Drivers Could Be Fined for Getting Too Close to Cyclists
Motorists could face fines and penalty points for driving too close to cyclists.
A bill is being put forward by Fine Gael in a bid to make the roads safer for those on bikes.
Its proposing a safe passing distance of 1.5 metres in 50km/hour speed zones.
A one metre distance would apply on roads where the speed limit is lower.
If the plans are given the go ahead, drivers would face fines of €80 and three penalty points.
That would increase to €1,500 and five penalty points if a case ends up in court.
20 cyclists have died on our roads in the past two years.
Meanwhile, 150 cyclists took to their bikes and held a protest in the city this afternoon.
They're calling for better investment in cycling infrastructure in the city, saying the current budget is only half of one percent.
Dr. Mike McKillen from Cyclist.ie says "successive Governments haven't been spending enough on promoting cycling. Whether that is encouraging people to get out of their cars and commute by bike where the distance is five kilometres or less or whether it's creating better cycle and safer cycle infrastructure like more off road cycle paths."
Dubliner Suzanne Lyndsey cycles into the city every day "it's just very, very dangerous. Every day you take your life in your hands. I had three near misses on my bike cycling to the protest today. It's just very unsafe, you are sharing a very narrow road."
She added: "drivers are just not looking, they're cutting you up. Even today, there was a cement truck, he was on his mobile phone and he didn't see me. I pulled back, I knew he was going to move in. If I didn't take evasive action, he would have hit me."