The Government is considering new plans aimed at increasing road traffic law enforcement for cyclists. The new system would be based on fines or a conviction in the courts for any cyclists caught breaking the rules of the road.
While the exact details of the plan have not yet been made public, it appears cyclists would pay a fixed charge penalty if they were caught breaking the road traffic laws.
This would include a large number of offences such as breaking traffic lights, cycling on pavements or the wrong way up one way streets, or taking to the road at night with no lights.
If the set fine for each offence was not paid within 56 days, the cyclist would instead be summoned to court where a judge would decide on guilt or innocence and impose a sanction.
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Court punishments would most likely take the shape of a much more significant fine than the fixed charge penalty the cyclist could have paid. Sources indicate the fixed charges would be between €50 and €100.
The plan is similar to that for motorists at present. However, because cyclists do not need licences, no penalty points would apply.
Cyclists can currently be prosecuted in court for a range of offences.
However, what is being proposed now is a range of clear offences to be set out and to be punishable by on-the-spot fines. It would be accompanied by a sustained drive by gardai to include cyclists in the new culture or road enforcement that has worked for motorists in reducing drink driving, speeding and road deaths.
The new plan has been mooted before, though it was shelved over fears it would be unenforceable because cyclists don’t need a licence and so are not officially registered on any State databases as a cyclist.
It means applying penalty points to cyclists would most likely be impossible, unless licences for cyclists were introduced.
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However, the Garda has assured the Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar that despite the lack of a licensing system for cyclists, members of the Garda have been more successful in recent years in securing convictions against cyclists.
These reassurances by gardai have persuaded Minister Varadkar and his officials to reconsider the fines-only plans, without penalty points. Dublin City Council is also in favour of the plan and has lobbied Minister Varadkar to press ahead.
A department spokesperson said: “The changes would enhance the safety both of cyclists and pedestrians.”
Kevin Humphreys TD has been pushing the plan for some time. The Labour Dáil deputy represents the Dublin South East constituency and says he believes there is a real need to extend fixed charge notices to cyclists.
He welcomed news that the Department of Transport was considering extending what he called “on-the-spot fines or fixed charge penalties” to cyclists.
“I fully support increased investment in cycling infrastructure and measures to encourage more people to take up cycling, however it must be balanced by strong and enforceable rules,” he said.
“The success of Dublin Bikes, the cycle to work scheme and the many improved cycle paths shows that there is a public demand, but all road users must be subject to regulation.”
“The vast majority of cyclists obey and honour the rules of the road but there must be penalties for those who consistently cycle on footpaths and break red lights, which put pedestrians, particularly the elderly, in danger.”
“Those cycling without working lights should also be subject to penalties. Anyone travelling in Dublin during the dark winter mornings and evenings can see the dangers of the many bikes being used without proper lights, putting themselves and other road users at risk of collision during peak commuting times.”
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