operate at peak hours. Cars and vans, anyone, parks in them all day, and not a thing is done.

biko

https://www.facebook.com/Galway-Parking-****-552757204791608/ only if you're in Galway of course.

rubadub

Psydeshow wrote: »

In fairness they're mostly curbed off to stop this kind of thing but where they're not is head wrecking.

The curbs cause their own problem, as many idiots cycle in them going the opposite way, and being idiots they are often slap in the middle or wavering about so you cannot easily avoid them.

Instead of signs of bikes and arrows I would prefer to see clear signage of what is not meant to be happening in cycle tracks, no pedestrians, no dogs on illegally long leashes, no people going the wrong way, no parking.

Psydeshow

I hear ya Rubadub, I was hoping the amount of that would decrease as people got used to the routes and they got more heavily used.

Annoyingly I think most drivers, who don't cycle themselves, don't even realise cycle lanes have direction indicated on 'em and give out to cyclists for not using 'em (or they have to me anyway) or park in them not realising this seriously endangers cyclists. While too many cyclists use the lanes in the wrong direction as a way of avoiding dealing with traffic.

A few posters\bilboards around the place just sayin 'cyclists follow the arrows, drivers.... don't be dicks' would help I reckon. Or just big ass signage saying 'contrflow cyclle lane starts here' at the start or something so the drivers see it too.

Even after that, there's always going to be idiots.

Kaisr Sose

Beasty wrote: »

Go round them?

Seriously - you can't move them and the Guards are unlikely to take any action unless they are completely obstructing traffic.

You need to be confident moving out into the road as you will find plenty of circumstances where you need to do that regardless. What do you do where there are parked cars and no cycle lanes?

My reading of the OP is that the OP is not asking 'how' he can safely navigate cars which are illegally parked in cycle lanes rather why he has to do this.. Saying to go around them is an Irish solution to a very common problem cyclists face every day.

If the RTA designates these lanes totally or partially for use by cyclists (during certain times), then the Garda should enforce their operation. It's just not acceptable to say that if its not causing an obstruction to traffic, that they would not do so.

Cyclists are traffic and thus blocking the lane is obstructing traffic. Where no cycle lane exists, a cyclist is expected to safely navigate around parked vehicles but cycle lanes are an "easement" for cyclists, and IMO should be respected by motorist and non compliance dealth with by the Garda as a routine matter. It's their job after all.

galwaycyclist

Kaisr Sose wrote: »

My reading of the OP is that the OP is not asking 'how' he can safely navigate cars which are illegally parked in cycle lanes rather why he has to do this.. Saying to go around them is an Irish solution to a very common problem cyclists face every day.

If the RTA designates these lanes totally or partially for use by cyclists (during certain times), then the Garda should enforce their operation. It's just not acceptable to say that if its not causing an obstruction to traffic, that they would not do so.

Cyclists are traffic and thus blocking the lane is obstructing traffic. Where no cycle lane exists, a cyclist is expected to safely navigate around parked vehicles but cycle lanes are an "easement" for cyclists, and IMO should be respected by motorist and non compliance dealth with by the Garda as a routine matter. It's their job after all.

I see your point and in a reasonable local government system it would be a reasonable observation.

But I also feel conflicted. The reason is that in many cases it is clear that Irish local authority engineers intended cycle facilities as an "easement" for motor vehicles by removing an impediment to motor traffic. In the process these engineers have often made cycling less convenient and introduced additional hazards.

In that context people who park cars on some cycle lanes can also be seen as doing cyclists a favour by making it clear that cyclists will still be on the road. This experience may be what is driving some of the "just get on with it" style comments.

The fundamental problem is not just an absence of police enforcement of car parking but also an absence of a credible system for policing the activities of local authority engineers and the consultant engineers that they employ.

loyatemu

you're not allowed park with a wheel on the footpath either, yet it's tolerated in loads of places, sometimes with cars parked entirely on the footpath. Yet the one time you do it yourself you'll probably get a ticket. Also if you're near a church and mass is on, all rules seem to be suspended. Enforcement of parking regulations is just completely inconsistent and unpredictable.

