Dublin North Quays - now double bus lane

ThisRegard · 21-08-2017 09:30AM

cherryghost wrote: »

Anyone commute on the Quays this morning? How was traffic flow?

Interested to hear.

Livedrive reporting that it's not as bad as expected. Still early days though, next week will be the big test.

LeinsterDub · 21-08-2017 09:31AM

On the 9 a bus not directly affected by the but given its a wet day noticed an improvement. College Green was empty.

cherryghost · 21-08-2017 09:48AM

That's pretty good feedback for what I expected to be a Day one myriad of disaster and confusion. I'll be on the quays at rush hour this evening heading westways so for once I'm looking forward to seeing how long my trip home takes.

LollipopJimmy · 21-08-2017 10:00AM

I do some volunteering on Sundays which requires driving the North Quays 3 times. The biggest issue i saw was cars just driving straight as such and not following the layout of the road, including just straight over hatched markings.

There needs to be a campaign run in Dublin media to educate.

brokenarms · 21-08-2017 10:03AM

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

I do some volunteering on Sundays which requires driving the North Quays 3 times. The biggest issue i saw was cars just driving straight as such and not following the layout of the road, including just straight over hatched markings.

There needs to be a campaign run in Dublin media to educate.

Seen that myself.

It is a bit complicated for most though.

I would suggest maybe those flexible bollards to funnel people into the correct place.

I noticed bollards in place on O Connell street to segregate the cycle lane over the weekend. Is that new?

NuMarvel · 21-08-2017 10:05AM

brokenarms wrote: »

Seen that myself.

It is a bit complicated for most though.

I would suggest maybe those flexible bollards to funnel people into the correct place.

I noticed bollards in place on O Connell street to segregate the cycle lane over the weekend. Is that new?

No, but they were removed for a while during the LUAS works. They were reinstalled in the last week or so I think.

LXFlyer · 21-08-2017 10:05AM

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

I do some volunteering on Sundays which requires driving the North Quays 3 times. The biggest issue i saw was cars just driving straight as such and not following the layout of the road, including just straight over hatched markings.

There needs to be a campaign run in Dublin media to educate.

Yesterday was day 1 - there is going to be a familiarisation period.

However the signage is not helping.

The bus lanes east of Liffey St are all signed as being operational Mon-Sat 07:00 to 19:00 and the bus lane on Bachelor's Walk says Monday to Sunday 24 hours.

Do they seriously expect traffic to move out at the Ha'penny bridge??

It needs to be 24 hours east of Grattan Bridge at the very least, if not the entire Quays.

Dublinflyer · 21-08-2017 10:31AM

Today is one of the 2 days a month where I have to drive into the city for work, am on the 9 normally. I turn onto Ormond Quay from Capel street as I park the car on north lotts. The traffic was moving better than normal and the new lights seem to be working well. The bus has plenty of space to cross from left to right to get to the bridge. One thing I did see that worried me was a lot of cyclists were ignoring the red light for the bus lane and going through at speed but this could bring them directly into the path of cars moving from the right to the left lane just after the lights. I can see a few close calls there but apart from that it looked good. The busses were flying up the Quays and could just pull out once the door was closed. Delivery vans were causing a few problems, not sure what the solution will be there. And of course I did not see a single guard there stopping the few drivers who were using the bus lane.

MrMorooka · 21-08-2017 11:18AM

Sierra Oscar wrote: »

I was on 39A, it flew down the quays. A journey which usually takes 35 - 40 mins took 15 mins this morning.

Great, so you can arrive too early at the stop on Bachelor's Walk and have to wait 10 minutes for the next bus driver to arrive

LXFlyer · 21-08-2017 11:26AM

MrMorooka wrote: »

Great, so you can arrive too early at the stop on Bachelor's Walk and have to wait 10 minutes for the next bus driver to arrive

Well hopefully the effects will be positive and new rosters will need to be drawn up that see the buses doing more journeys.

Pinch Flat · 21-08-2017 11:37AM

A cycle daily and welcome the south quays realignment. Much safer for cyclists, we're now just competing with buses, rather than buses, cars, trucks. There's still not enough room for a bus to pass me safely, so it'll have to be center lane. I'm moving at the limit anyway (30km/hr).

