Articulated lorry keeps parking on Mayo cycle lane

Councillors in Castlebar are calling on the owner of a company whose articulated truck is regularly parked on a cycle lane on the Pontoon Road to attend the next meeting of the authority to address the matter. 

Fine Gael Cllr Ger Deere told members at last week's meeting that the truck is “posing a danger to cyclists and a health and safety hazard for pedestrians”. His party colleague Cllr Cyril Burke agreed, saying: “I don’t think that’s a place for a truck like that to be parked. It is obstructing people’s view as well and the company that owns it needs to find some other place for it.” 

Outgoing Cathaoirleach Cllr Donna Ruane said it was “completely unacceptable and we want urgent action on this”, adding: “I can’t believe any company would have signage and a name on a truck and have it parked like this in a cycle lane.”

Cllr Sheridan proposed that pictures of the truck and the company name should be made public unless the manager “could contact the company and give them an opportunity to stop as a matter of urgency”. Failing this, a representative of the company should be called in to the next meeting of the municipal district “to answer why they think it is okay to park in cycle lanes and put the health and safety of young people and cyclists in danger".

Cllr Harry Barrett said he had been to the Gardaí twice about the situation and “all of us have written multiple letters but there are no resources to do anything and no action taken". 

"Is it legal or illegal, what can we do for the people up there? What do the lines on that road mean? Is it a legal cycle lane or not? If so, it is a case of the Guards going down and ticketing it every day.” 

Municipal district manager David Mellett told members: “There is a number of additional markers needed to designate it as an official cycle lane there and we are working with Gardaí on this to allow us to ticket such parking. I know the Guards have spoken to the company and the individual in question. Our road safety officer has also looked at it."

Members unanimously agreed that the the council should write to the owner of the company and ask them to attend the next meeting to explain themselves.