Coca-Cola Bikes

I8A4RE

Does the organisation running the bikes advise customers how to use the bikes correctly? I saw a customer cycling on the footpath near Finns Corner and then proceed to cycle down the cycle lane in the wrong direction?

How/who allowed these bikes to end up taking parking spaces on South Mall and opposite College of Commerce? The city centre will be dead in a few years.

thomil

I8A4RE wrote: »

Does the organisation running the bikes advise customers how to use the bikes correctly? I saw a customer cycling on the footpath near Finns Corner and then proceed to cycle down the cycle lane in the wrong direction?

Yep, they do advise that on the website of the Cork bike scheme. There is a safety tab on that page, which quite clearly states that you should not cycle on footpaths. It will be interesting to see how that works out with the stations on Grand Parade and Patrick Street, as well as Emmet Place, but you cannot simply blame Coke Zero Bikes Cork for the stupidity of their users.
I had a similar issue by the way, when I was returning from Bishop Street to the station at Camden Quay on Saturday, when another system user with his bike cycled up the wrong way on the counterflow bike lane in South Main Street. Got a few unkind words from me.

I8A4RE wrote: »

How/who allowed these bikes to end up taking parking spaces on South Mall and opposite College of Commerce? The city centre will be dead in a few years.

Cork City Council as far as I know, and rightly so. Cork isn't built for cars, though some people still refuse to accept that fact. We have the road network of an early 20th century city, woefully inadequate for todays standards, even if every driver strictly adhered to the rules of the road, which is something that won't happen any time soon. Therefore, providing alternative transport options is simply prudent, Besides, judging from the stations at Coburg Street, and the CIT School of Music, that's just 4-6 parking spaces that are lost in each case, that wouldn't make a big change in the scheme of things.
As far as the city being dead in a few years, that risk is that much greater if there is no way at all to move around the city. With the road infrastructure being inadequate, nowhere near enough park&ride facilities or multilevel garages, and public transport a joke, a system like Coke Zero Bikes might just be the only thing that keeps the city centre from dying due to clogged transport arteries.

Sorry, didn't mean to waffle so long, but that topic really gets me going.

Effects

I8A4RE wrote: »

How/who allowed these bikes to end up taking parking spaces on South Mall and opposite College of Commerce? The city centre will be dead in a few years.

It's your attitude and people like you that will contribute to the death of your city, as you put it.

Milly33

I was just going to say jesus they are bikes not landrovers...I do agree people can be utterly silly with bike lanes, and cycling down the wrong way on one way streets but in fairness it is a really good scheme... I don't think people need an explanation on how to cycle a bike

Milly33

And sorry parking spaces!! really

I8A4RE

Effects wrote: »

It's your attitude and people like you that will contribute to the death of your city, as you put it.

How so? If you have statistical evidence please do show me!

"People like me" - Hard working family,who wishes to bring his family into town and spend it in the city centre but now I am discouraged to. As I don't rely or trust bus services, and the fact there is no bikes for families. Yes I am contributing to the death of Cork City......

I wonder who will be making money off the interest from the deposits?

I8A4RE

Milly33 wrote: »

And sorry parking spaces!! really

Yes where am I supposed to park?

Going Strong

I8A4RE wrote: »

Does the organisation running the bikes advise customers how to use the bikes correctly? I saw a customer cycling on the footpath near Finns Corner and then proceed to cycle down the cycle lane in the wrong direction?

How/who allowed these bikes to end up taking parking spaces on South Mall and opposite College of Commerce? The city centre will be dead in a few years.

I saw two people taking bikes opposite UCC yesterday afternoon and then cycling off towards town along the northside pavement of Western Road.

Milly33

Did you park in any of these spots before they put them in.. Really your sounding a bit high and mighty even trollish tis a fairly daft statement you are making..

Nerdlingr

I8A4RE wrote: »

Yes where am I supposed to park?

Are there not about 4-5 multi storey car parks all over the city?

