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The Bike Scheme thread

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    #722
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    cgcsb wrote: »
    On a recent trip to Galway I was surprised to find that there are almost no bike lanes and certainly no provision for contraflow. Even Waterford has a better set up for cyclists, despite not having a bike scheme and that's saying something.

    Why is it so bad in Galway? expanding the scheme out a bit is good, but the fundamentals, i.e. good bike lanes and some contraflow need to be done to accommodate all cyclists, not just bike scheme users.

    Cork city has been ruined with bike lanes, reducing road space for cars, making junctions more dangerous etc and hardly anyone uses them so no bike lanes are a very bad idea.

    Not having a bike station at NUIG is a big reason for the low uptake also maybe have one at the hospital and maybe the retail park etc.

    In other cities they don't extend it far outside the city centre either so you won't see them ever going out as far as GMIT or anything like that.


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    #723
    Redhairedguy
    Registered Users Posts: 3,711 ✭✭✭Redhairedguy


    Surely having one in Salthill (or two; on either end of the prom) just makes sense? I know for a fact that on a nice day, if I was bumming around town and had the option of hopping a bike with a friend to take a dip down blackrock without having to worry about said bike, I'd jump at the chance.


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    #724
    El_Dangeroso
    Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 5,620 ✭✭✭El_Dangeroso


    Natasha Calm Groceries wrote: »
    Cork city has been ruined with bike lanes, reducing road space for cars, making junctions more dangerous etc and hardly anyone uses them so no bike lanes are a very bad idea.

    Not having a bike station at NUIG is a big reason for the low uptake also maybe have one at the hospital and maybe the retail park etc.

    In other cities they don't extend it far outside the city centre either so you won't see them ever going out as far as GMIT or anything like that.

    Bike lanes are a brilliant idea and really do encourage more cycling. Less room for cars is kind of the idea!

    The ideal scenario for me would be a bypass to take most cars out of the city and then increase in pedestrian/public transport/cyclist only streets.

    It works on the continent but they have way better planning than we do.


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    #725
    cgcsb
    Registered Users Posts: 9,275 ✭✭✭cgcsb


    Natasha Calm Groceries wrote: »
    Cork city has been ruined with bike lanes, reducing road space for cars, making junctions more dangerous etc and hardly anyone uses them so no bike lanes are a very bad idea.

    Not having a bike station at NUIG is a big reason for the low uptake also maybe have one at the hospital and maybe the retail park etc.

    In other cities they don't extend it far outside the city centre either so you won't see them ever going out as far as GMIT or anything like that.

    Not sure how you figure that. The bike lanes in Cork are great, plenty of opportunity for contra-flow, makes cycling much more attractive. This is why you have a better uptake in Cork. Obviously this means reducing car space, which is an added bonus really, it discourages drive commuting. I love using the one out to UCC, so handy. Galway needs the same to get more people cycling instead of just the dauntless among us.


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    #726
    TerrorFirmer
    Closed Accounts Posts: 29,930 ✭✭✭✭TerrorFirmer


    They're planning to expand next year, to NUI and the hospital, up towards GMIT direction, and some of the business park areas (not sure which ones).


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    #727
    cgcsb
    Registered Users Posts: 9,275 ✭✭✭cgcsb


    The Dublin scheme is in trouble. Despite massive success, the City and TII can't seem to put together a half a million euros for expansion :rolleyes:


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    #728
    death1234567
    Registered Users Posts: 3,329 ✭✭✭death1234567


    Redhairedguy wrote: »
    Surely having one in Salthill (or two; on either end of the prom) just makes sense? I know for a fact that on a nice day, if I was bumming around town and had the option of hopping a bike with a friend to take a dip down blackrock without having to worry about said bike, I'd jump at the chance.

    AFAIK The stations are all quite close together because there's some maximum disatance they can be apart. The theory is that if you get to a station on a bike and it's full you are not far from the next one. Moronic ideas like that are why the scheme was doomed to failure before it even started.

    It's clear that if the people in charge were compotent (not possible when you are dealing with civil servants) and wanted the scheme to succeed then the stations would be in salthil, at the colleges, in the business parks like mervue, parkmore and dangan. Of course this was never going to happen and all the stations are in places where it's less hassle to just walk the 5 minutes it takes to get where you are going.

    If it was done properly it would brillant, instead it's a half arsed token effort.


