Dublin Road, Kilkenny and the new cycle paths...

Seweryn

Just few weeks ago this road looked like:

https://www.google.ie/maps/preview#!data=!1m8!1m3!1d3!2d-7.221136!3d52.647856!2m2!1f108.79!2f74.71!4f75!2m7!1e1!2m2!1sX7JqEoGY0KNQ_1suXsrEEw!2e0!5m2!1sX7JqEoGY0KNQ_1suXsrEEw!2e0&fid=5

Today, what a surprise:



I have no problem with the new walking path built on the left (even that I have never seen anybody walking there - the picture was taken today, Friday at 4 PM), however the cycle path ...:

1. Why has it been built as part of the walking path rather than part of the road by simply painting a line on the tarmac - first of all it would have been a lot, lot cheaper, and secondly and most importantly it would allow cyclists to take the right turn to the industrial estate, safely.

2. How should you perform the right turn to the industrial estate then? That high curb on your way makes this a very dangerous manoeuvre on that busy road.

In my view this is a waste of taxpayers money. Thankfully, it is not mandatory to use these paths, so I am going to stay on the road for my own safety and convenience.

catastrophy

Totally agree with you re waste of money, it was the one road which was actually safe to cycle on.

ashleey

Did they fix the massive potholes though at the turning for vhi?

Seweryn

ashleey wrote: »

Did they fix the massive potholes though at the turning for vhi?

They did some, yes, there was a massive one at the roundabout.

Captain Havoc

There's much similar nonsense on my way home, cycle lanes where you've to give priority to cars pulling out onto the road, why would I cycle in the cycle lane? Does KK coco have a problem accepting bicycles as part of the traffic?

Seweryn

Captain Havoc wrote: »

There's much similar nonsense on my way home, cycle lanes where you've to give priority to cars pulling out onto the road, why would I cycle in the cycle lane? Does KK coco have a problem accepting bicycles as part of the traffic?

Sound like they have a problem :mad:.

Before the place I took the photo, the new cycle lane breaks every 20 or 50m with the yield sign, as there are entrances from garages and business. Do they really have priority over me cycling straight on the "main road"? Madness. These new lanes are very badly designed (were they "designed" at all?, it is doubtful).

Skrynesaver

Seweryn wrote: »

Sound like they have a problem :mad:.

Before the place I took the photo, the new cycle lane breaks every 20 or 50m with the yield sign, as there are entrances from garages and business. Do they really have priority over me cycling straight on the "main road"? Madness. These new lanes are very badly designed (were they "designed" at all?, it is doubtful).

You seem to think that cycle lanes are there for the convenience and safety of cyclists, this is an illusion, they're there to get bikes out of the way of traffic engineers as they drive to work

Iwannahurl

People cycling into an industrial estate? Ha ha, good one.

OP, what happens to the new "cycle path" at this point?

Captain Havoc

Iwannahurl wrote: »

People cycling into an industrial estate? Ha ha, good one.

OP, what happens to the new "cycle path" at this point?

They spent half a million euro painting two white lines between Kilkenny and Carlow, that's what happened to it.

Seweryn

Iwannahurl wrote: »

People cycling into an industrial estate? Ha ha, good one.

Industrial estates like that one are places of work for people and those people commute in and out of that place. What is "good one" about it, am I missing something?

Iwannahurl wrote: »

OP, what happens to the new "cycle path" at this point?

I am not sure what is the road layout at this particular spot, as do not pass this place on daily basis, but will check it out next time I am there.

Iwannahurl

I may have used the wrong smiley. My comment about industrial estates was intended as irony/sarcasm. I suspect many local authority engineers (and/or their consultants) are basically clueless about how to cater for cycle traffic, and when money is sent their way for junction modifications they just bung in whatever the latest official tick-box tells them to. It would never cross their mind to facilitate cyclists wishing to enter an industrial estate, because 'everyone' travels to such places by car, don't they?

The same nonsense design seems to have been applied on the other side of the main road, and I'll bet they have it set up for cyclists travelling on the "cycle path" to yield to vehicles exiting and entering the side road.

With regard to the bridge further along, my guess would be that cyclists are just dumped onto the road, or that the narrow path must somehow be shared with pedestrians.

Seweryn

Iwannahurl wrote: »

I may have used the wrong smiley. My comment about industrial estates was intended as irony/sarcasm. I suspect many local authority engineers (and/or their consultants) are basically clueless about how to cater for cycle traffic, and when money is sent their way for junction modifications they just bung in whatever the latest official tick-box tells them to. It would never cross their mind to facilitate cyclists wishing to enter an industrial estate, because 'everyone' travels to such places by car, don't they?

Agree. There is a massive amount of nonsense in these places. But the worst are the industrial units itself and their "facilities" like places to park a bike (non existent?, surely, we all drive :rolleyes:), showers (who would ever need them?), change rooms, lockers (poor people's dream). But at least we have almost endless acres of car parking spaces outside, so every single individual can arrive at work in own car, after travelling a mile or two.

Iwannahurl wrote: »

With regard to the bridge further along, my guess would be that cyclists are just dumped onto the road, or that the narrow path must somehow be shared with pedestrians.

I have the same feeling about that place. Problem is, what can we do to stop this madness? Surely, the driving Ireland will expect cyclists to use these useless paths.

Captain Havoc

Seweryn wrote: »

I have the same feeling about that place. Problem is, what can we do to stop this madness? Surely, the driving Ireland will expect cyclists to use these useless paths.

Of course, they pay road tax so they're entitled to be looked after. Maybe we should pay road tax also.

Seweryn

Captain Havoc wrote: »

Of course, they pay road tax so they're entitled to be looked after.

