Dublin Gardai blitz cyclists breaking lights, with unusual follow-up

Gardai were out targeting cyclists breaking red lights in the centre of Dublin. A total of 10 cyclists were stopped yesterday afternoon during the operation. And safety leaflets, which appear to be only prepared for cyclists, were distributed.

 

A total of 10 cyclists were stopped for breaking red lights during a Garda operation in Dublin's south inner city yesterday.

All ten were issued with fixed charge notices, which result in fines. And safety leaflets were distributed to the cyclists.

The two main pieces of advice on the leaflet were to "always wear" a helmet and hi-vis clothing. While many would see both pieces of kit as advisable, neither is mandatory.

Indeed Minister for Transport Shane Ross said recently the Government had just reviewed hi-vis and helmets. And it had decided against making them mandatory.

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In that light, it seems a little unusual for gardai to hand out safety leaflets about optional pieces of cycling safety kit during an operation to catch those breaking the law.

On the same day the cyclists were (thankfully) being penalised for breaking red lights, a farmer with a dangerously loaded consignment of hay on a trailer was stopped in Offaly (below).

Thankfully both he, and the red light-breaking cyclists, were penalised for their actions.

But there seemed to be no leaflet produced for farmers about the precautions they should be taking to ensure their loads are safe; despite the fact dangerous heavy loads put lives at risk.

We're also yet to see leaflets for all the motorists parking in cycle lanes, which is illegal, or passing cyclists and other road users in a dangerous fashion, which is also illegal.

After the incident with the hay load, the only "leaflet" doing the rounds was a list compiled by the Garda of the jokes made on Twitter about the photo of the hay.

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Don't get us wrong, it's good to see the gardai out and about and having a bit of craic on social media with the public from time to time isn't much of a sin.

At the same time, cyclists should not be immune to incurring fines for breaking red lights.

Indeed, cyclists who routinely break red lights damage the reputation of cyclists as a group. It shouldn't be that way of course, yet we all know it is.

But the Garda's insistence on telling cyclists to "always wear" hi-vis and helmets during a crime enforcement operation, and though both are optional, seems strange when actual law breaking by motorists is tolerated all over the country on a daily basis.

 

Gardai hand out leaflets to cyclists...

 

...Garda hay Tweet (no leaflet, just gags)

 

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