City Centre To Leixlip

w200

Hi.
Any suggestions on the safest cycle rout from fleet Street to Leixlip in evening traffic. During the summer I have cycled into town along the N4 using the bus lanes and cycle paths through palmerstown and returned via the strawberry beds but with the evenings getting dark the strawberry beds are too dangerous in the evening. So how do I avoid the madness of the Liffey valley and foxhunter junctions if i return via the N4.
Regards.
w200

messrs

if you log on to www.dto.ie you can put in where you want to go and it mite give you alternative route

Caroline_ie

Funny you're posting that - I usually cycle once a week from D15 to Lucan and use the roads aroudn teh strawberry beds, fort Lucan etc. Last night I was out there in my car to hve an idea of the route in the dark and I saw a few cyclists with very poor lights at 6pm in the dark.
I would say the Lutrellstown Road from the Phoenix park and the route linked here is the best lit, much better than the strawberry beds anyway ( as per my findings of last night anyway )

DBCyc

hey - you could try a route like this. Although, I dont see how the strawberry beds would be dangerous if you have proper lights.

The new ramps are annoying to cycle over, but in fairness they have slowed down cars on the road which makes it a bit more pleasant to cycle.

alfalad

What route do you use during the summer as I'm thinking of cycling out to maynooth with the gf but she wants quiet safe roads etc, it would be during the day so light wouldn't be a problem.

ROK ON

Caroline_ie wrote: »

Funny you're posting that - I usually cycle once a week from D15 to Lucan and use the roads aroudn teh strawberry beds, fort Lucan etc. Last night I was out there in my car to hve an idea of the route in the dark and I saw a few cyclists with very poor lights at 6pm in the dark.
I would say the Lutrellstown Road from the Phoenix park and the route linked here is the best lit, much better than the strawberry beds anyway ( as per my findings of last night anyway )

OP, I have cycled the roads suggested by Caroline at night. I agree with her suggested route.
Luttrelstown is wider and smoother with more room for cars to pass.
Strawberry beds has a poorer road surface and is narrower, which makes it more difficult in the dark IMO.

w200

Hi.
Thanks all for swift reply. Just to explain about my " dark evening cycling " and the safety or not of the strawberry bedsI have always stuck to main roads and used good quality LED flashers front and back along with a high vis jacket . However this is probably better lighting to be seen by as opposed to see by so if I am taking to the back roads at night I will need to get something more powerful.
Regards.
W200

D!armu!d

I cycle out there for work and used the strawberry beds road while the roadworks were going on for the last while on the N4. It's a very nice cycle along by the river (even if the speedbumps slow you down), but I'd say it'll get quite icy during the winter. If you're well lit up you'd nearly be more visible than during the summer so that wouldn't be a problem.

The N4 isn't as bad now that the roadworks are finished - the M50 junction has gaps in traffic from the palmerstown lights, but for the foxhunter it's far safer to go up & down the off-ramp at the bridge (some of the traffic swerves over for the lucan exit very late & at speed). You get to cycle much faster on this route, but have to weigh that against the heavier traffic.

Sean02

At any time the safest and most pleasant cycle routehas to be Phoenix Park to Whites Gate then Carolines route to "D" a right, left to Confey. Might be marginaly longer by 10 mins, Pity the Beds is now so dangereous used to be a pleasant ride along the Liffey.

BoycieIRL

Hi w200, for my winter work commute on the way out of town i come out the n4 and instead of stayin on the main road to chapelizord/palmerstown i swing off through the back of inchicore into Ballyfermott up to Cherry Orchard and out across the back of liffey valley and then along the back of loman's coming back onto the N4 at the junction that brings you on to Woodies. Mainly cycle and bus lanes the whole way with street lighting to show ye the way. Might suit your needs if the scenic route dosnt suit ye.