Commute along N4

fguinan

Hi, does anyone commute from Maynooth/Leixlip into the city centre?

I'm thinking of starting in a few weeks when the mornings get a bit brighter.... Any pointers about the route.... Especially the M50/N4 interchange.

Thanks
F

mp31

fguinan wrote: »

Hi, does anyone commute from Maynooth/Leixlip into the city centre?

I'm thinking of starting in a few weeks when the mornings get a bit brighter.... Any pointers about the route.... Especially the M50/N4 interchange.

Thanks
F

It's a handy enough route with bus lanes most of the way in apart from the initial Maynooth->Intel->Leixslip->N4. Once on the N4 you have a bus lane all the way in.

You have two options for the M50:
1) Get to the Liffey Valley bus stand (in the bus lane), get off the bike and carry it over the grass verge and onto the bike track that takes you over the M50 and into Palmerstown. The road joins up to the N4 at a set of traffic lights just past Palmerstown.

2) Get to the Liffey Valley bus stand and move over to the inside lane of the N4 (ideally before you get to the bus stand) and take that lane over the M50. It's a little nervy at the first few times but once you get used to the pace of traffic it's not too bad. I'd suggest an early sunday morning spin that way to check out both options.

RobertFoster

If you don't fancy the M50/N4 part, there's a dedicated bike/pedestrian bridge: https://goo.gl/maps/qRkypWKr2vA2

Alternatively, you could go by Lucan > Strawberry Beds > Phoenix Park or Chapelizod, or go though Ballyfermot instead.

mcdonrob

There was a thread on this recently Cycling the N4

I cycle the N4 every day... lessons learnt - wear hi-viz , use at least 2 rear lights and stay in a state of awareness.

Crossing M50 (from both directions) requires attention and can actually be easier in heavy traffic - if you are unsure use the cyclepath over or cherry orchard route.
Heading East I go hrough Lucan village (this is just to work a bit of a climb into an otherwise downhill route).
Use the Chapelizod bypass in both directions - it's wide enough for everyone, well light and a pretty good surface.
Heading West I use the ramps (up and straight over) @foxhunter/texaco and superquinn/suervalue - true you have to wait at lights but it's safer.
Heading West just before Spa hotel I find that traffic coming from filter road (from tesco/lucan village) can find it very hard to see you against the backdrop of traffic behind you. Take care here, after checking behind, move to centre of lane so that if someone does swerve out you have some hope of avoiding them.

Another observation I have is that for whatever reason traffic heading west on a Friday is more "on-edge". This may be people who normally do not drive are trying to get out of town asap, or are tired or indeed I may be tired.

Go for it - I did my NCT for my car last weekend 4083 miles for Jan 2015-Jan 2016.

Bristolscale7

Similar to other posters, heading into Dublin on the N4 I cycle over the pedestrian bridge at Liffey Valley (the bridge over the M50 not the bridge over the N4) which brings you into Palmerstown then get back on the main road and straight in on the Chapelizod bypass. Coming out of town I just pedal like hell across the M50 and try to get over as quick as I can--the traffic coming off the M50 to get onto the N4 Westbound can be tricky.

From Maynooth I've timed it and I'm quicker into city centre on the bike than the 67 bus and about the same time as the 66 bus. Make sure you have appropriate lights/high visibility gear.

Carawaystick

RobertFoster wrote: »

Alternatively, you could go by Lucan > Strawberry Beds > Phoenix Park or Chapelizod,

The speed ramps on the Strawberry Beds would do you head in though...

RobertFoster

Carawaystick wrote: »

The speed ramps on the Strawberry Beds would do you head in though...

I always try and count them, but my mind wanders...

fguinan

Thanks for all the replies.
I'm feeling more confident about it already!

The plan is to start with 2 days a week (over the pedestrian bridge in and pedal like f on the way out) and take it from there.

devonp

mp31 wrote: »

It's a handy enough route with bus lanes most of the way in apart from the initial Maynooth->Intel->Leixslip->N4. Once on the N4 you have a bus lane all the way in.

You have two options for the M50:
1) Get to the Liffey Valley bus stand (in the bus lane), get off the bike and carry it over the grass verge and onto the bike track that takes you over the M50 and into Palmerstown. The road joins up to the N4 at a set of traffic lights just past Palmerstown.

