The Labour Party has launched a 10-point programme to improve the lot of cyclists in Dublin with the aim of making the city "as synonymous with the bike as Copenhagen and Amsterdam".
Labour's transport spokeswoman, Róisín Shortall, said people of all ages needed to be encouraged to use bicycles as a viable means of getting to school or to work, as well as a healthy leisure activity.
"Not only will increased numbers of cyclists take vehicles off our roads and ease congestion, it will also have benefits for the environment," she said.
Among the measures Labour is proposing is the appointment of cycling officers, the installation of more cycle lanes, including dedicated commuter cycling routes, and the provision of more bicycle sheds at schools.
Better road design is also identified as a priority as well as laws requiring cyclists to wear high-visibility clothing. The party also favours the proposed Sutton to Sandycove (S2S) cycle route and the creation of new cycle lanes on the Liffey quays. It wants provision for cyclists to be included in local authority development plans, legislation making the use of "cyclops" mirrors for trucks mandatory and the introduction of penalty points for motorists encroaching on advance stop lines.
Ms Shortall said the Government had a role to play in promoting cycling through the school system and improving safety standards on roads to ensure all cyclists are protected to the greatest extent possible from traffic accidents.
Calling for the development of a national cycling network, she said there was also a need to recognise Ireland's potential as a popular destination for visitors and tourists who wish to explore the countryside on their bicycles.
