Christmas Park and Ride

Whereisgalway

Think Galway city council are correct by encouraging people to use the park and ride system over the Christmas period rather than offering free city centre parking like Limerick. Last thing we need is more cars in the city centre. Does anyone know how much the park and ride costs? Hopefully it's free or else it's a money making scam out of GCC

http://jrnl.ie/2464176

Tuesday_Girl

Last year it was EUR3 return

http://www.galwaycity.ie/park-and-ride-2/

No details yet on this years setup.

snubbleste

Last year it was €3 all in, parking, 2 bus journeys.
Yet still people drove into town and whined & moaned about being stuck in their tin box surrounded by other tin boxes

blond45

snubbleste wrote: »

Last year it was €3 all in, parking, 2 bus journeys.
Yet still people drove into town and whined & moaned about being stuck in their tin box surrounded by other tin boxes

but laugh at people trying to park their tin box in a bean can space..

Whereisgalway

Tuesday_Girl wrote: »

Last year it was EUR3 return

http://www.galwaycity.ie/park-and-ride-2/

No details yet on this years setup.

Chances are it runs a tidy profit for the fat cats in city halls Christmas shindig

If they very serious abt reducing the number of cars in the city centre around the festive period they'd have it available for free

biko

A guess is that if they don't charge the taxpayer would to pick up the bill.

Mrs OBumble

Whereisgalway wrote: »

Chances are it runs a tidy profit for the fat cats in city halls Christmas shindig

If they very serious abt reducing the number of cars in the city centre around the festive period they'd have it available for free

Galway City Council's Adopted Annual Budget 2015 is available here: http://www.galwaycity.ie/uploads/downloads/budgets_financials/AdoptedBudget2015.pdf

The text of this says "Continuation of Christmas Park & Ride & provision of free parking initiative in advance of same. " (page 12)

The budget tables do not include any specific numbers for it though.

I can remember seeing mid-year newspaper articles about the final cost to the council being around 20k - but google isn't finding them for me at the moment.




It does seem odd that the Christmas Market has been open for a week, but there's not been any mention of the P&R, and that the council's website still has the 2014 service information on it.

I will be scrutinising tomorrow's GalwayInfo (and I have a P&R info post alll ready to go - just need to slot the relevant facts into it).

galwaycyclist

Whereisgalway wrote: »

Chances are it runs a tidy profit for the fat cats in city halls Christmas shindig

If they very serious abt reducing the number of cars in the city centre around the festive period they'd have it available for free

If they were serious about reducing the number of cars in the city they would remove car parking spaces from the city centre and move them permanently to Park and Ride sites.

Mrs OBumble

Nothing in today's Indo.

If there's nothing in the Advertiser, I'll pop some questions on Twitter tomorrow.

TerrorFirmer

It runs from Dec 5th until 23rd. So a bit later this year, but otherwise it seems the same. Might be extended this year to the New Year but that's not certain yet.

TerrorFirmer

It's €3 and will run also from the 28th to the 3rd.

Mrs OBumble

So I'd expect the publicity to be in next week's paper.

cgcsb

Don't see why it's not run year round.

snubbleste

snubbleste wrote: »

Last year it was €3 all in, parking, 2 bus journeys.
Yet still people drove into town and whined & moaned about being stuck in their tin box surrounded by other tin boxes

Why would I want to have the hassle of going out of my way to a park and ride when I can drive straight into town coupled with having to carry stuff around all day when shopping rather than drop things back to the car or have to carry a heap of stuff onto a bus. That leaving out the fact you might be be buying things that are too heavy to carry.

I don't know why anyone would want to use park and ride.

cgcsb

Saanvi Puny Clover wrote: »

Why would I want to have the hassle of going out of my way to a park and ride when I can drive straight into town coupled with having to carry stuff around all day when shopping rather than drop things back to the car or have to carry a heap of stuff onto a bus. That leaving out the fact you might be be buying things that are too heavy to carry.

