Video: Cycle 'safety' sign creating death trap for Dublin cyclists
Cycling in Dublin is made more dangerous by measures like this at the narrow bus corridor with Luas works on both sides of the road.
This cycle safety sign has been placed on the road right at the entrance to an already very tight pinch point for Dublin cyclists.
The sign is warning to be careful of the Luas tracks while cycling in Dublin.
But it has the effect of narrowing the already tiny patch of road available to cyclists on what is one of the busiest bus corridors in the country.
The location featured in the videos and photos is in the south inner city just outside Trinity College.
There's a fork in the road at College St; one side sweeping left following the arch of the railings of Trinity on the left and the other side of the fork continuing straight to bring traffic to the turn right onto Westmoreland St.
Advertisement
The sign has been placed on the left sweeping narrow lane precisely at the point where barriers begin for Luas works and where large vehicles can just about fit into the entry to the narrow stretch.
Top, the sign encroaches onto the road with already very little space for Dublin cyclists. Middle, the gap between bus and sign dangerously small. Bottom, where the road forks; left to follow the direction of the Trinity College rails and straight to bring traffic to the turn right onto Westmoreland St - the sign is on the left at the entrance to the pinch point.
The sign was undoubtedly placed there by somebody trying to make it a bit safer for Dublin cyclists.
But it has been placed right at the spot where the road narrows because both sides of the road are barriered for Luas works.
Related News
And to make matters worse, the exact location of the sign is the narrowest point of the road because of the way the kerbing on the left creeps out ever so slightly to narrow the road anyway.
Videos show problems with sign
The clips below show just how the busy the location is and how little room there is between the sign and passing vehicles.
And it's very clear to see how some of the cyclists - who are perhaps not the most confident to begin with - are unsettled by having to negotiate the sign at the exact spot where the road narrows.
For those with good bike handling skills it may not pose a major challenge. But many Dublin cyclists are not expert bike handlers and for them this is a hazard.
Hopefully it will be moved a little - up onto the pavement would be perfect or even to the side of the road before the pinch point begins.
If not, lets hope no drivers and Dublin cyclists try to squeeze through at the same time.
They meant well, but...
Cycle safety sign narrows already tight pinch point for cyclists on Dublin's Luas line pic.twitter.com/NoZgX7MOzu
— Sticky Bottle (@sticky_bottle) March 3, 2017
That @Luas line pinch point "cycle safety" ? sign from the front (and with some actual cyclists!) #allocate4cycling #dublin pic.twitter.com/AOQogobV5f
— Sticky Bottle (@sticky_bottle) March 3, 2017
And it's 'three for the money' ??... Last of three clips featuring that @Luas cycle safety sign placed badly and narrowing a pinch point pic.twitter.com/ZCdLTK4yK7
— Sticky Bottle (@sticky_bottle) March 3, 2017
Topics
