Cities around the world that are reducing car access

Enduro

Another reason to expand cycling facilites.... Better for business.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200422151318.htm?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=WYM-04232020-STATIC-B&utm_term=what_you_missed_B

the_syco

P_1 wrote: »

We need a congestion charge in Dublin and potentially Galway too. Give permits to residents and delivery drivers. All funds generated from this are ringfenced into proper public transport.

We need cheap secure carparks outside of the city, on main transport routes. Currently you must drive into the city centre to park securely. The Red Cow LUAS carpark is a good idea, in a good location, but not secure.

the_syco

the_syco wrote: »

We need cheap secure carparks outside of the city, on main transport routes. Currently you must drive into the city centre to park securely. The Red Cow LUAS carpark is a good idea, in a good location, but not secure.

Unfortunately, you can only have one or the other.
That extra security would be expensive.

LeinsterDub

the_syco wrote: »

We need cheap secure carparks outside of the city, on main transport routes. Currently you must drive into the city centre to park securely. The Red Cow LUAS carpark is a good idea, in a good location, but not secure.

Must drive from where? There are plently of P&R options

Zebra3

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/dublin-motorists-defying-coronavirus-distancing-measures-1.4237400

Mé Féiners alive and well.

Utter vermin.

CatInABox

Zebra3 wrote: »

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/dublin-motorists-defying-coronavirus-distancing-measures-1.4237400

Mé Féiners alive and well.

Utter vermin.

The decades of zero parking enforcement has taught Irish people that there's no reason to follow the rules at any time, no matter the reason.

the_syco

Deleted User wrote: »

Unfortunately, you can only have one or the other.
That extra security would be expensive.

8 foot wall around the car park, with one way for cars to get in & out, and one way for the peds to get in & out. The benefit of having some security is that they can ensure people pay for their parking. Tow* the offenders.

Zebra3 wrote: »

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/dublin-motorists-defying-coronavirus-distancing-measures-1.4237400

Mé Féiners alive and well.

Utter vermin.

IMO, towing is the only thing that would work. The crap of "it's blocking a cycle lane, lets clamp it so it keeps blocking it" ain't working. Tow* the vehicle, and charge the owner a towing fee, and a storage rate per day that the tow company has the car.

*I lived in Toronto for a while. Saw cars that parked stupidly would not be there long.

LeinsterDub wrote: »

Must drive from where? There are plently of P&R options

And yet people find it's cheaper to park in the city centre, as opposed to paying to park locally, and get public transport in.

LeinsterDub

the_syco wrote: »

And yet people find it's cheaper to park in the city centre, as opposed to paying to park locally, and get public transport in.

Indeed but there is a difference between must drive and cheaper to drive. But I totally agree it's madness that it's cheaper to drive than P&R

Sam Russell

LeinsterDub wrote: »

Indeed but there is a difference between must drive and cheaper to drive. But I totally agree it's madness that it's cheaper to drive than P&R

That is where the congestion charge comes in. Plus make parking very expensive and hard to find for all day parking in the city centre.

Peregrine

DCC will start working on the interim Liffey Cycle Route next week. It will result in a noticeable decrease in car space on the quays. Traffic lanes and parking spaces will be replaced with bike lanes and bus lanes.

Outside the Four Courts, for example, there are currently two general traffic lanes, a bus lane with a tiny bike lane in it and parking spaces beside beside the river. The parking spaces will be replaced with a new bike lane and one of the general traffic lanes will become a second bus lane.

It's not great and it completely falls apart closer to O'Connell Bridge but it's a small step.

Zebra3

Another piece.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/28/calls-for-more-space-walking-cycling-uk-during-lockdown-coronavirus

We badly need action here.

donvito99

Pat Kenny was discussing the issue of public transport and infrastructure post COVID this morning with Neasa Hourigan and ors and couldn't help introducing the usual texts to the effect of "I can't cycle my tools around to jobs" and "I can't cycle from Ardee to the Luas".

Knowing that Kenny, Yates et al are unlikely to change tack, politicians and other people interested in infrastructure improvements to reduce congestion (and mitigate the effects of climate change) should be very specific in these discussion by targeting the use of the private car over relatively short distances rather than all vehicles generally e.g. removing more private cars from Dublin city centre and there's piles of room for loading bays and trips into and out of the CC for tradesmen and deliveries will be much shorter.

loyatemu

donvito99 wrote: »

Pat Kenny was discussing the issue of public transport and infrastructure post COVID this morning with Neasa Hourigan and ors and couldn't help introducing the usual texts to the effect of "I can't cycle my tools around to jobs" and "I can't cycle from Ardee to the Luas".

"cycling doesn't suit everyone so nothing should be done to encourage it"

loyatemu

loyatemu wrote: »

"cycling doesn't suit everyone so nothing should be done to encourage it"

Electric bicycles & scooters would suit many more, especially if the laws were relaxed a bit. The power limits & speed restrictions are too low as many a peddler can easily go much faster than the electric ones. The legal bicycles struggle to get an overweight rider up most hills.

donvito99

We may see a big uptake in cycling from people who would ordinarily use public transport and are put off by the proximity to other passengers.

If the numbers can be adequately communicated to the public (and the powers that be), we might see a move to actually put some money towards decent infrastructure. However, considering its taken years and years to do anything on the quays despite there being as many cyclists as there are motorists on certain stretches, I wouldn't hold my breath.

Zebra3

Need to get bicycle shops back open.