I don't know why anyone would want to use park and ride.

Well primarily to discourage car commuting to town for work in addition to offering shoppers an alternative to the car, then look at making certain streets bus only.

cgcsb

cgcsb wrote: »

Well primarily to discourage car commuting to town for work in addition to offering shoppers an alternative to the car, then look at making certain streets bus only.

Except most people want their car with them not parked in a park and ride somewhere outside town.

cgcsb

Saanvi Puny Clover wrote: »

Except most people want their car with them not parked in a park and ride somewhere outside town.

So? I want a gold plated toilet but it's probably not on the cards. Galway has to start taking measures to reduce the amount of cars coming in. Park and rides and car bans on most streets would go someway towards sorting this out.

cgcsb

cgcsb wrote: »

So? I want a gold plated toilet but it's probably not on the cards. Galway has to start taking measures to reduce the amount of cars coming in. Park and rides and car bans on most streets would go someway towards sorting this out.

Or do the sensible thing and get the bypass started ASAP so only cars that need to be in the city are and others can go around. It's a step backwards for society to be forced onto buses, closing streets etc when we have cars to bring us around. Cars are the only suitable mode of transport for most people travelling in from outside the city and its totally impractical for most to use a park and ride instead of driving close to their destination.

Mrs OBumble

Yawn. I'll be back when I have some more P&R details to share with those that want them.

Arguments with car-addicts are so yesterday.

what_traffic

cgcsb wrote: »

Don't see why it's not run year round.

Ya agree. York in the UK have all year round Park and Ride. Could be a model to follow. Galway City is about half the size of York population wise, but Galway is main regional centre in the West of Ireland.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/York_park_and_ride
http://www.yorkparkandride.co.uk/index.php

cgcsb

Saanvi Puny Clover wrote: »

It's a step backwards for society to be forced onto buses, closing streets etc when we have cars to bring us around.

:eek:

Wow, just wow. No wonder Ireland is so backwards.

Whereisgalway

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

It's €3 and will run also from the 28th to the 3rd.

A lot more people would avail of this if it was free But Galway city council would never show that kind of initiative.

TerrorFirmer

Whereisgalway wrote: »

A lot more people would avail of this if it was free But Galway city council would never show that kind of initiative.

More likely they simply can't afford it. They're barely coping as it is and finding money for anything means robbing it from somewhere else.

Whereisgalway

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

More likely they simply can't afford it. They're barely coping as it is and finding money for anything means robbing it from somewhere else.

They just gave another €240,000 to finish a art house cinema which they've all ready poured millions into. A vanity project by some counsellors. There's no shortage of cash in city hall

http://www.thejournal.ie/picture-palace-galwayarthouse-cinema-2401811-Oct2015/

snubbleste

Whereisgalway wrote: »

They just gave another €240,000 to finish a art house cinema which they've all ready poured millions into. A vanity project by some counsellors. There's no shortage of cash in city hall
http://www.thejournal.ie/picture-palace-galwayarthouse-cinema-2401811-Oct2015/

And don't forget €250k for a festival despite the fact that there are people sleeping on streets

cgcsb

Whereisgalway wrote: »

A lot more people would avail of this if it was free But Galway city council would never show that kind of initiative.

How would it be financed? higher taxation?

Whereisgalway

cgcsb wrote: »

How would it be financed? higher taxation?

If one of these highly paid councillors should some initiative and creativity it could be easily done

TerrorFirmer

Whereisgalway wrote: »

They just gave another €240,000 to finish a art house cinema which they've all ready poured millions into. A vanity project by some counsellors. There's no shortage of cash in city hall

http://www.thejournal.ie/picture-palace-galwayarthouse-cinema-2401811-Oct2015/

They didn't want to if you've been paying attention to the actual story, most Councillors think that the Arthouse cinema is a disgraceful waste of money.

But it plays a bit part in the capital of culture bid, which is worth millions and millions to Galway if we are successful in that bid.

