Galway traffic

ben.schlomo

Seemed light this evening, seeing as there doesn't seem to be a thread on traffic here I said I'd start this due to the importance of the issue.

Mrs OBumble

It's Friday. It's always lighter on Friday, due to short hours in the factories.

Diabhal Beag

Got home in record Friday time this afternoon. The factories being closed early never makes a difference on Fridays when you finish at 5. From Ballybrit to Spiddal in 40 minutes. Thank you all!

zell12

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Got home in record Friday time this afternoon. The factories being closed early never makes a difference on Fridays when you finish at 5. From Ballybrit to Spiddal in 40 minutes. Thank you all!

That's fast. Was it a carbon framed bicycle? :pac:

bobbyss

Diabhal Beag wrote:

Got home in record Friday time this afternoon. The factories being closed early never makes a difference on Fridays when you finish at 5. From Ballybrit to Spiddal in 40 minutes. Thank you all!

That seems like a commute from hell. How much time does it take on average?

Diabhal Beag

bobbyss wrote: »

That seems like a commute from hell. How much time does it take on average?

Usually 30-35 minutes in the morning and then anywhere from 50-90 minutes depending on the evening traffic.

Mrs OBumble

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Got home in record Friday time this afternoon. The factories being closed early never makes a difference on Fridays when you finish at 5.

It does. You can tell from the carparks: they're all a lot emptier on Fridays, lots of people take leave, or work from home.

If they didn't, then Friday 5pm with everyone going home and visitors coming in to town for the weekend would be really hellish.

Re why more people they take leave on Friday: If your annual leave allowance is 160 hours per year, and taking Friday off only uses 4 hours (due to short hours), you can take 8 Fridays or 4 Mondays. It's a no-brainer. (Actual hours vary between companies, but the principle holds)

Wombatman

It will be slower in the evening rush hour now because of the dark and the clocks going back. Next Monday evening should be fun with the schools and colleges back

what_traffic

Wombatman wrote: »

It will be slower in the evening rush hour now because of the dark and the clocks going back. Next Monday evening should be fun with the schools and colleges back

All known knowns.

motley

It's been terrible all this week. The Bridge has been brutal every day going east.

Ashleigh1986

motley wrote: »

It's been terrible all this week. The Bridge has been brutal every day going east.

Midterm break .
Add in the bad weather .
Mornings extremely light but unfortunately it gets crazy from around one because the amount of families that decide to go into town .
It doesn't help when there are the usual road works going on at the wrong time of year .

Mrs OBumble

Ashleigh1986 wrote: »

It doesn't help when there are the usual road works going on at the wrong time of year .

What time of year should they be doing the roadworks?

TheJet

Took me about 50 mins to get from the Galmont Hotel out to the Galway clinic roundabout there( apologies dunno the name of the roundabout)- I have been in Galway the last 10 weeks for work and the traffic is brutal! Thought Dublin was bad....As a poster said here- next week will be fun with the schools/colleges back.....

Ashleigh1986

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

What time of year should they be doing the roadworks?

All depends what part of the city the road thats been repaired .
Of course the ones in the city itself are going to have the biggest effect on traffic.
This week for example carrying out roadworks in the afternoon on bohermore during midterm is a recipe for disaster .
They could have done the work from 8 am to 1pm and stopped for the rest of the day .

Ashleigh1986

Ashleigh1986 wrote: »

This week for example carrying out roadworks in the afternoon on bohermore during midterm is a recipe for disaster .

Wait, your "better" time is when the schools are back as opposed to when they are off? The situation would be a heck of a lot worse

They could have done the work from 8 am to 1pm and stopped for the rest of the day .

They could but they would be still paying for a full day's work, very inefficient and nobody with half a brain would do it like that. Not least because you double the length of time, and the duration of the disruption,of the works.

Road works, by their very nature are disruptive. There is no way they can be completed without causing some kind of disruption to someone.

However, they are a monetary blip in terms of the city traffic issues

tototoe

Whoever approved the traffic flow around the car park at the back of tk maxx should be sacked. Getting in and out of the car park took about 20 minutes each time. Bonkers and not a sinner from the car park or anyone else looked like they gave a crap. A complete free for all in and out, with queues right up the levels of the car park. And as bad when you actually got out, this being the apparent source of the issues

Not even going to try name streets but quite a few in Galway should be one way at the very most.
Trucks just parked in one lane doing deliveries and everyone trying to shove their way though. Never experienced such nonsense as I did yeaterday. They can put all the ring roads around the town they like but the centre is a mess for traffic flow.

