Cork City Council Issued Just 68 Parking Tickets for Cycle Track Offenders in 2022
Questions are being raised about Cork City Councils commitment to protecting new and existing cycling infrastructure from illegal parking.
Cycling in Cork City has exploded in the past few years as more and more people rely on a bicycle to commute for all aspects of their lives.
A Freedom of Information request has revealed Cork City Council Traffic Wardens issued just 68 fines for “Parking in a Cycle Track” in 2022 an average of 1.3 tickets a week.
The street with the most tickets was the contra-flow cycle track on South Main Street with just 11 fines issued.
The FOI also revealed: “There is no specific training manual for Traffic Wardens. They receive on the job training by experienced Wardens and Supervisors when appointed.”
A Freedom of Information request has revealed Cork City Council Traffic Wardens issued just 68 fines for “Parking in a Cycle Track” in 2022 an average of 1.3 tickets a week.
The street with the most tickets was the contra-flow cycle track on South Main Street with just 11 fines issued.
The FOI also revealed: “There is no specific training manual for Traffic Wardens. They receive on the job training by experienced Wardens and Supervisors when appointed.”
Blocked cycle tracks particularly discriminate against those with disabilities who cannot simply pick up their bikes.
Additionally seniors who use bikes, particularly a new wave using E-Bikes as both a mobility aid and means of transport rely on safe routes.
The latest census data shows primary school students cycling to school is up 88% which means a huge reduction in cars and traffic.
The biggest barrier for parents allowing their children to cycle to school is safety, blocked cycle lanes mean putting primary school children onto a road with cars, vans, lorry’s etc.
Frustrated cyclists in Cork have voiced their frustration on Reddit, Twitter, directly to Cork City Council as a communication blackout appears to be in affect when questions are raised in regards to enforcement and better protection to prevent illegal parking.
Cork City Council appears to have no strategy to tackle this growing issue and is slow to adopt International best practices.
Many countries traffic wardens utilize bikes and e-bikes for more efficient enforcement but we’ve yet to see any sign of this in Cork.
We call on Cork City Council to:
- Tackle illegal Parking
- Evaluate Traffic Wardens patrols as new Cycle Tracks may not be in existing routes
- Encourage Traffic Wardens to brain-storm ideas with management and listen to what they have to say as they have valuable experience on the beat and may have ideas to better tackle this issue
- Ensure Traffic Wardens have every tool available to them
- Develop a Mobile App to Report illegal Parking
- Offer Traffic Wardens Electric Bikes
- Evaluate Cycle Tracks and install planters and bollards where appropriate.