And they didn't just 'give' it - City Council have a very limited budget to work with, it's not a magic well. Giving 240K to the Picture Palace takes 240K from elsewhere - other community groups, public services, whatever. It's a balancing act.

So I would not say that the picture palace and what's riding on it are exactly comparable with a subsidized park and ride scheme.

Whereisgalway

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

Giving 240K to the Picture Palace takes 240K from elsewhere - other community groups, public services, whatever. It's a balancing act. .

Whatever it takes to win the city of culture? I'm sure the homeless and other coummunity group could do some real good with extra monies in their budject but instead it's been squandered on some vanity project. Glad to see people of Galway have their priorities in the right place. Galway can be greedy, it wants everything, has enough going on with all the festivals throughout the summers, we should let another part of our beautiful country showcase their talents but we are greedy in galway and it's for this reason I hope the three sisters or Limerick win the bid

This is a park and ride thread I'm sure there's a city of culture thread somewhere

Laviski

there is a car park at oranmore train stop.
people on that side of town should use the train. at least it goes straight to eyre sq in 5 minutes and not stuck in traffic.
looking at site its 9 euro return with 10 journeys either direction a day.

imo this should fulfill any park and ride.

TerrorFirmer

Whereisgalway wrote: »

Whatever it takes to win the city of culture? I'm sure the homeless and other coummunity group could do some real good with extra monies in their budject but instead it's been squandered on some vanity project. Glad to see people of Galway have their priorities in the right place. Galway can be greedy, it wants everything, has enough going on with all the festivals throughout the summers, we should let another part of our beautiful country showcase their talents but we are greedy in galway and it's for this reason I hope the three sisters or Limerick win the bid

This is a park and ride thread I'm sure there's a city of culture thread somewhere

Limerick has a higher homeless figure than Galway.

We're 'greedy' for wanting to win a title that would generate millions of euro in revenue and allow access to even more funding for the city and county?

I'm not quite sure I follow your logic here.

Whereisgalway

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

Limerick has a higher homeless figure than Galway.

We're 'greedy' for wanting to win a title that would generate millions of euro in revenue and allow access to even more funding for the city and county?

I'm not quite sure I follow your logic here.

Galway is a city that has major problems that can't wait 5/6 years, €250,000 who go along way in addressing some of these rather than spending it on a vanity project. Anyways this is not the thread for this discussion

ben.schlomo

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

Limerick has a higher homeless figure than Galway.

We're 'greedy' for wanting to win a title that would generate millions of euro in revenue and allow access to even more funding for the city and county?

I'm not quite sure I follow your logic here.

I dont think many do in fairness.

Geuze

Saanvi Puny Clover wrote: »

It's a step backwards for society to be forced onto buses, closing streets etc when we have cars to bring us around.

I don't know where to start with this statement.

Increasing car use is a sign of failure, not of success. Increasing car use is costly to your purse, and costly to society: accidents, traffic congestion, stress, pollution.

The most successful societies are investing in sustainable mobility.

The cities that are voted the best place to live mostly have successful, integrated transit systems.

Countries that depend on the production and sale of cars, e.g. Germany, even they accept the need for high quality transit.

If anybody thinks building more roads in cities is the solution to traffic congestion, then something is very, very wrong.

what_traffic

Laviski wrote: »

there is a car park at oranmore train stop.
people on that side of town should use the train. at least it goes straight to eyre sq in 5 minutes and not stuck in traffic.
looking at site its 9 euro return with 10 journeys either direction a day.

imo this should fulfill any park and ride.

It is one potential P&R spot. It would need to have Bus Services from it to service Parkmore and Ballybrit.
Do you know what the current usage is like? On a typical Work Day morning how many cars would be parked in Oranmore Station?
€9 euro return v's €4 all day parking in the Dyke Rd or the Harbour Car Park €3(€60 Monthly)?
Would need to increase car parking charges in the City Centre to make it less attractive to drive into the City Centre.

