Cycling two abreast is the default way for most Irish clubs and groups. But a senior Garda officer says it should only be done in limited circumstances and not at all on some roads.
Garda chief warns against cycling two abreast
Cycling two abreast should only be done in limited circumstances, the officer at the top of the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau Chief Supt Aidan Reid has said.
He added cycling two abreast should only occurr when safe to do so. And in some locations it should not be done at all.
When it came to single-carriageway roads with no overtaking, cycling two abreast was never safe, according to the officer.
He was speaking on RTE Radio 1 this morning to launch a new summer safety campaign.
The campaign comes in response to a spike in fatalities, involving all road users, during July and August in recent years.
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On the issue of vulnerable road users, he said “pedal cyclists” were “of particular concern” to the Garda.
“There’s 10 people to date have died this year which is the same as the overall for last year,” he said of cycling fatalities.
“With cyclists and motorcyclists going into unfamiliar territory (during summer rides), large numbers there; there’s a responsibility on all drivers to watch out and allow sufficient space.
“For example, with cyclists, 1.5 metres is the recommended distance.
“Pedal cyclists and other vulnerables have a responsibility to watch out and to be seen and to wear helmets and wear hi-visibility clothing.
“With (cycling) leisure groups as well, taking to the roads in groups and large numbers; the question often arises about their entitlement to bunch or to move in groups.
“The law is very clear in this; cyclists may travel two abreast only when it is safe to do so."
And on the issue of minor roads he said: “If you have a single carriageway with a continuous white line, it is not safe for cyclists to go in pairs.
"A car cannot overtake the white line and you have a vulnerable situation arising.”
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However, the only mention in the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997, as substituted by the 2012 Regulations, of cyclists riding abreast states:
“A pedal cyclist shall not, save when overtaking other pedal cyclists (and then only if to do so will not endanger other traffic or pedestrians) drive a pedal cycle on a roadway in such a manner as to result in more than two pedal cycles driving abreast.
“Pedal cyclists on a roadway shall cycle in single file when overtaking other traffic.“
On the general issue of safety on the roads, Reid in this morning's interview added the Garda and Road Safety Authority were appealing to “all road users to take care” in summer.
“July and August have become particularly high risk,” he said of deaths on the roads.
“Last year 21 persons died in the month of July which was the highest over the previous five years."
A variety of factors during summer that impacted on road safety.
Schools were off, there were additional tourists travelling around the country and festivals, concerts and sporting occasions were more frequent.
“There is also a lot of farm activity at this time of year and there has been some significant injuries and collisions involving farm machinery, particularly with vulnerable road users,” he added.
Reid conceded the message for motorists around drink and drug driving had not been heard.
Driving under influence
Since last July some 7,984 people had been arrested for driving under the influence; including both drink and drugs.
“That’s 1,000 over the same period for the previous year,” he said.
“For example, in April this year 903 persons have been arrested and May had 803; they’re significant numbers over the averages.
“So people are not heeding the message. With those numbers that shows there is a huge amount of Garda activity out there and gardai will be out in force.
“With have a particular summer enforcement campaign which has inter-divisional and inter-regional activity.
“Gardai will be seen on all the main routes and in regional areas. So we’re asking people to comply with the law and never ever drink and drive.”
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