Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 546: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to make it mandatory to sell bicycles with legally compliant lights, as outlined in the National Cycle Policy Framework 2009-2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29461/11]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 547: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is conducting a review of road traffic legislation that affects cycling, as outlined in the National Cycle Policy Framework 2009-2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29462/11]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 546 and 547 together.

The National Cycle Policy is a broad framework aimed at providing a common, integrated basis for the long term development and implementation of cycling policies. Within that, my priority in 2011, in line with the Programme for Government, is to support investment in delivery. For example, investment in infrastructure designed to enhance cycling facilities and funding to deliver improved cycling infrastructure all over the country was boosted this year under the Jobs Initiative Smarter Travel funding programme.

Where legislative change is needed to support this it will be developed where appropriate.

On the other hand, all bicycles used on public roads in Ireland are already required to comply with the Road Traffic (Lighting of Vehicles) Regulations. I do not have immediate proposals to require that bikes can only be sold with legally compliant lights. We have, however, raised awareness of the need for appropriate lights and other aids to visibility. It is an area I will keep under review and will liaise with the Deputy on.

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 548: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will amend road traffic regulations to allow Dublinbikes service vehicles to use bus lanes when reallocating bicycles around the city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29463/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Bus lanes were introduced at the taxpayer's expense to provide on-street priority for public transport. It was, therefore, decided that, besides buses and emergency vehicles, the only road users permitted access should be taxis (as public service vehicles available for on-street hire) and bicyclists (as vulnerable road users). Over the years, my Department has received numerous requests to open bus lanes to various other categories of road users, including motorcycles, multi-occupancy cars, limousines, hackneys and animal ambulances. All such requests have been refused.

On foot of a recommendation from the Joint Committee on Environment, Transport, Culture and Gaeltacht, I have looked at the case for allowing vehicles servicing the Dublin City bike scheme to use bus lanes, and I think that prima facie they are in a rather different position from those categories of vehicle for which my Department has refused access to bus lanes. In examining the case for their inclusion, one consideration is the impact that allowing any additional category of vehicles to use bus lanes will inevitably have on the efficiency of these lanes for their original purpose. A second consideration is that allowing bike service vehicles to use these lanes would tie in with existing policy, given that bicyclists are among those already allowed to use bus lanes. For these reasons, I am giving this proposal serious consideration.

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 549: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are minimum standards to which a bicycle lane must be maintained, such as quality and smoothness of pavement and markings; if not, his views on introducing a minimum standard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29464/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Under the 1993 Roads Act (Part 2, Section 13), local authorities have an obligation to maintain public roads. The maintenance of cycle ways and cycle tracks falls within this remit.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has completed work on a comprehensive design manual for the provision of cycle routes which provides a framework for the design and delivery of safe, cycle-friendly facilities to facilitate increased cycle usage and is available at www.cyclemanual.ie.