The Queen's Visit - masterthread

Beasty

Rather than starting a new thread for each aspect of the Queen's visit as it affects cyclists, please post here

Thanks

Beasty

Caroline_ie

Hi! A colleague told me the Phoenix Park was going to be closed for everyone when the Queen is over next week Tuesday. The Park website hasn't mentioned anything.

Anyone knows?

Cheers

Beasty

It's to allow her safe passage on her way to watch the vets DMS at Batterstown that evening ...:D

Lumen

FFS. How much is this costing? 22 million? For a non-executive head of state coming to a bankrupt country. And that's only the direct costs. I heard that the courts are effectively shutting down as the Gardai (witnesses etc) are backfilling the holes left by the extra security requirements. And now I may have to find another way to work. 800 years of oppression etc etc....

</off-topic rant>

Caroline_ie

Lumen wrote: »

</off-topic rant>

She is your Queen ...

I hear they are also closing the Quays. Traffic will be Chaos.

thebouldwhacker

Caroline_ie wrote: »

the Phoenix Park was going to be closed for everyone when the Queen is over next week

Cheers

I didn't realise she is a cyclist... hybrid I bet, with disk brakes.
Some one should tell the president, she may need to pack a weekend bag if she isn't allowed access to her home, she could stay at mine I guess but she'd have to take the couch.

Re Liz coming here in the first place, its up there with the spire, E voting, and me buying expensive cycling gear. A complete waste of time and money.
I fail to see the difference between her and any other socialite coming here except for some unknown reason we have to pay for her holiday!?!?
Surly the Brits should pay for their own plaything?

TinyExplosions

Lumen wrote: »

FFS. How much is this costing? 22 million? For a non-executive head of state coming to a bankrupt country. And that's only the direct costs. I heard that the courts are effectively shutting down as the Gardai (witnesses etc) are backfilling the holes left by the extra security requirements. And now I may have to find another way to work. 800 years of oppression etc etc....

</off-topic rant>

We should nip down with our passports and demand entrance to see our monarch, and then use the time to have a nice spin through a deserted (apart from Gardai, SAS and MI5 flunkeys) park!

g0g

thebouldwhacker wrote: »

hybrid I bet, with disk brakes.

As the owner of a hybrid with disc brakes should I take offence to this!? I knew having a hybrid didn't classify me as a proper road bike cyclists, but are the disc brakes also to be laughed at!?

thebouldwhacker

Nope, just posh:pac:

studiorat

I don't think it is closing TBH.

BTH

Merrion Square will be closed for four days. Myself and all my workmates have had to give name address and DOB to the Gardai so we can get access to the office. bloody nightmare.

GSF

At least she fixed the potholes in the park

Lumen

GSF wrote: »

At least she fixed the potholes in the park

Corgies make excellent infill.

biomed32

potholes not totally fixed and a work in progress im presuming, i assume before president Obama visits. I wouldnt be surprised if the park is closed off especially for a lady from the UK... I dont think ill finish that to be honest but it wouldnt surprise me if the park was closed for security reasons

Hail 2 Da Thief

thebouldwhacker wrote: »

Surly the Brits should pay for their own plaything?

In fairness they did recently give us a few billion quids worth of a loan. I'm sure we can deduct it from the amount we repay let it slide this time.

Chartsengrafs

Caroline_ie wrote: »

Hi! A colleague told me the Phoenix Park was going to be closed for everyone when the Queen is over next week Tuesday. The Park website hasn't mentioned anything.

Anyone knows?

Cheers

You mean the Queen of England..right?

mgmt

GSF wrote: »

At least she fixed the potholes in the park

She's got my vote :pac:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjl8OIZijjY

English Bob

Sure., they'll never be as good as they were without Freddie Mercury!!

Cookie_Monster

you'll have to go to Wicklow and do some proper hills then!

tomasrojo

The War Memorial Park has never looked better.

brayblue24

I think these visits are a great idea. I've been trying to broach the subject of a very nice Cervelo I've been looking at and this could be my ticket!!

