Concern voiced over risks posed to cyclists by new Luas line

Road safety authorities have expressed concern about the added risk posed to pedestrians and cyclists in Dublin by the Luas Cross City line which opens on Saturday week.

Assistant Garda Commissioner in charge of traffic policing Michael Finn said the safety aspects of the tram in the city centre would be monitored and if necessary traffic legislation could be used to ban cyclists from the track lines.

Cyclists in the capital have complained of an increased risk of falling due to their wheels getting caught in the grooves meant for tram wheels.

The Assistant Commissioner also said there could be an issue with Christmas party revellers stepping off kerbs, unused to the fact that the tram service was starting in December.

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Asked at a road safety briefing in Dublin on Thursday whether cyclists should be banned from the trackway, he said “that is something we are going to have to review” in the context of the legislation.

A judgement could not be made “until we see over a period of time the full impact of it. Then we will have to reassess and I’m sure the Minister [FOR TRANSPORT]and I will be having conversations about that in the future”.

However Mr Finn said the primary focus on action would be on working with the cycling community to make sure it was aware of the dangers in crossing the Luas tracks.

“I know from talking to gardaí in the Dublin Metropolitan region that it is an issue. It is a new presence on the street which cyclists didn’t have to encounter in the past. They have to be more vigilant. They have to be more careful,” he said.