Light up your bike this Winter

Frank Curran, Chief Executive, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, said:

I welcome this joint road safety initiative. With more cycling infrastructure being developed around the County and with more people cycling every day, it is important that cyclists are clearly seen by other road users during hours of darkness. A concerted effort by the Dublin Local Authorities, An Garda Síochána, the Road Safety Authority and the Dublin Cycling Campaign can increase awareness on the importance of having lights on your bike.

Superintendent Thomas Murphy, Garda National Roads Policing Bureau, said:

“An Garda Síochána is, as always, delighted to be part of this very important road safety initiative. A bicycle is not just for leisure but also used as a daily transport option. 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. The ‘Light Up Your Bike’ campaign is about bringing awareness to cycling safely on our roads. 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. 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.”

Ellen Cullen, Chair of Dublin Cycling Campaign, said:
“I am delighted that the four Dublin Local Authorities, An Garda Síochána, and RSA, have come together to support the Light Up Your Bike initiative. Using good quality lights on your bike is the best way to improve your visibility to other road users during darker mornings and evenings. Bike lights are a legal requirement during Lighting-Up hours, which is from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise.”

Sam Waide, CEO, the Road Safety Authority, said:
“I am pleased to be supporting this very important ‘Light Up Your Bike’ initiative to remind cyclists to make sure they have the correct lights on their bikes and to check them regularly. This is to help ensure that they are more visible to motorists and other road users. They must have a white or yellow light to the front of the bike and a red light at the back. As the evenings are getting darker, we need to ensure that the lights are also working on our children’s bikes and remind them to check them regularly.”