Safest Cycle route into town from Lucan

tri111

Does anyone know the safest cycle route from Adamstown (beside Lucan) into the city centre?

I want to try and avoid the end of the Newcastle road where there is loads of roadworks at present on the turn right to the dual carraigeway and also avoid the M50 intersection on that route as both of these areas are very dodgy for cyclists.

I heard that there may be a route all the way along the canal into the city centre but that's probably a bit dangerous too.

Appreciate any opinions, thanks.

rp

I commute in to town from Maynooth along the dual carriageway. It isn't too bad a run when you get used to it, and is direct and fast. Lucan to Liffey Valley is the worst stretch, as there is no bus lane at the moment, but hold your road position and you'll be fine: hug the kerb and cars won't give you any space at all. M50 junction is fine, its virtually deserted in the mornings - all the cars seem to turn-off and park up on the M50 itself. After that, its plain sailing in to town, as long as you manage the Chapelizon turn off, transitioning from the bus lane into the ahead lane just at the junction.
I normally pass the Newcastle junction at 7:25am, wearing a neon Chelsea or Holland soccer shirt (for the sake of visibility only...), if you need a pilot to get you started, I'd be happy go in convoy a couple of times, til you get the hang of it.
- Roy

Agent J

Seconded.

I do the same route as the chap above and agree with what he says. The M50 junction is not bad at all these days. Just hold your nerve and signal properly when changing lane and most other road users are fine.

Its 2 lanes from Lucan to Liffey valley(I think.. cycled the damn thing this morning and cant get a pic in my head.) so hold your road position and cars will just go around you if need be.

Complete side note for a second though, RP whats your average time from maynooth? A very good day for me is an hour to the start of the quays from Maynooth. Maybe 1hr 10/20 average.I aint no racer boy so i think thats good going .

Although from lucan i would say ... 40 mins or so?

rp

Agent J wrote: »

The M50 junction is not bad at all these days. Just hold your nerve and signal properly when changing lane and most other road users are fine.

Yeah, and the more of us out there doing the route, the better...

Its 2 lanes from Lucan to Liffey valley(I think.. cycled the damn thing this morning and cant get a pic in my head.)

You've that new junction with the Newcastle road, where the traffic has to U-turn back, then there's the Lucan junction at Woodies, up the hill (bus lane) past the Hermitage, the Liffey Valley turn off (not many cars take it), then its lining up for the M50 lane change (traffic usually at a standstill)

Complete side note for a second though, RP whats your average time from maynooth? A very good day for me is an hour to the start of the quays from Maynooth. Maybe 1hr 10/20 average.I aint no racer boy so i think thats good going

Maynooth to the Quays in about 45mins (PB to Barrow St. 52mins), not that I'm a boy nor a racer, I just like to keep up a fair pace. All depends on the wind direction as well: Friday I was nearly stopped by the west wind getting over the M50 hump.

Agent J

Wow. Nice going on that time. I confess i dont put the pedal down as hard as could and im slightl envious of the racer boys who over take me .... some of the time.Hopefully in time i can get the speed up.

Anyway back to the OP.

When you say the city centre where exactly do you mean? To be honest in my humble opinion its once you get to the quays that you are at your most vunerable so planning where you need to get to in the city centre is an equal concern.

blorg

I don't commute out that way but whenever I go to/from Lucan or Maynooth I go along the Liffey by the Strawberry Beds, it's a far more pleasant cycle than the dual carriageway. May not be as quick; I also don't know what it might be like during rush hour.

irishmotorist

I'd say that down the dual carriage way is the best bet for you too. I come in that way but only join the road at Liffey Valley. After that, I go up the buslane and then across the M50 intersection. This is all fine these days but what I tend to do is, once the M50 Northbound queue tends to build in the buslane, I'll go to the right of this stationary queue, overtaking them, and travelling along the left-most 'real' lane. There's mostly a tailwind here so I'm fairly hockeying it along here, so I'll usually take a fairly defensive mid-lane position here to give me space to manouver in case of anybody deciding that waiting in the M50 queue in a buslane isn't for them.

