The Green Party general election manifesto includes a pledge to allow cyclists break some red lights.
It would mean
cyclists could turn left on a red light and not break the law. However, they
would be legally obliged to give way to pedestrians crossing on a green man.
Similar concepts
are in place in parts of Europe and the US, with measures that enable cyclists
bypass some rules motorists must comply with but while exercising care.
The measure being proposed by the Green Party would effectively mean cyclists could turn left on a red light and merge with drivers in vehicles.
Other proposals
would allow cyclists ride against traffic on some one-way streets and
the programming of traffic lights to
give cyclists a head start to get away at some junctions.
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The three measures in the manifesto specifically read:
- Allow contra-flow cycling in one-way streets on specifically signed roads with low volumes of traffic, as is the norm in many European cities.
- Allow cyclists to make a left turn when traffic lights are red, but giving way to pedestrians walking on a green man, as is the case in many European countries.
- Have traffic lights programmed to give cyclists a head start, where appropriate, and deliver ‘green waves’ for cyclists on heavily cycled routes.
The party says it
would allocate 10 per cent of the capital budget in transport to cycling
infrastructure. Its manifesto states cycling could aid Ireland to lower its carbon footprint.
Furthermore, it
has proposed further extending Ireland’s network of cycling greenways. It also
wants “a programme of bicycle
maintenance and safe cycling education in schools”.
Other proposals
include:
- Retrofit junctions with priority traffic lights for cyclists and convex mirrors that allow truck drivers to see cyclists on their near-side, where appropriate.
- Ensure that cycle safety becomes a core part of the driving test, particularly for HGV and LPSV drivers.
- Ensure that new HGVs are required to meet design standards such as the Direct Vision Standard which ensure their drivers can see other road users.
- Require all trucks to be fit by law with sensors, audible turning alarms, extra mirrors and side-safety bars to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians.
The party also
wants to review the operation, priorities and aims of the Road Safety
Authority.
And it says it would introduce bike transport facilities on all Irish Rail trains, adding “every train should have dedicated bike holding facilities”.
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