Viper_JB

I8A4RE wrote: »

"People like me" - Hard working family,who wishes to bring his family into town and spend it in the city centre but now I am discouraged to. As I don't rely or trust bus services, and the fact there is no bikes for families. Yes I am contributing to the death of Cork City......

There's always the park and ride service, I hate driving and parking in town and it's only like a 5er at most for the day, not having a go or anything - just always has been a good option for me.

cgcsb

I8A4RE wrote: »

Does the organisation running the bikes advise customers how to use the bikes correctly? I saw a customer cycling on the footpath near Finns Corner and then proceed to cycle down the cycle lane in the wrong direction?

Did you consider the possibility that the person on the bike has no other safe way of going due to non-existent cycling facilities?

I8A4RE wrote: »

How/who allowed these bikes to end up taking parking spaces on South Mall and opposite College of Commerce? The city centre will be dead in a few years.

International experience the world over shows that cars kill cities with congestion and suburbanisation, with L.A being the key example. Cycles bring vibrancy to cities, see Amsterdam.

Take a bus into town if there is no parking.

cgcsb

I8A4RE wrote: »

Yes where am I supposed to park?

At home

The_Banker

The park and ride system in the Black Ash is an outstanding set up...
Park all day for €5...

Thats great value...

Steve_hooo

I8A4RE wrote: »

How so? If you have statistical evidence please do show me!

http://arrow.dit.ie/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1010&context=comlinkoth

wrote:

The perception of many city centre retail businesses is that a significant share of their customer base arrives to the city centre by car. In support of this assumption many store owners frequently lobby for the provision of greater road access and more parking in the city centre. On the contrary, increasing car priority can restrict overall access as well as disrupting the environmental quality of the city centre. This is a sensitive issue as retailing is a business vulnerable to competition from other locations and channels.

FrStone

cgcsb wrote: »

Take a bus into town if there is no parking.

How do you suggest those of us living in Donoughmore, Whitechurch, Berrings and the surrounding hinterlands take a bus? The bus service is non existent or extremely limited in many areas of the countryside yet a large amount of the population commute into town for work.

L.A. is a lovely city to work and live in by the way. The commute for many is better than a commute in Dublin. The city invested in its road networks substantially, they have synchronised their traffic lights completely. They didn't cheap it out and try to force those who aren't rich to hop on a bike, for most it is possible to commute by car in L.A.

Effects

I8A4RE wrote: »

Hthe fact there is no bikes for families. Yes I am contributing to the death of Cork City......

There is something wrong with you if you think you are entitled to drive into the city and bikes should be banned.

Try this:


or maybe try one of these

Effects

FrStone wrote: »

They didn't cheap it out and try to force those who aren't rich to hop on a bike.

That makes no sense.
I'm rich and I cycle as much as I can, especially if I'm going into the capital city.
No ones trying to force you onto a bike, you are being given an option. Don't blame the city for you not making an adequate living.

FrStone

Effects wrote: »

That makes no sense.
I'm rich and I cycle as much as I can, especially if I'm going into the capital city.
No ones trying to force you onto a bike, you are being given an option. Don't blame the city for you not making an adequate living.

Oh I'm not saying its gotten to that yet, the fact is most people who work a job can drive in and out to work in the city centre and park for a reasonable price. I'd hate to see the place become like London where the cheapest cars you see are Mercs, Audis, BMWs and the like. While the rest of the population are forced to bike it or tube it or bus it.

TINA1984

FrStone wrote: »

How do you suggest those of us living in Donoughmore, Whitechurch, Berrings and the surrounding hinterlands take a bus? The bus service is non existent or extremely limited in many areas of the countryside yet a large amount of the population commute into town for work.

No one forced you to live in an area with limited public transport.

FrStone wrote: »

L.A. is a lovely city to work and live in by the way. The commute for many is better than a commute in Dublin. The city invested in its road networks substantially, they have synchronised their traffic lights completely. They didn't cheap it out and try to force those who aren't rich to hop on a bike, for most it is possible to commute by car in L.A.

LA is a model for urban planners the world over in how NOT to develop a city. Even they, belatedly, have kind of come around to the idea that public transit options need to be fast tracked.