After that, I'd say continuing down the dual carriageway is the best bet. I used to go down through Chapelizod but the road surface here is crap. On the dual carriageway, you have the buslane to yourself (and me!) and get no bother from traffic. From a personal safety feeling point of view, in the bad winter months where it's raining and dark, I'll often go the Chapelizod road, for fear of a truck or something doing 80 to 100kmh, edging into the buslane and not seeing me.

It's a great feeling though, passing stationary cars while in the buslane down there towards Islandbridge. The time people waste is silly.

rp

irishmotorist wrote: »

It's a great feeling though, passing stationary cars while in the buslane down there towards Islandbridge. The time people waste is silly.

That queue is nothing, going west in the evenings from the M50 out to the start of the M4, the average car speed must be 10kph tops - I calculated one time that I passed out 2000 cars in ten minutes on that stretch alone.

There was once a banner on a motorway bridge in Germany that read (translated):
"You're not stuck in traffic, you are the traffic"

tri111

Agent J wrote: »

Anyway back to the OP.

When you say the city centre where exactly do you mean? To be honest in my humble opinion its once you get to the quays that you are at your most vunerable so planning where you need to get to in the city centre is an equal concern.

Agent J, I'd be cycling to George's Quay opposite the custom house. And yeah you're right about the quays being fairly dodgy with traffic but at least I know that area reasonably well. I've never cycled the Lucan to town route but I've driven part of the opposite way to Lucan so I've seen the busy traffic on the route.

I think the Phoenix park and strawberry beds route sounds fairly sensible and I've often cycled that way on a Saturday long ride although does anyone know how much distance this would add to the route compared with the dual carraigeway?

rp

tri111 wrote: »

I've often cycled that way on a Saturday long ride although does anyone know how much distance this would add to the route compared with the dual carraigeway?

I think it's only adds about 1 mile compared to the bypass: are the roadworks still reducing it to one lane, though?

The thing to consider when comparing the relative safety of routes, is the number of junctions/lane changes to negotiate, cuz that's where the accidents happen, almost exclusively, according to a RoSPA motorcyle report, and I think the same hazards apply to velos, too.

Agent J

Definatly gotta agree with you Irish motorist about that queue. I have afriend who sometimes has to drive into the city at that time and he swears if he ever sees me in time(He sees me but usually as i fly by..) he'll open his door on me...

To the OP.

Yep. i have to get to that end of the quays myself. I have to admit, ive looked at maps and thought about it and i cant really come up with a better idea then going direct down the quays in that case.

As for the strawberry beds and phonxiex park route. While the park is a nice pleasant and laid out cycle i wouldnt fancy the strawberry beds route in rush hour. Thin roads and a number of intersections from what i remember. I did the route once and wasnt fond of it. Took longer, lower quality road and single lane.
Thats just my opinion.

blorg

Strawberry Beds route adds negligible distance. Like you, I've often done it on a Saturday afternoon but never at rush hour. The roads are thin all right at the start but there aren't too many junctions and you have right of way at almost all of them. Only way to find out really would be to try both it and the N4 at rush hour and see which you prefer.

The dual-carriageway could be just as safe or safer but I'm just not keen on them personally and certainly not the N4. Cycling in a nice wide bus lane is fine safety-wise presuming you don't come accross a nutty bus driver or taxi driver who tries to kill you (they certainly exist.) At the end of the day though I don't find that sort of road great fun to cycle on.

There is also the Luttrellstown Road parallel but higher up than the Strawberry Beds- no real advantage to this other than if you wanted a change, it's a bit longer and it brings you in at the top of the park. IIRC it's a bit of a wider road.

Rainyface

On a slightly related note... I'm about to start cycling the opposite way, from Coolock area to Lucan and have heard horror stories about the N4/M50 juntion. I was planning on coming down malahide road, along north strand/connolly station, straight down the quays and then straight out the N4 to Liffey Valley... (22k)... Anyone any opinion on routes?