If I see Galway and it's traffic again it will be too soon.

Ashleigh1986

tototoe wrote: »

Whoever approved the traffic flow around the car park at the back of tk maxx should be sacked. Getting in and out of the car park took about 20 minutes each time. Bonkers and not a sinner from the car park or anyone else looked like they gave a crap. A complete free for all in and out, with queues right up the levels of the car park. And as bad when you actually got out, this being the apparent source of the issues

Not even going to try name streets but quite a few in Galway should be one way at the very most.
Trucks just parked in one lane doing deliveries and everyone trying to shove their way though. Never experienced such nonsense as I did yeaterday. They can put all the ring roads around the town they like but the centre is a mess for traffic flow.

If I see Galway and it's traffic again it will be too soon.

.....same on merchants road
Same at st pats school car park on a Saturday
Yet again city hall proves it couldn't run a village nevermind a modern city.
I've always said it.... Galway needs to turn most of their city center roads into one way .
All deliveries along certain roads to be done by 12 in the morning .
A zero tolerance to vecihcles parked on double yellow lines .
Put a fine of €100 on every single vecihcle after of course you put up proper signage .
If anyone is in galway city today .... Take note of all the vecihcles abandoned along foster street / eglinton street .
This wouldn't be tolerated in any other city .
Could you imagine doing that in Dublin city .
Galway is a joke ... A city my Arse .

Mrs OBumble

tototoe wrote: »

Whoever approved the traffic flow around the car park at the back of tk maxx should be sacked. Getting in and out of the car park took about 20 minutes each time. Bonkers and not a sinner from the car park or anyone else looked like they gave a crap. A complete free for all in and out, with queues right up the levels of the car park. And as bad when you actually got out, this being the apparent source of the issues

It's 10m minutes walk from the bus and train station (if you're a slow walker).

Mrs OBumble

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

What time of year should they be doing the roadworks?

During the summer (except raceweek) when schools are off for a few months and traffic is much quieter.

John_Rambo

Jazmin Harsh Gold wrote: »

During the summer (except raceweek) when schools are off for a few months and traffic is much quieter.

Agreed. Nightly roadworks with huge lights are common enough in cities. There's noise but the works can be completed in a few nights instead of a few weeks.

Mrs OBumble

Jazmin Harsh Gold wrote: »

During the summer (except raceweek) when schools are off for a few months and traffic is much quieter.

Peak tourist season, you mean. Yeah.

John_Rambo

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Peak tourist season, you mean. Yeah.

Still less traffic, works can be carried out efficiently and in a shorter timeframe with clear and uncluttered re-routes.

How incentives/disincentives can address congestion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CX_Krxq5eUI

Yea or nay, should Galway City look at congestion charges as a way of reducing congestion?

Most defiantly not. Car owners and drivers already pay for too much to own a car and use the roads, asking them to put more would be absolute insanity and massively unfair. I reckon you would struggle to find a 3 figure number of people in the entire city and county who would even entertain the idea.

Mrs OBumble

Deleted User wrote: »

Yea or nay, should Galway City look at congestion charges as a way of reducing congestion?

It's a nay from me too, at least for now:

The worst of our congestion problems aren't in the city-centre, where a charge could (with a LOT of tedious admin and cases which fall thru the cracks) be applied in a way that targets non-residents.

Instead, they're in the ring around the city: Galway Clinic / Briarhill / Parkmore / Tuam Rd / Quin Bridge / Barna Road. Any form of congestion charge in these places would not realistically be able to distinguish between those who are using the car because they really have no alternatives, and those who do. Directly penalising the former group isn't fair, because it's not their fault they were allowed to live in places which could not employ them.

We need to actually provide realistic alternatives for people, before we start with the punishment for not using them.

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

Yea or nay, should Galway City look at congestion charges as a way of reducing congestion?

Definitely yes from me, tbh.

holly8

Flew out of town this evening ... zipped out headford road and out over bridge westbound. No hold ups anywhere. 6pm There was nothing on the bridge. Tues evening...what gives?

JoeA3

holly8 wrote: »

Flew out of town this evening ... zipped out headford road and out over bridge westbound. No hold ups anywhere. 6pm There was nothing on the bridge. Tues evening...what gives?

Same. I had to make a rare trip into Eyre Square before 5pm and it was a breeze, inbound and outbound. I can only think:

- it was an unusually dry bright evening
- no major roadworks?
- no accidents?