FrStone wrote: »

...I'd hate to see the place become like London where the cheapest cars you see are Mercs, Audis, BMWs and the like. While the rest of the population are forced to bike it or tube it or bus it.

Imagine it, Cork having the same level of fast, efficient public transit options that London has. The horror!

I8A4RE

Effects wrote: »

There is something wrong with you if you think you are entitled to drive into the city and bikes should be banned.

Try this:


or maybe try one of these

I am entitled to drive into the city centre. What's wrong with that?

Did I say anything about banning or use the word banning in the city centre? Please re-read my posts more accurately.

Roger Hassenforder

Effects wrote: »

There is something wrong with you if you think you are entitled to drive into the city and bikes should be banned.

he is entitled to drive into the city if he wants to.

However, his desire to drive should not take precedent over other forms of transport. if he wants to drive into town, drive around looking for a space, pay for parking, use discs and watch the clock etc, let him. The days when the car had priority are gone though. A cyclist has as much right to be on the road as him, and is as bound to the rules also.

the loss of a couple of spaces wont impact a bit, & and as previously stated, the bike stands are usually in places where you couldn't park anyway. Saw another one going in at the back of the circuit court house, Grattan street?

In fact, i used to be a bit like him, driving everywhere.
some kind of epiphany one day on my 4th lap of Cork looking for a parking space, kids going nuts in the car etc., when i said "f**k this". Buses, park and ride, cycle etc. from then on. still the muppets on the footpath, but there'd be these without the bike scheme.

its a fantastic scheme, and one unreported benefit of the scheme is there's more bikes now with lights around UCC rather than ninja cyclists on stealth bikes.

clerk

I8A4RE wrote: »

How/who allowed these bikes to end up taking parking spaces on South Mall and opposite College of Commerce? The city centre will be dead in a few years.

l see the negative reaction to your post but there are another circa 10 parking spaces gone on the South Mall, it will be nearly impossible to get parking down there now.

I actually agree with you. Try cycling home with a microwave or something. I've no issues with the bike scheme but bikes aren't for everybody, the elderly, babies etc. etc.

Taking away a load of spaces with no plan B is poor business for the City.

Mahon Point is mobbed every weekend. I was in the City on Sunday afternoon and it was dead.

I know the bike scheme is too cool for school at the minute but the lack of parking ( apart from mad expensive parking multi's ) is easily enough to keep thousands out of town every weekend.

Subpopulus

FrStone wrote: »

How do you suggest those of us living in Donoughmore, Whitechurch, Berrings and the surrounding hinterlands take a bus? The bus service is non existent or extremely limited in many areas of the countryside yet a large amount of the population commute into town for work.

I wouldn't suggest that you do. I grew up in the wilds of east Cork and the only practical way to visit the city was by car. And this is they way it is for most rural dwellers.

The point here is that there are far too many people in built-up areas driving into the city and clogging it up for the people who have little option but to drive. No one is suggesting completely excluding cars from the city, but rather they're saying that the roads should be used more efficiently, and given over in part to other road users. The city centre has been at full traffic capacity for about two decades now. Traffic is not going to get better by building more road capacity or continuing with the status quo. We can however, reduce congestion by prioritising public transport and active travel.

clerk

FrStone wrote: »

How do you suggest those of us living in Donoughmore, Whitechurch, Berrings and the surrounding hinterlands take a bus?

Are you mad, sure cycling in from Donoughmore, Whitechurch, Berrings in the pissing rain is great for your health. You can then buy a buy a TV in town and cycle home with it which will be even more exercise and sure the 2 kids can sit in a basket on the front of the bike.

Subpopulus

clerk wrote: »

I actually agree with you. Try cycling home with a microwave or something. I've no issues with the bike scheme but bikes aren't for everybody, the elderly, babies etc. etc.

Buy a cargo bike.

And cycling can be for everyone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSGx3HSjKDo

TINA1984

clerk wrote: »

...

Mahon Point is mobbed every weekend. I was in the City on Sunday afternoon and it was dead.

