Mullingar - Athlone Greenway progress?

Just a little Samba

Hey all,

Just wondering does anyone know how this is progressing and is it still due to open this summer?

Very hard find information online.

I'd read it eventually plans to extend to Maynooth via the canal and possibly Dublin city centre down the line. Would be a nice day on the bike if it ever gets that far!

I said

Just a little Samba wrote: »

Hey all,

Just wondering does anyone know how this is progressing and is it still due to open this summer?

Very hard find information online.

I'd read it eventually plans to extend to Maynooth via the canal and possibly Dublin city centre down the line. Would be a nice day on the bike if it ever gets that far!

I'm not to far from a section of it still no Tarmac laid from what I can see.
It is being readied for it though

nice_guy80

at least there'll be bicycles going along the route, instead of ghost trains

Rasmus

Last I read they were starting work this summer.

Just a little Samba

Rasmus wrote: »

Last I read they were starting work this summer.

Work started a long time ago. It was meant to open in July this year.

Rasmus

Just a little Samba wrote: »

Work started a long time ago. It was meant to open in July this year.

I was thinking in particular about the Athlone section at Garrycastle. I can't remember where I read it though.

Just a little Samba

Rasmus wrote: »

I was thinking in particular about the Athlone section at Garrycastle. I can't remember where I read it though.

Ah right. I was of the belief that the section as far as Garycastle would be completed by mid summer with the section into the town itself being completed by the following summer.

Rasmus

Just a little Samba wrote: »

Ah right. I was of the belief that the section as far as Garycastle would be completed by mid summer with the section into the town itself being completed by the following summer.

That would seem to make sense as they don't appear to be doing anything over there (other than the pedestrian walkway by the old bridge).

Just a little Samba

Just saw this on the Westmeath Independant's facebook page, also passed the entrence/start beside the spar in garrycastle the other day, looks like it just needs to have the top layer of pavement laid and it'll be good to go.

Looks like the section from Athlone on to Galway might be a few years down the line yet, but sure hopefully the section about to open gets good use!

The cycling and walking options available to people in Westmeath are about to receive a massive boost with the opening this summer of a new cycleway linking the county’s two biggest towns.

The cycleway from Mullingar to the Garrycastle area of Athlone is nearing completion and Westmeath County Council has said that, if all goes according to plan, it will be opened to the public in mid-July.

- See more at: http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/news/roundup/articles/2015/05/18/4037723-countdown-is-on-to-opening-of-athlone-to-mullingar-cycleway/#sthash.LVT4WTFY.dpuf

Rasmus

Just a little Samba wrote: »

Just saw this on the Westmeath Independant's facebook page, also passed the entrence/start beside the spar in garrycastle the other day, looks like it just needs to have the top layer of pavement laid and it'll be good to go.

Looks like the section from Athlone on to Galway might be a few years down the line yet, but sure hopefully the section about to open gets good use!

It's great news - I hope that the next section is not too far away.

Just a little Samba

I don't really understand why they couldn't have gone the extra few KMs as far as the level crossing on the Ballymahon road and brought the greenway right into town instead of having it end out in Garycastle, but I suppose they have their reasons.

If it ended at the Ballymahon road you'd be opening it up to a collection of massive residential areaa like Beechpark, retreat, auburn heights and so on, be perfect for families wanting to take kids on a nice safe off road spin on the bike instead of making them go out to Garycastle first.

Rasmus

Just a little Samba wrote: »

I don't really understand why they couldn't have gone the extra few KMs as far as the level crossing on the Ballymahon road and brought the greenway right into town instead of having it end out in Garycastle, but I suppose they have their reasons.

If it ended at the Ballymahon road you'd be opening it up to a collection of massive residential areaa like Beechpark, retreat, auburn heights and so on, be perfect for families wanting to take kids on a nice safe off road spin on the bike instead of making them go out to Garycastle first.

I know, I wonder if it is that the town centre zoning isn't finalised yet. Imagine how amazing it would be if it went to town and past the secondary schools!

Salmon

Any idea what kind of surface it'll be finished with? Doubt it's tarmac, maybe chippings sprayed with tar! Anyone know?

Just a little Samba

I'd say it will be the same sort of small gravel with tar they have on the greenway in Mayo to keep it easy to maintain.

TheBody

What is the length of this cycleway?

Just a little Samba

TheBody wrote: »

What is the length of this cycleway?

Approx 40km if I recall correctly.

TheBody

Just a little Samba wrote: »

Approx 40km if I recall correctly.

Sounds great! This is one trip I'll be making this summer.

Just a little Samba

TheBody wrote: »

Sounds great! This is one trip I'll be making this summer.

I've a a few friends on the other end of it, so hoping to cycle there, have a night out and cycle home the next day as a little weekend trip.

Salmon

Just a little Samba wrote: »

I'd say it will be the same sort of small gravel with tar they have on the greenway in Mayo to keep it easy to maintain.

I see! Is the mayo cycleway suitable for racers i.e. serious cyclists, or is it mostly leisure type bicycles?

