Galway's new bike scheme (SPIN) up and running!

ceatharloch

Try it out at

http://grandscheme.co.uk/galway/

run (at the moment) out of the NUI, Galway campus.
A great initiative for cycling in Galway!

gordongekko

ceatharloch wrote: »

Try it out at

http://grandscheme.co.uk/galway/

run (at the moment) out of the NUI, Galway campus.
A great initiative for cycling in Galway!

handy if your doing a short spin. I wonder how much it costs if the bike is stolen.

topcat77

good scheme but only available for staff and students. Looking at the scheme and it's only suitable for cycling on campus. the first 30mins is free but after that it can be expensive. 3-4hrs will cost you €6.50. the idea is for short journeys between docking stations, so you lock the bike at the docking station and finish your rental. If you use it as it's designed you won't be renting the bike while it's locked so you can't get charged if it's stolen. I think it will cost you €46.50 for 24hr rental.

Iwannahurl

A shared bike scheme for Galway is a very welcome development. The Dublin scheme has helped to create a surge in cycling (admittedly from a low base) in the capital.

A "workshop" was held recently to discuss the proposal. I wasn't there unfortunately. It was mentioned in this City Tribune report: http://www.connachttribune.ie/galway-news/item/1114-sixteen-sites-identified-for-new-galway-public-bicycle-scheme

The NUIG scheme is already up and running, apparently. I was talking to some staff members recently and they said that a particular feature of their scheme is that the electronics are fitted on the bikes. This means that there is more flexibility in terms of sites for docking stations. The bikes are also pink, I'm told, which may be a deciding factor for the colour-conscious.

The City Tribune report linked to above includes an illustration of what a proposed site on Augustine Street might look like. For me this immediately raises the question of how Galway City Council intends to facilitate use of the shared bikes. Augustine Street and some adjacent roads are one-way, which means that, for example, it will be illegal to cycle the quickest route to that docking station from the Flood Street/Quay Street/Cross Street direction. Users of the shared bikes who wish to dock in Augustine Street will therefore have to take a circuitous route or else become 'rolling pedestrians' or, more likely, will cycle illegally against the flow of traffic either on the footpaths or the roadway. A similar restriction may well apply at Raven Terrace.

Therefore another upside of the proposed shared bike scheme for Galway is that it might well prompt a long-overdue revision of the City Council's counter-productive policy of forcing cyclists to follow convoluted one-way systems designed for motorised traffic.

ceatharloch

I've seen many places "its only available for staff and students", even I think
from the guys who run it.

Go to the sign-up page

https://grandscheme.co.uk/galway/Register

I think you will find you can register and use the system without being
staff/student of NUIG......:)

topcat77 wrote: »

good scheme but only available for staff and students. Looking at the scheme and it's only suitable for cycling on campus. the first 30mins is free but after that it can be expensive. 3-4hrs will cost you €6.50. the idea is for short journeys between docking stations, so you lock the bike at the docking station and finish your rental. If you use it as it's designed you won't be renting the bike while it's locked so you can't get charged if it's stolen. I think it will cost you €46.50 for 24hr rental.

dloob

The city council finally put the proposed locations for their scheme online.
http://www.galwaycity.ie/GeneralNews/120813_01.pdf

It's pretty much city centre only.

Iwannahurl

Thanks for that map.

Docking stations well situated for NUI students and staff, I would suggest.

However, I would reiterate that the existing city-wide one-way system is going to be a factor in the way this shared bike scheme is used.

Cathedral: one-way system around Nun's Island.
Eyre Square/Ceannt Station/Forster Street/City Hall: one-way system around Eyre Square, Forster Street, Bothar Brendan Ui hEithir.
Merchants Road/Dock Street: one-way system around Abbeygate Street, Merchants Road, Docks.
Headford Road: one-way system around Woodquay.
Mainguard Street: pedestrianised, plus one-way system around Lombard Street, Market Street, Cross Street.

If this scheme becomes (deservedly) popular then I think we can expect to see a lot more bikes on city centre streets. Unless the inherently cycle-hostile one-way system is significantly modified then we're going to hear a lot of complaints about readily-identifiable shared bikes going up on footpaths and the 'wrong way' around town.

On the other hand, the advent of the Council-supported shared bike scheme could be the ideal time to implement a provision recommended as long ago as 1979, and which is mandated in the current city development plan.

topcat77

The plan just looks like half measures in it's city wide scope. would like to see it expanded from Salthill or even Silverstrand to Merlin park hospital.