Cheers

irishmotorist

tri111 wrote: »

I think the Phoenix park and strawberry beds route sounds fairly sensible and I've often cycled that way on a Saturday long ride although does anyone know how much distance this would add to the route compared with the dual carraigeway?

I'd be going to 'new' Lucan and hence would be doubling back on myself at Lucan villiage when I go that way. I've found that it adds about 15 mins to the journey time rather than going along the dual carriage way. It's a month or two since I've been along there so I don't know about the roadworks, but they've got speed ramps most of the way along now which should make it much safer for a cyclist. I haven't cycled it with the ramps there though.

I had many a hairy moment there before the ramps - people overtaking on solid white lines around blind bends. At least once a week (cycling it 5 days), a car coming the opposite direction would flash a car who was inappropriately overtaking me.

Sean02

I aggree with Agent J the strawberry beds is the least safest option. No mention of the safest, From Adamstown the Grand Canal Towpath to Inchicore. Unfortunatly the powers to be are so focused on four wheels and spending billions they ignore this great resourse where walking / cycling path could be laid for petty cash type money. Don't know what condition the path is like at the moment its some year since I was on it but I reckon a lightweight Hybrid with gatorskin would be in town soon after the road bike. Try it out some weekend

Capt'n Midnight

adamstown - estates - griffen parks , estates, then the road parallel to the main road it's behind St Lomans, then the liffey valley roundabout go down under the main road and past deadmans on the old lucan road. then up on to the new cycle lane that starts at the foot bridge over the galway road. it takes you over the M50 and to old lucan road in palmerstown follow that to the garage, go down the hill to chapelizod, instead of turning left over the bridge go straight ahead, there is a park on the left before the underpass in it is a cyclelane along the river to islandbridge - it's the way all cycle lanes should be , no where near cars and lovely scenery and a slight downhill , it ends at memorial park

to avoid the quays you can go up to kilmainham and take the small road parallel to james street which then merges with thomas street and follow it to college green

tri111

I tried cycling the N4 way from Adamstown to town last Sunday and had to abandon it as I thought i was going to be killed. The bus lane / hard shoulder is completely blocked off for a couple of miles so that means I had cars flying past me at around 60/70 mph only inches from my bike. I was delighted to eventually reach a left hand turn to get off the road!

Also, after I got off the main dual carraigeway and reached the small roundabout that heads up to Liffey Valley S.C., there is a sign there telling cyclists to stop and not go any further i.e. not to go back onto the dual carraigeway presumably because there is more roadworks further on making it too dangerous to cycle on.

Another thing: there is no turn down to Lucan village from the dual carraigeway due to the roadworks and you also can't go straight from the Newcastle road down to Lucan village. So how can you get to Adamstown / Newcastle road via the Strawberry beds route as you'd have to go through Lucan village and cross over the dual carraigeway to get back there?

It seems the only way into town is going the 151 bus route (via the Longmile Road and Crumlin) but that is 18k for me and I reckon another more direct way would only be about 14/15k.

Can anyone shed any light on this?

seamus

Yeah, I saw that sign on Tuesday. There's another sign saying "Cycle Route", which I'm guessing is trying to direct you the way to go. Though it looks like a sign that would be used for a road race.

This sign probably directs you down the old Lucan road, past the Deadman's Inn and over the pedestrian walkway, before rejoining the N4 at Palmerstown.

My advice for your route now with the Newcastle road junction all askew would be to avoid the N4 completely until after the M50 junction.

What seems from Google Maps to be the most direct route is to take Griffeen Avenue all the way up to the Fonthill road, then left on the Fonthill road all the way to the N4 junction and then under and onto the old Lucan road I mention above. See the first attachment

Another alternative which I did for a year is to get to the Fonthill road, then cross the M50 on the Coldcut road, and go into town via Ballyfermot & Kilmainham. They're rough areas (glass everywhere!) and the roads aren't exactly the same quality as the N4, but it's slower traffic.

Google also suggested a route I didn't think of which is much shorter and more direct - down the old nangor road. See second attachment.

rp

tri111 wrote: »

I tried cycling the N4 way from Adamstown to town last Sunday and had to abandon it as I thought i was going to be killed. The bus lane / hard shoulder is completely blocked off for a couple of miles so that means I had cars flying past me at around 60/70 mph only inches from my bike.

