Sir, – I have nothing against penalties for rule-breaking cyclists in principle, but I have an issue with one of the recently introduced spot-fines for cyclists – cyclists proceeding past traffic lights when the red light is illuminated.
There are a number of traffic lights around Dublin that only turn green when there is a car waiting. I don’t know the exact technology used, but these sensors don’t seem to notice bicycles. During peak times, this is no problem; there are enough cars around to trigger the traffic light.
But during off-peak times, a cyclist might be waiting for a long time, and the light won’t turn green for him or her. What am I supposed to do as a cyclist in this situation? I usually end up waiting until a car comes my way and triggers the light for me, but sometimes this is a very long wait.
Another option is to get off the bike and use the pedestrian crossings instead. But at some junctions, there is no pedestrian crossing which I could use.
As an example, I recently came out of Appian Way in the late evening and wanted to turn right onto Leeson Street Upper. No car wanted to go the same way as me, and the traffic light just wouldn’t turn green. There is no pedestrian crossing nearby.
However, Leeson Street is a fairly busy road even at that time of the day, and crossing the junction when the light is red not only means that I may face a fine, it is also quite dangerous.
I would really like to know how I am to behave when facing a light that doesn’t turn green for cyclists without risking a fine (or my life). The ideal scenario for me would be to implement a technology that allows cyclists to trigger a traffic light too, so that I can continue my journey without having to wait for a car to turn up. But as long as this doesn’t happen, I think the described scenario should be taken into account when introducing spot-fines for cyclists. – Yours, etc,
DANIELA MUELLER,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – The report that 100 fines are issues to cyclists every month raised a wry smile ("Cyclists receiving fines at rate of about 100 a month", October 5th). Last week I was among several cyclists going down Dublin's North Quays when a traffic light turned orange and then red.
I coasted to a stop as I was in no rush and wanted to observe the actions of a nearby garda (on an official bicycle) towards the cyclists peddling furiously past me. To my surprise the garda peddled casually though the red light along with some like-minded scofflaws. Ironically this incident took place right in front of the Four Courts. – Yours, etc,
PAUL KEAN,
Dublin 8.
Sir, – You report that over a two-month period 244 cyclists were issued fines, mainly for going through red lights.
I think you could safely say a garda standing at the traffic lights on Marine Road in Dún Laoghaire could easily achieve that number without breaking a sweat in a single morning. – Yours, etc,
AIDAN COYLE,
Dalkey,
Co Dublin.