Mayor tells the public to ‘Light Up Your Bike’ in dark times

SOUTH Dublin County Council and the other three local authorities in Dublin launched the ‘Light Up Your Bike’ campaign that reminds people of the importance and legal requirement of using bicycle lights, especially as we face into the darker months.

The campaign, in conjunction with An Garda Síochána, the Road Safety Authority and the Dublin Cycling Campaign, is calling for bicycle users to light up their bike during the darker commutes. It is also a reminder to people that if they choose to cycle without lights or their lights fail while on the road you become less visible and run the risk of a €40 fixed penalty notice.

Speaking at the launch, Mayor Peter Kavanagh, South Dublin County Council, said: “As someone who cycles everywhere I am delighted to be attending the launch of the Light Up Your Bike initiative with my colleagues from Dublin City Council, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Fingal County Council, not to mention our partners An Garda Síochána, the Road Safety Authority, and the Dublin Cycling Campaign.

“This is such an important safety initiative to promote the use of bike lights during the darker mornings and evenings. Bike lights are a simple yet effective way to improving our visibility on the road.

Cllr Kavanagh also highlighted that in addition to the campaign, the Cycle South Dublin Programme is set to deliver approximately 263km of new and improved cycle lanes over the next ten years which will significantly improve safety for bike users.

The Light Up Your Bike initiative comes from the Dublin Cycling Campaign and promotes the legal requirement to have properly working bicycle lights and to use them during lighting-up periods. It encourages people of the importance of having a back-up pair of lights in case

they run out of power whilst on the commute.

“Cycling offers freedom and independence, but with that comes a personal responsibility for all cyclists to ensure they and their bicycles are appropriately equipped, protected and visible on the roads, particularly during these dark evenings and mornings,” said Superintendent Thomas Murphy, Garda National Roads Policing Bureau.

“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.

He added: “It is an offence for a cyclist not to have a front lamp or rear lamp illuminated during lighting-up hours. An Garda Síochána are asking cyclists to make sure they are visible to all other road users by equipping their bicycles, and children’s bicycles, with the correct lighting, while using the roads.”