That's part of my daily commute, and tbh, traffic is much better behaved mornings/evenings, and often, at a total standstill.

In another thread someone pointed out that cars pass you with the same distance as you are from the kerb, and experience bears that out on this route.

My strategy for this route is to be very visible (my much despised '07 Chelsea away strip...) and not to hog the kerb. Also, I think drivers get used to seeing you on that route if you do it every day.

jimmycrackcorm

I cycle in from Griffeen road and completely avoid the N4 as I think anyone would be mad to try that. I find my route very safe judging by the number of buses I meet and the route is mostly either cycle lane or bus lane.

From Adamstown take the new link road via the ORR to the fonthill road. Straight across to ronanstown Garda station and take a left up to coldcut road. From there go through Ballyfermot right up to Kilmainham. You can either go through James street there but I think it's safe to join the N4 at that point going past Heuston as the traffic is usually mostly stopped at that point. you can then battle the buses on the quays or follow the Luas.

It takes me (unfit) approximately 35-40 minutes so it should only be an additional 5 minutes from Adamstown on the new link road.

Rainyface

I cycle home from Grange Castle to Malahide a couple of times a week.
Think there is a new road that will bring you from Adamastown pretty much over to the Fonthill Road. Its a long boring road with Cycle lanes all the way - Can be a good bit of glass so I tend to avoid these and use the bus lane. Once you get onto the Fonthill Rd, continue down underneath the N4 and follow that sign for Cyclists. This will bring you parallel to the N4. You will take a new bridge over the M50 and just follow this Road all the way to the garage as another poster said. From here I just continue down N4 to Heuston and then onto the quays. Its grand. No hairy moments yet anyway. Bus Lanes most of the way. Takes me about 35 minutes from Grange Castle to 4 courts.

Treade

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

I cycle in from Griffeen road and completely avoid the N4 as I think anyone would be mad to try that. I find my route very safe judging by the number of buses I meet and the route is mostly either cycle lane or bus lane.

From Adamstown take the new link road via the ORR to the fonthill road. Straight across to ronanstown Garda station and take a left up to coldcut road. From there go through Ballyfermot right up to Kilmainham. You can either go through James street there but I think it's safe to join the N4 at that point going past Heuston as the traffic is usually mostly stopped at that point. you can then battle the buses on the quays or follow the Luas.

It takes me (unfit) approximately 35-40 minutes so it should only be an additional 5 minutes from Adamstown on the new link road.

I also cycle from Griffeen Road and take the same route as jimmycrackcorm. The Coldcut Rd, Ballyfermot, Kilmainham Route is actually about 1.5km shorter than travelling via the N4 so this helps make up for the slightly slower average speed that you can maintain on this route. The main disadvantage of this route is that there can be alot of glass on the road put a pair of schwalbe marathon plus tyres should negate that problem. Best of luck with the commute.

Wipperspammer

Hi All,

This is an old thread but maybe someone can shed some light for me. There is a pathway running beside the canal (you can join off the outer ring road / Adamstown train station). Is this an option for cycling to avoid the main routes? No traffic etc. Anyone use this?

seamus

Yes, but as I understand it there are kissing gates every km. Which means you have to dismount and lift your bike every 2-3 minutes.

Wipperspammer

Thanks Seamus, thought it might be too good to be true. Any idea of timelines to town (or as close as poss before joining the main routes) given these "obstacles"?

Capt'n Midnight

works out the same , since you avoid a good few traffic lights

It's lovely when you have the prevailing tail wind, to be on a gentle downhill gradient, almost effortless cursing into town, and then there is yet another [!£$%^] gate ahead to spoil the mood.

Gates are just about manageable without getting off if you can push your self in reverse on the bike. It helps if you don't have a long bike as there is almost no spare room for a longer bike with full mudguards like a mountain bike or touring bike.


Coming back from town it's a bit of a drag since there is little or no shelter from the aforementioned wind and none from rain except underpasses.