I know the bike scheme is too cool for school at the minute but the lack of parking ( apart from mad expensive parking multi's ) is easily enough to keep thousands out of town every weekend.

Given on street parking is free on Sundays, then surely there must be another reason the CC was 'dead' on Sunday, like the fact that it was a cold and wet February afternoon.

Or maybe you're right, the loss of a handful of parking spaces to the bike scheme is in fact the tipping point for the CC going into irretrievable decline....

clerk

Subpopulus wrote: »

Buy a cargo bike.

And cycling can be for everyone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSGx3HSjKDo

interesting clip...can see the strong benefit in it for people that need to use those vehicles. There's actually a neighbour of mine who uses one. Might see him whizzing down Patrick Street yet.

clerk

TINA1984 wrote: »

Given on street parking is free on Sundays, then surely there must be another reason the CC was 'dead' on Sunday, like the fact that it was a cold and wet February afternoon.

Or maybe you're right, the loss of a handful of parking spaces to the bike scheme is in fact the tipping point for the CC going into irretrievable decline....

l'm not being smart but it wasn't actually wet at all for the hour or two I was there and it was mild enough too for February. I then went straight up to Mahon Point and had to park in the overflow car park. Town was dead though - hardly my fault, l was in there buying some stuff.

As for the parking spaces my point is the lack of a plan B, it was only recently that on another thred someone was telling me that there was plenty or parking of South Mall for the new development on the Beamish site. There's very limited parking on South Mall and now there's even less. l'm waiting for someone to tell me we're all going to cycle into the event centre now.

I actually cycled to college for 4 Years back in the Day and l've no issues with bikes per se. In fact l avoid Patrick street in the car like the plague due to the very Cork tradition of trying to ram your car with their bodies. Hell - l might even use these bikes the odd time.

thomil

I8A4RE wrote: »

I am entitled to drive into the city centre. What's wrong with that?

The problem? The city itself, the road network from the 17th to 19th century that is nowhere near adequate for the amount of traffic going into it. Even the dozen or so parking spaces taken up by docking stations or cycle paths won't change that situation. Unless you're willing to flatten half the city to build additional garages or parking lots, that situation will actually only get worse.
So, what's the alternative? Barring the investment of tens of millions of Euros in a complete revamp of the public transport network in Cork (Which is pitiful at the moment), systems like Coke Zero Bikes are the only real way forward. In fact, I'll go out on a limb here and say that the bike system is the ONLY transport system in Cork that is representative or fit for the 21st century.

Lekrub

Effects wrote: »

There is something wrong with you if you think you are entitled to drive into the city and bikes should be banned.

Try this:

or maybe try one of these

What the hell is this??:eek: The size of a car but the danger of bike, sounds top class!

Milly33

now look were seeing sense...Think you should save your parking money and get the whole family registered for the bike scheme maybe it will make you feel better

FrStone

TINA1984 wrote: »

No one forced you to live in an area with limited public transport.

So we should uproot communities that have been in existence long before traffic was ever a problem. What is happening in reality is that most people living in these areas are avoiding town as much as possible and instead doing there business in the shopping centres in mahon and ballincollig.

Going Strong

clerk wrote: »

l'm not being smart but it wasn't actually wet at all for the hour or two I was there and it was mild enough too for February. I then went straight up to Mahon Point and had to park in the overflow car park. Town was dead though - hardly my fault, l was in there buying some stuff.

As for the parking spaces my point is the lack of a plan B, it was only recently that on another thred someone was telling me that there was plenty or parking of South Mall for the new development on the Beamish site. There's very limited parking on South Mall and now there's even less. l'm waiting for someone to tell me we're all going to cycle into the event centre now.

I actually cycled to college for 4 Years back in the Day and l've no issues with bikes per se. In fact l avoid Patrick street in the car like the plague due to the very Cork tradition of trying to ram your car with their bodies. Hell - l might even use these bikes the odd time.

Cork City centre is an odd one. I live not too far out (15-20 minutes walk) so pop in and out at all odd times. There never seems to be any pattern to how busy or empty the place can be. A balmy summer Saturday morning and it's like a ghost town or a wet and windy Wednesday in April and it's crammed. Talking to people working in shops and they say the same - it's unpredictable.

