Clontarf to City Centre Cycle & Bus Priority Project discussion (renamed)

getoutadodge

I cycled it yesterday. Coming along nicely. Inward section most advanced with the Anneslly Bridge junction and Connolly Stn sections remaining to be finished. Outwards section still a long way to go but loads of activity. Should be great when finished. Nth Strand Road was one of the kippiest roads in Dublin along with Dorset and Thomas St.

In a related note work proceeds ...very slowly... on the Port cycle path from Clontarf thru the East Link Business Park and along the northern edge of the Port to the ferry point. Heard from a fellow cyclist (no idea of true or just gossip) that the Clontarf mafia residents are whinging about their view again ..resulting in delays? Could be Dublin Port tried to deflect from their own tardiness?

Seth Brundle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121497947#Comment_121497947

the Clontarf mafia residents are whinging about their view again

Ah sure it won't be too long before they've to move out because the place is under water!

Seth Brundle

I travelled in and out along the route today and while the outbound section is not usable, it was the first time I travelled inbound the whole way.

Some experiences: drivers pulling out from the Clontarf dart station car park and also pulling into Westwood almost took me out despite lights, etc. Something needs to be done to address this (and get the queue of idiots heading to WW out of the bus lane also!).

As I was heading past Fairview, it was tricky to see the surface. Couldn't see the way the path went around the footbridge and thought it went straight and to the right of the steps. Possibly going too fast there so my bad!

The surface is crap. Too many ups and downs, too many shores and other bumps. It doesn't make for a comfortable ride plus it means that you're watching the ground more than you should be.

Pedestrians walking along it I passed one elderly lady carrying her shopping walking towards me in Fairview but there were other instances where people (and a dog) were in it.

It's great to have it and it will encourage more active travel in and out of the city but people of Dublin need to have a bit more cop on when travelling (by foot or by car) near it.

Citizen Six

I've noticed a few issues at junctions. When travelling inbound, the junction with East Wall Road has a green light for cyclists, and a flashing amber let for cars. Cars generally ignore this, and turn when the bike has priority. These junctions seem to all have this problem in the city. Drivers don't know how the lights work.

Similar at the junction with Ossory Road, and I've seen outbound traffic turn, and almost hit cyclists travelling inbound.

Another issue I've noticed is shores that seem to have their covers pulled off and replaced at an upwards angle, which could be very dangerous. Then I spotted a truck driving onto the cycle lane, which was causing this to happen. The drivers leave again, leaving it in this state.

bikeman1

I noted this morning that the outbound at Fairview left turn at Edges Corner is no more and the Junction is now taking shape for the future plan.

That is a more pronounced right turn inbound to head along Fairview Strand. After a year and a half of using the space outside Gaffneys as only a car park and mess room, and caging the whole place in for no reason, work seems to be finally happening there.

It will be interesting to see how they manage the job at the junction because they need to keep the flow along Fairview Strand if they are keeping the route into the 5 lamps closed to cars.

CatInABox

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121589714#Comment_121589714

Yes, it's going to be an interesting one, I can't remember exactly how that junction is going to look at the end, are you going to be able to turn left there outbound? Is it just the slip lane that's being taken out, or the ability to turn left at all?

If it is being taken out, the residents on Cadogan and Addison roads are left in a bit of a quandary, as they can't turn right coming out of their roads, and they can't turn left at Edge's corner either. They'll have quite a detour to head towards town. They'll be able to turn right eventually, but not right now during construction.

Unrelated, but I heard a laundromat is going into Edge's Corner, what a missed opportunity.

Seth Brundle

Just spotted a tweet with the following photo of traffic heading into Westwood. I also note the two yellow signs (from WW?) advising cyclists (who have right of way) to proceed with caution - surely a better solution can be made...

bikeman1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121590312#Comment_121590312

The outbound at Fairview left turn at Edge's corner is gone forever now. Not a huge loss. While you may think that the Cadogan etc. residents have a long detour, technically there is no turn towards town for any of the roads along the closure route and they all must head outbound first before turning towards Ballybough and in via Summerhill. They will have to go via Fairview Ave, Brian Road, Philipsburg Ave and into town that way.

1st class dry cleaners have moved from Fairview Strand to Edge's corner and opened for business this week too. They did a very good refurbishment of the building and have maintained the Edge's Corner name above the door. They have moved to make way for a substantial development in their old premises.

Citizen Six

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121590312#Comment_121590312

Looks like no left turn outbound when everything is finished. I'm sure there'll be a lot of illegal left turns made though.

loco_scolo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121592904#Comment_121592904

What sticks out to me there is the left hand cycle lane, at the junctions, to turn right across the pedestrian crossing! Good luck making that work!!

In terms of the illegal left turn, I imagine the pedestrian lights will be green so making the illegal left turn would require breaking pedestrian lights. In the near term people might chance it, but unlikely after that.

Citizen Six

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121594006#Comment_121594006

The idea is to pull to the left and wait for the light at the toucan crossing I’d imagine.

As for motorists breaking pedestrian lights, I see then do it every day at similar junctions. I can’t see things changing without any kind of meaningful enforcement.

BlueSkyDreams

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121594006#Comment_121594006

You are joking aren't you?

Drivers constantly ignore red lights and the flashing ambers are just a green light as far as most drivers are concerned.

There seems to be a real upturn in drivers not paying attention to red traffic lights.

I dont see why the councils cant install cameras at the lights and issue number plate fines for breaking reds and flashing ambers with pedestrians on the road.