Iwannahurl

They wouldn't want to overextend themselves in the early days.

AFAIK the NUIG bikes have the electronics on board, which means the location of docking stations can be changed if necessary.

Fixed docking stations require monitoring to ensure that bikes are distributed appropriately. A wider network of stations would be heavy on resources, and in the early stages of the scheme that might be excessive if the usage per bike is low. Just guessing, tbh.

what_traffic

dloob wrote: »

The city council finally put the proposed locations for their scheme online.
http://www.galwaycity.ie/GeneralNews/120813_01.pdf

It's pretty much city centre only.

Interesting map - they have put a bike station in the grounds of City Hall itself. Only counted 13 stations (original proposal was for 23 stations in Galway City back in June 2011).
See page 3 of the attachment: Summary-Bike-Scheme-Technical-Report.pdf

galwaycyclist

They are standard bikes by the look of them





3 speed hub gears



The unit on top has the authentication system. Apparently once you have put in your details to use the bike a little drawer pops open with a key for the lock.



The lock is a standard U-lock.

Iwannahurl

Far be it from me to be sexist, but in my opinion it seems clear that (a) these bikes are targeting females and (b) will be shunned by most men.

The Dublin bikes are fairly neutral in colour and design, but even so I recall a contributor to a Sunday morning programme on RTE Radio 1 a while back referring to their "effeminate handlebars".

Irish cycling culture doesn't allow men to have swept-back handlebars: just check out what's on offer in the vast majority of bike shops. They're either straight, or curved in the approved direction.

Cycling culture, or even society in general, doesn't permit men to have baskets on their bikes.

So, the bent handlebars, wicker basket and pink livery are clearly aimed at women, I reckon. If so, what's the overall rationale for a female-focused shared bike scheme?

Cleahaigh

The bikes look terrible alright.

I don't think the one way system in Galway is particularly bike hostile. It covers such a small diameter that it's easy to bypass by walking a short distance at a wide variety of points and it is much, much safer for pedestrians.

Iwannahurl

Compliant people paying to avail of the shared "bike" scheme will be doing a lot of walking around the city so!

In what way is the comprehensive one-way system in Galway "much much safer for pedestrians"?

Or do you mean it's much safer for pedestrians if people walk their bikes rather than cycle them the wrong way on one-way streets?

thesandeman

Iwannahurl wrote: »

it's much safer for pedestrians if people walk their bikes rather than cycle them the wrong way on one-way streets?

I mentioned this in an earlier bike thread but cyclists got annoyed about it.
It doesn't take much effort to get off the bicycle and walk the couple of hundred yards that is the pedestrian area if they don't want to spend the extra minute to cycle the legal route.

biko

Just a gentle nudge, please don't let this thread go down the route of what cyclists/motorists should or should not do. You guys will just end up arguing.
Focus on the scheme and the implications it will have for the city.

I'm guessing the colour scheme, distinct frame shape and basket is indeed aimed at females.
I think this may be because of two things, firstly women are often more environmentally minded and secondly the bikes are less likely to be stolen if the scummers can't ride them.

Me, I'd happily use them but then I'm secure in my masculinity.
And the tourists won't mind.

Iwannahurl

thesandeman wrote: »

I mentioned this in an earlier bike thread but cyclists got annoyed about it.

It doesn't take much effort to get off the bicycle and walk the couple of hundred yards that is the pedestrian area if they don't want to spend the extra minute to cycle the legal route.

The convoluted one-way system in Galway City centre is far more extensive than the pedestrianised area.

The central idea of a shared bike scheme is ease of use. The central idea of an (Irish) one-way system is facilitating motorised traffic flow. The two concepts are not readily compatible, which is why it is the norm in European countries with well-developed traffic and transportation policies to exempt cyclists from one-way restrictions, banned turns and the like. Likewise the emphasis in such European urban areas is more on car-free or substantially traffic-calmed city/town centres rather than on entirely pedestrianised zones. There's a video somewhere on YouTube (also posted on Boards) that illustrates the highly-successful Dutch approach to facilitating bicycles in this manner. I can't find it just now, unfortunately.

These concepts have yet to be fully understood, appreciated and/or implemented in Ireland. That said, recent national and local policy supports the exemption of cyclists from one-way restrictions and prohibited right turns, for example.

