Dublin City Council backs the ‘Light up Your Bike’ Initiative

Dublin City Council, the three other Dublin Local Authorities, An Garda Síochána, the Road Safety Authority, and the Dublin Cycling Campaign are issuing a call to action to cyclists to ‘Light up Your Bike’ during the darker months ahead.

The ‘Light up Your Bike’ initiative comes from the Dublin Cycling Campaign and highlights the legal requirement to have properly working bike lights and to use them during lighting-up periods.

Now that the clocks have gone back and road users may be faced with darker conditions, those that cycle are reminded that the use of 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 become less visible and run the risk of a €40 fixed penalty notice.

The use of bike lights helps to 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. That’s why it is important to have a back-up pair which you can easily attach to your bike in the event you require them to get you to your destination.

It is also important to remember that bike lights are not just for adults. They are also to be used by children and teenagers, for e.g., when cycling to school.

“As Chair of the Dublin Central Area Committee and Councillor for the #NorthInnerCity, I wholeheartedly back the ‘Light up Your Bike’ initiative. This is about reminding cyclists of the necessity of having lights that work on your bike, ensure those lights are regularly checked to keep you highly visible to other road users. As a parent of young child myself, I would also urge parents to double check the quality of lighting on their kid’s bikes given that the time of year we are now entering. Finally, I would simply say to all road users including cyclists of all ages, to be safe on our roads this winter!”

Councillor Ray McAdam