Four in every ten cyclists in Ireland are routinely jumping red lights, despite it being just three weeks before penalty charges come in.
A Sunday Times survey of nearly 500 cyclists passing through four main junctions in central Dublin last week found 177 breaking the traffic law.
One of the junctions even has a permanent police presence, as it is by Leinster House on Kildare Street.
Mike McKillen, chairman of the lobby group Cyclist.ie said: “We do our own surveys, but we also track every bus, coach, taxi, private car, van driver and motorcyclist who breaks a red light.
“All road users are breaking red lights, though of course the percentage of cyclists who do is higher — but I don’t think I’ve ever seen it as high as four in every ten.
“There is a world of difference between a 15km bicycle going through a red light and a bus, coach or taxi. There is no evidence from pan-European road-safety research literature that cyclists breaking red lights cause any harm to road users.”
Paschal Donohoe, the minister for transport, has brought in a Euros 40 fine from July 31 for cyclists who jump red lights.
It will also apply to seven existing road traffic offences, including failure to have a light during lighting-up hours and cycling without reasonable consideration.
Linda Pototzki of AA Roadwatch said: “We polled our members in the past on cyclists’ behaviour, and one in eight drivers told us they had a near miss or collision with cyclists.
“It could be that some . . . were as a result of a cyclist breaking a red light. Of those incidents, 48% occurred during daylight.”
I think thats a fair comment. I certainly have as much fun with my daughter pootling down to the pump track as I do on a "proper" bike ride. I...
I presume you are basing that on the 2020 ACEA report, which only measured by deaths per million of population, an extremely limited metric. Anyone...
I see a few unrestricted and resold yellow OFO bikes around. The weight will certainly increase fitness as a daily bike!
Meet Ruby Dashcam. The content creator normally puts a bit of text on with his opinions, sometimes right, sometimes wrong, and occasionaly adds the...
I doubt even that. That's his lawyer directing him. Consistent BS sentences.
Cyclists like cafe's but it sounds like George dosen't want our type in his? I don't know the street but maybe it's a drive through and that's why...
Now I like that idea!...
The evidence of cheating seems a bit harsh, riding Passo Giau 4 mins slower than a pro is totally achievable for a well trained amateur. Especially...
Everyone is saying Captain Sunroof looks like Alan Partridge, but to me he's more like Chris Morris. I mean - that haircut????
Hmmm. I wonder if they include that nifty handle bar widget on their drop bar bike?...