The only constant refrain I get is from people who live in the greater Cork catchment area who get the notion that the city centre is like Damascus, only worse, when it comes to violence and thuggery - mostly thanks to lurid media nonsense.

pwurple

Ah jeez, Cork is very safe. Honest to goodness I have only ever seen a tiny bit of trouble, and that was 3am after clubs are getting twisted people out. Daytime it's really fine. Roma beggers alright, but no-one aggressive.

Compare that to Dublin, where I've walked out of the train station and come across Mr Junkie shooting up on the side of the street within about 3 minutes.

j8wk2feszrnpao

OP, don't worry about the scheme. It's not going to affect the city in a negative way (I see it as a good thing when done right). There are far bigger factors (i.e. rates) that will influence the running of the businesses in the city centre.
There remains plenty of car parking options in the city for anyone that wants to drive in.

cgcsb wrote: »

International experience the world over shows that cars kill cities with congestion and suburbanisation, with L.A being the key example.

Was in LA last year. Saw no bikes (only out by Malibu). Drove straight into the centre in little time; got immediate parking opposite the Chinese Theatre. If there's a terrible congestion problem in LA, I didn't notice it there over three days.

cgcsb wrote: »

Cycles bring vibrancy to cities, see Amsterdam.

I agree about Amsterdam, but it's not Cork and isn't a good example.

TheChizler

cgcsb wrote: »

Did you consider the possibility that the person on the bike has no other safe way of going due to non-existent cycling facilities?

In fairness unless your mammy still dresses you in the mornings there's no excuse for cycling on the footpath.

Going Strong

TheChizler wrote: »

In fairness unless your mammy still dresses you in the mornings there's no excuse for cycling on the footpath.

As a pedestrian, it's one of my pet hates.

Milly33

It would annoy me too but not as much as bloody joggers on the road,bugs the crap out of me...

TheChizler

Going Strong wrote: »

As a pedestrian, it's one of my pet hates.

As a person who cycles (when my bike isn't missing parts, I should really fix it...) it's one of my pet hates.

SpaceTime

I don't get this overblown notion that loss of maybe 20 car parking spaces in the whole city is a big deal. Most of the bike stations went in on already paved areas not car parking anyway and the pavement works around the edges of of of the city centre eg Lower Glanmire Road at Kent Station are very welcome developments.

It's not Manhattan or London and you've a load of car parking options in town that people don't seem to even consider.

I park at the City Hall or up at the multistorey on Western Road. There's also often tons of parking on Wellington Road and slightly south of the city centre too.

You don't need to park in Brown Thomas. I think part of the issue is people from "down the country" who have small town mentality that means you park outside the shop you're going to. Cities don't work like that. You'll have to either park very slightly outside the city centre and walk a whopping 3 to 5 mins or use park and ride.

I genuinely don't find Cork parking difficult or challenging at all but I rarely attempt to park in the city centre.

I really think the road infrastructure in Cork is as good or better than most similarly sized EU cities. It's not possible to redesign old cities like this for cars. They're built as pedestrian and public transit spaces and are best used that way.

What needs to be improved is the bus network. Things like having more frequent services, use of back doors, encouragement to use leap cards and maybe Luas style "trust" system ticketing would help.

Use of BRT or even limited use of trams would be great too.

pwurple

Sort the bus network is right. Two goddamned 202's sailed past me this morning with SORRY BUS FULL on the front of them. Very handy guys.

cgcsb

munstermagic11 wrote: »

Was in LA last year. Saw no bikes (only out by Malibu). Drove straight into the centre in little time; got immediate parking opposite the Chinese Theatre. If there's a terrible congestion problem in LA, I didn't notice it there over three days.

Obviously you weren't paying close enough attention, it's a sh*t hole with no centre

munstermagic11 wrote: »

I agree about Amsterdam, but it's not Cork and isn't a good example.

