Public confusion as opaque warning markings added to Dublin City cycle tracks Official marking for cycle tracks differs from what council has used.Dublin City Council has added non-standard and opaque warning markings to a number of cycle paths and cycle lanes across the capital. The marking has an exclamation mark and a yellow background a design which is supposed to include an explainer about what the warning is about. The road marking design is a copy of what is called the Other Hazard road sign. National guidance covering road signs, markings and traffic signals, the Traffic Signs Manual, states that this signshould not normally be used on its own, without specifying the danger. It outlines that a supplementary plate should be used and includes a strict list of messages to be used to make it clear what the hazard is.Given that the marking, when used as a road sign, has such stringent rules, IrishCycle.com asked the council why it is using the marking version in a way which confuses people. The council did not directly respond to this question.At least some international guidance and research points to issues with the overuse of signage, stating how it may be confusing, ineffective or even counterproductive.The new warning markings have been added to a number of routes, including the cycle lanes along the Grand Canal southwest of the city centre, the cycle paths on the Clontarf to City Centre Active Travel and Bus project, and along the Dodder Greenway, where it is a two-way cycle path.A spokesperson for Dublin City Council said: Renewed line marking and surfacing, along with additional signage and bollards, were recently installed at the Crumlin side of Dolphins Barn Bridge. The works were carried out to further improve safety at this location for all users and in particular for cyclists and pedestrians.This is in addition to the placement of planters and bollards to help protect cyclists from left-turning vehicles; digital speed detection signs on the inbound and outbound lanes of Crumlin Road; adjustments to the traffic signals at Dolphins Barn Bridge; changes to the inbound and outbound traffic lanes [on] either side of the bridge to reduce vehicle speeds and improve cycle safety, the council said.The council said that a fixed speed camera has also been installed by An Garda Sochana, with their assistance, near the filling station on the Crumlin side of the bridge.The council said: These interventions to improve safety are subject to trial and constant review. They have been carried out as interim, temporary works in advance of the comprehensive junction redesign, which is part of the Bus Connects Project.IMAGE: The cycle lane at the signalled junction with a new yellow warning marking painted on the cycle lane.IrishCycle.com asked readers via Bluesky and via other means what they think the markings mean there were clearly different responses, including some people thinking its about the pedestrian crossing (which it was beyond) and others thinking its about the junction, but still confusion over the point of the marking.The council did not respond to the part of the question about the markings on the Clontarf to City Centre Bus and Cycle route. The locations of these markings include before junctions, near car parking both inside and outside the cycle track, and other places where it is unclear why they are in place.IMAGES: The markings as installed along the Clontarf route.There is only one case where the marking is clearly used where text is painted beside the marking outlining it is a warning of the fire station ahead.Official marking not usedBoth the Traffic Signs Manual and the Cycle Design Manual include a Cycle Track Hazard Warning Marking, but this differs, most obviously in that it does not have a yellow backing see image below of its use on the DLRCC Deansgrange cycle path.The signs manual outlines that the Cycle Track Hazard Warning Marking may be used to draw cyclists attention to unique hazards along a cycle track and the cycle manual outlines that it should be used where two-way cycle tracks have priority at non-signalised junctions.Dublin City Council did not respond to why it did not use the correct warning markings. Road authorities, such as councils, are supposed to follow the Traffic Signs Manual and the Cycle Design Manual.IrishCycle.com also asked the council if, in cases where the warning relates to conflicts with turning motorists, any markings have been added to warn motorists. The council also didnt respond to this.Along the Clontarf route, the council has installed school warning markings and school zone markings on cycle tracks, but not on the carriageway.
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