Parking + Commuting

Dellboy2007

I'm starting a course in September and I was wondering what the situation is with parking, I had a look at the website and it says there is 3 car parks and that you have to pay for one of them. Is it difficult to get parking in these?

Alternatively I will get Public transport. I will be living in Sutton so how would I get from here to DCU? I know nothing about Dublin's public transport services

Kavrocks

People tell me if you are in early (for a 9 start) you can easily get a spot in one of the free car parks.

Coming from Sutton you can get the 17a which starts beside Howth Junction Dart station. Its a good walk from sutton but you could get the bus down the howth/dublin road and walk up or get the dart to howth junction.
The 17a takes about an hour and a half to get to dcu and I get it from the start whereas I can cycle it in 15 mins so maybe you should get a bike and save yourself a bundle whilst keeping fit?

Yukina

There is almost always space free in the not-free car park [sorry english isn't my strong point today] and I believe that it's not expensive, but for early starts 9-10 o clock you'd be wsorted parking wise.

I do have to agree though, from Sutton by car or by bus is going to take a long time, traffic on Collins Avenue in particular can be crazy in the morning and around 4-6. A bike is probably faster and would save you a fortune... Just be sure to invest in a decent bike lock system

mikemac

A scooter would be ideal, you'd get a second hand one at a good price

Five or six euro a week in fuel with that commute and sure you'd have it a few years

MonkieSocks

Public Transport

DCU is serviced by the following buses which stop outside the University at the Ballymun Road and Collins Ave entrances, or near to the university with stops on the Swords Road and Glasnevin Avenue.
Routes servicing DCU include: 3, 4, 11, 11A, 11B, 13, 13A, 16, 16A, 17A, 19A, 33, 41, 41B, 41C, 46X, 103, 104 and 105.
Bus numbers:

• 3, 4, 11, 11A, 11B, 13, 13A, 16 and 19A – to and from city centre
• 17A – from Kilbarrack to Finglas via Glasnevin Avenue
• 103 to and from Clontarf Dart Station via Collins Ave
• 105 – to and from Malahide via Collins Ave (operates during semester time only)
• 33 – to and from Balbriggan via Swords Road
• 41, 41B and 41C – to and from Swords via Swords Road
• 104 – from Clontarf Dart station to Cappagh Hospital via Swords Road
• 16A – from lower Rathfarnham to Dublin airport via Swords Road
• 46X comes from Dun Laoghaire (7.30am) via Donnybrook, Leeson Street and Drumcondra.

The following buses stop on O’Connell Street: 3, 4, 11, 11A, 11B, 13, 13A, 16, 16A and 19A.
Bus Eireann

Bus Eireann recently launched the new service from Navan – Ratoath – Dunshaughlin – Dublin Airport – DCU.
Details on the new 109A bus route are available from the Bus Eireann website: www.buseireann.ie
Launch of new Bus Eireann service – Navan – Ratoath – Dunshaughlin – Dublin Airport - DCU : News Story

• 100X – Dundalk, Drogheda, Dublin via the Swords Road
• 101 – Drogheda, Balbriggan, Dublin via the Swords Road

DART
The terminus of the 17A bus is at Howth Junction Dart Station. The 103 and 104 buses operate via Clontarf Dart Station

Drumcondra Train Station
Maynooth Station to Drumcondra Station via Leixlip, Castleknock, Coolmine and Ashtown areas
From Drumcondra train station, you can take the following buses to DCU: 3, 11, 11A, 11B, 16, 16A, 33, 41, 41B, 41C

Dellboy2007

Thanks for all that information. I will probably have my car up there. Might consider the bike option but if it's raining and freezing cold.... I don't think i'd enjoy spending the day in wet clothes.

How long would it take driving from Sutton, both in traffic and off-peak times?

Scrappychimow

Theres also free parking a stones throw from DCU's entrance on the ballymun road:

At the Church/ residential area

http://maps.google.ie/maps?hl=en&q=our%20lady%20of%20victories%20church&gs_sm=c&gs_upl=21231l26726l0l20l19l1l10l11l0l221l900l3.4.1l8&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1232&bih=631&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl
Don't worry its not in big bad ballymun.