A bicycle is an ideal form of door-to-door personal transport, and it makes no sense for a city to try to promote cycling by means of a shared bike scheme and at the same time make bikes less efficient and convenient by restricting their use in the compact 'inner city' area, such as by forcing them to slavishly follow a system of one-way streets designed to keep motorised traffic moving.

To my mind it is also not tenable to propose that people pay to use shared bikes, and then insist that they get off and walk with the contraption whenever a car-centric legal prohibition demands that they do so. It would be easier just to forget about cycling altogether and walk for free, unencumbered by having to wheel a bike beside you.

NB: This post shows clearly that optimum permeability for cyclists is officially recognised as a core element of the strategy to promote shared bike schemes: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84045888&postcount=98


================================

EDIT: I submitted this post before I saw Biko's gentle reminder re arguing etc.

It ought to be possible to have informed debate about such matters.

Discussion about optics such as the colour of the bikes etc is all very well, but there are also fundamental policy issues that will arise and which have a major bearing on the utility of cycling which in turn is relevant to the 'workability' of a shared bike scheme.

National and local policy, as well as best practice internationally, recognises that promotion of cycling means making it an easy choice.

I am not looking for arguments, but I do think that good policy and practice in this area must be recognised and asserted.

biko

Feel free to use the Cycling in the City to discuss the intricacies of biking around town.

inisboffin

Iwannahurl wrote: »

Far be it from me to be sexist, but in my opinion it seems clear that (a) these bikes are targeting females and (b) will be shunned by most men.

The Dublin bikes are fairly neutral in colour and design, but even so I recall a contributor to a Sunday morning programme on RTE Radio 1 a while back referring to their "effeminate handlebars".

Irish cycling culture doesn't allow men to have swept-back handlebars: just check out what's on offer in the vast majority of bike shops. They're either straight, or curved in the approved direction.

Cycling culture, or even society in general, doesn't permit men to have baskets on their bikes.

So, the bent handlebars, wicker basket and pink livery are clearly aimed at women, I reckon. If so, what's the overall rationale for a female-focused shared bike scheme?

Maybe they are being revisionist with the pink

My Granda had a basket on his bike all his life, and it didn't diminish his testosterone, just helped him bring home the shopping easier.

While I take your point about possible marketing motives, I think the notion of 'cycling culture' not allowing something is pure daft!

snubbleste

Are the bikes pink
I thought they are light purple, close to the shade of the Uni's colour scheme

what_traffic

biko wrote: »

I'm guessing the colour scheme, distinct frame shape and basket is indeed aimed at females.
I think this may be because of two things, firstly women are often more environmentally minded and secondly the bikes are less likely to be stolen if the scummers can't ride them.

How can you back that up? More enviromentally minded?

Could be simply that far less women cycle in NUIG than men; mirroring the national trend?
http://cyclingindublin.com/2012/08/27/will-dublin-become-a-city-of-women-on-wheels/
Also having a one size fit's all bike means anybody can use the bikes. Also easier for the elderly users(NUIG staff)

galwaycyclist

biko wrote: »

Feel free to use the Cycling in the City to discuss the intricacies of biking around town.

The issue of one-way streets in Galway was specifically raised by the NTAs consultants on bike share proposals.

It is not possible to discuss one without discussing the other.

galwaycyclist

Iwannahurl wrote: »

It ought to be possible to have informed debate about such matters.

Agreed - I would suggest that coming onto a bikeshare thread and telling people to get off and walk would not be a good start to such a debate.

biko

what_traffic wrote: »

How can you back that up? More enviromentally minded?

Could be simply that far less women cycle in NUIG than men; mirroring the national trend?
http://cyclingindublin.com/2012/08/27/will-dublin-become-a-city-of-women-on-wheels/

Wow, 77/23 split. I would have thought it was almost the other way around. Can't argue with stats I suppose.
The "environmentally minded" is from own experience among friends and family (I don't know a single guy with a bike but many females) where fitness, savings and environment seems to have effect on transportation choice.

galwaycyclist wrote: »

The issue of one-way streets in Galway was specifically raised by the NTAs consultants on bike share proposals.

It is not possible to discuss one without discussing the other.

You mean this?