Something needs to he done as its a free for all & very dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians.

loco_scolo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121594979#Comment_121594979

I walk and drive into town regularly and know the roads well in terms of no left turns (lots of them) and light sequences. I've never once seen a car break a no left turn and a green pedestrian light.

However, it's happened 3 times at a specific junction, where you can legally turn left but drivers have barrelled through a green pedestrian light without waiting for their signal, one of those times actually brushing off me as I stepped out.

It's just my experience but I don't regularly see drivers illegally turning left when there is clearly a no left turn sign. The turning angle will be quite sharp at Edge's corner so I just don't see it happening.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121594912#Comment_121594912

As for the bike 'right turning lane', positioned on the left, there's no way it'll be used correctly. If no pedestrians are crossing, then cyclists will simply continue cycling straight ahead and not yield to cyclists coming from their left (inbound direction in particular). It's a weird set-up in my opinion.

Citizen Six

“No one uses the cycle lane anyway.”

bk

"As for the bike 'right turning lane', positioned on the left, there's no way it'll be used correctly. If no pedestrians are crossing, then cyclists will simply continue cycling straight ahead and not yield to cyclists coming from their left (inbound direction in particular). It's a weird set-up in my opinion."

If the pedestrian crossing is already green, you probably won't use it and simply turn right to cross. However if the pedestrian crossing is red, then you are more likely to use it as you need to hit the pedestrian crossing button to get the lights to cross.

BTW This sort of crossing is at a few points along the cycle lane, not just here. For instance down by Westwood.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121595585#Comment_121595585

Yes, great to see, but one thing I note is the dirt and debris already in a new cycle path!

DCC really need to get use to the idea that they need to regularly clean and clear cycle paths.

alentejo

Regarding the Westwood gym and the constant no of cars blocking the cycle lane, I suspect many regular cyclists will simply use the bus lane.

Citizen Six

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121596475#Comment_121596475

Cars block the bus lane there too.

alentejo

Feel slightly more comfortable in the bus lane rather than the scenario as posted on twitter. Appreciate all cyclists will gravitate towards the bus lane. I think extensive yellow boxes are required and a sign informing motorists to move on if car park full.

Pete_Cavan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121594997#Comment_121594997

As for the bike 'right turning lane', positioned on the left, there's no way it'll be used correctly. If no pedestrians are crossing, then cyclists will simply continue cycling straight ahead and not yield to cyclists coming from their left (inbound direction in particular). It's a weird set-up in my opinion.

Heading out of town, if the pedestrian lights are green, I'd imagine it will be green for cars turning right into Fairview Strand so continuing straight may not be an option for those cyclists.

loco_scolo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121598874#Comment_121598874

Yeah you're right. The inbound direction is more of an issue. Issue is a strong word in any case, but I still find the layout odd.

As a previous poster mentioned, it makes sense to go left so you can press the button, however the sequence of lights should be changing regularly in any case as it's a busy junction from all directions.

Citizen Six

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121598263#Comment_121598263

Yellow boxes and signs will not work. People just don't care.

Thelonious Monk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121599367#Comment_121599367

yes and it will never be policed, so we'll just have to accept there'll be a long queue of cars there always. there are usually gaps to cycle between anyway, it's not the end of the world.

Citizen Six

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121600432#Comment_121600432

It’s not the end of the world, but it’s still a dangerous place for cyclists. I’ve witnessed multiple near misses here.

brocbrocach

Overheard a bit of a conversation between a security guard and a car he was signalling to get off the bike path this morning "cyclists are kicking the wing mirrors off cars and the guards..."

This was with about 8 cars clustered around the WW entrance and more queuing up though.

Thelonious Monk

I was in North Strand at about 0830 this morning and the bike lane inwards was really packed with cyclists, great to see. Coldest morning of the winter so far too probably for all those naysayers who bang on about no one cycling in the cold! Wish they'd hurry up with inbound, it's still a total mess in many parts.

Shedite27

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121622419#Comment_121622419

Yeah I've been cycling every morning this year and it's far busier than I'd ever remembered. Probably time we build a second bike lane for bikes overtaking other bikes really, the cars seem to be managing diverting through Ballybough

bikeman1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121623462#Comment_121623462

Don’t start a war! They really should consider a bus gate on that route. Maybe at the 5 lamps. The traffic is coping fine going via Ballybough. Let the buses have a clear run in, particularly in the morning would be a huge benefit for thousands and thousands of people in the morning. Even if it was 07:00-10:00.

loco_scolo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121623503#Comment_121623503

Basically create a one way system - inbound through Ballybough and outbound through North Strand. Both areas would benefit from lower traffic during one of the peak periods. It could work perhaps, though I don't think it would be popular.

On the busy cycle lanes, it won't be long before the main road carriage way is full with cyclists again - the cyclists who can't stand getting stuck behind slower cyclists.

bikeman1

What has happened now is the capacity inbound has been reduced and people have switched over to other forms of transport.

When the bike Lane is completed both ways, then this will be a huge benefit for tens of thousands of people. They for the first time in their lives living on Dublin’s Northside be able to SAFELY cycle in and out of town.

An expansion of the bike sharing schemes along the route out to Raheny, Artane, Killester etc. would be brilliant too. Give people the option of a €0.50 in or out of town without the need for owning a bike but be able to use the infrastructure available.

Thelonious Monk

yeah really the bike sharing should come to at least the top of the malahide road at fairview, would be an ideal place to have bikes to be used on the new safe route into town