CyclingWorks Dublin - employer drive to get infrastructure built

Rechuchote

An initiative has been launched to ask CEOs of major (and minor) companies to write to the Minister for Transport and to the Department of Transport, asking for immediate building of the Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network (https://www.nationaltransport.ie/publications/transport-planning/gda-cycle-network-plan/) so their staff can get safely to work.

The initiative takes its inspiration from this London effort, which was really successful:

If you can help, follow

https://twitter.com/CyclingWorksDUB/status/997770451651911680

on Twitter, and share the slide show linked in that tweet with your CEO, college president, school principal, hospital master et al.

LinkedIn piece about it:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ceos-demand-safer-commuting-conditions-cyclists-dublin-mcmanus/?published=t

Trinity College Dublin has come in first, and DIGIT Gaming already since yesterday's launch.

Piece in The Times about it (paywalled) https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tcd-backs-campaign-to-build-safer-bike-routes-8fpp727vq

The website will be up on Wednesday, with template letters for CEOs to send, hopefully cc'd to the campaign.

flatface

good idea! Will share.

Tenzor07

Would be even better if the CEOs of major multinationals would contribute an extra 1% corporation tax to help pay for infrastructure, after all it will benefit some of there employee's who come over here to work from Europe and wonder where all the cycle lanes are that they had back home...

Rechuchote

Good idea, Tenzor. Ask them, please!

magicbastarder

the CEO where i work is a triathlete. she'd probably want to swim to work.

Tenzor07

Rechuchote wrote: »

Good idea, Tenzor. Ask them, please!

Not sure I have Jeff Bezos' number! :P

Rechuchote

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Not sure I have Jeff Bezos' number! :P

Here you go:

https://www.quora.com/How-can-I-contact-Jeff-Bezos

Rechuchote

Right, the website is up - go to it, get your CEOs to download the templates and send the letters off, cc'ing Dublin CyclingWorks

https://dublin.cyclingworks.org/

Wood

Edited due to being completely the wrong answer

Rechuchote

Trinity College Dublin, Cycling Ireland (obv) and Digit are in already now.

Rechuchote

Fabulous work being done on the website, it's evolving as you look.

Rechuchote

The website now has separate links on the front page - one for employees, the other for employers. If you're talking to your boss, direct him to the four parallel lines at the top right - they lead to templates for letters, among other things:

https://dublin.cyclingworks.org/

Anyone talked to the boss yet? We're getting strong interest from some companies and really want to launch into this. Support from Boardsies would be great. If you talk to your CEO, say what the result was!

magicbastarder

last time i talked to the CEO here, i asked her to sponsor ras na mban. she might get bored of me asking her to support cycling...

Rechuchote

magicbastarder wrote: »

last time i talked to the CEO here, i asked her to sponsor ras na mban. she might get bored of me asking her to support cycling...

Show her the slide show. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vR6cougHvt1vaqYQ_KjNZEX27wSqbhX5_vIcFauN44k-Jd2eYOYzFRjbJOPOeA32B68kqZ4oH3r-LTg/pub?start=true&loop=false&delayms=5000&slide=id.g37d5cd6b18_0_0

John Hutton

Lots of civil servants cycle, would be great if you could get support from them

circler

Sent the slide show onto my boss. Got back to me straight away saying they'd be delighted to contribute.

Rechuchote

Fantastic! Get them sending off those letters!

Cookie_Monster

I 100% support cycling but what's the point of advocating for more of the same crap infrastructure that's already in place?

segregated lanes inevitably cede right of way at most junctions, or go wandering off somewhere different to the roads at those junctions...

I mean just look at the utter nonsense proposed for Sandyford at the roundabout...
https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057863764

Rechuchote

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

I 100% support cycling but what's the point of advocating for more of the same crap infrastructure that's already in place?

segregated lanes inevitably cede right of way at most junctions, or go wandering off somewhere different to the roads at those junctions...

I mean just look at the utter nonsense proposed for Sandyford at the roundabout...
https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057863764

The Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network is an excellent plan, though. Sure, it'll need tweaking, but it was produced by people who really know their Dublin and really know their cycling and their road design (including the guy who played the piano man in The Commitments, by the way!)

