The Dublin Cycling Campaign is an independent, voluntary lobby group that has been working to improve the city for all cyclists for over a decade and a half.
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Car Free Day 2008 Press release
Car Free Day - Cyclists use giant fluorescent bicycle to call for road space and enforcement.
From: Dublin Cycling Campaign
Date: Friday 19 September 2008
Event Date: Monday 22 September
Event Location: The Spire (1pm); Minister for Justice's offices, 94 St. Stephen's Green (1.30pm)
For Immediate Use (Excellent Photo Op. on day)
Cyclists appeal to drivers to allow space for bikes, decry poor enforcement of dangerous overtaking:
The Dublin Cycling Campaign is to take a demonstration of 1.5m wide, fluorescent bicycles through the streets of Dublin on Monday, to encourage motorists to give them more space on the roads.
Speaking in advance of the demonstration, David Maher, PRO of Dublin Cycling Campaign, appealed to motorists, bus and taxi drivers to treat cyclists with courtesy.
One and a half meters1 is the clear distance drivers should leave between their vehicle and the rider, when passing cyclists around town. To increase the numbers of cyclists, newcomers have to feel safe, and dangerous, hair-splitting overtaking by cars, taxis and buses is a huge factor in this.
Maher reminded drivers that dangerous overtaking can attract 2 penalty points and €80 fine2, and went on,
enforcement of these laws is just too lax at present, and the Minister for Justice is ultimately responsible. But the AA, the Taxi Regulator and bus companies all have their part to play in encouraging drivers to be safe around cyclists.
So-called cycle lanes which are just dotted lines a few inches from the gutter don't help, either. "If there's no room to overtake safely, just slow down and wait for a few seconds," Maher advised motorists.
Under the slogan, We need our space, the demonstration will traverse Dublin, from the Spike in O'Connell Street to the Minister's office during lunchtime next Monday, designated European Car Free Day, to show how much space a cyclist requires to feel safe. "Urgent action from Gardaí is required if we're to improve the appalling traffic situation in Dublin and reduce our transport carbon emissions" concluded Maher.
ENDS
Contact: David Maher (PRO) 086-347 5357, Dr. Mike McKillen (Chairman) 087-2314 613; 01-896 1613
The Dublin Cycling Campaign is a voluntary organisation that has represented Dublin's commuting cyclists for over 15 years.
Notes
1. overtaking cyclists with < 1.5m clearance constitutes dangerous overtaking in France and Germany; Article R414-4 (2003) Code de la Route, France.
2. The offence is defined in S.I. No. 182/1997: Road Traffic (Traffic and parking) Regulations, 1997: 10. (1) A driver shall not overtake, or attempt to overtake, if to do so would endanger, or cause inconvenience to, any other person. Note the emphasis on 'inconvenience'!
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