• Many of the one-way streets are single lane – these pose more of a navigational than a safety hazard to cyclists
• The number of pedestrianised streets and one-way streets affect cycling options

It's ok to discuss street layout etc. I am hoping the focus in this thread will be on the scheme and its positive effects but fear it may be used by cyclists to give out about city street layout generally, hence the link to the more general Cycling in the City thread.
We'll see I suppose.

Eogclouder

I've used them a few times now to get across the campus to work, they're great!

galwaycyclist

biko wrote: »

You mean this?

No I mean this - link below may now be dead

Jacobs Report: Proposals for Introducing Public Bike Schemes in
Regional Cities Funding and
Large File (12.8 MB)
http://www.nationaltransport.ie/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Further-attachments-provided-with-response.pdf

Recommendations are made on the complementary measures which would be needed as a new scheme is introduced. Perhaps the most important one would be an increase in permeability for cycle traffic in the city centres through the provision of two-way cycling on one-way streets, and by opening up pedestrianised areas to cycling where conditions allow.

3.3 Galway
A site visit was carried out to Galway in the early afternoon on a weekday. The initial impression of the level of cycling was similar to that of Cork as there was a presence of cyclists in the city centre (fewer than in Cork but the site visit was during the interpeak when cycling levels drop considerably). Cycle parking was relatively plentiful and well used. Many bikes were also seen parked informally i.e. locked to various
items of street furniture. As in Cork, cyclists were seen using the footway in the contra-flow direction adjacent to one-way streets highlighting the need for contraflow facilities. The streets of Galway appeared to be particularly congested both in the city centre itself (below right) and also on the approaches, even in the inter-peak period.

5.2.2 Cycle-Friendly Road & Path Networks
Intuitively, a scheme would be more successful where there is a comprehensive network of cycle-friendly routes. This is not restricted to designated cycle routes but relates to how attractive/safe/navigable etc the whole of the deployment area is for cycling. An example of a cycle-friendly improvement on a city-wide scale is the legislation which permitted two-way cycling in all one-way streets with a 30kmh limit which was passed in France in 2010. As a result, the road network of Paris became a lot more navigable and permeable by bike, with no reported direct increase in
casualties. The worst environment for cycling would include dual carriageways, high speed roads (with limits and/or speeds above 50kmh), gyratories and large
roundabouts. The traffic mix also influences the environment – high flows of HGVs present a particular hazard to cycle traffic.

5.4.2 Galway
· Galway has a population of approximately 100,000 including 25,000 students. A typical city of this size would have a fleet of 200 bikes, and around 1500 registered members;
· The assessment of Galway is that it is generally well suited to a bike sharing scheme. It clearly attracts a large number of tourists, the topography is either flat or quite gentle, there is a significant level of congestion in the city (even during the inter-peak), and car parking is relatively expensive, and timeconsuming to access. Although the one-way streets and pedestrianised areas make it awkward to navigate by bike, there are not many high-speed, multi lane sections are found in some of the other cities. The existing network, therefore, mainly poses a navigational, rather than safety, challenge to cyclists. It is considered that a Galway scheme would therefore attract an above-average number of users a fleet of 200 to 250 bikes;

· Of the four, it is estimated that Galway and Cork are the best suited as they have more of the characteristics of the cities where bike-sharing schemes are successful;
· An exploration of complimentary measures is recommended to increase the impact of any bike-sharing scheme. The key focus is likely to be the need to
improve cycle-traffic permeability in the city centres particularly in one-way streets and pedestrianised areas. This will have the twin advantage of making
cycle trips more advantageous over other modes, as well as making journeys more navigable;

Iwannahurl

inisboffin wrote: »

Maybe they are being revisionist with the pink

My Granda had a basket on his bike all his life, and it didn't diminish his testosterone, just helped him bring home the shopping easier.

While I take your point about possible marketing motives, I think the notion of 'cycling culture' not allowing something is pure daft!

Perhaps pink is the new blue/black/brown...

I'll bet your Granda's bike had bent handlebars as well. Ask any bike shop in Galway for a Dutch-style bike these days and see how far you get.



Culture is a strange thing. People believe and do all sorts of things just because they think everyone else is doing so.

snubbleste wrote: »

Are the bikes pink
I thought they are light purple, close to the shade of the Uni's colour scheme

http://www.kingfisherclub.com/images_other/nuig.gif

I haven't seen the bikes, but I did talk about them with two NUIG staff members. Their conclusion was that the bikes are "definitely pink".