Rule (insert name of country/monarch/football team here)....:D

tomasrojo

brayblue24 wrote: »

I think these visits are a great idea. I've been trying to broach the subject of a very nice Cervelo I've been looking at and this could be my ticket!!

Rule (insert name of country/monarch/football team here)....:D

Do you do any bicycle police work? I saw a Garda descending the long steps on his mountain bike in the War Memorial Park last weekend. Very nicely done, whoever he was.

Esroh

Think will she tweet for people to join her for a spin in the park

brayblue24

tomasrojo wrote: »

Do you do any bicycle police work? I saw a Garda descending the long steps on his mountain bike in the War Memorial Park last weekend. Very nicely done, whoever he was.

I'm on the bike in work but far from the Phoenix Park normally. Though that might change temporarily in the very near future what with these visits etc..

However, it could be the difference between a 105 group and an Ultegra (if I get up the nerve to actually mention it here at all that is)

ktz84

Esroh wrote: »

Think will she tweet for people to join her for a spin in the park

No she'll be looking to find out who she collects the interest on that loan from

flipsky

http://www.phoenixpark.ie/newsevents/title,15849,en.html

penexpers

Lots of stuff is closed

Science museum in TCD is closed for a few days
GAA Musuem in Croke Park is closed for about 7 days.

Obama will also be spending the night in the US Ambassador's residence which is in the Phoenix Park which is why traffic disruption goes on until 24th.

Hungrycol

thebouldwhacker wrote: »

I didn't realise she is a cyclist... hybrid I bet, with disk brakes.
Some one should tell the president, she may need to pack a weekend bag if she isn't allowed access to her home, she could stay at mine I guess but she'd have to take the couch.

Re Liz coming here in the first place, its up there with the spire, E voting, and me buying expensive cycling gear. A complete waste of time and money. I fail to see the difference between her and any other socialite coming here except for some unknown reason we have to pay for her holiday!?!?
Surly the Brits should pay for their own plaything?

Retract that ridiculous statement immediately

Rew

I park in there and commute on the bike, ill have to find other parking for a few days...

lennymc

Rew wrote: »

I park in there and commute on the bike, ill have to find other parking for a few days...

ditto. i might have to park at the inlaws.

steve9859

memorial park in Islandbridge, and the entire towpath from Chapelizod is closing from Thursday. John of Gods gate will be locked, as will the gate at Macs Salvage

doozerie

There is further infg on planned closure, etc., in today's Irish Times, but they acknowledge that things may change further closer to the date of the visit. Lots of info in there but in particular, re Phoenix Park:

During the four days of the Queen’s visit, between May 17th and 20th, the N7, N4 and M50 will be completely closed at times.

The closures will be announced in coming days.

The Phoenix Park, including Dublin Zoo, will also close during the same periods.

On the plus side, it looks like being a cyclist means being exempt from stop-and-search...:

The Garda intend to close streets across large areas of Dublin city, impose a no-parking zone on more than 50 roads for almost a week and conduct a stop-and-search operation on motorists and pedestrians as part of the security operation for the Queen’s visit.

rp

I heard a rumour that they are going to be closing my commute road (N4) for Queenie's visit next week - anyone know anything more, like where and when?
thx...

JMJR

http://www.garda.ie/Controller.aspx?Page=7349

doozerie

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=72169181&postcount=31

doozerie

Further info from AA Ireland website:

Phoenix Park :

For security reasons, there will be no parking in the Phoenix Park, from Sunday 15th until Wednesday 25th May.

There will be restricted access to the park and traffic disruption can be expected.

Knockmaroon Gate in the Phoenix Park will be CLOSED to all traffic.

* Tues 17th to Thurs 19th May inclusive.
* Fri 20th from 7am to 10am.

Note: there will be further closures the following week for President Obamas visit:

* Sun 22nd and Mon 23rd from 7am to 11pm.
* Tues 24th from 7am to 11am.