To be precise, nobody pays road tax in Ireland. We call it motor tax here to make sure there is no confusion that the money goes towards road maintenance. But, yeah, I know where you are coming from.

Captain Havoc wrote: »

Maybe we should pay road tax also.

You know what, I wouldn't mind paying it for the bike just for the sake of my mental health, so I wouldn't have to listen any more silly comments from my collogues that I disrupt their journeys while their drive to work on their roads.

mondeo

Seweryn wrote: »

To be precise, nobody pays road tax in Ireland. We call it motor tax here to make sure there is no confusion that the money goes towards road maintenance. But, yeah, I know where you are coming from.


You know what, I wouldn't mind paying it for the bike just for the sake of my mental health, so I wouldn't have to listen any more silly comments from my collogues that I disrupt their journeys while their drive to work on their roads.

And how much would you expect to pay for year if bicycle road tax came in?

Seweryn

mondeo wrote: »

And how much would you expect to pay for year if bicycle road tax came in?

I would say a fee of up to about €20 would be acceptable, considering that an electric motorbike is €35 to tax per year. And a single fee per cyclist rather than per each bike.

mondeo

Seweryn wrote: »

I would say a fee of up to about €20 would be acceptable, considering that an electric motorbike is €35 to tax per year. And a single fee per cyclist rather than per each bike.

€20 would be a reasonable figure.

Iwannahurl

Seweryn wrote: »

silly comments from my collogues that I disrupt their journeys while their drive to work on their roads.

Do they really say such things? It's never been said to me personally, though clearly it's a common enough attitude.

Seweryn

Iwannahurl wrote: »

Do they really say such things? It's never been said to me personally, though clearly it's a common enough attitude.

Well, it happened during a conversation at the lunch break, but even as it was stated as a joke, it comes from somewhere, it is social mentality of our car-centric type culture that we have in this country. We can't change it until we have more people cycling on daily basis.

humbert

Similar ones in Dundalk put on a previously wide safe street and when I want to take a right turn I frequently receive vitriolic abuse from drivers. Makes me angry every time I go near them.

Seweryn

Iwannahurl wrote: »

OP, what happens to the new "cycle path" at this point?

More less as expected:

Iwannahurl

Yes, that would be 21st Century Irish cycling provision alright. Bung in a few metres of impractical "cycle path", making sure to end it where cyclists probably need most protection. Also ensure that cyclists have to yield before rejoining the roadway that they needn't have left in the first place.

catastrophy

Part of me thinks that the problem with those responsible for designing the cycle paths is that they have a conceptualised view of cyclists. They don't differentiate between a modern recreational/sporting/commuting cyclist and those of yesteryear who amble along at pedestrian speed, happy to dismount to facilitate their progress. Not that there is anything wrong with slower paced cyclist but no heed is paid to the fact that even the most humble of road cyclists can average fairly significant speeds and having to weave/jump/hop while cycling is more than a nuisance.

Qualitymark

What would worry me about those bicycle paths is that the white line along the kerb - for those without 20-20 vision - disguises the fact that it *is* a kerb. I foresee some nasty accidents as people turn 'across' the white line, slip over the edge and have a devastating crash.

By the way, @mondeo, if no one has already said this, there is no such thing as 'road tax'; what car, van and truck drivers pay is a carbon tax, based on their pollution.

Captain Havoc

Qualitymark wrote: »

What would worry me about those bicycle paths is that the white line along the kerb - for those without 20-20 vision - disguises the fact that it *is* a kerb. I foresee some nasty accidents as people turn 'across' the white line, slip over the edge and have a devastating crash.

By the way, @mondeo, if no one has already said this, there is no such thing as 'road tax'; what car, van and truck drivers pay is a carbon tax, based on their pollution.

It was me that brought up road tax and my tongue was firmly in my cheek.

Qualitymark

Captain Havoc wrote: »

It was me that brought up road tax and my tongue was firmly in my cheek.

Oops! Apologies!

Seweryn

Just an update Guys...

KK Co.Co. have just finished building the cycle paths on the other side of the road. And here it is. I have had the pleasure of passing it for the first time this evening on the way home. However, considering my own safety I decided to stay on the road.

Iwannahurl

Nice.

Could be a candidate for CFotM: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/pete.meg/wcc/facility-of-the-month/September2012.htm

Valentine1

Seweryn wrote: »

FFS....

Zyzz

Were the builders Polish?






no just me then. :pac:

Alek

Zyzz wrote: »

Were the builders Polish?

WTF?

Seweryn

Zyzz wrote: »

Were the builders Polish?

I don't think so. They were on their tea breaks every half an hour.

Doctor Bob

Alek wrote: »

WTF?

Pole-ish, I'm assuming.

Alek

Right, I got the joke now.

"Was it built by Poles" would have worked better ;-)

Seweryn

Alek wrote: »

Right, I got the joke now.

"Was it built by Poles" would have worked better ;-)

No, it would not.

Does it matter what nationality was the person that laid the tarmac?

The Co. Co. Engineer that signed off the project is responsible for this, not the workers laying the curbs and tarmac.

Alek

Seweryn, I assume your'e Polish? Well, I am. And I have no problem with Polish jokes as long as I can recognise them as jokes.

Otherwise you are 100% correct.

ashleey

Look up the Director of Services for Kilkenny Co.Co. John Mulholland is his name. Could be worth sending him that photo. Unless of course the whole objective was a cycle path for the BMX Bandits to practice slalom.

Zyzz

Doctor Bob wrote: »

Pole-ish, I'm assuming.

We have one on the ball! :cool::D