DirkVoodoo

There will be no enforcement, because this is the attitude I've heard before:

https://cyclist.ie/2015/07/gardai-urged-to-make-cycle-lanes-and-tracks-safe-for-use/

The Garda response was that they are reluctant to target drivers who park illegally because the drivers are trying to make the city work economically – for deliveries, etc. and the Gardaí get a lot of complaints from businesses, business associations, truck drivers, taxis and transport companies about strict enforcement of this regulation.

It's a disappointing attitude but one I can also understand. However, there is a difference between parking illegally to make a delivery and parking illegally and dangerously to make a delivery. I'd like to see a heavy clamp down on the latter.

schemingbohemia

The cycle lane on Stephen's Green East every day at 2.30-3 is full (12 cars last week) of parents abandoning their cars to pick up their kids from Loreto on the Green, this starts at the bend in the road from the South side of the green, it's dangerous especially with the risk of being doored and the parents walking across the road with the kids in tow afterwards, very few of them seem to use the pedestrian crossings.

dodzy

OP, my advice so is to steer clear of the road that runs by the Botanic gardens entrance in Glasnevin on a sunny day. You'd be rightly pissed ! :P

DirkVoodoo

schemingbohemia wrote: »

The cycle lane on Stephen's Green East every day at 2.30-3 is full (12 cars last week) of parents abandoning their cars to pick up their kids from Loreto on the Green, this starts at the bend in the road from the South side of the green, it's dangerous especially with the risk of being doored and the parents walking across the road with the kids in tow afterwards, very few of them seem to use the pedestrian crossings.

St. Andrew's in Booterstown has to be the worst I've ever come across, coming down from the N11. It's dangerous, but also disappointing to see that so many children are ferried from door to door (Hey! I was the same...looking back it was a complete waste of my time and my parent's time being stuck in traffic for 40 mins each way).

A short commute by bike would do a lot of children good, make drivers more aware, make children more active and give them their first proper taste of freedom.

Of course, it would require planning, education, enforcement...all the things we don't have.

Wishbone Ash

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

..However, there is a difference between parking illegally to make a delivery...

AFAIK it's perfectly legal to park when making a delivery if there are no practical alternatives (and the vehicle is commercially taxed).

schemingbohemia wrote: »

The cycle lane on Stephen's Green East every day at 2.30-3 is full (12 cars last week) of parents abandoning their cars to pick up their kids from Loreto on the Green,

My daughter attends that school and I know the matter has been raised several times at Parent's Committee Meetings.

(It's a problem at most schools).

Kaisr Sose

Good post Galwaycyclist. Insightful planning is something that is rare!

Pinch Flat

schemingbohemia wrote: »

The cycle lane on Stephen's Green East every day at 2.30-3 is full (12 cars last week) of parents abandoning their cars to pick up their kids from Loreto on the Green, this starts at the bend in the road from the South side of the green, it's dangerous especially with the risk of being doored and the parents walking across the road with the kids in tow afterwards, very few of them seem to use the pedestrian crossings.

That was one I've alluded to earlier - I have contacted the school, gardai and parking enforcement. The issue still remains, and it's very frustrating. The incident I noted above was as a direct result of parents blocking the cycle lane - the girl clipped from behind moved right avoid being doored by a car in the cycle lane.

As mentioned above though it's a problem in most schools - there's a certain cohort of people who have zero consideration for others, focused solely on getting their children from A to B (which can often be travelled by means other than a car). Our own school is having serious issues with a neighbouring road - cars block driveways, block ways in and out of the estate and generally cause a nuisance. A lot of these people can walk or cycle - the furthest point within the catchment areas can't be more than a 15 minute walk. It'll never be resolved as long as this attitude prevails.

RainyDay

schemingbohemia wrote: »

The cycle lane on Stephen's Green East every day at 2.30-3 is full (12 cars last week) of parents abandoning their cars to pick up their kids from Loreto on the Green, this starts at the bend in the road from the South side of the green, it's dangerous especially with the risk of being doored and the parents walking across the road with the kids in tow afterwards, very few of them seem to use the pedestrian crossings.

I'm up for a flashmob of very slow cyclists to take over that cycle lane during morning or afternoon pick up time to remind the mummys and daddys who really owns the cycle lane.

