New US-style speed limit specifically for cyclists to be introduced for first time in Ireland
Police in Sydney, Australia, regularly conduct operations to clamp down on road traffic infringements by cyclists; speeding being just one. It looks like Ireland is about to get tough and introduce its first cyclist-specific speed limit.
Dublin City Council is set to introduce the first speed limits in Ireland aimed specifically at cyclists.
Similar measures are already in place in other countries, with cyclist speed limits rigidly enforced by police in New York's Central Park and also in Sydney, to name but two locations.
The new Irish limits are to be applied to those using the cycling lane on the promenade on the seafront of Clontarf and Sutton in north Dublin, a popular route for cyclists making their way to the nearby climb of Howth Head.
The new speed limits, which are aimed at getting cyclists to slow down on a stretch of seafront popular with walkers, will likely set a precedent for other parts of the country with bike lanes.
The new move has been confirmed by Dublin City Council's executive engineer Christopher Manzira.
In a report on the matter he said the council's roads and traffic department "will be developing proposals for speed regulation along the Clontarf promenade".
He added the measure would need the approval of the National Transport Authority, which is responsible for ensuring the provision of public transport, regulating public service vehicles such as taxis, and encouraging cycling and walking.
"There are no speed-regulation measures for cyclists in Ireland at the moment," noted Mr Manzira on what would be a groundbreaking new development.
"It is intended the council will need to secure funding for the measures from the National Transport Authority."
The area the speed limit is set for is a long cycle lane of around three miles stretching from the suburb of Fairview just north of the city centre, out through Clontarf and most of Sutton towards Howth Head.
Pedestrians looking to walk along the seafront must cross the cycle lane and then a wide grassy area before they reach the footpath that hugs the coastline.
There are also a number of car parks situated beside rows of shops at different points along the bike lane and even a yard where small boats connected to the local yacht club are left.
It means the area is always busy with pedestrians who, primarily because of bad planning, need to dart across the busy bike lane for a number of reasons.
The lane has become very busy, not just at weekends, because it is a scenic route that leads to Howth Head and takes cyclists off the busy coast road.
It remains unclear how the speed limit would be enforced, a point raised by local councillor Deirdre Heany of Fianna Fail.
"I think it's very difficult to enforce something like that," she said.
"Gardai are very under-resourced at the moment, so who is going to enforce it?
"But I wouldn't be against asking cyclists to slow down. There is an issue there for pedestrian safety. I've seen it and I've experienced it a couple of times. You have to be very careful there."
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