Any one of the above 3 fall down and it’s chaos.

Mrs OBumble

JoeA3 wrote: »

Same. I had to make a rare trip into Eyre Square before 5pm and it was a breeze, inbound and outbound. I can only think:

- it was an unusually dry bright evening
- no major roadworks?
- no accidents?

Any one of the above 3 fall down and it’s chaos.

There have been major road works on Bohermore and Middle Street this week. Not sure what time they finished.

And this is the week when schools where back and people were predicting it would be lots worse than last week. Likely the Fine-by-Friday effect at work.

tototoe

Deleted User wrote: »

How incentives/disincentives can address congestion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CX_Krxq5eUI

Yea or nay, should Galway City look at congestion charges as a way of reducing congestion?

Galway is far too small for a congestion charge. It needs a serious rethink of how traffic flows in and around the city but a congestion charge would achieve little and it's implementation would be expensive. That money would be better spent making changes to the existing road network. One ways, pedestrian streets, decent accurate signage etc. The streets of Galway are too narrow for large volumes of traffic... That's never going to change, so optimise what you have. The traffic flow I see in Galway is just utterly mad and seems to be a complete free for all.

John_Rambo

Jazmin Harsh Gold wrote: »

Most defiantly not. Car owners and drivers already pay for too much to own a car and use the roads, asking them to put more would be absolute insanity and massively unfair. I reckon you would struggle to find a 3 figure number of people in the entire city and county who would even entertain the idea.

Same with the workplace smoking ban, the plastic bag levy, the pedestrianisation of Shop st., segregated cycle lanes etc.... But they were all brilliant ideas that worked very well.

timmyntc

John_Rambo wrote: »

Same with the workplace smoking ban, the plastic bag levy, the pedestrianisation of Shop st., segregated cycle lanes etc.... But they were all brilliant ideas that worked very well.

Congestion charges won't work until there's a credible alternative.
Right now it would just be a needlessly punitive tax.

Create a bus service that gets people to where they want to go, then talk about congestion charges.

xckjoo

[Deleted User] wrote: »

How incentives/disincentives can address congestion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CX_Krxq5eUI

Yea or nay, should Galway City look at congestion charges as a way of reducing congestion?

If they build the new road they should. Restructure the existing roads to highly prioritse other modes of transport, stick a toll on the new bridge and congestion charge in the city. Then if you want to drive you can but other modes have a high incentive to use. Can include exemptions for those who have no choice but to use a car or similar (trades people, disabled, etc.).

John_Rambo

timmyntc wrote: »

Congestion charges won't work until there's a credible alternative.
Right now it would just be a needlessly punitive tax.

Create a bus service that gets people to where they want to go, then talk about congestion charges.

Agreed. Huge investments need to be redirected back to the cities to improve and prioritise all manners of public transport.

John_Rambo

John_Rambo wrote: »

Agreed. Huge investments need to be redirected back to the cities to improve and prioritise all manners of public transport.

Redirected back into cities? What a joke especially from a Dub where all the money in the country goes.

timmyntc

John_Rambo wrote: »

Agreed. Huge investments need to be redirected back to the cities to improve and prioritise all manners of public transport.

The only huge investments needed are to turn all roundabouts in city to signalised junctions. That hardly necessitates a new tax just to fund it.

After that city council can turn 1 lane each way on the N6 to bus lanes - that only takes a bit of paint
Then run buses from knocknacarra all along the N6 ending at either galway clinic or oranmore - that would serve the majority of destinations in & around the city

John_Rambo

Jazmin Harsh Gold wrote: »

Redirected back into cities? What a joke especially from a Dub where all the money in the country goes.

I'm afraid it's the other way around bro. Cities like Galway are the backbone of the economy, they subsidise the rural areas. No way round it, same all over the world.

http://www.davidmcwilliams.ie/dublin-generates-56-of-irish-tax-but-cant-keep-a-cent-of-it/

John_Rambo

John_Rambo wrote: »

I'm afraid it's the other way around bro. Cities like Galway are the backbone of the economy, they subsidise the rural areas. No way round it, same all over the world.

http://www.davidmcwilliams.ie/dublin-generates-56-of-irish-tax-but-cant-keep-a-cent-of-it/

Nonsense of the highest order, playing with stats to suit a narrative simple as that

50% of the workforce in Galway live outside the city for example and in no way are their taxes going back to their areas. Dublin in particular sucks up all the money in the county and rural and country areas are neglected.