LpPepper

Cars parking in cycle lanes is as common as cars parking in car spaces...along my commute a few areas spring to mind - just before tesco in Rathgar and just after it where the cycle lane is ALSO made up of parking spaces for cars...then there's always one or two at the car dealer in Harold's cross and then just before the park in Harold's cross. Further into town then there's at the Halal market at Leonard's corner, to name a few...

Qualitymark

RainyDay wrote: »

I'm up for a flashmob of very slow cyclists to take over that cycle lane during morning or afternoon pick up time to remind the mummys and daddys who really owns the cycle lane.

Or maybe try to get some discussion in schools about parking that's safe for kids, parents and other road users. Maybe, rather than parking by the kerb, it would be safer to have someone from the school or parents waving cars into the schoolyard one by one and feeding the kids in?

Qualitymark

Letter in The Irish Times about this: http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/letters/blocked-cycle-lanes-1.2397592

I wouldn't myself look for an €80 fine. €20 fines that are automatically triggered would be more to the point.

Pinch Flat

Qualitymark wrote: »

Or maybe try to get some discussion in schools about parking that's safe for kids, parents and other road users. Maybe, rather than parking by the kerb, it would be safer to have someone from the school or parents waving cars into the schoolyard one by one and feeding the kids in?

It's an ongoing problem, and my own view is that the problem lies more with the parents than the school. On this particular school, some assistance could be given to parents to park on the south of the green - it would be a tall order to walk the 50 yards though. They'll still park in the cycle lane when spaces are available. Presumably the logic is that they are less likely to be clamped in the cycle lane than a car parking space without a ticket.

We've the same situation in our own school - there's a local shopping center (spar, off licence, insomnia) with a decent sized car park - ample parking for those who want to drive. The school pleads with parents via the school news letter to use this if the want / need to drive - But the critical flaw is it's about 200 yards from the school - clearly too far for the majority who insist on driving practically to the school door. Parents are happy to park in an ignorant and unsafe manner near the school, causing no end of hassle for other road users, neighbours and anyone else that needs to get by. As long as this attitude prevails, we're at a loss - other than placing road blocks at the school, there's not a lot that can be done to prevent this.

In saying the above, the thread is about parking in cycle lanes and how some drivers are oblivious to this. I cycle home through castleknock in the evenings - there's a cycle lane near my hose, elevated from the road and separated from the foot path beside it. Coming up to it last night, guy parked in, oblivious to my flashing light behind him and the fact that I wanted to get onto the lane (he was blocking the ramp onto it). Knocked on his window to get his attention, looked up mid-conversation and continued on. Obviously an important call.

Qualitymark

Pinch Flat wrote: »

It's an ongoing problem, and my own view is that the problem lies more with the parents than the school. On this particular school, some assistance could be given to parents to park on the south of the green - it would be a tall order to walk the 50 yards though. They'll still park in the cycle lane when spaces are available. Presumably the logic is that they are less likely to be clamped in the cycle lane than a car parking space without a ticket.

Some sympathy there, since mammies (usually) parking to pick up the kid from school often have other small children in the car that they don't want to leave, and unstrapping, taking out, organising, etc is a pain.

We've the same situation in our own school - there's a local shopping center (spar, off licence, insomnia) with a decent sized car park - ample parking for those who want to drive. The school pleads with parents via the school news letter to use this if the want / need to drive - But the critical flaw is it's about 200 yards from the school - clearly too far for the majority who insist on driving practically to the school door. Parents are happy to park in an ignorant and unsafe manner near the school, causing no end of hassle for other road users, neighbours and anyone else that needs to get by. As long as this attitude prevails, we're at a loss - other than placing road blocks at the school, there's not a lot that can be done to prevent this.

Really the solution is an efficient school bus system in Dublin city. Not holding my breath…

In saying the above, the thread is about parking in cycle lanes and how some drivers are oblivious to this. I cycle home through castleknock in the evenings - there's a cycle lane near my hose, elevated from the road and separated from the foot path beside it. Coming up to it last night, guy parked in, oblivious to my flashing light behind him and the fact that I wanted to get onto the lane (he was blocking the ramp onto it). Knocked on his window to get his attention, looked up mid-conversation and continued on. Obviously an important call.

Only answer to this is to knock politely again and say "I'm calling the Guards", cycle on a bit and do so.