Investigation ongoing after cycle infrastructure goes amiss

Cork City Council is investigating a number of acts of vandalism in the city centre after cycle bollards protecting cycle infrastructure were removed in recent days.

The local authority confirmed that the bollards were removed in an act of vandalism and an investigation was ongoing.

The lane protectors were removed along Washington Street and in the Churchfield area.

The infrastructure is priced at €100 to €200 per protective wand and up to 24 wands have been removed from Washington’s bike lane with a total price tag of around €3,000 for the missing bollards.

The bollards have been in place since last year and the council told The Echo they had been in contact with the company who supplied the equipment with the view to replacing them.

The cycle bollards were installed as part of Cork City Council’s ‘Reimaging Cork’ programme and involved protective wands put in along 4km of key cycle lanes in the city.

Green Party Councillor Oliver Moran said he thinks the matter should be referred to the Gardaí to investigate.

"I think the matter needs to be referred to the Gardaí for investigation. For the last available year of statistics, the majority of road accidents on Washington Street involved cyclists. Interfering with road safety equipment like this puts lives at risk.

"Washington Street is well served by CCTV. It appears professional cutting equipment was used, so an investigation by the Gardaí has a good chance of identifying when and how they where removed and maybe even those responsible."