Garda operation against illegal parking in cycle lanes moves up a gear

Gardai have been criticised for a failure to clamp down more on drivers who illegally park on cycle lanes. But it looks like an emerging trend is taking hold, with the force keen to be seen tackling the problem, at least in Dublin.

The Garda has come in for criticism in recent years for an apparent failure to tackle illegal parking on cycling lanes, especially in Dublin where the problem has become chronic.

However, evidence now seems to be emerging that parking in cycling lanes has moved up the Garda's list of priorities.

Not only have members of the force been out and about catching those motorists breaking the law, they also seem pretty keen to show off the results of their work on social media.

Last year Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan pointedly raised parking in cycle lanes a number of times.

He said quite clearly there seemed to be a problem in Dublin and he believed the Garda's approach was "lax".

And while a few Tweets with photos of numerous motorists being caught doesn't end the problem, they at least seem to indicate the Garda knows it needs to do better on this issue and to publicise the fact they are clamping down.

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We've also noticed a few times the Garda Twitter account has replied to social media users pointing out, among other things, that cyclists aren't legally obliged to use cycle lanes, as the first Tweet below shows.

This is the kind of engagement some British police forces have embraced, helping to clear up some of the misinformation circulating among sections of the general public about cycling and cyclists.

We look forward to more of the same but for now it's great to see this from our national police force.


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