This has been the scene of more protests in recent months than perhaps any other cycle lane in the country. And it seems Dublin City Council has been embarrassed into action to protect it (Photo with thanks to Ciarán Handley)

Flexi wands inserted to protect Dublin cycle lane

Just over six months on, the I Bike Dublin campaign has seen the fruits of its labours at its first protest site.

Dublin City Council has finally succumbed to being embarrassed on a near weekly basis and erected flexi wands at St Andrew's St.

The location is just off Dame St in Dublin's south inner city. And the cycle track located there doubled as a car park for any motorist who needed a space and was willing to set down there.

I Bike Dublin began its first protests back in June. And since then this particular cycling stretch has featured very frequently.

The protestors have lined up on the white lane marking out the bike track from the road. And in doing so they've formed a barrier protecting the lane from errant parkers.

But obviously they've been careful to leave the bike lane free for cyclists to ride down.

The flexi wands, if they last of course, will do that job for them now. Cyclist Ciarán Handley took a photo of the new wands being erected today.

That's a small but significant victory and we look forward to many more. Dublin Cycling Council would get great kudos from cyclists if they introduced more cycle-friendly measures.

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They've already inserted wands on the southbound section of Upper O'Connell St to protect the lane there for cyclists.

Other flexi wands have popped up on the south-east corner of St Stephens Green. They ensure buses are kept out of the cycle lane.

Donna Fox fatal cycling crash junction

And the spot where Donna Fox was killed by a truck turning left at the corner of Seville Place and Sheriff Street last year has also gotten the flexi wand treatment.

In that location the new measure ensures that vehicles turning left much take the corner much wider than before.

Furthermore, the road markings, if obeyed by motorists, also put cyclists ahead of vehicles at the traffic lights.

As a result, those on two wheels should be able to get away from the lights and clear the junction quicker than vehicles.

Looks like the #Freethecyclelanes campaign is working! Barriers to protect th cycle lane on St Andrew's Street. @CycleLanes @dublincycling pic.twitter.com/iwEM1fmNiR

— Ciarán Handley (@ciaranhandley) December 19, 2017