It has emerged the number of motorists fined for parking in cycle lanes is getting higher, but still more cyclists are being fined for their offences on Irish roads.
Cyclists fined more often than drivers for parking in cycle lanes
New figures for road traffic enforcement show considerably more cyclists are being issued with fines that motorists caught parking in cycle lanes.
And the number of drivers being fined for driving in bike lanes nationwide is in single digits.
A report in The Sunday Times reveals the Garda has issued 417 fixed charge notices in the first 11 months of this year.
And in the period to the end of August some 441 fines were issue to cyclists for a range of offences.
It means in an average month 38 motorists are sanction for parking in cycle lanes and 55 cyclists fined for a range of offences.
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The number of motorists issued with penalty points for driving in a bike lane is just four so far this year.
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@IBIKEDublin reminding motorists to give some space to cyclists #mobility #respect #space pic.twitter.com/Kt18mhCysF
— finners_99 (@finners_99) November 28, 2017
A notable feature of the enforcement figures is the increase in sanction motorists for parking on cycle lanes.
Enforcement levels have almost doubled since last year; some 268 in 2016 compared to the 417 in the first 11 months of 2017.
It is unclear if the increase is in any way related to the I Bike Dublin campaign. The group has held events on streets around the capital since June.
Members of the group stand on the white line on the road marking out cycling lanes. They do so to physically block motorists parking on or driving into the cycle lane.
And because they stand on the line, the lane is effectively protected and free for cyclists to ride down.
Motorists who drive on a cycling lane can incur a €60 fine and one penalty point.
Parking on a cycle lane carries a €40 fine. And cyclists can be sanction with fines of €40 for a whole range of offences including breaking a red light or having no front or rear light.
€40 fines for cycling offences
• Cyclist driving a pedal cycle without reasonable consideration – €40
• No front lamp or rear lamp lit during lighting-up hours on a pedal cycle – €40
• Cyclist proceeding into a pedestrianised street or area – €40
• Cyclist proceeding past traffic lights when the red lamp is illuminated – €40
• Cyclist proceeding past cycle traffic lights when red lamp is lit – €40
• Cyclist failing to stop for a School Warden sign – €40
• Cyclist proceeding beyond a stop line, barrier or half barrier at a railway level crossing, swing bridge or lifting bridge, when the red lamps are flashing – €40
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