2) Get to the Liffey Valley bus stand and move over to the inside lane of the N4 (ideally before you get to the bus stand) and take that lane over the M50. It's a little nervy at the first few times but once you get used to the pace of traffic it's not too bad. I'd suggest an early sunday morning spin that way to check out both options.

been doing this from Leixlip for about 1.5yrs now
route 1 for sure, only use route 2 on sundays
(on returning west, the climb out of Chapo from the old bridge, incl the new bike path is a good 'un)

fguinan

devonp wrote: »

been doing this from Leixlip for about 1.5yrs now
route 1 for sure, only use route 2 on sundays
(on returning west, the climb out of Chapo from the old bridge, incl the new bike path is a good 'un)

Returning west - do you come straight over the M50?

mackeminexile

Lucan village, Strawberry beds, Park is a much nicer cycle with the added bonus of the hill past the Anglers Rest. A lot less stressful and almost exactly the same time. You get used to the speed ramps....

irishrover99

mackeminexile wrote: »

Lucan village, Strawberry beds, Park is a much nicer cycle with the added bonus of the hill past the Anglers Rest. A lot less stressful and almost exactly the same time. You get used to the speed ramps....

And the dog that always comes from nowhere to chase you is great for some sprints practice

devonp

fguinan wrote: »

Returning west - do you come straight over the M50?

no i use Conynham Rd (from Hueston)to Chapo then up the old N4 past West county hotel behind the Apple all the way to the footbridge the use the bike path(on the east bound side) all the way to leixlip (pitch & put, then back on rd) i avoid lucan village (narrow rds/ traffic)

good cycling

ScouseMouse

I drive this route every morning and have seen cyclists come to grief around the M50 N4 interchange. Take the cycle route. It will protect you from some of the gombeens on the road.

onmebike

I cycle from Lucan towards town and I go down the old road past the Deadmans Inn and then join the cycle lane at the bus stop on the N4 and go over the cycle/pedestrian bridge to Palmerstown.

I used to cycle on the road there until I saw an incident that made me change my mind. I was driving at the time and saw a cyclist in the correct road position - left hand side of the left-most lane that goes into town. To the left of him was the M50 northbound slip road.
Behind him there was an artic truck going to town followed closely by a rigid body truck. The rigid body was tailgating the artic and seemingly realised late that he wasn't in the lane he wanted to be in. He went to move into the northbound M50 lane as the leading truck was passing the cyclist (that he couldn't see). He obviously saw the cyclist very late, jammed on and swerved and the whole body of the truck wobbled and shook. 5m of extra distance would have led to a much worse outcome.

The main point that I took from that is that this is a very dangerous place to be on a bike - through no fault of our own. I would estimate that the journey through Palmerstown adds about 1 minute to the journey and as there is no traffic through that part of Palmerstown, it's a very nice place to cycle.

Seth Brundle

Carawaystick wrote: »

The speed ramps on the Strawberry Beds would do you head in though...

Whoever designed these needs an award. The drain covers at each side really required a special touch!

RobertFoster wrote: »

I always try and count them, but my mind wanders...

I had been thinking 22 (it's about six months year since I cycled that stretch) but this article says 26:

ScouseMouse

onmebike wrote: »

I cycle from Lucan towards town and I go down the old road past the Deadmans Inn and then join the cycle lane at the bus stop on the N4 and go over the cycle/pedestrian bridge to Palmerstown.

I used to cycle on the road there until I saw an incident that made me change my mind. I was driving at the time and saw a cyclist in the correct road position - left hand side of the left-most lane that goes into town. To the left of him was the M50 northbound slip road.
Behind him there was an artic truck going to town followed closely by a rigid body truck. The rigid body was tailgating the artic and seemingly realised late that he wasn't in the lane he wanted to be in. He went to move into the northbound M50 lane as the leading truck was passing the cyclist (that he couldn't see). He obviously saw the cyclist very late, jammed on and swerved and the whole body of the truck wobbled and shook. 5m of extra distance would have led to a much worse outcome.

The main point that I took from that is that this is a very dangerous place to be on a bike - through no fault of our own. I would estimate that the journey through Palmerstown adds about 1 minute to the journey and as there is no traffic through that part of Palmerstown, it's a very nice place to cycle.

I genuinely cringe when I see cyclists on that stretch. I don't want to have to pick you up if you get hit.