Here's the network plan: https://www.nationaltransport.ie/publications/transport-planning/gda-cycle-network-plan/

On the Dublin Cyclingworks page, here are the two most essential links:
a slide show about why CEOs should support this:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vR6cougHvt1vaqYQ_KjNZEX27wSqbhX5_vIcFauN44k-Jd2eYOYzFRjbJOPOeA32B68kqZ4oH3r-LTg/pub?start=true&loop=false&delayms=5000&slide=id.g37d5cd6b18_0_8

and templates for letters for CEOs of different kinds of businesses to write:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1BAHcnEy4IZaF_xmE10yx1awPx6zJtdEy

magicbastarder

i have to find out who the new PR person is where we live, because if they can even just put some pressure on the council to replace that POS cycle path on leopardstown road, that would be A Good Thing.

Rechuchote

magicbastarder wrote: »

i have to find out who the new PR person is where we live, because if they can even just put some pressure on the council to replace that POS cycle path on leopardstown road, that would be A Good Thing.

Should really move this to a different thread - don't want to clutter this thread, want to keep those templates and the slide show prominent.

But a request - if you're writing to your (Dublin) council asking for infrastructure, can you cc the request to Dublin Cycling, who are collecting reports?

Kevin O'Sullivan is Public Domain Officer for the Dublin City Council South East Area

Best way to make requests might be through the local area office at
http://www.dublincity.ie/main-menu-your-council-your-area/south-east-area

monument

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

I 100% support cycling but what's the point of advocating for more of the same crap infrastructure that's already in place?

segregated lanes inevitably cede right of way at most junctions, or go wandering off somewhere different to the roads at those junctions...

I mean just look at the utter nonsense proposed for Sandyford at the roundabout...
https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057863764

Rechuchote wrote: »

The Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network is an excellent plan, though. Sure, it'll need tweaking, but it was produced by people who really know their Dublin and really know their cycling and their road design (including the guy who played the piano man in The Commitments, by the way!)

Sorry, Rechuchote but I have to disagree with you, and agree with Cookie on this (even if myself and Cookie don’t agree on the solution overall).

Fair play to the work you guys are putting into CyclingWorks but please, please, please don’t suggest the quality issues are resolved or that they will resolve themselves anytime soon.

The Cycle Manual, Rural Cycle Scheme Design, Manual for Urban Roads and Streets, Traffic Signs Manual etc all allow too much nonsense to be continued, these documents do not allow many types of Dutch design and instead opt for a strange and failed mix of Danish, UK and Irish type of designs to continue.

But I don’t really blame the individuals involved in cycling design in this country — I think it’s mainly a political choice and in many respects they have for years been hitting a wall in terms of what they have been allowed to do both at local level and by departments, agencies, TDs, councillors and interest groups etc fighting against doing cycling right. The space, the priority etc.

I’ve been working on this for years from the documenting Dublin’s / Ireland’s cycle lanes thread on this board to looking at the details of projects for years (including recent ones) and launching cyclingforall.ie.

If more funding comes without people pushing for better standards to be tied into that clearly and with less loop holes etc, the status quo will continue. The status quo might be better than cycle route design from 10 years ago but it’s nowhere good enough for cycling for all.

Rechuchote

Well, we can go on as we are, with the number of cyclists doubling and doubling again on roads shared with cars, trucks, buses, coaches, motorbikes, tractors and drays. Or we can try to get the plan that our National Transport Authority has provided built.

Once the principle of building cycling infrastructure is established, obviously it will be useful to talk about better and better design.

Zynks

John Hutton wrote: »

Lots of civil servants cycle, would be great if you could get support from them

Their support would probably have to come through the unions, which is not a bad idea.

Rechuchote

Dalata, who operate 15 hotels in Dublin and employ 2,250 staff, have joined in asking Transport for the Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network to be built.

Doctor Bob

Rechuchote wrote: »

Well, we can go on as we are, with the number of cyclists doubling and doubling again

Oh, the humanity!

Rechuchote

Cycling Without Age are in!

monument

Rechuchote wrote: »

Well, we can go on as we are, with the number of cyclists doubling and doubling again on roads shared with cars, trucks, buses, coaches, motorbikes, tractors and drays. Or we can try to get the plan that our National Transport Authority has provided built.

You’re presenting the options as if funding of projects as part of the GDA Cycle Network to date has resulted in designs which don’t include mixing with buses, cars, and trucks etc, when this clearly isn’t the case, and people have had to work hard to cover and campaign to ensure high-quality designs are used in key planned projects.

It seems like you might also misunderstand what GDA Cycle Network is or the amount of work needed between that network plan and the issues of dealing space and traffic circulation, including traffic reduction.

