Cycleways, cyclepaths, good 'uns and bad 'uns . . .

Hamsterchops

Must complement the designers and builders of the cycleway from Glasthule, through Dun Laoghaire out to Blackrock, and beyond . . . .

It's a good 'un, so Big thumbs up & Bravo!

Conversely, don't know what to make of the cycleway on Bray seafront which (according to my sister) was 99% full of pedestrians this weekend, so they all cycled on the road beside the cars, as it was impossible to cycle on the cycleway :cool:

Not sure if Bray is meant to be a proper cycleway though? more like a pedestrian walkway with the option of bicycles (when there's no pedestrians)?

So I won't call it a bad 'un as I guess it's not a proper cycleway, but what are your experiences with different cycleways and paths?

Good 'uns and bad 'uns.

bazermc

I heard the one in Sandymount is fantastic. Oh wait.................

Hamsterchops

Residents are up up in arms, right.

Tombo2001

A really really good one locally to me - and very seldom talked about - is Tolka Valley.

Its about 4k long and runs along the river Tolka, not right beside it all the way, but close to it.

It then joins up (more or less) with the canal at Ashtown.

So for example you could jump on the Canal Path at Blanch, and cycle all the way to the end of that path, coming out at Botanic Gardens (more or or less).

Its a really nice one for kids as its undulating and winds around.

There are a few small issues with it - by far the biggest of which is that there is a big old dual carriageway cutting through it at one point, so you have to go out on to the road, find a level crossing and rejoin.

Another issue - is that you would never know walking past the very modest and quite concealed entrance (from the Dual Carriageway) that it was the entrance to one of the best cycle paths in Dublin.

I can only put this down to the difference between being in Finglas and being somewhere like Clontarf or Dun Laoghaire.

magicbastarder

you can actually go under that road you mention. it's not very inviting looking though.

Tombo2001

magicbastarder wrote: »

you can actually go under that road you mention. it's not very inviting looking though.

I meant the Dual Carriageway at Finglas - so that it joins up with the path that comes out at Addision - its another 800m of path. Not cycle path per se, but still off road ....

99% sure you can only go under that in waders.....

magicbastarder

aha, gotcha.

Tombo2001

Must say it to the local councillors though.

One of the issues I sometimes think with cycle paths is that they dont go anywhere.

If you are with kids, its not much good if you have a few hundred yards of cycle path, then a busy road, then a bit more cycle path, then a bit more busy road and so on.

Griffith Avenue at the moment is a great example of this. 1500 metres of excellent cycle path, but doesnt particularly bring you from one destination to another destination.....apart from schools obviously.

But in terms of bringing the kids out on the bike - Castleknock/ Blanch all the way to the Botanic Gardens on 95% off road cycle path is a good day out that probably a lot of people dont know about.

The 'dream' would be if it also connected up with the Phoenix Park - there is no way at present you would bring kids through the roundabout at Ashtown.

magicbastarder

Tombo2001 wrote: »

One of the issues I sometimes think with cycle paths is that they dont go anywhere.

the best example of all that i can think of off the top of my head is the one between the western end of the runway at dublin airport, that goes about halfway from there to kilshane cross. it's 700m of cycle path many kilometres from any other cycle path.

De Bhál

as mentioned above Tolka Valley cycle path near Finglas Glasnevin area
I use it regularly, it's a lovely path along a nice stretch of the Tolka river.

The big issue with this path is to travel it's full length from the finglas road to Ashtown you must manoeuvre your bike through three sets of kissing gates.
pain in the hole when you have a family all having to dismount to get through.

This is the path entrance at the Glasnevin end

https://www.google.ie/maps/@53.3771198,-6.2874265,3a,75y,256.82h,77.05t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s8yLxFzQGicN1NRlLCyYEKw!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3D8yLxFzQGicN1NRlLCyYEKw%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D40.086166%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

RobertFoster

That's one of my main issues with tracks in Ireland too. There's new ones being built along with other construction work all the time but they're usually disconnected. They just end* or begin poorly.