It's be nicee to see the alignment extend to the Guinness brewery where you';re trying to get to Park Gate Street. Probably the sketchiest part of my commute. Not too bad in heavy traffic, because it's generally moving slow. But they amount of space cadets who gun it down there outside of the bus lane operating hours is pretty scary.

begbysback · 21-08-2017 11:44AM

Deedsie wrote: »

It's raining, no chance you will see AGS outside today.

Would be a bit unfair to fine motorists before getting used to the new layout - I'd imagine a lot could go to court and plead ignorance, good decision to give motorists a break for the moment imo

stop · 21-08-2017 11:53AM

Dublinflyer wrote: »

Today is one of the 2 days a month where I have to drive into the city for work, am on the 9 normally. I turn onto Ormond Quay from Capel street as I park the car on north lotts. The traffic was moving better than normal and the new lights seem to be working well. The bus has plenty of space to cross from left to right to get to the bridge. One thing I did see that worried me was a lot of cyclists were ignoring the red light for the bus lane and going through at speed but this could bring them directly into the path of cars moving from the right to the left lane just after the lights. I can see a few close calls there but apart from that it looked good. The busses were flying up the Quays and could just pull out once the door was closed. Delivery vans were causing a few problems, not sure what the solution will be there. And of course I did not see a single guard there stopping the few drivers who were using the bus lane.

Maybe I'm wrong but I thought there was a bypass lane for cyclists to the left of the light, so they're not breaking the red? Regardless the vehicle changing lane should check mirrors as usual before doing so.

NuMarvel · 21-08-2017 11:54AM

begbysback wrote: »

Would be a bit unfair to fine motorists before getting used to the new layout - I'd imagine a lot could go to court and plead ignorance, good decision to give motorists a break for the moment imo

At this early stage, the Gardaí wouldn't need to fine motorists, just redirect them into the correct lanes, like they used to do for traffic at the College Green Bus Gate.

LollipopJimmy · 21-08-2017 11:56AM

begbysback wrote: »

Would be a bit unfair to fine motorists before getting used to the new layout - I'd imagine a lot could go to court and plead ignorance, good decision to give motorists a break for the moment imo

Or not issuing FCPN, every time a Guard stops you they don't have to fine you

ellobee · 21-08-2017 12:04PM

Sierra Oscar wrote: »

I was on 39A, it flew down the quays. A journey which usually takes 35 - 40 mins took 15 mins this morning.

Now admittedly it's August, but there's still a massive difference. I'd say the journey will take 20 mins or so once September hits.

I dread to think what it will be like in December when the luas starts 2 weeks before christmas, I presume the luas will have priority crossing o'connel bridge, anyone know how many trams per hour will cross the bridge during peak times.

begbysback · 21-08-2017 12:19PM

Deedsie wrote: »

No reason AGS cant be out there doing an educational information campaign this week. No fines, just highlighting the new layout.

Only thing stopping AGS... Ta se ag cur baisti

Lanes seem to be marked well enough, and they are self explanatory - though having said that, the amount of drivers driving on, or over lane lines around the city is pretty astonishing - but still, more of an education problem imo

LXFlyer · 21-08-2017 12:59PM

ellobee wrote: »

I dread to think what it will be like in December when the luas starts 2 weeks before christmas, I presume the luas will have priority crossing o'connel bridge, anyone know how many trams per hour will cross the bridge during peak times.

The LUAS will start running well in advance of December.

Testing and running shadow schedules will be happening over the next three months before they enter public service in December, so whatever issues arise (and I expect issues to arise) will be found long before the December start date.

There will be up to 20 trams an hour crossing O'Connell Bridge and up to 20 trams an hour crossing Rosie Hackett Bridge.

LXFlyer · 21-08-2017 01:02PM

stop wrote: »

Maybe I'm wrong but I thought there was a bypass lane for cyclists to the left of the light, so they're not breaking the red? Regardless the vehicle changing lane should check mirrors as usual before doing so.

Correct - the red light applies only to buses at the bus gate on Bachelors Walk.

Phil.x · 21-08-2017 01:16PM

ellobee wrote: »

I dread to think what it will be like in December when the luas starts 2 weeks before christmas, I presume the luas will have priority crossing o'connel bridge, anyone know how many trams per hour will cross the bridge during peak times.

