Clontarf to Merrion Sq East

mrcheez

Recommend a route from Clontarf to Merrion Sq East, and back again?

I'd prefer to skip that whole stretch from Fairview to the city as the road can be pretty dangerous.

I'm thinking of hugging the coast cycle lane, passing Eastpoint Business Park, then heading down East Wall Rd... eventually crossing the Samuel Beckett bridge.

I guess the sections I'm unsure of are:
East Wall -> Samuel Beckett
Samuel Beckett -> Merrion Sq East

as there are a lot of minor roads.

Leroy42

Its not really dangerous, any more than anywhere else. One good thing about the fairview to town main route is that there are loads of cyclists using it so traffic is well used to it. In addition, the traffic is usually moving fairly slow meaning less chance of you getting into an accident.

Rather than look for ways to avoid the main roads, why not try it out at an easy pace for a few days. You will soon get to know the 'pinch-points', those areas more likely to cause problems. Heading out of town through Fairview at Malahide Road junction being a case in point. Always a bit tricky here as cars want to move lanes etc but you get used to it.

At the end of the day, if you feel uncomfortable in a situation simply slow down/stop and wait for whatever is causing the issue to move on.

Being summer traffic volumes are down somewhat anyway. I'm not saying don't use an alternative route, go whatever way you want, just don't use it simply because you are worried about the traffic.

mrcheez

I've used the Fairview to City route for 5 years and have to say "No sir I don't like it". Too many close calls especially at lovely sections after Annesly Bridge (N Strand Road etc).

I tried out the East Wall -> Samuel Beckett a while ago and it's more direct on the route I plan to go, but there are so many subroads I was curious if someone could recommend the fastest.

This will be one I'll be taking to work in mornings/evenings for next few years.

If not I can spend an hour or so trying out different routes but thought someone here might save me a bit of time if they're experienced on the stretch.

Tenzor07

Nowt wrong with the direct route! Fairview Park >> Amiens st. >> City Quay >> Westland row >> Merrion.

Fairview park bus lane is perfect for Interval training by staying ahead of bus's and taxi's, the latter will give you a friendly beep if they think you are not right at your Vo2 max.
North Strand bridge is a nice little hill for sprint training also, make sure to get up out of the saddle and keep pedalling at the top.
City quay is also a great sprint segment, see how you compare to the Pro's on strava from the Giro!
Westland row is usually good for playing avoid the pedestrian, especially when there's no car or van behind you, then you can try avoid 50 all at once! (cos all the vans are parked in the cycle lane)

butterworth

I suppose you could turn right from East Wall Rd to East Rd, saving a few hundred metres by the time it brings you back to the quays. The road was closed for a while but it's opened up again. After that, Beckett bridge > Macken St > Grattan St > Merrion Square I guess? I tried commuting from Clontarf to the same area via East Wall Rd for a while and honestly I just found it more hassle than the direct route of Fairview Park > North Strand route despite the relatively high amount of other cyclists.

mrcheez

I dunno I'm pretty sick of North Strand road, I'd rather take a 3 min detour on the way than face another few years of it

brocbrocach

Ok here's a possible route to Beckett bridge:
you could take the Alfie Byrne on to East Wall Rd, go along past Aldi and turn right at the traffic lights near the pub (forget the name). Go down that street and up over the humpback bridge then turn right (there's roadworks there at the moment but not much delay on a bike). That'll bring you past Grand Canal Station and down to the end of Sherrif st so you can join the good cycleway from there to the bridge.
They're definitely quieter roads at night but not sure about peak hours.

NeedMoreGears

I commute past Clontarf to Merrion Square. My preferred route is along the cycle track, left on Alfie Byrne Road, left on East Wall road, right into East road (and over the hump back bridge), right onto Upper Sherriff street, left towards the Sam Beckett bridge, right along the river then left up Lime street, Pearse street, onto Holles street and then onto Merrion square.

The only tricky bit is getting in the right lane on East Wall road and the right turn on the bridge. I find it best to wait for the pedestrian lights and turn then. Just take it easy as the pedestrian/cycle lane interaction is a bit of a mess.


You can return the same way as there is a contra flow cycle lane along the river south side which gets you from Lime street onto the bridge

mrcheez

NeedMoreGears wrote: »

I commute past Clontarf to Merrion Square. My preferred route is along the cycle track, left on Alfie Byrne Road, left on East Wall road, right into East road (and over the hump back bridge), right onto Upper Sherriff street, left towards the Sam Beckett bridge, right along the river then left up Lime street, Pearse street, onto Holles street and then onto Merrion square.

The only tricky bit is getting in the right lane on East Wall road and the right turn on the bridge. I find it best to wait for the pedestrian lights and turn then. Just take it easy as the pedestrian/cycle lane interaction is a bit of a mess.


You can return the same way as there is a contra flow cycle lane along the river south side which gets you from Lime street onto the bridge

Sounds about right, wouldn't have thought of going up Lime St, was considering Cardiff Lane and backtracking.

The traffic lights at the Samuel Beckett / N Wall Quay seem a bit of a mess all right. I swear I waited there for several minutes for the bike light to go Green (meanwhile 99% of cyclists just ploughed on through the red, or the pedestrian green). The Guild St / Mayor Street junction is similar. (this is heading in direction back to Clontarf)