Perhaps the intention was for the bikes to be in distinctively NUIG livery, but if you look closely at the photos you will see the differences. Maybe the bikes were painted by someone who was not 'good with colours'?

Iwannahurl

what_traffic wrote: »

Could be simply that far less women cycle in NUIG than men; mirroring the national trend?
http://cyclingindublin.com/2012/08/27/will-dublin-become-a-city-of-women-on-wheels/
Also having a one size fit's all bike means anybody can use the bikes. Also easier for the elderly users(NUIG staff)

In terms of design, one-size-fits-all is very useful.

As regards the role of colour in marketing, I'm wondering whether the objective here is to get more women cycling. The number of girls cycling to secondary school is significantly lower than the number of boys, iirc, and may this trend continues into Third Level?

Eogclouder

Iwannahurl wrote: »

Perhaps pink is the new blue/black/brown...

I'll bet your Granda's bike had bent handlebars as well. Ask any bike shop in Galway for a Dutch-style bike these days and see how far you get.



Culture is a strange thing. People believe and do all sorts of things just because they think everyone else is doing so.






I haven't seen the bikes, but I did talk about them with two NUIG staff members. Their conclusion was that the bikes are "definitely pink".

Perhaps the intention was for the bikes to be in distinctively NUIG livery, but if you look closely at the photos you will see the differences. Maybe the bikes were painted by someone who was not 'good with colours'?

Unless you're colorblind, they're pruple or very very very very very very very dark pink.

Iwannahurl

Eogclouder wrote: »

Unless you're colorblind, they're pruple or very very very very very very very dark pink.

Not just colour-blind but blind-blind! :cool:

I had a closer look at the photo I linked to above, and it does look as if the bikes are in the NUIG colours. The bike racks are pink, though! I think.

Still, in mitigation I repeat that (a) I haven't seen the actual bikes, and (b) my NUIG staff informants -- who ought to know their colours -- told me that the bikes are "definitely pink".

Time, and usage stats, will tell!

Eogclouder

Iwannahurl wrote: »

Not just colour-blind but blind-blind! :cool:

I had a closer look at the photo I linked to above, and it does look as if the bikes are in the NUIG colours. The bike racks are pink, though! I think.

Still, in mitigation I repeat that (a) I haven't seen the actual bikes, and (b) my NUIG staff informants -- who ought to know their colours -- told me that the bikes are "definitely pink".

Time, and usage stats, will tell!

Colour is subjective I think to an extent! I've been using them all week to cross the campus, I'd argue purple but I can see room for them being called pink.

Iwannahurl

Eogclouder wrote: »

I'd argue purple but I can see room for them being called pink.

There you go. Perhaps that's part of the marketing strategy. "It's a biscuit", "it's a bar"...

what_traffic

@Eogclouder what kind of usage to date have you seen around campus of the SPIN bike's? I presume it mainly staff/ PHD students using them as Undergaduates not back for 2/3 weeks.

I think the bike's are purple - but the rack color is on the pinkier side of purple.

Eogclouder

what_traffic wrote: »

@Eogclouder what kind of usage to date have you seen around campus of the SPIN bike's? I presume it mainly staff/ PHD students using them as Undergaduates not back for 2/3 weeks.

I think the bike's are purple - but the rack color is on the pinkier side of purple.

It Depends on the rack in question, I grab it after nine in the morning and go from the quad to corrib village.

The rack at the quad is always full but the one in corrib village seems to always be empty. I don't think there's enough bikes. I've no idea how they plan to make sure racks stay full at any given time.

I've only seen a few people on them so far including myself. I think come September there'll be more demand for it than they can handle, 45 is short-sighted for a campus that regularly has several thousand students on the grounds at a time.

snubbleste

The bikes and their racks are purple and not pink. There is no gender agenda.. End of!

They have contracted someone from Europa Cycles to go around in a golf buggy & bike trailer to relocate bikes from rack to rack. He is already at it. Poor guy has his work cut out for him.

snubbleste

[IMG][/img]

Eogclouder

snubbleste wrote: »

[IMG][/img]

purple as ****

biko

Saw a bunch of bikes parked at NUIG, hope the scheme works out well.
Nice baskets

what_traffic

Are all the lock's on the bike's Kryptonite locks?

snubbleste

what_traffic wrote: »

Are all the lock's on the bike's Kryptonite locks?

