Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 December 2004
149 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 255 of 9 November 2004, if trials have taken place which indicate that allowing motor cycles onto bus lanes would reduce the safety for pedal cyclists or other users of bus lanes; if so, the way in which they would reduce safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34044/04]
View answerAs I indicated in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 255 of 9 November 2004, the primary purpose of bus lanes is to facilitate and promote bus-based public transport. Except in the case of contra-flow bus lanes, a range of other road users are permitted, by regulation, to use bus lanes. These include cyclists, taxi vehicles while available for immediate on-street hire, fire brigades, ambulances and vehicles driven by members of the Garda Síochána in the course of duty.
A review of the access issue was carried out in 2001. As part of that review, the views of a number of bodies representing various road user groups, including motorcyclists, were considered. In addition, views of the director of traffic in Dublin City Council, the Dublin Transportation Office and the Garda Síochána were sought. All the latter bodies indicated that there should be no change to the current position. I have no immediate proposals to review the question of extending access to bus lanes to other road users. In the context of the current situation, no trials have been undertaken here based on motor cyclists using a bus lane.
