Dublin

Cyclists in Dublin have welcomed a 30km/h speed limit that has come into force in the city centre.

The speed limit, which includes the Irish capital's famous O'Connell Street, is part of a strategy that has included restrictions on heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), the introduction of a bus gate at College Green and the deployment of the Dublin Bikes 'velib' scheme.

A bold step to introduce a minimum passing distance for vehicles overtaking cyclists has been proposed in Ireland.

Dublin City Council wants to make drivers pass with 1.5 metres of space as a way of improving road safety.

Advertising giant JCDecaux has renegotiated the terms of the contract with the city of Paris under which it operates the Vélib’ bicycle rental scheme after theft and vandalism caused the whole fleet of 20,000 bikes to be replaced inside the first two years of operation, according to a report in French daily Le Figaro.

Cyclists in Dublin have launched a campaign to keep a controversial city centre bus gate open on a permanent basis due to its impact on commuting times and congestion in the city. Campaigners said traffic times had improved and had increased cycling numbers by 62 per cent.

The campaigners, including TCD Students' Union, the Dublin Cycling Campaign, and political representatives, also said that more people were walking through College Green than before the ban was introduced last July.

Organisers of the Dublin bike hire scheme were left red-faced this week after it emerged they'd grossly underestimated the demand for the subscription cards. Only 5,000 were originally printed, with scheme operators JC Decaux estimating that number would last them a year. However, over 11,000 people applied for the subscription cards in the first fortnight.

With new bike hire scheme Dublinbikes starting this Sunday, cyclists in Dublin had more cause for celebration with the news that a new €10 million cycle route linking Rathmines to Fairview Park will be introduced next year.

The 7km route will be largely off the road and segregated from traffic, and will provide a much safer environment for commuters accessing the main employment areas of the city and leisure cyclists, Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey said.

Lance Armstrong was joined by more than 1,000 Irish cyclists – many in work suits - in Dublin yesterday after he once again used Twitter to invite them for a ride in the city.

The ride brought Dublin’s rush hour traffic to a halt when we took a ride through Phoenix Park, the biggest urban enclosed park in Europe.

Lance Armstrong has been at it again, tweeting himself up some ride partners – this time in Dublin. Traffic police and rush hour drivers in the Irish capital, not exactly noted for its free-flowing traffic, will be on high alert especially as this time Lance has given potential rider partners a whole day to get organised for it.

A controversial public bike hire scheme will be launched in Dublin on September 13, the city council has said.

Around 450 bikes will be available to hire from 50 stations around the Irish capital in a scheme which has involved the advertising giant JC Decaux. The company will provide and maintain the bikes for 15 years in return for permission to erect 120 billboards across the city.

AN attempt to beat the world record for the largest parade of bicycles ever will be made in Dublin this Sunday (June14)

The attempt is part of Ireland's National Bike Week, and organisers have asked for more than 2,284 riders to converge in Phoenix Park and take the title from Taipei, the current world record holder.

Transport Minister Noel Dempsey has backed the attempt. He said: “This will not only put Ireland on the cycling map but it will demonstrate the potential start of a new culture of cycling here.