*This one now links to the Baldoyle/Portmarnock greenway. Is there some grand scheme that they'll all link up eventually?

magicbastarder

or this one - northbound on the swords road - just evaporates:
https://www.google.com/maps/@53.377319,-6.2485693,3a,75y,1.12h,80.77t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s53-2Hbwvuqv4d3INA00YgQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

and then picks up again with an undished six inch - oblique - kerb to mount, with (irony of ironies) a sign in the way marking the bus and cycle lane beside it:
https://www.google.com/maps/@53.3779439,-6.2479895,3a,75y,348.19h,76.06t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sQSyoNLy6q08QqUypIv4LoA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

De Bhál

magicbastarder wrote: »

or this one - northbound on the swords road - just evaporates:
https://www.google.com/maps/@53.377319,-6.2485693,3a,75y,1.12h,80.77t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s53-2Hbwvuqv4d3INA00YgQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

and then picks up again with an undished six inch - oblique - kerb to mount, with (irony of ironies) a sign in the way marking the bus and cycle lane beside it:
https://www.google.com/maps/@53.3779439,-6.2479895,3a,75y,348.19h,76.06t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sQSyoNLy6q08QqUypIv4LoA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

that cycle path is really just to get cyclists off that stretch of road and how pedestrians and cyclists mingle the council don't really care as long as you're not in the bus lane.

In saying that I rarely cycle on the road there and just keep to the footpath, just not worth the close passes from busses endangering your life.

Seth Brundle

Further on out the Swords Rd, a friend that I hadn't chatted with in a few months recently told me that he was out on the cycle path doing the perimiter of the airport when he smacked into a bus stop opposite Alsaa at about 25km/h. Apparently both he and the pole are still damaged from the impact (it happened around Christmas).
My point being that far too many cycle paths have poles of some sort in them. Cycle paths traditionally were not designed for cyclists nor had they any design input from cyclists. The primary objective of cycle paths was to remove obstacles from the road.

Tombo2001

De Bhál wrote: »

as mentioned above Tolka Valley cycle path near Finglas Glasnevin area
I use it regularly, it's a lovely path along a nice stretch of the Tolka river.

The big issue with this path is to travel it's full length from the old finglas road to Ashtown you must manoeuvre your bike through three sets of kissing gates.
pain in the hole when you have a family all having to dismount to get through.

This is the path entrance at the Glasnevin end

https://www.google.ie/maps/@53.3771198,-6.2874265,3a,75y,256.82h,77.05t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s8yLxFzQGicN1NRlLCyYEKw!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3D8yLxFzQGicN1NRlLCyYEKw%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D40.086166%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

From street level, particularly if you are driving through - it looks just like continuous railing.

That photo is a bit misleading as its taken from a height.

CapnHex

Works ongoing in Sandyford on a cycle path from Beacon Hotel to Kilgobbin Road, through an interchange for the M50. Looks like 5 sets of crossing lights to negotiate the interchange. I don’t cycle that route normally, but I’ll check it out when it’s finished.

Mercian Pro

Where to begin?
Coming back from the mountains yesterday I spotted a decent looking segregated cycle path on Wyckham Way heading towards the Dundrum Bypass. Just as it turned the corner it transformed into a grass margin with a lamp standard in the middle of it.
On the R132 opposite the airport there is a fine cycleway interrupted by two busy left turns. At each of these you are expected to swing to the left, stop at a pedestrian crossing and try to see around the corner if any traffic is coming. Like most cyclists, I use the bus lane instead and join the cycleway at the ALSAA junction instead.
There is another even more dangerous version of this on the East Wall Road/Alexandra Road junction and I keep expecting to hear reports of a serious collision there.
I could go on ....

Type 17

East Wall Road, heading south towards the river - pole in centre of lane? Check; Grit and sh1te everywhere? Check; Shared with pedestrians? Check...