CatInABox

Judging from what has already happened in other cities, it will take a long time for public transport use to return to normal levels again, as people quite rightly worry about catching Covid19 in the close confines of a bus or train. It's extremely disappointing that DCC are doing the bare minimum in terms of promoting social distancing through active travel here.

Peregrine

CatInABox wrote: »

Judging from what has already happened in other cities, it will take a long time for public transport use to return to normal levels again, as people quite rightly worry about catching Covid19 in the close confines of a bus or train. It's extremely disappointing that DCC are doing the bare minimum in terms of promoting social distancing through active travel here.

To be fair, with the quays and Nassau Street, they've made two big moves on the cycling front this week. We just need them to keep going but there are no other plans at present. The only thing that's going to change that is public or administrative (health officials) pressure. It's the pedestrian side that they've completely failed on.

https://www.dublincity.ie/trafficservice

I don't know if people have seen it or not but you can ask for temporary COVID-19 measures through this form. Add plenty of detail and ask others to do the same. Maybe it's worth a separate thread to spread the word.

CatInABox

Ok, I have to admit, I'm getting more impressed with DCC now. They've not just added the cycle track along the quays, but when they saw that people were stepping off and using it as an additional walking space, they went back and moved the bollards out another meter and put markings down so that the cycle/pedestrian divide is more clearly marked.

https://twitter.com/__kbaker__/status/1258416857431846915

I mean, the phrase "if you build it, they will come" has never been more apt here. Wouldn't be surprised to see a marked increase in the number of pedestrians walking along there, as it's much nicer than walking on the board walks.

Peregrine

They're looking into a temporary closure of College Green too. We'll get a better picture of the wider plan in two weeks.

MJohnston

Seems like the perfect time to trial all this stuff. Look at how many small but impactful operational things they're already picking up on!

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Wish they'd send a few of their lads down to us in Cork. Ffs like. So frustrating! Council sitting on their hands.

AlmightyCushion

Peregrine wrote: »

They're looking into a temporary closure of College Green too. We'll get a better picture of the wider plan in two weeks.

CatInABox wrote: »

Ok, I have to admit, I'm getting more impressed with DCC now. They've not just added the cycle track along the quays, but when they saw that people were stepping off and using it as an additional walking space, they went back and moved the bollards out another meter and put markings down so that the cycle/pedestrian divide is more clearly marked.

https://twitter.com/__kbaker__/status/1258416857431846915

I mean, the phrase "if you build it, they will come" has never been more apt here. Wouldn't be surprised to see a marked increase in the number of pedestrians walking along there, as it's much nicer than walking on the board walks.

Am I dreaming? This is great news. Hopefully, they do more of it and some of it sticks around long term.

Peregrine

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

Am I dreaming? This is great news. Hopefully, they do more of it and some of it sticks around long term.

Nope!

Yesterday, they did this to protect an often abused cycle lane on Camden/Richmond Street:
https://twitter.com/samwab/status/1258100465620979716?s=20

Today, they did this:
https://twitter.com/porphirogenitos/status/1258463736894980096?s=20

And they released this doc.

The Nassau Street contraflow will be finished next week:


They decided to add 2m of pedestrian space when they saw people were walking on the new cycle lane (it will be painted properly).


The interim Liffey Cycle Route was extended from Capel Street


to Halfpenny Bridge



They changed the maximum waiting time for pedestrians and automated more crossings which cut car capacity by 40% in the city centre:


They're drafting a mobility plan with the NTA that's not based on increased car usage after the restrictions are loosened. In fact, the reduction in capacity because of the pedestrian crossings won't allow it.


They're also looking at pedestrianising some streets during the day for cafés etc.


And the possibility of opening up College Green


We'll have to wait to see how it pans out but the vision seems to be there.

They've run out of bollards for now!
https://twitter.com/Pidge/status/1258115376325541889?s=20

CatInABox

Ok, have to admit, that's pretty much everything that I wanted in terms of social distancing. Took them a while to get going, but getting all of that going would be more than a great start. Can't imagine that these will be temporary either, to be honest.

cgcsb

It's like DCC but on acid:

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/car-bans-and-pedestrianised-college-green-part-of-radical-covid-19-plan-to-re-open-dublin-1.4247910?fbclid=IwAR1YLJEEaDeWTKrfmaYa9DkLn9qls6Rw9X4dBIP0MJ2eLffz24Fg5E-prjE

College Green to be pedestrianised as a covid-19 measure.

riddlinrussell

Peregrine, I was tempted to report your post for containing pornographic material! :P

Hope that this trend continues hard and that we see the changes become embedded into the city, hopefully we see the other cities following this lead!

hans aus dtschl

As has been said on here and elsewhere, it's going to take a hell of a lot more "stick" for Cork City Council to change it's mindset towards "people first".

keane2097

Same goes for Limerick

LXFlyer

cgcsb wrote: »

It's like DCC but on acid:

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/car-bans-and-pedestrianised-college-green-part-of-radical-covid-19-plan-to-re-open-dublin-1.4247910?fbclid=IwAR1YLJEEaDeWTKrfmaYa9DkLn9qls6Rw9X4dBIP0MJ2eLffz24Fg5E-prjE

College Green to be pedestrianised as a covid-19 measure.

The issue that I still have with this is sending buses that currently operate via College Green and Georges Street up the Quays to Winetavern Street. It is too long a detour.

They need to be able to use Parliament Street if they are removed from using College Green as a through route (some could use Dawson St/Kildare St).

The new hybrid buses could be allocated to those routes in an effort to reduce emissions.