But of course

Mrs OBumble

Iwannahurl wrote: »

The City Tribune report linked to above includes an illustration of what a proposed site on Augustine Street might look like. For me this immediately raises the question of how Galway City Council intends to facilitate use of the shared bikes. Augustine Street and some adjacent roads are one-way, which means that, for example, it will be illegal to cycle the quickest route to that docking station from the Flood Street/Quay Street/Cross Street direction. Users of the shared bikes who wish to dock in Augustine Street will therefore have to take a circuitous route or else become 'rolling pedestrians' or, more likely, will cycle illegally against the flow of traffic either on the footpaths or the roadway.

...

Therefore another upside of the proposed shared bike scheme for Galway is that it might well prompt a long-overdue revision of the City Council's counter-productive policy of forcing cyclists to follow convoluted one-way systems designed for motorised traffic.

Expect opposition from residents: we live in narrow one-way streets, we don't expect to have to look both ways every time we step off the kerb. Admittedly, these days I do exactly that, because of the number of cyclists who routinely break the law. But I don't think it's a reasonable expectation of me - and the substantial number of elderly people who live in the area.


If a cyclist cannot be bothered circling round the Cross/Middle/Abbeygate/Augustine St block ... you have to wonder would they bother riding at all.

Iwannahurl

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Expect opposition from residents: we live in narrow one-way streets, we don't expect to have to look both ways every time we step off the kerb.

Admittedly, these days I do exactly that, because of the number of cyclists who routinely break the law. But I don't think it's a reasonable expectation of me - and the substantial number of elderly people who live in the area.

Why do you think cyclists are currently going the 'wrong way' up one-way streets? Are they literally going out of their way to harass pedestrians? I doubt it. What they are doing is taking the shortest and most convenient route to their destination. Nothing pass-remarkable about that, and it's an entirely predictable response to the unworkable imposition of car-centric restrictions on a mode of travel that is intrinsically convenient.

And yes, it is illegal in Ireland, as is cycling on the footpath. Unfortunately, for decades now this country's transportation policies, roads engineering standards, "planning" culture and official attitudes have brought us to a situation where such behaviour is not only commonplace but tacitly accepted or even expected by decision makers. I was at a public meeting once where a very senior Council official said that a rigorous approach to the enforcement of road traffic regulations was not feasible because if you went after the motorists you'd also have to tackle the lawbreaking cyclists on the footpaths and going the wrong way up one-way streets. In other words, it ain't broke so don't try to fix it or you'll upset too many people. The one-way streets are just grand, and sure what's the harm in just letting cyclists work it out for themselves while we turn a blind eye. That was my interpretation of the unwritten Council policy, at any rate.

I'd expect opposition for sure. However, it's important to be aware that they've been doing this in other European cities for decades. The sky has not fallen in, road casualties have not rocketed, and their modal share for cycling is multiples of ours.

Also worth noting is that in those European cities a substantial number of elderly people are regular cyclists. In the Netherlands, older people aged 75 and up "use the bicycle for only [sic] 17% of all trips": http://erso.swov.nl/knowledge/content/40_pedestrians/walking_and_cycling_as_transport_modes.htm

Perhaps we don't expect to see cyclists in certain circumstances because the number of cyclists has been eroded over decades by various cycle-hostile policies, such as one-way systems. The same may apply to motorists' awareness of cyclists, often a problem. The upside is that more bikes on the road will help to raise general awareness and hence make the roads safer.

In any case, one-way exemptions are now national and local policy in Ireland, although actual implementation is very slow. The National Cycle Policy Framework advocates the dismantling of one-way restrictions for bikes, and the Galway City Development Plan mandates cycle exemptions on one-way streets where feasible and appropriate. The Jacobs Report linked to earlier also specifically identifies permeability for cycling as a key enabling measure:

An exploration of complementary measures is recommended to increase the impact of any bike-sharing scheme. The key focus is likely to be the need to improve cycle-traffic permeability in the city centres particularly in one-way streets and pedestrianised areas. This will have the twin advantage of making cycle trips more advantageous over other modes, as well as making journeys more navigable.

An example of a cycle-friendly improvement on a city-wide scale is the legislation which permitted two-way cycling in all one-way streets with a 30kmh limit which was passed in France in 2010. As a result, the road network of Paris became a lot more navigable and permeable by bike, with no reported direct increase in casualties.

galwaycyclist

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Expect opposition from residents: we live in narrow one-way streets, we don't expect to have to look both ways every time we step off the kerb. Admittedly, these days I do exactly that, because of the number of cyclists who routinely break the law. But I don't think it's a reasonable expectation of me - and the substantial number of elderly people who live in the area.