Just a little Samba

Salmon wrote: »

I see! Is the mayo cycleway suitable for racers i.e. serious cyclists, or is it mostly leisure type bicycles?

It's completely geared towards leisure cycling. You can do it on a bike with skinny (23mm) tyres but it's a lot more comfortable on a hybrid or touring or cyclocross bike with wider tyres and a more upright seating position.
the main advantage this should have over mayo for road bikes is that it won't have cattle grids to cross so it should be more road bike friendly, but it's not perfectly flat asphalt, so don't be expecting to be tipping along at 30kmph or using it as a training spin.

demanufactured

So will you have to stop in moate station when the lights are red and let the other cyclists go in the opposite direction lol

Just a little Samba

demanufactured wrote: »

So will you have to stop in moate station when the lights are red and let the other cyclists go in the opposite direction lol

It's wide enough for several bikes to pass eachother by the lookds of it, be grand. Only holdups will be the odd level crossing, thankfully

Probably be a few kissing gates along it to deter kids on motorbikes and horses.

Long Gone

I assume you can take motorcycles onto the cycleway ?

flazio

Long Gone wrote: »

I assume you can take motorcycles onto the cycleway ?

Probably not a good idea.

Just a little Samba

Long Gone wrote: »

I assume you can take motorcycles onto the cycleway ?

Nope, it's dedicated to cyclists and walker, the surface wouldn't be designed to stand up to motorised vehicles.

Why would anyone want to bring a motorcycle on to it anyway?

bovis

FYI. Here's a personal blog that I am hoping to keep up to date with any relevant news / updates on the Dublin to Galway greenway (which the Athlone to Mullingar is part of).

http://www.dublingalwaygreenway.com

Some people on this thread might find it useful. Please send on any updates or photos.

Thanks

Sunny Dayz

Does anyone know if there are any detailed maps of the greenway? With access points etc. Or am I getting ahead of myself?!

pointer28

TheBody wrote: »

What is the length of this cycleway?

I read somewhere it's 42k.

Long Gone

Just a little Samba wrote: »

Nope, it's dedicated to cyclists and walker, the surface wouldn't be designed to stand up to motorised vehicles.

Why would anyone want to bring a motorcycle on to it anyway?

Why would anyone want to bring a pushbike on it ? - It's too far to pushbike it from Athlone to Mullingar. If they allowed motorbikes / quads on it it would be a safe alternative way of making the journey and avoid you having to travel on the main roads which are a bit dangerous on a motorcycle.

Thargor

Athlone to Mullingar too far for a pushbike? Im not even fully fit and Ive done Mullingar to Dublin on the Canal. 42km is nothing when its flat as a pancake. There will be more people cycling that route than walking it.

pointer28

Long Gone wrote: »

Why would anyone want to bring a pushbike on it ? - It's too far to pushbike it from Athlone to Mullingar. If they allowed motorbikes / quads on it it would be a safe alternative way of making the journey and avoid you having to travel on the main roads which are a bit dangerous on a motorcycle.

Nonsense,

It's 42k which is a couple of hours on a bike even for the most unfit person. The idea of the Greenway is to a provide safe, recreational cycling, walking, running space for the people of Athlone and Mullingar, and not a rat run for motorbikes.

BTW, I love motorbikes but the Greenway is no place for them, it'd be like riding on a footpath. 20 km/h is more than fast enough for anyone to be travelling on a shared greenway and that would just be pure torture on a motorbike.

When they re-did the canal path from Ballinea - Shandonagh a few years ago a couple of w#nkers on motorbikes had the place torn up doing donuts and being idiots before the gates were installed.

Not trying to start a row and most bikers are sensible and don't carry on like this, but there's always one idiot.

bovis

Hi Sunny Dayz,

The Westmeath section (between the Meath County Border to Coolnahay Bridge) and the section from Ashtown to Castleknock are the only sections that are current at "Greenway" standard. The other sections are at various stages of stakeholder consultation, planning or construction. The next section to open is the Mullingar to Athlone section (more precisely the Ballina to Garycastle section) is due to open in July 2015.

Here's a brochure produced by Westmeath County Council on the open section.
https://www.westmeathcoco.ie/en/media/Westmeath%20Royal%20Canal%20Greenway.pdf

No - you're not getting a head of yourself. Be sure to get out and use the open sections. People using it will show "the powers that be" that there's benefit in funding the rest of it.

Sunny Dayz wrote: »

Does anyone know if there are any detailed maps of the greenway? With access points etc. Or am I getting ahead of myself?!

nice_guy80

Looking forward to this

lots of nice pubs along the way!

Just a little Samba

Long Gone wrote: »

Why would anyone want to bring a pushbike on it ? - It's too far to pushbike it from Athlone to Mullingar. If they allowed motorbikes / quads on it it would be a safe alternative way of making the journey and avoid you having to travel on the main roads which are a bit dangerous on a motorcycle.

If you can't safely ride a motorbike on a main road you probably shouldn't be riding a motorbike.

demanufactured

Walked from Athlone to Moate as a kid.. Will be great to be able to do that again on a bike.

