Dublin City Council is mulling the idea of scrapping part-time cycle lanes in the city in favour of installing them as active 24 hours, seven days per week.
At present cycling lanes apply from 7am to 7pm six days per week; Sunday the exception when motorists can drive or park in them.
Dublin City Council is now running one of its 'beta projects' on the idea. That means it is considering it as a concept and is looking for feedback.
During previous 'beta projects', which have included mini sheds for bicycles being placed on Dublin streets for local residents, the idea being considered is trialed.
And based on how effective it proves, what the uptake is and whether the ideas cause any problems and generate positive or negative feedback, the trial becomes permanent.
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But just because a 'beta project' has been launched, it does not mean the idea will definitely come to fruition. The cycle lanes hours idea is officially in the 'exploration' stage.
For now, the council is looking for feedback, and you can lodge your two cents worth by following this link and leaving your comments.
But in discussing the idea, those in the council behind the cycle lanes hours 'beta project' make some interesting observations.
Their key point is that by lifting cycle lanes for long periods, bad habits are permitted which may undermine motorists' respect for the lanes in the hours they apply.
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They say not only are most cycle lanes 7am to 7pm six days per week but many are also suspended between 10am and 12noon.
"This means that they stop being cycle lanes when it's darker and therefore less safe to cycle,” those putting forward the concept state says of the lanes' hours at present.
“There's less traffic, and so traffic
speeds will naturally be faster (emptier roads).
“(There are fewer) experienced cyclists
out and about - people out cycling for leisure or families cycling together
during evenings or on Sundays.”
And when lanes are not full time, it
also meant bad habits crept in as “people driving become used to often driving
into or parking on” cycle lanes.
“This complicates and blurs the understanding of when it's OK to do so and also lowers the perception of how we view cycling and the safety of people cycling in the city in general,” those from the council pitching the idea of permanent cycle lanes say.
“Having a rule which changes according to times and days also complicates parking restrictions, requiring additional understanding on the part of the driver parking,” they add.
“For example cars parking overnight are
clamped the next morning as the space becomes a cycle lane again.
“If the presumption is that people may
need to park outside their home in the evening, it's unclear why there's an
assumption that they also wouldn't need to park there between 07.00-19.00.”
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