PS: Just how long has it been since it was swept? At least a year, IIRC.

magicbastarder

i remember that cycle lane after the late spring snow a few years back, you'd have been able to grow spuds in it.

Tombo2001

You forget to mention the HGVs speeding past a few cms from the pavement.

gavinoontheweb

CapnHex wrote: »

Works ongoing in Sandyford on a cycle path from Beacon Hotel to Kilgobbin Road, through an interchange for the M50. Looks like 5 sets of crossing lights to negotiate the interchange. I don’t cycle that route normally, but I’ll check it out when it’s finished.

A big job over the last few months and I doubt it will get much use at all. Celtic Tiger planners never envisaged cyclists using the roads around the Beacon and the M50.

The new infrastructure is car-first and will be largely un-used by people cycling due to the loss of priority. People who want to actually get where they're going in a timely manner will get abuse from drivers for being anywhere near that roundabout.

Type 17

Tombo2001 wrote: »

You forget to mention the HGVs speeding past a few cms from the pavement.

Not to mention how the potential conflict is handled* between cyclists and HGVs turning into and exiting Terminal 3 of Dublin port.

https://goo.gl/maps/HuCN7yJ83AjKMh5X7

*Spoiler: It's not handled in any meaningful way, see Streetview pic above.

sasal

I live beside this beaut:

https://twitter.com/IrishCycle/status/1125083536090857481

Type 17

There's going to be a lot more bad than good in this thread, but here's my favourite good (bit of) one - the section of the Sutton/Clontarf cycleway that passes along the front of St Annes Park. It's only about 900m long, but if all cycleways could be like this, things would be good - separated from the road and from the footpath, and wide enough for overtaking or two-abreast + 1, just a pity it's so short.

https://goo.gl/maps/bwVJjV6hSGkcggzY6

Seaswimmer

magicbastarder wrote: »

i remember that cycle lane after the late spring snow a few years back, you'd have been able to grow spuds in it.

That was probably around the same time that the local youths were tearing up big chunks of the red surface overlay and throwing them at the passing traffic.
You will notice that some sections have red overlay and others are just bare concrete!!

Wishbone Ash

Mercian Pro wrote: »

....There is another even more dangerous version of this on the East Wall Road/Alexandra Road junction and I keep expecting to hear reports of a serious collision there.
I could go on ....

That would be a horrible junction if used by 'ordinary' traffic but the fact that it's mainly trucks, makes it even worse. It's one of the few junctions where I don't be assertive and cross like a child. Designed for those who can see around corners.

(There's also a barrier free level crossing there but at least the train is escorted across by a banksman waving a flag!)

magicbastarder

that used to be on my commute - i never found that junction as bad as the right hand turn (southbound) from east wall road onto east wall road, if you follow me; you'd get truck drives - of big ones like 40 footers and dump trucks - coming from the port tunnel and driving through reds several seconds after they'd turned. i know you're meant to do it anyway, but definitely a junction you check the way is clear when you get a green.

Tombo2001

To go back to the OP - are there any other cycle paths worth mentioning.

The only ones I use with any frequency are (i) Clontarf/ Sutton (II) Tolka Valley (III) Canal from Des Kelly to Blanch and (IV) Phoenix Park circuit of the football grounds.

The one through NorthWall is kind of worth mentioning, its nice but not very long.

The one along the canal on the southside is OK, lots of traffic lights though.

Never been on the cycle paths in Dun Laoghaire or Baldoyle.....

Tombo2001

magicbastarder wrote: »

that used to be on my commute - i never found that junction as bad as the right hand turn (southbound) from east wall road onto east wall road, if you follow me; you'd get truck drives - of big ones like 40 footers and dump trucks - coming from the port tunnel and driving through reds several seconds after they'd turned. i know you're meant to do it anyway, but definitely a junction you check the way is clear when you get a green.

Is this the turn to take if you want to get to back entrance of East Point -in other words, if you dont take the turn you will end up in the port tunnel...?.