Rew

In case you havent seen this:

Gardaí are asking cyclists not to lock bicycles to railings, fences, lamp posts etc., along routes with barriers. Bicycles will be removed.

http://garda.ie/QueenDublinLatest.htm

rp

Better peel the "This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb" band sticker off the bike, so...
http://bikehugger.com/images/blog/bike_bomb.jpg

irishmotorist

I was hoping that there'd be no problems cycling along traffic restricted roads for the upcoming visits, but the Garda Traffic twitter account seems to suggest otherwise.
http://twitter.com/#!/GardaTraffic

Yes. A road closed to traffic is closed to bicycles. Explore alternatives to usual route. check http://ow.ly/1sXB13 for details.

Some of us may need to find a different route some days.

Beasty

Multiple threads merged

Beasty

morana

its shocking. why didnt they just use a helicopter and let us keep our roads open. ITs hard enough to go into work but if they are blocking merrion sq I may as well just stay at home!!

Dubba

Remember the Pope's recent cavalcade through England with Sky news following it procession? Its similar - all about the pomp :rolleyes:

velo.2010

morana wrote: »

its shocking. why didnt they just use a helicopter and let us keep our roads open. QUOTE]

Because a few of the 'lads' might still have rocket launchers about their person!

+1 on all the comments regarding cost and how there will be little benefit to the capital. City traders are already feeling the effects. Anyway, passed a few Gardai in Newcastle this morning, and saw the same ones, standing there at an estate entrance, 4 hours later on the way back. So much more they could be doing!

Obviously she is flying into Baldonnell, nearby, on Tuesday. If the wind is SouthWesterly that morning I've a good mind to go up to Saggart Hill and let off a bunch of Chinese lanterns as her plane is coming into land. Imagine the panic! Maybe her plane would have to turn around and go back home!:D

happytramp

velo.2010 wrote: »

If the wind is SouthWesterly that morning I've a good mind to go up to Saggart Hill and let off a bunch of Chinese lanterns as her plane is coming into land. Imagine the panic! Maybe her plane would have to turn around and go back home!:D

Please stay where you are. The police have been alerted and are promptly making their way towards your house. Where, upon arrival, they will deal with the threat you pose to national security in a timely and lawful fashion.

velo.2010

happytramp wrote: »

Please stay where you are. The police have been alerted and are promptly making their way towards your house. Where, upon arrival, they will deal with the threat you pose to national security in a timely and lawful fashion.

No Surrender!!!

blobbie

morana wrote: »

its shocking. why didnt they just use a helicopter and let us keep our roads open. ITs hard enough to go into work but if they are blocking merrion sq I may as well just stay at home!!

Seemingly she doesn't like flying by helicopter.

morana

blobbie wrote: »

Seemingly she doesn't like flying by helicopter.

well we should have got her one of those horses with wings...she likes horses and her daughter!!!!!

buffalo

Just nipped into the Phoenix Park for a quick loop - barriers everywhere - along Conyngham Road, South Circular Road, and I'm told the quays too. Commuting is going to be fun, with the quays reduced to 2.5 lanes. I suppose at least now there'll be more understanding from drivers when a cyclist takes the lane... maybe it'll be even safer to cycle? As long as you don't clip the leg of an errant barrier.

In the meantime, I'm not sure I understand the purpose of the barriers. I thought there were no crowds allowed*, so no crowd control needed. Friend reckons it's to stop parking, but surely it's a bit excessive for that?

*http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2011/0514/1224296946132.html

DaveyDave

I've heard the Outer Ring Road will be closed, is this true? As that's my workout route in the evenings...

Doctor Bob

buffalo wrote: »

I suppose at least now there'll be more understanding from drivers when a cyclist takes the lane... maybe it'll be even safer to cycle? As long as you don't clip the leg of an errant barrier.

I hope you're right, but I suspect it might not be so- if anything, I fear that lots of drivers will be using routes unfamiliar to them, and those routes will be quite a bit busier than usual, with a consequent increase in frustration at the increased delays.

Deep breaths everyone. We shall overcome!

100Suns

The amount of barriers is unbelievable-imaginge having the supply contract.
As I came through the Park this morning the wind blew over a barrier and maybe 400 m went down in a wave - lovely to watch but thankfully it didn't come down on the cyle lane or happen on the Quays :eek:. The Quays has got a little tight with the barriers on the road/cycelane so heads-up.