‘Light Up Your Bike’ campaign distributes free lights for bicycles

With the mornings and evenings getting darker it is more important than ever to be safe and seen on roads while cycling with front and rear lights and to promote ‘Light Up Your Bike’ campaign, reports Alvins Poikans.

This initiative is promoting the legal requirement to have properly working bike lights in order to use them during “lighting-up periods”. It is to remind people of all ages how important is to be visible and safe while cycling, providing them with advice and information.

“Lighting up periods” take place from 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise. The use of bike lights helps increase your visibility to other road users, with many unique colours and designs to choose from.

Mayor Emma Murphy, says: “As the active travel network in Dublin extends, cycling is becoming a more viable option for a greater number of people. Lighting up during the darker winter months is essential for keeping cyclists visible and safe on our roads. I encourage cyclists of all ages to light up their bikes during their winter cycles.”

The four Dublin Local Authorities, An Garda Síochána, the Road Safety Authority, and the Dublin Cycling Campaign call on all cyclists to promote the “Light Up Your Bike” campaign.

Superintendent Thomas Murphy, Garda National Roads Policing Bureau, says: “An Garda Siochana is, as always, delighted to be part of this very important safety initiative

. . . cycling offers freedom and independence, but with that comes a personal responsibility for all cyclists to ensure they and their bicycles are appropriately equipped.

“An Garda Síochána is committed to playing its part in educating and protecting all road users, through the issuing of road safety advice and the enforcement of Road Traffic legislation.”

In case of no lights on the bike or the bike light battery runs out, person can be stopped by Gardai and a potential €40 penalty can be issued for bike lights being off during lighting-up periods.

As part of this campaign, volunteers will be handing out free bike lights in various locations around Dublin on a first-come, first-served basis, because they are very popular and quickly run out.