Cyclists to face fines for dozens of offences
Cyclists will face fines for dozens of offences under a new fixed charge notice system.
Breaking red lights and cycling in the wrong direction on a one-way street will net you a fine. However, it is understood that cycling on footpaths will not automatically be an offence.
Under plans due to be unveiled tomorrow, cyclists can be issued fines of around €40 for breaking some of the 36 different traffic offences that currently apply to bicycles.
Which offences will become liable for fines will be announced tomorrow. The fines will be in the form of fixed-charge notices, similar to the system for road traffic offences.
Bike users will not face penalty points as they are unlicensed, and transport Minister Paschal Donohoe said there were no plans for licenses for cyclists.
One habit practised by many cyclists is using the footpath, but that will not be an automatic offence.
Currently, there is no explicit offence for cycling on the footpath, and that will not change. However, gardaí will be able to issue fines at their discretion, if they believe someone is cycling in such a way as to endanger themselves or others.
Minister Donohoe said: "In order to bring in penalty points for cyclists (we would have to) roll out a whole new licensing regime. That's not something I want to do."
Cyclists are giving the news a cautious welcome, saying it will only penalise those with bad habits.
However, Mike McKillen from Cyclist.ie said points would not change bad behaviour.
Full details of the amount of the fine and the range of offences are expected to be published tomorrow.
