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It turns out Irish cyclists will not be forced to wear helmets and hi-vis gear every time they got on a bike after all, following the government’s clarification that non-motorised bicycles will not be subject to any potential mandatory PPE law – just one day after stating that they would be (it’s been a long week).
This abrupt legislative U-turn came about at the end of a confusing few days, which saw the Department for Transport announce that current plans to introduce mandatory helmet and hi-vis legislation would include bicycles of all kinds, even those without a motor – only for that official government announcement to be almost immediately contradicted by Tánaiste Simon Harris.
According to a government statement issued on Wednesday, the proposals, which also affect e-scooter and e-bike users, would see cyclists not wearing protective gear or reflecting clothing fined by the police – making Ireland the only EU member state to implement such a measure.
“Requirements for mandatory helmets and high-visibility equipment are currently being considered for e-scooters, bicycles, and e-bikes,” the department said in a statement when asked about the scope of the proposals first revealed in January, seemingly in a bid to tackle concerns about the growing number of collisions involving e-scooter users.
However, speaking in the Dáil on Thursday morning, Harris, Ireland’s deputy prime minister, insisted that there are “no plans” to change the law to make helmets mandatory for cyclists riding non-motorised bikes, contradicting the message sent out by one of his government departments just hours beforehand.
Instead, the Fine Gael politician said any change in the law would only apply to e-scooters and e-bikes – noting the “letter e is a bit of a giveaway” – and argued that mandating helmet use for all cyclists “would be a really bad use of Garda time”.
And hours after Harris’s speech in the Dáil, the Department of Transport completed its own U-turn on the measures by clarifying that users of bicycles of the non-electrically assisted variety would not, in fact, be part of any new legislation.
“The government decision of Wednesday 4 February noted that Ministers for Transport would return to government with proposals for updated regulations on e-scooters and e-bikes,” the department said in a statement.
“The first regulations to allow for the legal use of certain e-scooters and e-bikes were introduced in May 2024. As we approach the two-year anniversary of that date, it is appropriate that we look at the evidence and consider if additional regulation is warranted to promote road safety. Proposals are being developed and will be subject to ministerial decision.
“Requirement for personal protective equipment on e-scooters and e-bikes will form part of any consideration. The introduction of mandatory PPE for users of bicycles is outside the scope of the current measures. Measures to protect the safety of all road users are kept under constant review.”
So, that’s that cleared up, then.
6 thoughts on “No plans for compulsory helmets and hi-vis for cyclists, Irish government confirms… 24 hours after saying the exact opposite”
The key to understanding the balance of risk here (politics aside…) seems to be this statement:
> “The first regulations to allow for the legal use of certain e-scooters and e-bikes were introduced in May 2024.”
Irish law is not something I’m familiar with, but a quick “internet search” suggests a difference between EAPC (250W + 25km/h) and e-mopeds.
Devices appear to be banded with both L1e-B / L1e-A requiring an approved motorcycle helmet TODAY, suggesting the language of “e-bikes” could mean a change to EAPC, but who knows?
Is the difference between an EU EAPC and a L1e-A a hand throttle, and hence a helmet?
L1e-B seem to be different beasts at 4kW and 45km/h.
I’d appreciate an explainer to put the rhetoric into some context.
… and we’d rather use it badly trying to enforce them on scooter and ebike riders instead.
Do we know how many motor vehicle passengers sustain head injuries compared to cyclists?
Is there a call for all motor vehicles to have hi viz exteriors?
Basic facts required here.
Will this be all ebikes, or just those with motors bigger than 250w or capable of power assist over 25kph?
I’m sure some government spokesperson will be along soon to tell us, quickly followed by another one saying exactly the opposite.
You can be glowing like a Christmas tree on a bike and some drivers will still be obvious to you. Happened to a family member, not like a Christmas tree, but he would always high vis to the extreme and he still got hit by a car who “didn’t see him”…
Next up, the Irish government implements a compulsory curfew at dusk for all women and children to reduce their chances of being attacked at night, or they must arrange for chaperones. If the UK ever makes it compulsory to wear a helmet and hi-vis, I will stop cycling and get a big fvck off diesel truck and drive everywhere at a maximum of 29mph. I do wear a helmet and hi-viz, but this ‘its the fault of the victim that the driver couldnt avoid driving over them’ is complete and utter bollx.