Cyclists stage rally in Cork calling for safer bike lanes
Cycling campaigners have staged a rally in Cork city this evening calling for a crackdown on motorists who park in the city's bike lanes.
They also want design measures to make bike lanes safer for cycling, including the installation of protective barriers, along key cycling corridors such as along South Main Street, Washington Street, and Alfred Street.
The rally, organised outside City Hall by the Cork Cycling Campaign ahead of tonight’s city council meeting, was designed to highlight problems faced by cyclists in the city, particularly from vehicles stopping or parking in dedicated cycle lanes.
In a statement this evening, the campaign said a combination of design measures, physical protection, and enforcement are needed to make the city’s cycle lanes usable and safe, and it called on councillors and the local authority to:
- Install protective barriers along cycle lanes where parking in cycle lanes is pervasive, particularly along major cycling corridors;
- ensure high-quality design and segregated cycle lanes wherever feasible:
- enforce the exclusive use of cycle lanes for people on bicycles.
“Parking in cycle lanes is a dangerous, frequent, and highly visible traffic violation, yet attracts less than 1% of all traffic fines. This needs to change,” campaign chairperson, Dean Venables said.
"Everyone know that Cork has serious traffic congestion. Public transport is part of the solution, but the city needs a functioning cycle network as well – one that people of all ages and abilities can use with confidence,” he said.
Safe and usable cycle lanes would encourage many more people to cycle.
“Higher rates of cycling would reduce traffic congestion, air pollution, and parking demand in Cork. This would contribute towards a more livable and attractive city to the benefit of all.”
Cllr Fiona Ryan (Solidarity Party) has tabled a motion for discussion at a later council meeting calling for the installation of protective barriers where parking in cycle lanes is a persistent problem.