That is one of the hairiest cycles in Dublin. I would put it in the top two, alongside the Greenhills Road crossing the M50.

magicbastarder

southbound; i'd typically have been waiting at these lights, taking a right towards the east link. the traffic in question would have been coming from the left, also heading to the river.

https://www.google.com/maps/@53.3526496,-6.2251055,3a,75y,146.17h,75.7t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1ssIg8ehATaSySkg8rIxO0DA!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DsIg8ehATaSySkg8rIxO0DA%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D85.99025%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

Seth Brundle

It is a short enough stretch but they created shared (pedestrian & cyclists) cycle paths around Grange Castle Business Est from the Canal bridge at Adamstown to the Profile Park roundabout on the Nangor Rd where it kind of meets up with the existing crappy shared cycle path (shared with cyclists, pedestrians and truckers who park their artics there so they can get a breakfast roll)
It is mostly good except for the somewhat tolerable stones and crap on the surface and that for some unknown reason the cycle path cedes priority to private entrances.
The start of the cycle path heading west from Profile Park roundabout wasn't really thought through and you either use the busy road for 100m or you need to come off the roundabout and cycle a few metres in the wrong direction to access the dish ramp.

Further on, there is a cycle path on the R136 Ballyowen Road from the N4 to the N7. Some of it is on the road adjacent to the bus lane. Other parts are off the road and shared with pedestrians - I've never actually used this.

ON the southern side of the N7 there is a cycle lane which goes all the way down to the N81 - some of this is on the footpath and other parts in the bus lane (some of the bus lane is not operational so speeding motorists use this to undertake other drivers). A spur heads down Katherine Tynan Rd as far as the Belgard Rd. The Belgard Rd also has some kind of cyckle path shared with traffic so i wouldn't really acknowledge this.

Tombo2001

magicbastarder wrote: »

southbound; i'd typically have been waiting at these lights, taking a right towards the east link. the traffic in question would have been coming from the left, also heading to the river.

https://www.google.com/maps/@53.3526496,-6.2251055,3a,75y,146.17h,75.7t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1ssIg8ehATaSySkg8rIxO0DA!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DsIg8ehATaSySkg8rIxO0DA%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D85.99025%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

I understand - tbh I would always have stood on the footpath by the wall (LHS) and waited for traffic to clear - isnt there a pedestrian crossing there also?

Not designed for cyclists.

Wishbone Ash

magicbastarder wrote: »

southbound; i'd typically have been waiting at these lights, taking a right towards the east link. the traffic in question would have been coming from the left, also heading to the river.

https://www.google.com/maps/@53.3526496,-6.2251055,3a,75y,146.17h,75.7t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1ssIg8ehATaSySkg8rIxO0DA!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DsIg8ehATaSySkg8rIxO0DA%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D85.99025%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

It's not great but at least there's good visability all around. I typically move right out almost into the junction (so at least the drivers behind can see me) and then dart across to the cycle track when i get a green but always checking for red light breakers. At least you can easily hear light breaking trucks.

CapnHex

Cycle path from Seapoint Ave to Sandymount is a joy. Loads of families and kids use it safely to enjoy the coastal views. I cycle it as often as I can, just to lift the spirits. Let’s hope it is made a permanent feature.

Seaswimmer

CapnHex wrote: »

Cycle path from Seapoint Ave to Sandymount Sandycove is a joy. Loads of families and kids use it safely to enjoy the coastal views. I cycle it as often as I can, just to lift the spirits. Let’s hope it is made a permanent feature.

Careful. We don't want to open the Sandymount can of worms again just yet!!

Seaswimmer

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

It's not great but at least there's good visability all around. I typically move right out almost into the junction (so at least the drivers behind can see me) and then dart across to the cycle track when i get a green but always checking for red light breakers. At least you can easily hear light breaking trucks.

