Getting around Galway

what_traffic

WDR is getting a MAKEOVER

https://www.galwaycity.ie/services/active-travel/active-travel-services/western-distributor-road-cycle-lane

Some interesting stuff in the plans. Looks like there could be an Inbound Bus Lane sometime down the line from Clybaun Roundabout to the Deane Roundabout(Bishop O Donnell Road) from reading between the lines

zell12

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123518232#Comment_123518232

Salthill Cycleway - Round II

Laviski

Thing is, bus lane is needed right now.... But let's wait another 10 years......

rustyfrog

Big miss to be updating the WDR and not installing the bus lanes. There is space there and I believe they were always part of the future plans for WDR.

For a scheme that's focused on cycle infra upgrades, surely the budget would be better spent on routes with zero cycle lanes at the moment and progress the development of a network.

?Cee?view

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123524250#Comment_123524250

Of course it would be better spent on public transport. It’s time to prioritise its development and stop wasting time and money on the active travel cycling hobby bullsh1t

rustyfrog

Obviously disagree on the hobby bs comment, active travel is part of the solution, but agree we need to ramp up public transport investment as that will always be a much bigger chunk of the solution.

If the ring road goes ahead, the traffic congestion in much of Knocknacarra is projected to get worse, so public transport will need a path through it.

what_traffic

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123524250#Comment_123524250

It is a primary route in the City though that could have more local people get around on bikes. For it to work - will need more permeability along the WDR. This is needed for the Galway BusConnects Network as well. BusConnects report stated that this was an issue. You are also 100% on the increased CAR traffic in the area if GCRR is built. ARUPS traffic modelling shows this clearly.

There is a very cheap NETWORK OF walking and cycling access POINTS in the area. A network of Cul De Sac routes in the Knocknacarra area that could be expanded on for very little money; knocking walls - but much political capital needs to be spent to get the local people on board.

Knocknacarra needs to be more like its other GAA half and be like the wealthier Salthill area when it comes to a permeability network.

RE bus lanes. I guess it's just different funding streams?

Looks for certain that from Gort na Bró Roundabout to the Deane will get a bus lane inbound for sure - best probably to provide from the Clybaun Roundabout

Is an OUTBOUND bus lane required here on any stretch of the WDR? Probably needed if GCRR gets the go ahead as CAR traffic is going to increase in the area as a result and will impact on Public Transport routes as a result

topcat77

I'm happy with the active travel design of this. believe it or not, some people would preferer to cycle to work than drive and the children will be so much safer cycling to school on a segregated bike lane. So let's stop the childish "hobby bullsh1t" like comments.

I'm a little confused with the bus lanes or lack of them. if you were serious about a Park & Ride from Cappagh rd you'd want an express bus lane direct to the city. you'll only get people to use a park and ride is if it's faster and cheaper than driving the car and parking in the centre.

what_traffic

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123530656#Comment_123530656

Ya some good stuff in it. I don't see how BUS lane is needed ALL the way from Cappagh. Would be overkill IMHO, would be best though if an inbound bus lane was part of this scheme, at least inbound from the Clybaun Roundabout or Botháir Stiofáín. I guess its down to the funding streams within the Dept? Does seem odd

topcat77

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123530946#Comment_123530946

I wouldn't call a bus lane overkill I'd call it forward planning. Park & rides need expressways to properly function. This type project is a one off and needs to be thought out correctly.

topcat77

Order for another public consultation to further delay Galway City Ring Road

Another nail in the coffin.

https://www.galwaybayfm.ie/galway-bay-fm-news-desk/order-for-another-public-consultation-to-further-delay-galway-city-ring-road-195898

what_traffic

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123531735#Comment_123531735

Agree, I have been lamenting here that from 2014 to 2024 we didnt build any significant bus lanes in the City.

if we build BUS lanes length of WDR from Cappagh on Inbound and Outbound - it will be under used based on the NEW Bus Connects route plans for West of Galway City? For sure I would build an Inbound Bus Lane from Clybaun but other sections could be built out into the future if bus priority measures are really needed as the land is available for it. At least this was planned for.

Regardless of this P&R on Cappagh (don't think this is a great the solution TBH, would focus on increasing bus services from Spiddal inbound and outbound) many stretches of BUS lanes that would be constructed length of WDR Inbound and Outbound would not be used in a significant manner based on the Bus Connects routes.

what_traffic

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123532379#Comment_123532379

"

Whatever the outcome, this latest development will further delay the Galway City Ring Road and may also involve another oral hearing

"

what ya think? Another Oral hearing? It looks like ABP is setting the stage for another one

topcat77

I think it's political "kick the can down the road". Nobody want's to make the big decision.

what_traffic

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123534224#Comment_123534224

Ya looks like it alright - possibly shows how weak the updated submission from Galway County Council was to ABP.

An Oral Hearing would allow the public to hammer out that weakness again and give the ABP a bit of political cover.

what_traffic

Sean Canney and Mairead Farrell on Claire Byrne RTE show talking about the CAR traffic in Galway

what_traffic

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123536759#Comment_123536759

In fairness they at least theywere honest in describing the volumes of car commuting from outside the City is the primary cause of the Car traffic in the City.

dinneenp

Not sure if there's a separate email GLUAS thread..

From the proposed route the obvious question to me is how long does a journey from Oranmore or Salthill into town take? Wondering as the route is anything but direct so the concern is that it'll take much longer than a bus on a traditional route would

what_traffic

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123566519#Comment_123566519

Perfect place to post this dinneenp.

