The Department of the Environment has been urged to launch a major safety information campaign to ensure drivers are made aware of their responsibilities towards cyclists using the growing number of bicycle lanes in the State.
With the number of pedal cyclists in the capital increasing by more than 1,000 a year, the Dublin Cycling Campaign has warned that many drivers are either unaware of or are simply unwilling to obey the laws regarding bicycle lanes - or cycle tracks as they are properly called.
The Dublin Transportation Office, which has been charged with overseeing the introduction of a 360-km cycle network in the greater Dublin area, also says there is an "information deficit" regarding cycle track responsibilities.
The agency's chief executive, Mr John Henry, said: "It is a bit unclear to say the least. We need to publish some pamphlets to let people know what their responsibilities are. They are covered in legislation but they have not been absorbed by the public."
The regulations, which came into force in November 1998, stipulate that a vehicle "shall not be driven along or across a cycle track" which has a continuous white line on its right-hand side "save for the purpose of access to or egress from a place adjacent to the cycle track, or from a roadway to such a place".
Where a cycle track is bordered by a broken white line, motorists can cross into it but, in doing so, they must give "due care and attention" to other road-users as they are obliged to do on any ordinary roads.
Unlike in some Scandinavian countries, where pedestrians and cyclists are given priority on the roads, no road-user here has an absolute right of way. Rather, motorists, cyclists and pedestrians are expected to yield right of way where appropriate.
The 1998 regulations also state that a "pedal cycle must be driven on a cycle track where one is provided". The only exception is where there is a broken white line on the track's right-hand edge and where a bus or vehicle is obstructing the cyclist's path, or where the cyclist "intends to change direction and has indicated that intention".
When the Minister of State for the Environment, Mr Bobby Molloy, announced the regulations in August 1998, he said his Department "would assist as far as possible in the familiarisation process".
Two years later, however, the Rules of the Road has yet to be revised to explain to drivers what exactly their responsibilities are towards users of cycle tracks.
In the July 2000 edition of the Department publication, there is only one mention of such tracks and that is in the context of parking. The only reference to continuous white lines are those in the centre of the road which drivers are told to keep to the left of "except in an emergency or for access". Cyclists, meanwhile, are told they "must not ride on or across a footpath" despite the fact that many cycle tracks are located "off-road".
A spokeswoman for the Department said the road-users' handbook was being updated, and a decision would be taken in the coming months as to how cycle lanes would be treated in it.
Confusion over the rights and responsibilities of motorists and cyclists is evident from the knowledge of local authorities. A spokesman for Cork Corporation, which has introduced five miles of cycle track and is planning more, said it was powerless to stop people from parking in such tracks as legislation had yet to be introduced prohibiting it. In fact, the 1998 regulations ban parking in cycle tracks except for the loading of goods vehicles, for letting out a passenger or where signage indicates otherwise.
Mr Eamon Ryan of the Dublin Cycling Campaign said there should be a public information campaign which "clarifies rights of way". He also urged the Government to consider affording cyclists greater protection under the law.
"The Department of Environment is a very conservative legislative body. They are paranoid of an accident occurring where they might be seen as liable and that determines their approach rather than looking at what would be the safest situation on the streets. It is very frustrating, it's Yes Minister territory just to get a minor regulation changed," said Mr Ryan, who is a Green Party Dublin city councillor.
Among the changes he said he would like to see would be for cyclists to be entitled to turn left at red lights, something which other European cities allowed.
jhumphreys@irish-times.ie
Weblinks: www.dto.ie; www.connect.ie/dcc