Long Gone

Just a little Samba wrote: »

If you can't safely ride a motorbike on a main road you probably shouldn't be riding a motorbike.

What do you know about riding motorcycles ? ? :rolleyes: - If you'd ever riden one you'd know that the biggest danger comes not from riding the bike but from the idiocy of other moron motorists..... Problem on a motorcycle is that no matter how experienced or careful a rider you are you are always far too vulnerable and unprotected from other road users.

pointer28

Long Gone wrote: »

What do you know about walking ? ? :rolleyes: - If you'd ever walked you'd know that the biggest danger comes not from walking but from the idiocy of motorcycles on footpaths..... Problem walking is that no matter how experienced or careful a walker you are you are always far too vulnerable and unprotected from motorcycles on footpaths.

Like I said before, I'm not anti motorcycles, but a footpath is no place for riding them. Your argument about being in danger from other road users also applies to everyone else that uses the roads whether on bicyles, driving a car, riding a horse etc etc etc. I don't see while motorcyclists should be allowed special treatment.

demanufactured

Drove through Moate this evening... Had a look at the level crossing on the Mount Temple Rd.... Looks good.
People using it for walking already.

Redbishop

nice_guy80 wrote: »

Looking forward to this

lots of nice pubs along the way!

Yes, its a great initiative and am looking forward to it myself, though if on the bike the pubs might just see me for grub. Drinking is a no no when cycling too.
Enjoy.:)

Angron

Right. Roosterman71, do not call people trolls, it only serves to derail threads and to mock people.

Pointer28, while it is clear that you edited the original post when quoting, it doesn't stand up to comparisons of the original point and comes across more as trying to annoy the original poster in this context.

Long Gone, in future if you are reporting posts, do not announce it on thread as that can also take things off topic, as well as rile other posters up. Reporting the post alone will be enough.

Some posts have been deleted, and I will be keeping a close eye on this thread.

Angron

For the record, from what I've read of the Greenway it seems like it will be a pedestrian and cyclist route, so I'd be extremely surprised to find motorbikes or the like being allowed on the route. It would simply present too much danger for pedestrians in my eyes.

Mearings

Long Gone wrote: »

Why would anyone want to bring a pushbike on it ? - It's too far to pushbike it from Athlone to Mullingar. If they allowed motorbikes / quads on it it would be a safe alternative way of making the journey and avoid you having to travel on the main roads which are a bit dangerous on a motorcycle.

Quite right. Bicycles should use the M6 & N52 if they wish to go to Mullingar.

nice_guy80

Mearings wrote: »

Quite right. Bicycles should use the M6 & N52 if they wish to go to Mullingar.

What?

Just a little Samba

Mearings wrote: »

Quite right. Bicycles should use the M6 & N52 if they wish to go to Mullingar.

So cyclists shouldn't use the cycleway which was built be be a stretch of a Dublin to Galway cycleway in a bid to promote cycletourism in Ireland?

Makes perfect sense...

pointer28

Mearings wrote: »

Quite right. Bicycles should use the M6 & N52 if they wish to go to Mullingar.

Bicycles are banned from M roads, and rightly so, just as motorcycles should be banned from Greenways.

BoB_BoT

pointer28 wrote: »

Bicycles are banned from M roads, and rightly so, just as motorcycles should be banned from Greenways.

I could be wrong, but I think he was being sarcastic.

Rasmus

Ok I know this is a bit off topic, but since we're talking bicycles, does it bother anyone else when cyclists use the main new Garrycastle bypass bridge when there is a perfectly good cycle lane right beside it? They hold up traffic and I can't see how it could be faster.

roosterman71

I do this myself. The reason being that the path is usually covered in dirt/small stones/glass which isn't on the road. Any of those can be a disaster for the tyres on racers if they are sharp enough.

Also, in my defence, once I get up the hill, I'd be clocking 50km/h on the way down as far as the college/spar so shouldn't be holding up traffic

Rasmus

roosterman71 wrote: »

I do this myself. The reason being that the path is usually covered in dirt/small stones/glass which isn't on the road. Any of those can be a disaster for the tyres on racers if they are sharp enough.

Also, in my defence, once I get up the hill, I'd be clocking 50km/h on the way down as far as the college/spar so shouldn't be holding up traffic

Fair enough! Thanks for the feedback!

Just a little Samba

Rasmus wrote: »

Ok I know this is a bit off topic, but since we're talking bicycles, does it bother anyone else when cyclists use the main new Garrycastle bypass bridge when there is a perfectly good cycle lane right beside it? They hold up traffic and I can't see how it could be faster.

That "cycle path" is a joke. It's not fit for purpose. It's only marginally better than the joke on the ballymahon Road where they just painted a line down the middle of the footpath.

Rasmus

Just a little Samba wrote: »

That "cycle path" is a joke. It's not fit for purpose. It's only marginally better than the joke on the ballymahon Road where they just painted a line down the middle of the footpath.

I'm glad I asked. It's good to know the reasoning behind it now.