Jazmin Harsh Gold

Jazmin Harsh Gold wrote: »

Nonsense of the highest order, playing with stats to suit a narrative simple as that

50% of the workforce in Galway live outside the city for example and in no way are their taxes going back to their areas. Dublin in particular sucks up all the money in the county and rural and country areas are neglected.

I'm curious what a properly funded countryside would look like?
Around me over the past several years we've had 60 odd kilometres of motorway, a brand new secondary school in Claregalway which is already being extended, a brand new Eduate Together primary school building, two new schools of 1,000 pupils each in Athenry, new stretches of N road outside Headford and Tuam, the extension of the gas pipeline into the county, reopening a disused rail line, building a new station.

John_Rambo

Jazmin Harsh Gold wrote: »

Nonsense of the highest order, playing with stats to suit a narrative simple as that

50% of the workforce in Galway live outside the city for example and in no way are their taxes going back to their areas. Dublin in particular sucks up all the money in the county and rural and country areas are neglected.

Other way around bro. Don't know why you're dragging Dublin in to the Galway traffic thread.

Dublin forum that way East >>>>>

what_traffic

Jazmin Harsh Gold wrote: »

50% of the workforce in Galway live outside the city for example and in no way are their taxes going back to their areas.

Yes 50% of the workforce in Galway City live outside the city. So YES Galway City is the economic backbone of the Co. Galway economy.

AndrewJRenko

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm curious what a properly funded countryside would look like?

It would have gigabit fibre broadband going up every boreen for the fifteen people that live up there, plus a Bus Eireann bus every fifteen minutes, just in case any of them want to go to the shop - all so that they live five minutes walk from de Mammeh, though they'd never think of actually walking there in a fit.

AndrewJRenko

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

It would have gigabit fibre broadband going up every boreen for the fifteen people that live up there, plus a Bus Eireann bus every fifteen minutes, just in case any of them want to go to the shop - all so that they live five minutes walk from de Mammeh, though they'd never think of actually walking there in a fit.

You left out the air ambulance in every village

AndrewJRenko

Deleted User wrote: »

You left out the air ambulance in every village

You won't need the chopper when you have a fully staffed A&E unit and cancer treatment centre.

Storm 10

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

You won't need the chopper when you have a fully staffed A&E unit and cancer treatment centre.

There is a always going to be the need for the Air Ambulance when you need to get to hospital in the golden hour 12 minutes last week from Castlerea to UHG try that by ambulance

Wompa1

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm curious what a properly funded countryside would look like?
Around me over the past several years we've had 60 odd kilometres of motorway, a brand new secondary school in Claregalway which is already being extended, a brand new Eduate Together primary school building, two new schools of 1,000 pupils each in Athenry, new stretches of N road outside Headford and Tuam, the extension of the gas pipeline into the county, reopening a disused rail line, building a new station.

Yep, in fairness Headford has seen some decent investment over the last few years with the improvements on the N84, the investment into the Moyne Villa grounds and playground, the improvements to the schools, the broadband finally getting there and now being expanded out to Shrule. Could still use more frequent buses and a better library but sure, look it....

There's talk of a swimming pool too but usually when there's talk, it's probably 10+ years away.

beardybrewer

Hmm. A bit quiet in here. What do ye think about this then?

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/drivers-to-receive-fine-and-penalty-points-for-dangerous-overtaking-of-cyclists-1.4079342

zell12

It's quiet because there are no traffic issues :pac:

what_traffic

beardybrewer wrote: »

What do ye think about this then?

So rare to see Gardai on streets/roads here in Galway City in comparison with Dublin City cannot see it making much of difference TBH.

If anybody is actually at the Next City JPC could ask Superintendent - how many fines for dangerous overtaking have been issued since the Mon, Nov 11, 2019 in Galway City; would be able to provide it at the next meeting.

UsBus

zell12 wrote: »

It's quiet because there are no traffic issues :pac:

Traffic has been insane this week. I've travelled in the curragh line and through claregalway and both routes have been chronic at 7.00-7.30 in the morning. It feels like it has gotten much worse in the last couple of years. The evening traffic is brutal as always trying to get out of parkmore and heading north.

It's not sustainable anymore, am actively pursuing other jobs to get out of Galway at this stage.

flazio

Roundabout coming off the motorway, why weren't there electronic signs put up warning motorists about the works?