Can Swords have nice things?

Qaanaaq

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123516863#Comment_123516863

Yeah, the place they put that is totally baffling, it seems that they had a target to put down x km of segregated cycleway and then decided to put it in the easiest/cheapest place possible rather than a place where it is actually needed.

Imagine how much potential a segregated cycleway would have from Swords to Malahide train station? it would be hugely popular. But it's a lot more of a challenge to build. So instead lets waste taxpayers money and build one in the middle of nowhere because the old main Belfast road is wide and there is room to stick it in cheaply.

They are clearly only doing things to satisfy objectives and to then report in the media that they have delivered x and y, but the reality is that it just a total waste of money, not what will any benefit and be ripped up again after a few years of decline.

Tombo2001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123516972#Comment_123516972

to be fair - the level of negative reaction when cycle paths are being built on busy routes has been enormous - Griffith Avenue and North Strand being two recent examples.

However

-once they are built that tends to blow over

-the North Strand one in particular is an absolute game changer.

Funny enough, and this may sound daft - I was working in London overnight last year - cycled out to the airport (from Glasnevin).

40 minute cycle each way, probably saved me 50 euro in taxi fare and bit of exercise thrown into the deal. It was very do-able.

However - it was very hard to find anywhere to lock the bike in the airport.

If you had a proper bike path and a few electric bike stands, I have no doubt it would be v popular with people in Swords or airport.

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123516877#Comment_123516877

It's not that bad tbh, I'm on the airport end of the town and there's a lot more noise from people using strimmers or construction tools

I actually feel like people living out west like Hollystown or Tryrellstown have it worse because the planes are basically going over their heads

Main issue is around 6am when it's quiet and the first flights start up but it's just more noticeable and I tend to be awake at that time anyways

I would be absolutely opposed to removing the night time restrictions on Dublin Airport, it would be head wrecking to listen to the planes through the night

It's pretty frustrating then to hear our local TD Darragh O'Brien say the government is working hard to remove the restrictions and passenger cap 🙄

plodder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123516993#Comment_123516993

Griffith Ave is the Gold standard in my experience. Not familiar with North Strand yet, but I presume it's good too. I don't give DCC credit for much. But, their newer cycle facilities seem to be top class.

And no question it's a lot easier to put them in where the road is already wide enough, which is why it's so strange that the road between Swords and the airport isn't better. But, for Swords to Malahide train stn, it's not going to fit on the R106, but might on Estuary Rd.

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123517143#Comment_123517143

My guess is if they went for planning they'd be told that they couldn't have bikes crossing over the airport roundabout safely and would have to build an overpass or underpass

So it's cheaper to just ignore the problem

magicbastarder

it's not so much the roundabout which is the issue - it's the section between the roundabout and the coachman's, which requires all foot and cycle traffic in both directions to share a single badly maintained footpath.

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123518018#Comment_123518018

Ah yeah I forgot about that bit, makes sense

Not exactly a shortage of width on the road there, should be easy enough to have a decent pavement and cycle lane

A nice overpass going over the roundabout would be a bonus as well, save negotiating with the cars to get past

Am I right in saying the northbound side has the cycle lane on the footpath and there's barely enough width for two people to pass each other, let alone a person and a bike?

magicbastarder

yep - southbound foot and cycle traffic is expected to cross at the crossing in front of the coachmans, to use the path on the northbound side.

i wouldn't mind, only the new section of cycle path between dardistown and the main roundabout is badly designed too. an example; the shared footpath/cycle path actually ends, with a yield sign, to give way to traffic entering or exiting a pub; the notion that someone who is using the main carriageway has to yield to someone coming out of a side road (from a car park, no less) is perverse. i stay on the road (in the bus lane) when cycling there.

https://www.google.com/maps/@53.4245731,-6.2296398,3a,51.2y,336.8h,84.66t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sVEAhoVoNwjg9R1FXDMHOGQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D5.344731390238849%26panoid%3DVEAhoVoNwjg9R1FXDMHOGQ%26yaw%3D336.7994487786983!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDYwMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

pinkypinky

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123516931#Comment_123516931

If I remember correctly, that used to open onto the road and the restaurant (in its prior to current iteration) colonised it.

They also blocked up the opening to the park with chainlink - notice there's a much wider section opposite the entrance the Castle shopping car park. It was allegedly to stop people crossing but no pedestrian is going to walk all the way down to the corner of Main St to cross at lights, so all it succeeded in doing is pushing people into too narrow an opening at the bridge. I often think it must be a nightmare for buggies or anyone in a wheelchair.

Shred

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123516180#Comment_123516180

I read that this morning and, having eaten in it twice over the past week, it's an absolute hatchet job.

I'm not saying it's worthy of 5 stars or even the best place in Swords. But we enjoyed the food, the service was good and liked the makeover too (perhaps that's somewhat coloured by the fact Wright's had been let go to rack and ruin).

Like everywhere it could be cheaper, but I felt a lot better spending similar money there to somewhere like Peacock's (my local) where the food is absolute shite to boot (to add insult to injury).

gandalfio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123518604#Comment_123518604

From my experience there it hits the nail on the head. The food is awful. If you don't nail the food from the beginning, then many potential new future customers are lost. I certainly won't ever go back.

Shred

Fair enough, but I thought the food was decent personally. I had the steak sandwich first time, followed by the brisket second time - both were tasty but messy to eat.

One star is still hyperbolic bull though (and the IT no doubt delighted with the traffic it's generating!). CH took issue with the place for some other reason - I suspect she likely she has beef with Wright's as a whole, she also certainly wouldn't like some of the fish being farmed or not Irish sourced (which is crap tbf).

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123520205#Comment_123520205

I suppose it's a question of what was advertised versus what was delivered

The author (somewhat correctly) points out that the venue was billed as a sort of high class artisan food and drink venue and what they got was another vulgar Wright family venue

I haven't been myself and probably won't be eating there, not my type of venue anyway. I'll probably drop in for a few drinks at some point

I'm going to hazard a guess that it's another good but generally uninteresting mega pub which seems to be all the rage these days

But that's the theme of the hospitality industry these days isn't it? Trying to be somehow edgy and unique while also being bland and safe. And overpriced to boot

I'd actually give points to Peacocks in that regard, from the outside it looks like a quiet pub where the biggest selling point is the short walk home and that's exactly what you get

I wouldn't eat there either, personally my favourite restaurant is actually The Plaza Chinese restaurant. They've got that classic style with lots of sound absorbing material around. So I can actually have a conversation with someone, and the food is decent

Now you can quite correctly point out that the place hasn't been updated in 20+ years, but why fix what isn't broken 😁

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123519114#Comment_123519114

The food is really a box ticking exercise, so they can say the place is a gastro pub and not a glorified nightclub most likely

It fulfills its purpose without trying to be too imaginative (and threaten the profit margin)

Inquitus

I wholeheartedly agree with pedestrianisation of the Main Street. Just for weekends or perhaps permanently. I would make it pedestrian where I have highlighted on the map below:

Thelonious Monk

Worked there for 2 years until last year. I can't stand the place and hope I'm never there again. Used to cycle there from santry direction, nightmare of a road for bikes, especially coming back to Dublin.

They could pedestrianise the main street and try and make it nice but sure the locals would all go nuts if it was ever suggested, even though it has a motorway and dual carriagway and loads of parking.

It reminds me of sh*tty soulless places in Essex.

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123518542#Comment_123518542

Yeah the restaurant looks a lot like an extension to the existing building

Very short sighted not to keep that open for a river path and crossing over to the park

I guess this was long before the castle restoration began

I can confirm that trying to get across that road with a buggy is an absolute pain 😬