These are issues that are even a struggle sometimes in the Netherlands — some apparently pro-cycling Dutch cities are grasping the issue, but other cities or their regional governments aren’t. Here and there there’s often a pretence that it’s not really an issue or that it’s not up for discussion.

You’re also speaking as if the doubling of cycling numbers has happened in a vacuum... or maybe the narrative that cyclists are cycling despite the conditions has gone too far? In any case, while the provision for cycling is far too low, the reduction of space and time for cars, and some improvements for cycling are two of the main driving factors behind the increase in cycling.

Incremental changes have been happening slowly but surly for a long time — more bus lanes with some introduced without any coverage (ie Harts Corner to Phibsborough; Thomas Street / James’s Street) and other more high profile upgrades (quays, Pearse Street), Luas routes and extensions, new pedestrian crossings, the replacement of car parking with things like car club spaces, DublinBike stations, bicycle racks, public realm schemes etc etc

You can get a fewer cars and still be far from cycling for all.

Rechuchote wrote: »

Once the principle of building cycling infrastructure is established, obviously it will be useful to talk about better and better design.

The principle of building cycling infrastructure is well established, what’s not yet established is the principle of giving enough space for cycling to allow for cycling for all or even just to allow safe junctions.

There’s examples of what you seem to be suggesting in Amsterdam — some streets not designed well enough. The result? The streets left alone for 20+ years and people dead because of the designs.

Some say no cycling infrastructure is better than rubbish cycling infra... half decent cycling infrastructure might pose as large or in some cases a larger danger.

You’re also shooting your self in the foot by aiming low than needed —the faster a high quality network can be built, the more likely it will be easier to keep building it. If the first few major routes built are not suitable for all, that will be used against building more (you can even see that in London where there’s mixed quality, it would be worse if there was lower quality).

CramCycle

monument wrote: »

Some say no cycling infrastructure is better than rubbish cycling infra... half decent cycling infrastructure might pose as large or in some cases a larger danger.

I very much agree with the sentiment that no infrastructure is better than poor or even mediocre infrastructure.

It discourages new people from trying twice. It also encourages a subset of people to become angry with cyclist who rightly don't use the sub standard infrastructure.

I am still very much of the opinion that if you improved driver behaviour on the roads, most issues would disappear. That won't happen through infrastructure (look at the videos of people driving and parking on two way cycle lanes on the canal and in the Phoenix Park), but through hardcore (and cost neutral) enforcement.

Red Light Cameras, Average Speed cameras, yellow box cameras and bus lane cameras. Combine this with CCTV that can be accessed in case of a dispute which is identified at a dangerous interaction zone. 99% of issues would be solved in three months. Warning people ends up in the same issue as we have with the speed cameras, people slow to the limit in designated areas until they learn where the vans always park. Blanket average speed cameras in cities solves this. When people can't rush, they will be less inclined to rush.

Rechuchote

What part of the Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network Plan is poor infrastructure?

monument

Rechuchote wrote: »

What part of the Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network Plan is poor infrastructure?

I’ll ask an easier question:

Out of all the sections of the GDA Cycle Network funded to date in the areas of Dublin City, DLR, Fingal and SDCC... which projects stand out as high quality?

Rechuchote

The Grand Canal route is the one I'd use most - I love it. And I was on the Clontarf cycleway the other day and loved that too.

CramCycle

Rechuchote wrote: »

The Grand Canal route is the one I'd use most - I love it. And I was on the Clontarf cycleway the other day and loved that too.

Grand canal was close to being good but stupid pinch points and not being able to correct lighting sequences has made parts of it a pain to use. Still probably the best we have. As well as diverting into a housing section and being unclear at one point.

- ending at GCD end that dumps you onto the street at a pedestrian crossing
- the next light sequence up that is not only the slowest light change in Dublin but again, huge conflict with pedestrians
-Just passed Leeson St. a tremendous pinch point with huge numbers of pedestrians and cyclists coming into conflict at rush hour, this is probably the worst part of the route for me.
- Slightly further up you get turfed out into a housing area with very unclear marking on how to get back onto it a little further up.

I used it for a week or so until I found staying on the road was far easier and safer.

Rechuchote

Leeson Street is a difficulty because there are two gigantic water mains either side of the bridge - you can see them if you look.

You have the choice to use the Grand Canal way or the road; the fact that cycling has increased more in Rathmines and Kimmage than anywhere else in the city due to it shows that a lot of people feel safe on it and prefer it.

