Irish Cycling Legislation

magicbastarder

several OT posts deleted

mandatory cycles lanes are shown on page 18 of this doc - marked by a solid white line.

a non-mandatory one would use dashed lines. they're usually provided as a token gesture where there's insufficient space to provide a mandatory one.

https://www.nationaltransport.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Cycle-Design-Manual_Sept.-2023_Low-Res.pdf

CramCycle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122671280#Comment_122671280

It appears from signage up the road that the pavement is shared space for pedestrians and cyclists, hence the light. Personally I'd stick to the road as there is no apparent sign to end the shared space and it is a bit of a sh1tty shared space to the point I would ay cycling on it, unless a child, is just being an asshat.

magicbastarder

there's a primary school about 200m from that junction, i suspect a token gesture at catering for kids cycling to and from school.

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122671578#Comment_122671578

Does the shared space continue after the traffic lights? If not, where are cyclists supposed to go after they pass the cycle light? Seems like another very questionable design.

CramCycle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122671606#Comment_122671606

That is 100% what it is and a way to get around the Karens ringing the school or the local garda station about little Ben and Jane cycling at walking speed to school on the pavement. For adults, stick to the road.

De Bhál

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122671655#Comment_122671655

Ok , thanks all for the replies, cycling north through that junction every morning I need to take the next right onto Canices road, 50m ahead, I find if I let the pedestrians cross then I proceed through and move to the right side of the road for the Canices turn I can do this without waiting for the full traffic greens and having car drivers losing their **** that I have the brass neck to want to try and turn right.

So basically I reckon I'm breaking a red light but using that cycle traffic light I indicated as my get out of jail card, and, in doing so, protecting myself from impatient drivers.

magicbastarder

that junction at canice's is ripe for tightening up - it invites going round the bend too fast, especially coming off canice's and turning left onto ballyagll road; and in fact is the site of one where a motorist pulled out in front of me without looking.

buffalo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122671326#Comment_122671326

I feel like you're correcting something I didn't say. Maybe if I use different words, it would be clearer?

Just to clarify (as we're in the legislation thread), all cycle lanes are (since 2012) non-compulsory unless they're contra-flow or in a pedestrianised area (see first post).

Previously they were all compulsory for cyclists, though for some it was mandatory for drivers to stay out of them and others it was optional.

magicbastarder

your use of the word mandatory - when it has a specific meaning - led me to post that. but yep, all clear now.

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122671828#Comment_122671828

That's basically the same position that I find myself in on Upr Churchtown Road. Is it legally OK for me to proceed on the green traffic light, then rejoin the cycle lane, ignoring the red cycle light at that point?

Wishbone Ash

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122671007#Comment_122671007

The most extreme example I've experienced is a sergeant from the Traffic Corps telling me that, if I hold a driving licence, I was obliged to have it on my person while cycling.

magicbastarder

just the same as an aer lingus pilot needing to carry his pilot's licence while driving, i'll bet…

CramCycle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122675668#Comment_122675668

EDIT: I thought you were at the Bottle tower end of the road, not the LUAS bridge end.

Yes and no is the honest answer. There is no specific law against it but in theory they could pick you up on an FPN of which the following are the most likely:

Cyclist driving a pedal cycle without reasonable consideration. - logic, you were in the main traffic lane, it is reasonable to stay in it until you can merge safely, again, this being a horrible opinion based FPN they can hang almost anything on you for, but if there was a pedestrian or other cyclist there and a Garda with a itch to scratch, I can see it happening. I have received this FPN before. You are also merging into a shared ped/cyclist space, but on the same note, you could have a Garda give out to you for not moving over and staying in the traffic lane. EDIT: no bus lane to stay in at your end, you are getting to the school before you can safely move over.

Cyclist proceeding past cycle traffic lights when red lamp is lit. - yes you are in the other lane, but you technically merge and go past a red cycle light. I would argue that light applies to those in the cycle lane before the junction, no different than going around a corner on a green light and facing a red light that applies to the road users of the road you are joining. I would be confident I am right but not sure I would want the time wasted with the discussion. To save this I would continue on the main road (if at the other end) and merge over from the bus lane (wrong side of the road) main traffic lane after the traffic lights, but this is me nitpicking.

I think you would be stupid not to move over to it, especially with the way drivers are around that junction on a good day but I think you would be in for a lengthy discussion with a Garda if they took umbrage but not anything I can see getting an actual fine that would hold up.

what_traffic

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122672000#Comment_122672000

Was there ever a Roundabout here or was this just some experimental Roads Engineer project?

magicbastarder

i've been living nearby for only 12 years or so, so i don't know. that primary school is where i go to vote.

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122675845#Comment_122675845

Yes and no is the honest answer. There is no specific law against it but in theory they could pick you up on an FPN of which the following are the most likely:

Cyclist driving a pedal cycle without reasonable consideration. - logic, you were in the main traffic lane, it is reasonable to stay in it until you can merge safely, again, this being a horrible opinion based FPN they can hang almost anything on you for, but if there was a pedestrian or other cyclist there and a Garda with a itch to scratch, I can see it happening. I have received this FPN before. You are also merging into a shared ped/cyclist space, but on the same note, you could have a Garda give out to you for not moving over and staying in the traffic lane. EDIT: no bus lane to stay in at your end, you are getting to the school before you can safely move over.

Cyclist proceeding past cycle traffic lights when red lamp is lit. - yes you are in the other lane, but you technically merge and go past a red cycle light. I would argue that light applies to those in the cycle lane before the junction, no different than going around a corner on a green light and facing a red light that applies to the road users of the road you are joining. I would be confident I am right but not sure I would want the time wasted with the discussion. To save this I would continue on the main road (if at the other end) and merge over from the bus lane (wrong side of the road) main traffic lane after the traffic lights, but this is me nitpicking.

This is indeed my concern, that I'll end up with an FCPN for 'breaking' the red light or dangerous cycling, simply for choosing the route that keeps me away from pedestrians. Relying on a judge to see sense would be a gamble, in the light of the fairly regular stream of anti-cycling pro-driving decisions coming out of various courts. I don't really have the resources to fund a proper legal appeal.

If I stay in the main traffic lane, I'll have to wait until after the pedestrian crossing to get back onto the cycle lane, and I'd generally be leaving it soon enough after that, at the Finsbury entrance to position myself to turn right onto Lr Churchtown Road, so it's not really an attractive option. I reckon I'll keep doing what I'm doing, and probably have to miss out on reporting a few drivers to AGS, in order to suppress the evidence of my 'lawbreaking'.