If a cyclist cannot be bothered circling round the Cross/Middle/Abbeygate/Augustine St block ... you have to wonder would they bother riding at all.

So its not reasonable for people to look both ways before crossing the road? But it is reasonable to send cyclists the best part of a kilometer out of their way because somene else can't be bothered turning their head before walking 6m?

I suspect that for most elderly people in the city centre cyclists travelling both ways on particular streets was a fact for most of their lives.

Would any true Galwegian really expect this to change simply because some corporation engineer sticks up a sign?

Eogclouder

galwaycyclist wrote: »

So its not reasonable for people to look both ways before crossing the road? But it is reasonable to send cyclists the best part of a kilometer out of their way because somene else can't be bothered turning their head before walking 6m?

I suspect that for most elderly people in the city centre cyclists travelling both ways on particular streets was a fact for most of their lives.

Would any true Galwegian really expect this to change simply because some corporation engineer sticks up a sign?

Getting a bit off topic arent we?

galwaycyclist

galwaycyclist wrote: »

The issue of one-way streets in Galway was specifically raised by the NTAs consultants on bike share proposals.

It is not possible to discuss one without discussing the other.

To be fair to Biko - although one-way streets etc are a valid topic for a thread on a city bikeshare scheme. I would accept the argument that they are off-topic for a thread on a campus bikeshare scheme.

Chips Lovell

One way streets are probably a bit of a red herring.

They're ten-a-penny in Dublin and their presence hasn't hindered enthusiastic adoption of the scheme.

Robbo

galwaycyclist wrote: »

Would any true Galwegian really expect this to change simply because some corporation engineer sticks up a sign?

What's the best international practice on determining who's a true Galwegian? Are there any studies from special pleading groups that we can get selected excerpts from?

Anecdotally (and let's remember that the plural of anecdotes is evidence), I believe that it you can trace your lineage through at least 5 Kings of the Claddagh, the pedestrianisation of Shop Street does not apply to you and you're allowed drive your Ford Anglia down it.

pleasant Co.

Gentle reminder to stay on-topic upgraded to stern reminder

It seems near impossible to have a cycling thread without sniping, personal attacks and snide abuse - Expect harsher reminders to follow as a result of this ever-present trend.

Eogclouder

I think I broke a spin bike on my lunch break. oops.

Iwannahurl

Vladimir Kurtains wrote: »

One way streets are probably a bit of a red herring.

They're ten-a-penny in Dublin and their presence hasn't hindered enthusiastic adoption of the scheme.

Not a red herring. The Jacobs Report, previously quoted and linked, makes that abundantly clear.

The Dublin Bikes initiative is one of the most successful in the world, afaik, and I'll be delighted if the Galway scheme does even half as well.

However, that does not mean that legislation, infrastructure, attitudes or awareness have kept pace.

http://www.thejournal.ie/is-dublin-a-bike-friendly-city-231850-Sep2011/
http://www.herald.ie/news/cyclists-told-where-to-get-off-over-call-to-break-red-lights-28011132.html
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056366429

The great thing about successful shared bike schemes is that they create a notable presence of bikes very quickly. On the downside this puts a lot of wobbly novices on the streets rather suddenly, and these ingenues may well be frequently seen on footpaths and going the 'wrong way' up one-way streets (which is not to say that some hard chaws don't do the same). To quote Cllr Mannix Flynn, there are users of the Dublin Bikes who look like "they've never even been up on a rocking horse".

One potential upside, as I see it, is that a (mini) surge in bike use around Galway could create much more awareness of the well-recognised permeability issue, and therefore might speed up the implementation of national and local policy in this regard.

Chips Lovell

In fairness, I think we've finally seen a bit of progress in terms of legislation keeping pace with cycling numbers in the past while.

The introduction of on the spot fines for cyclists means its now much easier to effectively police stuff like people riding on footpaths and breaking the lights etc.

Previously, the Guards had to issue a summons, which was something of a deterrent to them hauling up cyclists for doing it, since they had to show up in court themselves.

Having said that, I'm not sure I can agree that users of the bike sharing scheme are generally more reckless than other cyclists. I'm only going on what I see in Dublin, but you see an equal amount of law breaking from people on their own bikes.