Rechuchote

Current companies signed up to support Dublin Cyclingworks and write to the Minister and Department of Transport asking for Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network to be built immediately for the safety and health of their staff:

Muahahaha

Great idea Rechuchote. Can I suggest contacting Bobby Kerr of Insomnia- he cycles around Dublin a good bit on Dublin Bikes. I know he stood down as CEO of Insomnia a few months back but Im sure he would still help plus he has a national profile.

Ironically Conor Faughnan of the AA also cycles to work and no doubt curses the infrastructure like we all do. But I doubt you would ever get the AA on board with this campaign

Zynks

Looks like CyclingWorks just took off after the Dublin Chamber of Commerce announced its support and brought some 40 companies with it. This might be able to influence government policy.

Dublin Firms Join Forces to Demand Better Cycling Infrastructure

John Hutton

Strongly suggest contacting trade unions, particularly civil service ones.

Muahahaha

Thats is a great result getting 40 companies on board through the Dublin Chamber of Commerce. Their public affairs manager Graeme McQueen clearly gets the benefit of investing in cycle infrastructure:-

The Chamber's move comes as 3 in 4 firms in Dublin note that the negative effect of congestion on their business has increased since the start of 2018.

Mr McQueen said: “The plan is there to develop a network of safe cycling routes throughout Dublin – but, almost 5 years after it was launched, it is still sitting on a shelf gathering dust. Why are we sitting on our hands? Increasing the amount of cycling is an open goal for Dublin – a city which is clogged with traffic on a daily basis. Making Dublin safer for cycling will make the city more family-friendly and greatly improve the quality of life for Dubliners."

Companies who have signed up to the Chamber’s call so far include: CPL, Olytico, Evolve, Griffith College, DIT, The Entrepreneur Academy, Arthur Cox, Mason Hayes & Curran, JLL, Ronan Daly Jermyn, The Panel Search & Selection, Talbot Pierce, Sam’s Bar, The Dawson Hotel, Venue 35, Voxpro, Distilled SCH, Contracting Plus, Sodexo Ireland, Linesight, Clearsight Communications, Engage People, 101 Translations, Alstom Transport Ireland, Hanna Moore + Curley, The Alternative Board, Hartley & Marks Publishers, Wandsoft, ShinAwiL, Horizon Blue Talent Consulting, Ervia, Mason Alexander, BDM Property, CBRE, CFO Services, MyNewApp.com, William Fry, K3 and Goodbody.

Grassey

Raised this in work to the Exec, they think it's a great initiative that they'll be willing to support. Our bike racks are currently over subscribed with the good weather recently so that's helped! It's gone to the communications person so hopefully it'll be 'officialised' soon enough!

monument

Rechuchote wrote: »

The Grand Canal route is the one I'd use most - I love it. And I was on the Clontarf cycleway the other day and loved that too.

Rechuchote wrote: »

Leeson Street is a difficulty because there are two gigantic water mains either side of the bridge - you can see them if you look.

You have the choice to use the Grand Canal way or the road; the fact that cycling has increased more in Rathmines and Kimmage than anywhere else in the city due to it shows that a lot of people feel safe on it and prefer it.

Here's two articles I've had on my list for a while and needed to be written...

Grand Canal route
http://irishcycle.com/2018/07/05/what-to-do-with-a-problem-like-cycling-at-leeson-street-bridge/

S2S at Bull Island
http://irishcycle.com/2018/06/11/s2s-cycle-route-at-bull-island-is-case-study-in-getting-details-wrong/

There's no issue with the water mains at Leeson Street bridge -- even if the choice was to fix the pinch point at the bridge by having the most direct route over the bridge, they would not be routing the cycle path over the wall of the bridge. It would go around the bridge parapet and around the water mains and line up with the cycle path on the other side.

The attitude of "You have the choice to use the Grand Canal way or the road" won't hold for many other routes and design choices need to start being made for cycling for all.

Rechuchote

Over 100 organisations have now written to the Minister and National Transport Authority via Cyclingworks Dublin - Google, SIPTU, Fórsa, Vodavone, a host of universities, companies, etc. It would be great to get a lot of SMEs too. The website is https://dublin.cyclingworks.org and contains templates that you can use as a basis, though increasingly people are writing their own very strong letters. A brilliant one from RKD this week, one of the country's largest architectural practices.