The Western Section of that "GLUAS" map? in the Advertiser pretty much maps onto the Galway Bus Connects map:

https://busconnects.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Galway-Network-Map.pdf

the Eastern section of that "GLUAS" map in the Advertiser seems to be servicing the Business Estates rather than the residential centres and Hospitals.

CowboyTed

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123527471#Comment_123527471

Let's be very clear… Knocking walls between estates has been throughly rejected…

To do that, you need considerably extra policing… There is 22 international reports that have said having cul de sacs reduces crime and to remove them involves increasing policing… The Garda has emphatically said this is not going to happen. They said if they even got the resources there are a number of higher priorities than this…

Residents have also rejected vigorously as degenerates their small communities within a larger city… They don't want strangers (ie non local residents) going through their communities… Garda have continually praised these communities as highly effective way of deterring crime.

The City Councillors have said the breaking of walls between existing estates is not going to happen. They have been to Residents meetings and even the Green Party members have squirmed at the resistance…

To give you an example… The GCC executive have stated that they would like to knock the walls between Castle Park through to Doughiska so the Castle Park can walk through Doughiska to get to the Health Centre (would save them walking around)… Yep, they thought this was a good idea…

This is brain dead, it would be a policing nightmare. I have said this many times, there isn't much wrong with cycling but there advocates are the real problem…

When Cycling say they want to knock walls this creates fear and backlash against cycling. I know many people in Galway who now would go out of there way to screw over cycling because the militant actions. Cycling advocates are their own worst enemies, they continuously try and talk over people and other concerns like they are more righteous.

Conversations about having more cycling to a lot of people in Galway has to start with Cyclists aren't all pr*cks, and point out someone in their friends group that cycles and how more cycling makes everyones life better. Cycling advocates have very much reenforced this. Look at the bypass on this thread alone, how many Cycling advocates here have said it will make traffic worse and used ignorance as a tool even after they have been shown that it is part of a larger strategy. A strategy which has worked in Dublin, Limerick, Cork, many towns around Ireland….

I suggest militant cycling advocates have a hard look at themselves.

P.S. The City Council Executive come across as non resident idiots trying to run Galway from the last manual they read…

?Cee?view

Thank you. It’s so refreshing to see sense here. All too rare.

No one wants entitled cyclists traipsing through their neighbourhoods. The other little detail that escapes the activists is that the Council can’t go around knocking walls at will. They need the agreement of the owners of the walls

CowboyTed

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123581053#Comment_123581053

When councils take over estates:

They don't take over the walls.

They don't own the walls or any common areas including the roads, in a lot of cases it is owned by the original builder with residents give right of ways…

==========In fairness this should be cleaned up… The residents should own these areas, this can be quite complicated with a need to set up legal entity. (I don't think the cycling advocates realised the damage they did in the wider community during the Prom Cycle lane debacle. this has sown some serious seeds of mistrust. Cycling advocates lost their status as benefits all to it benefits them.

?Cee?view

In a lot of cases in the least twenty to twenty five years, estates are now not taken in charge. A management company is set up and ownership is transferred to it with the house owners being shareholders, and they pay private contractors to maintain the estates. There’s a mechanism to force the council to take the areas in charge, but it’s not used much

The prom mess revealed the dishonesty of the activists to the wider public and its thankfully permanently damaged their campaigns. Many knew the form of the campaigners as their project before the prom was closing Raleigh Row at the Jes primary to cars. It was largely the same handful of people involved. If they hadn’t done that, they’d have had less opposition to the prom plan, but they’d shown their colours at Raleigh Row.

CowboyTed

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123581274#Comment_123581274

The not taking over estates is a grossly unequal system which generally discriminates against younger individuals and families..

I have a friend who was involved with a Cycle Bus for the school and said it got a bit toxic with Cycling advocates… I am sorry but the pious nature of them being right and the only way is a real turn off to say the least and there seems to have a dishonesty in it…

Gremlinertia

REMINDER - This thread is for logistics of getting around Galway and not an excuse to use the thread for bicycle bashing - I see the access to estates as more a policing and anti social behaviour issue.

As always, any issues PM me - penalties apply for any on thread questioning of same

what_traffic

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123523163#Comment_123523163

This could be 😁

https://www.galwaycity.ie/homepage/salthill-village-and-seafront-framework-plan

G-bird

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123581274#Comment_123581274

What happened with Raleigh Row? Why is it being framed in a negative light? I mean, Im sure there was opposition at the start, there always is, but I'm surprised to see it now being posed as a negative. I use it daily and the School Streets is generally very popular with the school community, creates a safe space for the kids and families, stops rat running and queueing up to drop the kids off at the door.

Sorry, maybe I shouldn't be quoting reprimanded posts, I'm just curious in the context of logistics of getting around Galway and its traffic problems how such a positive step to open up a road instead of having it blocked up is being viewed as a negative

Unrealistic

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123583137#Comment_123583137

From what I see/hear the negativity is a minority view but is just expressed very loudly.

CowboyTed

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123581816#Comment_123581816

Poster warned as notified on mod note - PM welcome just to remind all

what_traffic

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123583137#Comment_123583137

Hearing the same since it was done - one person I know locally was delighted no longer had stationary CAR traffic outside the door at school drop off/pick up. The usual "works pain" at the time of the construction can understand for sure

Really though there was very little significant change with this "Raleigh Row" project - but we are starting from a very low base in the City that people think there was a lot more too it.

Down the line though - I still think streets like Raleigh Row and similar residential should be for residents ONLY when it comes to car parking