One luas every 3mins

Stephen15 · 21-08-2017 01:30PM

brokenarms wrote: »

I did not see anything with regards 24hr in the Busconnects plan. Is it even on the cards?

Tbh I don't personally see the need for 24h service but maybe some services running later than just 23:30. Perhaps run certain routes until 1 or 2 in the morning.

uck51js9zml2yt · 21-08-2017 01:36PM

I heard a luas bell in hawkins street on friday so testing has started ahead of schedule

How will the busses manage to get across the luas line with one every 3 minutes?

jimmycrackcorm · 21-08-2017 01:41PM

I suspect they will wait until traffic is properly back at the start of September.

Was on the bus this morning and the difference was incredible. Looking forward now to cycling to see how that compares. In one sense it will be more risky with buses pulling out as opposed to the previous basically filtering through largely stationary traffic.

Ben D Bus · 21-08-2017 01:44PM

Mason Ancient Leper wrote: »

How will the busses manage to get across the luas line with one every 3 minutes?

How long will the lights remain red on Bachelors Walk for a Northbound Luas to pass?

Same question for eastbound traffic on Eden Quay stopped at Marlborough St.

Similar questions for the South Quays and westbound traffic.

Given the peak time frequency, will north/southbound trams be held short of the quays to allow sequenced crossings in order to minimise the number of times east/west traffic has to stop for them?

And just to add to the comments about this morning, I also flew in along the North Quays this morning on the bus as far as my stop at Ormond Quay. Walked the rest of the quays and the bus lanes were being well observed by drivers in fairness. Except for the one white van that took the bus lane and ran the red bus only light at Bachelors walk before pulling back into the general traffic lane!

aliveandkicking · 21-08-2017 02:05PM

DCC Traffic have tweeted there was a 40% reduction in journey time for buses through Bachelors Walk this morning.

https://twitter.com/DCCTraffic/status/899591424030765056

LeinsterDub · 21-08-2017 02:08PM

IE 222 wrote: »

Buses will move more freely on the quays but they will be delayed longer getting ONTO the quays especially any North or south travelling routes . Really just shifting the problem from one area to another imo. Buses don't suit everbodies travel needs there will always be a requirement for private cars.

Of course there will be a requirement for private cars. I hope your is particularly nice as you'll be ever increasing amounts of time in it

LXFlyer · 21-08-2017 02:12PM

Ben D Bus wrote: »

How long will the lights remain red on Bachelors Walk for a Northbound Luas to pass?

Same question for eastbound traffic on Eden Quay stopped at Marlborough St.

Similar questions for the South Quays and westbound traffic.

Given the peak time frequency, will north/southbound trams be held short of the quays to allow sequenced crossings in order to minimise the number of times east/west traffic has to stop for them?

And just to add to the comments about this morning, I also flew in along the North Quays this morning on the bus as far as my stop at Ormond Quay. Walked the rest of the quays and the bus lanes were being well observed by drivers in fairness. Except for the one white van that took the bus lane and ran the red bus only light at Bachelors walk before pulling back into the general traffic lane!

I imagine that the lights will all be sequenced, given that the lights for the Red Line has to be sequenced crossing O'Connell Street to avoid backlogs of buses and traffic.

Time taken remains to be seen.

Tigger99 · 21-08-2017 03:13PM

aliveandkicking wrote: »

DCC Traffic have tweeted there was a 40% reduction in journey time for buses through Bachelors Walk this morning.

https://twitter.com/DCCTraffic/status/899591424030765056

It certainly was for me anyways. I was delighted this morning.

Dublinflyer · 21-08-2017 03:26PM

Tigger99 wrote: »

It certainly was for me anyways. I was delighted this morning.

I am surprised it was only 40% quicker. It's the first time I have ever been at that end of the quays and not seen loads of buses trying to get out.

I know it's only been running one day but could it be that the DCC have got something right on the first try :eek:

Spanish Eyes · 21-08-2017 03:32PM

Dublinflyer wrote: »

I am surprised it was only 40% quicker. It's the first time I have ever been at that end of the quays and not seen loads of buses trying to get out.

I know it's only been running one day but could it be that the DCC have got something right on the first try :eek:

Certainly hope so and it is long overdue for the bus commuter on that stretch.

Remains to be seen if it will remain "good" when LUAS starts operating though. That will be the test.

Dublin North Quays - now double bus lane

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