Dellboy2007

Thanks for that, i'll bear it in mind on days when I can't get parking!

Anyone have an idea how long it would take drive from Sutton to DCU in busy and off-peak times? According to Google Maps it's around 9km, surely it can't take that long (in saying that I don't know Dublin, at all!)

Kavrocks

Dellboy2007 wrote: »

Thanks for that, i'll bear it in mind on days when I can't get parking!

Anyone have an idea how long it would take drive from Sutton to DCU in busy and off-peak times? According to Google Maps it's around 9km, surely it can't take that long (in saying that I don't know Dublin, at all!)

9km is not an amount of time it is a distance and yes it does sound correct.

Dellboy2007

Kavrocks wrote: »

9km is not an amount of time it is a distance and yes it does sound correct.

Great input there. I didn't say it was a measurement of time. Try reading the second sentence again.

Kavrocks

Dellboy2007 wrote: »

Great input there. I didn't say it was a measurement of time. Try reading the second sentence again.

Sorry read it wrong.

And it all depends what way you go as to how long it will take in peak times. Off peak you should do it in around 20mins.

Kanderson

takes 25 mins without traffic up the m50 prob 45 through killester due to traffic lights.....if in peak hours be over an hour easily going through killester and bout 45 mins going up the m50 with the road up towards the clarehall junction is always jammed...my advice save up and move over u miss out on bout 60% of the banter living at home

Dellboy2007

So would you go this way

http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Bayside+Park&daddr=53.3969,-6.23764+to:Collins+Ave+Ext&hl=en&ll=53.390085,-6.139641&spn=0.093773,0.308647&sll=53.389804,-6.138396&sspn=0.011722,0.038581&geocode=FX-pLgMdYlWi_w%3BFaTFLgMdONKg_ylDziaYKA5nSDEhhqT7pscAEw%3BFYycLgMdIo6g_w&mra=dme&mrsp=0&sz=15&via=1&z=12

Or this way

http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Bayside+Park&daddr=53.37845,-6.23008+to:Collins+Ave+Ext&hl=en&ll=53.390495,-6.139641&spn=0.092748,0.308647&sll=53.390085,-6.139641&sspn=0.093773,0.308647&geocode=FX-pLgMdYlWi_w%3BFZJ9LgMdwO-g_ykfF8iVSQ5nSDFR4_r7pscAEw%3BFYycLgMdIo6g_w&mra=dvme&mrsp=1&sz=12&via=1&z=12

Oh and btw i'm not really looking for too much banter as i'm doing a Masters! Thanks anyway.

Kanderson

both are grand if your not a full licence it will take considerably longer as m50 doesnt have same traffic problems.

best off leaving an hr before each lecture on two seperate days and take the routes yourself

but if there the only two routes i would go up through coolock cause the whitehall intersection is brain damage during peak

bren2001

Car park fills by 8:45.

Helix car park week ticket is 7e (I think, have not bought one in a few weeks)

jenfiction

I'm just finished in DCU and found parking grand. If you're in for 9, you'll have no problem at all. It can be packed between 11-1 so you might end up having to park outside the college but it's no big deal. The weekly ticket for the multi-story is €7 but if you're in before 9, you can use the free carpark those days with your student card. The multistory ticket can end up lasting you ages if you're off one day and in at 9 on other days, your ticket use can be spread out.

pathway33

jenfiction wrote: »

The weekly ticket for the multi-story is €7 .... The multistory ticket can end up lasting you ages .... your ticket use can be spread out.

Is it 3 weeks the €7 ticket expires after? So if I am planning to be in at 8.30 4 mornings a week getting free parking and 1 morning a week at 11 o clock using the multi-storey I have to get another €7 after 3 weeks even though I would only have used 3 visits out of 6.

jenfiction

No, it doesn't expire after three weeks. The ticket lasts a few months so you won't have a problem with that.