Parking enforcement personnel are set to conduct special patrols at a major new cycle lane system installed in north Dublin, where drivers continue to park on the bike lanes despite the size and considerable cost of the project. They will issue fines, rather than clamping cars, to those drivers they find parking illegally.
The cycling lanes on Griffith Avenue, one of the longest avenues in the Republic, have been in place for a couple of years, though refinements are being carried out to the 3.5km project on both sides of the road. However, people calling to some of the houses along the avenue are continuing to park across the segregated cycle lanes. Illegal parking on the lanes, and on pavements, becomes especially hazardous on weekday mornings and afternoons as parents do school runs in their cars.
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Dublin City Council has now confirmed, after questions from Cllr Donna Cooney (Greens), that a special enforcement operation is to begin immediately to tackle the problem. The council has told the company which carries out clamping - and issues fines for illegal parking - to immediately start enforcement in the area. Cllr Cooney had pinpointed illegal parking on the cycle lane, and on pavements, outside St Vincent de Paul school, close to the junction of Griffith Avenue and Malahide Road as a particular hot spot.
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"The parking enforcement officer has instructed Dublin Street Parking Services to patrol this location, particularly at school drop off and collection times and to issue fixed charge notices for illegal parking," the council told Cllr Cooney. In reply to her question tabled at the North Central Area Committee meeting yesterday, the council added the new enforcement action "will commence immediately".
The council added road markings on the section of Griffith Avenue between the Charlemont housing estate and the Malahide Road are due to be completed by the end of this week.
The laying of "buff and red coloured surfacing" on the cycle lanes was due to re-commence later this month, weather permitting. A concrete kerb to fully segregate the cycle lanes on the southern side of Griffith Avenue would also commence. Furthermore, planters were also set to be installed to protect the parking bays provided as part of the wider works to install the cycling lanes along Griffith Avenue in recent years.
The council added as Griffith Avenue was part of the Glasnevin to Clontarf Active Travel Route, it was hoped further sections of protected cycle lane may be possible east of the Malahide Road, onto Copeland Avenue, and west of Ballygall Rd. However, because of the road lay-out at this locations, those opportunities may be more "limited".
