First time cycling

LorelaiG

Hey thinking of getting myself a bike, I would be using it for college and for going to work. Max 20 mins commute according to google maps. My problem is the times, do you think it's safe to cycle from Ongar to Mulhuddart after 12 midnight? I was thinking of going through Damastown but google maps doesn't give me that option.

Anyone any advice?

TheShow

Get good lights and good reflective clothing, then its up to you whether you feel safe at that time or not.

CramCycle

Drag the line out to Damastown and google map should stick a way point in there and reroute including it.

uncommon_name

I would say the same as "TheShow" get good lights front and back, hi-viz jacket and a good helmet (with lights also if possible).
After that it would depend on your own opinion which will come down to how dark, busy and dodgy the road itself is.
Personally, after cycling for years in countryside on bad roads and then also in cities it wouldn't bother me at all but almost everyone I ever spoke to about it said I was mad and they wouldn't do it. Depends on how confident you are on a bike.

CramCycle

CramCycle wrote: »

Drag the line out to Damastown and google map should stick a way point in there and reroute including it.

Wait a minute, are you sure you have those place names right, Damastown would be quite out of the way

Hurrache

Damastown is not too far from Ongar.

LorelaiG, head towards Clonee village, over the bridge that spans the N3, and you're there.

I don't know where in Ongar or Mulhuddart you're going to and from, but taking the village and near Goodwins as an example, this is the route I'd take
https://goo.gl/maps/dzKNaLkAjfK2

What side of Mulhuddart are you trying to get to?

Annie get your Run

Hurrache wrote: »

Damastown is not too far from Ongar.

LorelaiG, head towards Clonee village, over the bridge that spans the N3, and you're there.

I don't know where in Ongar or Mulhuddart you're going to and from, but taking the village and near Goodwins as an example, this is the route I'd take
https://goo.gl/maps/dzKNaLkAjfK2

What side of Mulhuddart are you trying to get to?

If the final destination is Mulhuddart, you'll need to come around by the big M3 Mulhuddart services garage and then into Mulhuddart village. It's doable for sure.

LorelaiG

Thanks all I'd be going from ongar village to Castlecurragh area I was planning on just going through damastown itself rather than down onto the n3. I'm reckoning it'd be safe enough but my parents (I'm 31 ha) and husband are a bit wary of me cycling but I've no other way right now unless I was to get the bus to work and then a taxi back which would be v expensive.

Hurrache

You've few options, you could go this way which will keep you mostly in housing estates instead of what could be quiet business parks and you avoid Mulhuddart altogether.
https://goo.gl/maps/GxEHG599dy82

You'll should know the Ongar area better than me and therefore what areas you would feel safe going though, but roughly that route?

Or else just down the distributor road and down by the centre, I think there's a cycle lane all the way going that direction.
https://goo.gl/maps/cUARzYLY7Z92

MojoMaker

Hurrache wrote: »

Or else just down the distributor road and down by the centre, I think there's a cycle lane all the way going that direction.
https://goo.gl/maps/cUARzYLY7Z92

This way - cycle lane the whole way and well-lit wide roads.