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    #729
    TerrorFirmer
    Closed Accounts Posts: 29,930 ✭✭✭✭TerrorFirmer


    They are putting in 8 or 9 more stations next year, including at NUIG, close to GMIT, and up near some of the business parks. So it should be hugely more viable this time next year. You're right death, the reason they have none in Salthill at the moment is exactly because they can only be so far apart. Hopefully some of the ones planned for next year will allow a link out to Salthill but to get that far there'd have to be several of the 8 or 9 planned dedicated out that side of the city.


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    #730
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    death1234567 wrote: »
    AFAIK The stations are all quite close together because there's some maximum disatance they can be apart. The theory is that if you get to a station on a bike and it's full you are not far from the next one. Moronic ideas like that are why the scheme was doomed to failure before it even started.
    .

    And when people arrive and can't park the bike as the only station close by is full and they go over the free 30mins and start paying for the bike they aren't exactly going to be in a rush to use the service again either now are they.


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    #731
    El_Dangeroso
    Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 5,620 ✭✭✭El_Dangeroso


    TerrorFirmer wrote: »
    They are putting in 8 or 9 more stations next year, including at NUIG, close to GMIT, and up near some of the business parks. So it should be hugely more viable this time next year. You're right death, the reason they have none in Salthill at the moment is exactly because they can only be so far apart. Hopefully some of the ones planned for next year will allow a link out to Salthill but to get that far there'd have to be several of the 8 or 9 planned dedicated out that side of the city.

    Have they confirmed the exact location of the stations anywhere?


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    #732
    TerrorFirmer
    Closed Accounts Posts: 29,930 ✭✭✭✭TerrorFirmer


    El_Dangeroso wrote: »
    Have they confirmed the exact location of the stations anywhere?

    No, they haven't released an actual confirmed list.


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    #733
    joeKel73
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,689 ✭✭✭joeKel73


    death1234567 wrote: »
    AFAIK The stations are all quite close together because there's some maximum disatance they can be apart. The theory is that if you get to a station on a bike and it's full you are not far from the next one. Moronic ideas like that are why the scheme was doomed to failure before it even started.

    They should update the software at the terminals so when checking out your bike you can also pick a destination station and they'll reserve a spot for you at the destination station for up to 30 mins.

    That would cut out the full-station anxiety and allow for isolated stations in the likes of Salthill.


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    #734
    what_traffic
    Registered Users Posts: 4,873 ✭✭✭what_traffic


    http://irishcycle.com/2016/08/29/galway-bikes-station-expansion-planned-for-2017/


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    #735
    El_Dangeroso
    Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 5,620 ✭✭✭El_Dangeroso


    what_traffic wrote: »
    http://irishcycle.com/2016/08/29/galway-bikes-station-expansion-planned-for-2017/

    Brilliant if true!


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    #736
    Zzippy
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 14,166 Mod ✭✭✭✭Zzippy


    Natasha Calm Groceries wrote: »
    Cork city has been ruined with bike lanes, reducing road space for cars, making junctions more dangerous etc and hardly anyone uses them so no bike lanes are a very bad idea.

    Not having a bike station at NUIG is a big reason for the low uptake also maybe have one at the hospital and maybe the retail park etc.

    In other cities they don't extend it far outside the city centre either so you won't see them ever going out as far as GMIT or anything like that.


    You unintentionally got it right. No bike lanes are indeed a very bad idea. Especially with self-entitled drivers who think speed limits are a bad idea too...


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    #737
    what_traffic
    Registered Users Posts: 4,873 ✭✭✭what_traffic


    El_Dangeroso wrote: »
    Brilliant if true!

    Why it has NOT happened yet in 2016 is a bit odd though?


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    #738
    El_Dangeroso
    Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 5,620 ✭✭✭El_Dangeroso


    what_traffic wrote: »
    Why it has NOT happened yet in 2016 is a bit odd though?

    Dunno, article says 2017, presume there's planning details to hammer out. Nothing happens quickly with planning.


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    #739
    what_traffic
    Registered Users Posts: 4,873 ✭✭✭what_traffic


    El_Dangeroso wrote: »
    Dunno, article says 2017, presume there's planning details to hammer out. Nothing happens quickly with planning.

    This "expansion" was originally announced in December 2015
    http://irishcycle.com/2015/12/04/revealed-details-of-planned-galway-bikes-expansion/


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    #740
    joeKel73
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,689 ✭✭✭joeKel73


    There are bags with free bike lights and seat cover in the baskets of the city bikes if anyone wants one.... most of the bikes down by the Cladagh still had the bags 30mins ago.

    If you get a bike out for a spin before the end of the day you could win 1 of 2 €500 bikes. The Coke Zero promo team were giving out free cans of coke and croissants this morning.


