Build outs on loading bays that accommodate outdoor hospitality on city centre streets are a 'huge danger' to pedestrians, a Councillor has said.
Footpaths on Capel Street and other streets were extended over loading bays during lockdown to allow hospitality businesses to serve punters outdoors.
However, truck and van drivers are mounting curbs and using the former loading bays to make deliveries.
There are concerns a miscalculation by a truck or van driver could result in a pedestrian being hit as there is no curb protecting them.
And Councillor Mannix Flynn says they are not breaking any laws because the loading bays have not been de-designated as such.
Dublin City Council say the bays have been de-designated and the delivery drivers should not be using them.
Dublin Live obtained pictures and a video of drivers mounting curbs to make deliveries.
Cllr Flynn told Dublin Live the way the deliveries are being made is dangerous but not illegal because the Council did not follow the proper procedures to de-designate the bays.
He said: "It is not acceptable. The situation is they put it in a worst case scenario. They put pedestrians in huge danger."
"The point is there is nothing illegal in what the drivers are doing by parking there."
He added: "They didn't decommission these [loading bays] so there is a legal anomaly here where they built out these loading bays and there seems to be a major problem."
Cllr Flynn said delivery drivers have no option but to park on the extended footpaths as no loading bays have been added.
He said: "In Capel Street and in other streets, drivers of deliveries have no other option but to do that because no other area has been provided for parking in that street to deliver goods.
"Absolutely [it is dangerous], but trucks can roll back off a footpath. These build outs that are there are made out of materials that disintegrate very fast. They are not made out of concrete."
He added: "It is a mess. They haven't followed this through. It all sounded great during the pandemic - 'this is an amazing experience'. But in actual fact, like most of the cycling infrastructure, it is highly dangerous.
"It is not good enough. Dublin City Council are putting people's lives in danger."
Dublin City Council acknowledged there is a problem but said the loading bays are no longer designated as such.
A spokeswoman for Dublin City Council said: "It is acknowledged that there is an issue with vehicles parking on extended footpath areas in some locations.
"These areas are not designated for vehicle loading / unloading purposes and these vehicles should not be parked on these extended footpath areas.
She added: "Measures are being considered for implementation in the near future which will address this problem."
Cllr Flynn argued the build outs are still loading bays because a motion to change them had not come through the Transport and Traffic SPC, of which he is a member.
A DCC spokesman refuted Cllr Flynn's claims and said proper procedure was followed and there are no signs that indicate they are still loading bays.
Dublin Live understands one of the measures being considered to tackle the issue is the erection of a white picket fence around the build outs.
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