Mrs OBumble

Saanvi Puny Clover wrote: »

Why would I want to have the hassle of going out of my way to a park and ride when I can drive straight into town coupled with having to carry stuff around all day when shopping rather than drop things back to the car or have to carry a heap of stuff onto a bus. That leaving out the fact you might be be buying things that are too heavy to carry.

Ok, so I couldn't resist.

Did you read this: http://www.galwayindependent.com/news/topics/articles/2015/11/25/4110167-public-urged-to-be-vigilant-after-spate-of-thefts/ ? To summarise for you:

Gardaí are appealing to the public to be vigilant when it comes to leaving valuables inside their cars, after a spate of thefts and attempted thefts across Galway.

Now, they are talking specifically about leaving things in view. But going back to a parked car in a car-park and putting presents into the boot while people are watching is pretty much equivalent. (I was working for a MNC for a while: part of their standard personal safety advice is "If you need to leave your laptop in your car, then place it into the boot before you arrive at the location where you will be parking.")

And if you are buying things that are too heavy to carry, you are likely to get them delivered anyways - there are very few places where you can drive right up to the door and the staff are willing to wheel your purchases out of the shop for you.

Also - did you know that some shopping centres now offer parcel-holding services? A bit like the plant-creche's that you see at some fairs.

Mrs OBumble

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Image of tweet that's gone west ..

Let's try that again:

biko

Nope, it's probably private user content.
Just use postimage or similar host.

Mrs OBumble

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Ok, so I couldn't resist.

Did you read this: http://www.galwayindependent.com/news/topics/articles/2015/11/25/4110167-public-urged-to-be-vigilant-after-spate-of-thefts/ ? To summarise for you:


Now, they are talking specifically about leaving things in view. But going back to a parked car in a car-park and putting presents into the boot while people are watching is pretty much equivalent.

I wouldn't be too worried Keeping stuff in the boot of a car in a busy car park or on the side of the street in broad day light, even more so in a multistory car park which a lot of people park in anyway. The chances of your car being broken into in these instances are very slim. I may be a foot shop or what ever you store in the boot anyway while then doing some other shopping. Good luck trying to manage a full food shop if you are using a bus never mind if you want to do the food shop and then do some other shopping before or after.

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

And if you are buying things that are too heavy to carry, you are likely to get them delivered anyways - there are very few places where you can drive right up to the door and the staff are willing to wheel your purchases out of the shop for you.

Loads of people collect their own heavy items rather than having to wait and pay to have them delivered and anywhere worth their salt will bring stuff to your car/van etc. We have bought items from many electrical and furniture shops in Galway and all are extremely happy to bring stuff out to your vehicle and help you load it. Washing machines, dryers, fridges and furniture are all items we have bought and collected on days when doing other shopping around town also.

I wouldn't dream of going into galway city without my car except if going on a night out it would be a total waste of time as I couldn't buy anything and couldn't get around to different parts of the city when I want without loads of hassle.

what_traffic

Galway City Council Website
http://www.galwaycity.ie/news/324/59/Park-Ride-from-this-Saturday---3-per-car/

Very very cheap

Mrs OBumble

Saanvi Puny Clover wrote: »

Good luck trying to manage a full foot shop if you are using a bus

Cheers, I do it once a week using a backpack and a lightweight bag for bread and other crushables - and don't find it difficult at all.


(Assuming you mean a food shop.)

Mrs OBumble

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Cheers, I do it once a week using a backpack and a lightweight bag for bread and other crushables - and don't find it difficult at all.


(Assuming you mean a food shop.)

It's very rarely I wouldn't have to wheel the trolly to the boot of the car to unload stuff as it wouldn't be possible to carry it even that far, I always have a few heavy bulky items like big water multipacks etc. I also often go to more than one shop to get different things.

That's just for a me alone too, a family shop in my home place fills the boot of the car.