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    #741
    what_traffic
    Registered Users Posts: 4,873 ✭✭✭what_traffic


    http://www.galwayindependent.com/news/topics/articles/2016/10/05/4127743-galway-city-bike-scheme-to-expand-further/
    from Wednesday, 5th October 2016
    "
    Galway City’s public bike scheme is set to be expanded with the construction of nine new docking stations
    .
    ..
    ...
    There are currently 15 existing stations and the expansion is expected to be substantially complete by the end of 2016, a spokesperson for Galway City Council confirmed.
    "


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    #742
    joeKel73
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,689 ✭✭✭joeKel73


    J o e wrote: »
    If you get a bike out for a spin before the end of the day you could win 1 of 2 €500 bikes.

    Anybody hear of any prizes being given out?
    There was lots of press about prizes to be won on Car Free Day but haven't heard anything since or heard of any winners...


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    #743
    schemingbohemia
    Registered Users Posts: 5,606 ✭✭✭schemingbohemia


    J o e wrote: »
    Anybody hear of any prizes being given out?
    There was lots of press about prizes to be won on Car Free Day but haven't heard anything since or heard of any winners...

    Well, if the winners didn't want to be part of any publicity not much the organisers can do.....


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    #744
    pleasant Co.
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 7,381 Mod ✭✭✭✭pleasant Co.


    schemingbohemia wrote: »
    Well, if the winners didn't want to be part of any publicity not much the organisers can do.....

    ....the organisers give the prize to the next person on the list who is willing to participate in the resulting publicity, simples.


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    #745
    Poxyshamrock
    Registered Users Posts: 4,828 ✭✭✭Poxyshamrock


    what_traffic wrote: »
    http://www.galwayindependent.com/news/topics/articles/2016/10/05/4127743-galway-city-bike-scheme-to-expand-further/
    from Wednesday, 5th October 2016
    "
    Galway City’s public bike scheme is set to be expanded with the construction of nine new docking stations
    .
    ..
    ...
    There are currently 15 existing stations and the expansion is expected to be substantially complete by the end of 2016, a spokesperson for Galway City Council confirmed.
    "

    Complete by the end of 2016 is ambitious!


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    #746
    serfboard
    Registered Users Posts: 4,676 ✭✭✭serfboard


    Poxyshamrock wrote: »
    Complete by the end of 2016 is ambitious!
    Read the fine print - it doesn't say "complete" it says "substantially complete". And "substantially" is a matter of perspective and opinion ...


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    #747
    what_traffic
    Registered Users Posts: 4,873 ✭✭✭what_traffic


    serfboard wrote: »
    Read the fine print - it doesn't say "complete" it says "substantially complete". And "substantially" is a matter of perspective and opinion ...
    So if 9 NEW stations are to be built - would substantial mean more the 3 or 6 stations?
    Have not seen any works but they did build the original stations in 5/6 weeks so it could yet be done by end of 2016?


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    #748
    joeKel73
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,689 ✭✭✭joeKel73


    what_traffic wrote: »
    Have not seen any works but they did build the original stations in 5/6 weeks so it could yet be done by end of 2016?

    Yea they're quick enough to knock up. The hardware went up in a few days before and took a few weeks to get connected up.


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    #749
    what_traffic
    Registered Users Posts: 4,873 ✭✭✭what_traffic


    J o e wrote: »
    Yea they're quick enough to knock up. The hardware went up in a few days before and took a few weeks to get connected up.

    Hope it does happen soon, every extra station will make a difference. Why they only build these stations in the 4th Quarter says a lot though. By right any extensions should be done in the 1st Quarter (Jan to March)


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    #750
    gordongekko
    Registered Users Posts: 5,301 ✭✭✭gordongekko


    what_traffic wrote: »
    Hope it does happen soon, every extra station will make a difference. Why they only build these stations in the 4th Quarter says a lot though. By right any extensions should be done in the 1st Quarter (Jan to March)

    So you want them to postpone building them till next year?


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    #751
    Mrs OBumble
    Registered Users Posts: 25,698 ✭✭✭✭Mrs OBumble


    what_traffic wrote: »
    Why they only build these stations in the 4th Quarter says a lot though. By right any extensions should be done in the 1st Quarter (Jan to March)


    Implying they're done with left-over money towards the end of the budget cycle, instead of top priority towards the beginning?

    Most people aim to spread work evenly through the year, so that workers and other resources aren't sitting idle at the end unable to do anything because the budget has run out.

    It's a balancing act ...


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