Road Safety Update
The Cycling Ireland Road Safety Commission, formally the Advocacy Working Group (Ciaran Cannon named Chairperson of Cycling Ireland’s Advocacy Working Group), has been busy behind the scenes, prioritising actions which seek to give Cycling Ireland members a stronger voice in national road safety discussions.
The newly formed commission is now chaired by Tim Farmer of Naas CC and it's members include Ciaran Cannon (Seven Springs CC & President of CI Board), Valerie Considine (Usher IRC & Rás na mBán), Pat O'Shaughnessy (Cuchulainn CC), Anluan Dunne, Claire Young (Apollo Cycling Team & Cycling Ulster Chair), John Greene (Innisfree Wheelers), Catherine Mahoney (UCD & CI Board), Phil Skelton (Stayin' Alive at 1.5m), Rob Farrell (Dublin Ravens), Doug Corrie (Swords CC & Cycling Ireland staff) and Paul Norton (Bike Fit Studio & Cycling Ireland staff). The previous chair of the Advocacy Working Group and current President of the Board of CI, Ciaran Cannon, has been the public voice for advocating on behalf of Cycling Ireland members on recent radio programmes and in media publications:
https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22579603/
https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/commentanalysis/arid-41774987.html
Below are three initiatives the Road Safety Commission are prioritising and asking our members to engage with. If you have any feedback or wish to contact the Road Safety Commission, please email advocacy@cyclingireland.ie
Road safety awareness campaign
Cycling Ireland is launching a new road safety awareness campaign focused on the issues members consistently tell us matter most: close passing, misunderstandings about cycling two abreast and a lack of awareness of cyclists’ rights and vulnerability on the road.
The purpose of this campaign is simple. We want to put clear, accurate messages into the public space that reflect the Rules of the Road and everyday cycling experience. The content is visual, practical and designed to cut through common misconceptions that contribute to unsafe behaviour.
Over the coming weeks, these messages will be shared through Cycling Ireland channels and where possible, amplified by road safety partners. This is about reaching beyond the cycling community and reinforcing consistent, evidence-based messaging.
What we’re asking you to do:
When you see the campaign content, please engage with it and share it through your own networks. The wider the reach, the greater the impact. This campaign is one part of a broader effort to make cyclists’ safety concerns more visible and to demonstrate that action is underway.
We are encouraging members to explore and use collisiontracker.ie, an online tool that maps reported collisions, near misses and dangerous incidents involving cyclists across Ireland. The tool was initially launched in Dublin, and with your help we can expand the usefulness across the island.
Many incidents experienced by cyclists are never formally reported, particularly near misses. Over time, this means risk is under-recorded and problem locations remain unaddressed. collisiontracker.ie helps fill that gap by allowing cyclists to log incidents and see patterns emerge over time.
The tool can be used in practical ways, including route planning, identifying locations that require extra caution and understanding where issues are recurring locally. Perhaps most important, share your own experiences of near misses, accidents, etc, where and what happened, etc. As more people contribute, the data becomes more meaningful and more useful.
What we’re asking you to do:
Use the tool, explore it and consider submitting reports based on your own experiences. You can submit as many incidents, dating as far back as you wish. Collective participation strengthens the evidence base and supports longer-term efforts to highlight risk, inform advocacy and push for targeted safety improvements.
Road safety member survey – coming next week
Next week on Wednesday 4th February, we will launch a short survey asking members about their experiences of road safety. This survey is a priority and we are asking for your support.
The information gathered will help us all understand the scale and nature of our collective safety concerns, identify recurring issues and prioritise future actions. It will directly inform campaigns, engagement with road safety stakeholders and the development of practical supports for members and clubs.
The survey is also an opportunity to ensure that decisions and advocacy are grounded in evidence from across the membership, not just isolated examples.
What we’re asking you to do:
Please take a few minutes to complete the survey when it is released and encourage others in your club to do the same. There will also be an option to express interest in follow-up conversations for those who wish to contribute further. Strong participation is essential if we are to turn concern into meaningful action.