Light Up Your Bike this Winter To Avoid Fines and Fear!

The four Dublin Local Authorities, An Garda Síochána, the Road Safety Authority, and the Dublin Cycling Campaign have joined forces to ‘Light Up Your Bike’ this Winter.

As darker evenings draw in and morning commutes take place before dawn, cyclists and motorists should both be aware that visibility is poor and the opportunity for road accidents is high. The use of proper bike lights is a legal requirement when cycling during lighting up periods.  If you choose to cycle without lights, or your lights fail when on the road, you run the risk of a €40 fixed penalty notice and are vulnerable to being injured due to lack of visibility.

The Light Up Your Bike initiative comes from the Dublin Cycling Campaign and promotes the legal requirement to have properly working bike lights and to use them during lighting up periods. The use of bike lights helps increase your visibility to other road users and there are many types and styles on the market to choose from. Most bike lights tend to be battery or dynamo operated. If using battery operated bike lights, rechargeable/non-rechargeable, it is important to remember that they may run out of power whilst on the commute. Always have a backup pair on hand in case you require them to get you to your destination safely. It is also important to remember that bikes lights are not just for adults they are to be used by children and teenagers whether they are cycling to school, training or to meet a friend. 

Mayor Howard Mahony, Fingal County Council, said: “We all have a responsibility to behave safely on the road. This Winter we want to see fewer lighting up fines issued and more people enjoying their cycle in safety. 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, South Dublin County Council, and to be partnering again with 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. Fingal County Council’s Active Travel team is committed to delivering better infrastructure across the county. Making cycling a convenient, climate friendly and affordable choice for many is a key priority and this year I’m proud to say we have delivered new cycle lanes, Safer Routes to School and cycle training that all contribute to this vision. Whether you’re picking up a Bleeper Bike, a TIER eBike or heading out on your own wheels this Winter please remember to light up 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

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.”

Kevin Baker, 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.”