Thats exactly what I used to do but always tried to join the cycle track just at the level crossing as joining it before leaves you at risk of left hooks from traffic turning into Alexandra Road. So it was usually a race to get to the cycle track before the traffic behind started hassling you for not being on the first bit of track. Hopefully when they design the cycle track through Eastpoint and the port it will be a distant memory

Cycled from sandymount to vico Road at the weekend. Mostly fantastic but there's a strange part around some back roads near the forty foot. Is this even a cycle lane? Is it to just block parking? Is it to clear space for upcoming construction? Because there's no way a bike can fit in there

https://imgur.com/a/SQkxmjT

Type 17

Not a bike lane, just to prevent parking.

Wishbone Ash

Deleted User wrote: »

... Is this even a cycle lane? Is it to just block parking? Is it to clear space for upcoming construction? Because there's no way a bike can fit in there

https://imgur.com/a/SQkxmjT

To prevent motorists from parking on the footpad.

magicbastarder

we've seen those pop up at the ballymun interchange on the M50 - even on the slip roads. had been wondering why.

irlirishkev

Seth Brundle wrote: »

Further on, there is a cycle path on the R136 Ballyowen Road from the N4 to the N7. Some of it is on the road adjacent to the bus lane. Other parts are off the road and shared with pedestrians - I've never actually used this.

This is part of my commute out of town to CityWest, via the Canal.
It's a grand stretch, you need to jump back onto the dual carriageway at junctions, or use the pedestrian crossings. I do the latter due to speeding etc..
I'm glad to have it though, it means my commute from the City Centre to CityWest is about 80% segregated.

irlirishkev

I love the Clontarf to Sutton cyclepath, and now the Baldoyle to Pormarnock greenway to get you off that god-awful road too.

Would be great if it all linked up, but I'm no sure if that will ever happen.

cletus

I posted this before, but I think it's natural home might be here

Tombo2001

Wow- did somebody actually sit down at a desk and draw that out I wonder. It must be in a plan somewhere.

cletus

Tombo2001 wrote: »

Wow- did somebody actually sit down at a desk and draw that out I wonder. It must be in a plan somewhere.

I get the impression that the guys putting in new paths are told every new path gets a bike lane too, and they took them at their word

Type 17

The purpose of these is so that cyclists stopping to turn right (because cyclists aren't "real" traffic, and need to pull over for such a complex manoeuvre :rolleyes: ) can pull in safely, avoiding stopping in the lane, causing an obstruction to other cyclists.

Mercian Pro

This may well be the shortest bike lane in Dublin. The intention may be similat to Type 17's post as it ends at a pedestrian crossing. There is no dished footpath to allow you up on the path and sharing with pedestrians and a tree must be a sqeeze.

cletus

Type 17 wrote: »

The purpose of these is so that cyclists stopping to turn right (because cyclists aren't "real" traffic, and need to pull over for such a complex manoeuvre :rolleyes: ) can pull in safely, avoiding stopping in the lane, causing an obstruction to other cyclists.

Except that there's no turn at all there. It's the far side of a one way traffic light system over a narrow bridge, with a pedestrian crossing linked. So if you're on the "bike lane" you've got the bridge to your back.

Type 17

They’re a nice idea in theory, but I’ve yet to see one done right. There’s one at the Clonskeagh entrance to UCD, so that UCD-bound cyclists can wait for a right filter without blocking city-bound cyclists, but there’s not enough room in it and I’ve never seen it being used - Few people probably know what it’s for anyway.

Wishbone Ash

This one in rural Lusk has always intrigued me. It's beside the R132 at The Five Roads. It doesn't seem to serve any purpose as there's a hard shoulder on the main road and the track can only be accessed by dismounting and crossing some marshy ground. It's only about 200m long and ends at the bottom of The Ducky Rooney's Lane after crossing what looks like a gated private lane with two properties.

I can only imagine that it was a 'future proofing' exercise when the roads around there were re-aligned when the M1 was under construction.

Type 17

Ironically, because it's hard to access, it isn't getting used, and slippery moss and algae has built up, meaning that it isn't getting used...