Why is it not a good example? because you don't agree with the outcome?

j8wk2feszrnpao

cgcsb wrote: »

Obviously you weren't paying close enough attention, it's a sh*t hole with no centre

Calm down. Just giving my opinion on it from the three days I was there. Not sure why you've to get so upset over it.

cgcsb wrote: »

Why is it not a good example?

Why not?
It's extremely flat, unlike Cork.
It has a culture of cycling, unlike Cork.
It has less rain and less days of rain, compared to Cork.

cgcsb wrote: »

because you don't agree with the outcome?

What outcome are you on about? How did you manage to jump to a conclusion that I'm not happy with it when I didn't even comment on it?

I'm happy that the new bike scheme came Cork, and I hope it can be implemented correctly for all users. I no longer live in the city, but I'm signed up anyway.

54kroc

I thought Amsterdam gets more days of rain than here?

j8wk2feszrnpao

54kroc wrote: »

I thought Amsterdam gets more days of rain than here?

Not from the data I've seen.
It been a while since I posted it.

Edit, found it.

munstermagic11 wrote: »

54kroc

You're spot on, I was full sure I was right.

Paz-CCFC

54kroc wrote: »

You're spot on, I was full sure I was right.

You were possibly thinking of the overall average of Ireland or the average in more sheltered parts of the country in the midlands/east/northeast. They'd be more comparable to the averages in the Netherlands. About 770mm annual rainfall in Amsterdam vs 780mm in Dublin. The Dutch complain as much as we do about the rain.

Cork is a bit more at 1,200-1,300mm a year. There are more days of rain in Ireland, but that also means that there are plenty of days where the rain is light or infrequent to the extent that it wouldn't be a problem. I walk to work every day and very rarely would the rain be so heavy that I'd have to take the bus. An umbrella for walking and a water proof clothes for cycling and it's grand. You'd have to bring a change of a shirt/t-shirt or pack your suit up and change when you get there, but it's not really a lot of hassle.

Subpopulus

munstermagic11 wrote: »

It's extremely flat, unlike Cork.
It has a culture of cycling, unlike Cork.
It has less rain and less days of rain, compared to Cork.

On the whole, Cork is reasonably level. I cycle from St. Lukes to Carraigrohane daily and 90% of my journey is flat as a pancake. 5% is downhill, and 5% is uphill on the way home. Cycling actually has a 4% modal share for the area around St Lukes - Ballyhooly Road, which is actually reasonably high - it's around 2% in Blackrock. So hills aren't the insuperable issue most people think they are.

Saying that Cork has no culture of cycling is an odd argument, the answer to which is - so what? Is that a reason not to try and create one? In any case, there was a culture of cycling until relatively recently. The 1986 census was the first to record travel modes, and cycling made up 8% of all commuting journeys in Cork. Some areas like Ballyphehane had a 22% modal share for cycling. In 2001 it was about 1.5% to 2%. In 2011 that was 2.5%. Now it's probably greater than 3%, and rising fast.

Notably, cycling had already seen major decline by the 80's. Cycling probably made up a quarter or a third of all trips in Cork back in the 50s and 60s. In the 1970s, cycling levels in Ireland were almost the same as in the Netherlands. Except The Netherlands decided to build bike infrastructure and we didn't. Cycling levels climbed in The Netherlands, and plummeted here.

The rain argument is one I don't buy. I've cycled across the city daily since October, I've never missed a trip because of rain and I've never been soaked once. A bit damp now and again, but nothing bad. I use the rainfall radar to time my journeys to hit breaks in the rainfall, and you realise that light rain is not a problem at all with a good coat. Use mudguards too.

54kroc

nah I was just wrong!
Those of you who cycle into work are you able to take a shower when you get there?

Subpopulus

54kroc wrote: »

nah I was just wrong!
Those of you who cycle into work are you able to take a shower when you get there?

No. There's no need. Unless you're extremely unfit, cycling massive distances, or you're going extremely fast and overexerting yourself, then I don't see how you'd get so sweaty so as to need a shower. Just take it easy, or wear lighter clothes. Millions of people cycle daily in Denmark and the Netherlands and don't have to shower as soon as they get to work.