Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 441: To ask the Minister for Transport the minimum permitted width for a combined bus and cycle lane; and the regulations regarding a bus having to overtake a cyclist in such a bus lane. [25586/06]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 442: To ask the Minister for Transport when a new cycling facilities design manual is due to be published; and the role envisaged for such a manual. [25587/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 441 and 442 together.

There are no statutory specifications prescribed for the dimensions of traffic lanes, including bus lanes. The "Provision of Cycle Facilities — National Manual for Urban Areas", published in 1998, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library, comprises of a set of guidelines for the design and provision of cycle facilities by local authorities.

That Manual, in addressing the issue of Buses and Cycling and the shared use of bus lanes, indicates that the preferable width for a bus lane, used by buses and cyclists, is 4.0 metres and that the minimum width should be 3.5 metres.

Article 10 of the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997 (SI No. 182 of 1997) regulates overtaking and the provisions laid down here apply to all situations where overtaking arises on a public road. The overtaking of cyclists by buses in a shared use of bus lane situation is not the subject of a specific road traffic regulation. The present Cycle Manual is under review by the Dublin Transportation Office and it is expected that when the review is completed in 2007 the new Cycle Manual will contain guidelines and advice on best practices in the provision of cycle facilities.