Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi all,
Vanilla are planning an update to the site on April 24th (next Wednesday). It is a major PHP8 update which is expected to boost performance across the site. The site will be down from 7pm and it is expected to take about an hour to complete. We appreciate your patience during the update.
Thanks all.

Do you live in Knocknacarra? Work in Parkmore (ish)?

  • 09-02-2020 11:54pm
    #1
    Registered Users Posts: 25,666 ✭✭✭✭


    We see a lot of messages here about the need for an express / direct bus from Knocknacarra to Parkmore.

    The only people who really know about the possible demand for this are Parkmore employers ('cos they have their employees home addresses).

    But I wondered if a thread would give some indication.

    Two quick questions for posters who live in Knocknacarra / Rahoon / Westside / Shantalla (and maybe Newcastle if you'd be prepared to walk down to the SQR):



    1) How many people in your household work in Parkmore West, Parkmore East, Galway Technology Park or Racecourse Business Park?

    (This doesn't have to be full-time or 5-days: any number of hours per day or days per week is fine. Answer as at today. Don't include Mervue or Lisbaun or Ballybrit or Briarhill.. or anywhere that a direct bus might not stop at.)




    2) Of those, how many might use a direct bus which used the Quin.. bridge and Bothar na dtreabh (ie not through Eyre Square)?

    (Emphasis on might: this is not a scientific survey, or a commitment.)


Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 511 ✭✭✭ChewyLouie


    I do this commute most days. Mostly drive, cycle in the longer evenings and when the weather is settled.

    Only one in our household doing that commute.

    Would absolutely prefer to take a direct bus. The current bus option takes approx 1.5hrs with connection in Eyre Square and costs €9.80 cash return.


  • Registered Users Posts: 150 ✭✭Worn Out


    I live in Knocknacarra and commute to Parkmore by bike every day. I am the only person in the house commuting across the Quincentennial bridge.

    I would happily take a bus on stormy days like today but at 1.5 hours and a tenner a day it’s not an option


  • Registered Users Posts: 87 ✭✭rorymagory


    I live in Knocknacarra and drive over & back to Parkmore every day.
    I'd be interested in a direct bus over to Parkmore, absolutely.
    Currently, as 'Worn Out says above, it takes too long and costs too much.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,785 ✭✭✭James Forde


    rorymagory wrote: »
    I live in Knocknacarra and drive over & back to Parkmore every day.
    I'd be interested in a direct bus over to Parkmore, absolutely.
    Currently, as 'Worn Out says above, it takes too long and costs too much.

    How long does it take you on average?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 511 ✭✭✭ChewyLouie


    On the costs... and I right in saying that since West of the city is mostly City Direct and the east is Bus Eireann, to get a monthly ticket at the moment you need to buy a monthly ticket separately for both?


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 1,582 ✭✭✭Laviski


    Worn Out wrote: »
    I live in Knocknacarra and commute to Parkmore by bike every day. I am the only person in the house commuting across the Quincentennial bridge.

    I would happily take a bus on stormy days like today but at 1.5 hours and a tenner a day it’s not an option

    bus from parkmore to eyre sq, then switch to knocknacarra bus and get to that end in of town 1.5 hours daily? your must mean each way.....
    Not saying its completly impossible but that would be on a good day (which galway rarely gets where there was little traffic and the knocknacarra bus was waiting or just a few minutes wait to hop on too.


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,867 ✭✭✭what_traffic


    I might take the bus if there was bus priority measures on sections of the route. Using the current road layout for a route it would still be slower taking a bus in the evening rush hour than cycling it for me. Morning bus would match the bike for time. Currently takes me 30/35 min Parkmore to Rahoon Cemetry and vice versa when am on the bike. Its 100% predictable the journey times, no other mode offers that apart from walking.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,470 ✭✭✭Whereisgalway


    Build the outer ring road


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    One member of the household works a few evenings in Parkmore, live in Knocknacarra. Doubt they would take the bus, I'm not sure there is a bus around 12/1am?


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,867 ✭✭✭what_traffic


    I might take the bus if there was bus priority measures on sections of the route. Using the current road layout for a route it would still be slower taking a bus in the evening rush hour than cycling it for me. Morning bus would match the bike for time. Currently takes me 30/35 min Parkmore to Rahoon Cemetry and vice versa when am on the bike. Its 100% predictable the journey times, no other mode offers that apart from walking.

    Just to expand on this.
    So if the bus journey was longer than bike ride say for example ALWAYS took 45/50 min would still consider taking the bus far more often. The predicable journey times would be the main one for me.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 2,476 ✭✭✭at1withmyself


    One member of the household works a few evenings in Parkmore, live in Knocknacarra. Doubt they would take the bus, I'm not sure there is a bus around 12/1am?

    There used to be a bus at 12:30 from parkmore specifically for employees on evening shift from outside medtronic, was very handy and quick when I used to get it. Not sure if it still runs but medtronic employees should know.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,834 ✭✭✭?Cee?view


    Years ago there was a bus provided by Digital from Knocknacarra to Ballybrit. Do any of the employers do this anymore?


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,582 ✭✭✭Laviski


    ?Cee?view wrote: »
    Years ago there was a bus provided by Digital from Knocknacarra to Ballybrit. Do any of the employers do this anymore?

    nope that service was cut shortly after they moved the 405 terminus stop to outside HPE. It was part of the wider cost cutting measures implementated by BE.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,834 ✭✭✭?Cee?view


    Laviski wrote: »
    nope that service was cut shortly after they moved the 405 terminus stop to outside HPE. It was part of the wider cost cutting measures implementated by BE.

    Do you mean Bus Eireann when you're saying BE? I mean a private bus that Digital ran at no cost to their staff.


  • Registered Users Posts: 25,666 ✭✭✭✭Mrs OBumble


    ?Cee?view wrote: »
    I mean a private bus that Digital ran at no cost to their staff.

    I don't know how long that bus was funded by Digital ( if ever).

    But I do know that by October 2007, it was a BE service and charged passengers the standard city fare.

    Same with the bus to Medtronic in Parkmore, which was quietly dis-established sometime between 2007 and 2012.

    Re other employer buses:

    I've heard rumours of a shuttle bus between the Marine Institute and Orantown centre, and another between Cisco and Orantown. But never confirmed either.

    The HSE run a staff and patient shuttle bus between Merlin park and Newcastle.

    And at one stage Galway Cultural Institute had a student bus - but I've not seen it for a while.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 511 ✭✭✭ChewyLouie


    I've heard rumours of a shuttle bus between the Marine Institute and Orantown centre, and another between Cisco and Orantown.

    The Marine Institute run a bus from Roscam and back to Roscam in the evening, stops in Oranmore on the way. Employees can link in with the 409.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 511 ✭✭✭ChewyLouie


    Mrs OBumble what's the reason behind the question? It would be great to get a survey through all the employers in Parkmore.


  • Registered Users Posts: 960 ✭✭✭Triangle


    We see a lot of messages here about the need for an express / direct bus from Knocknacarra to Parkmore.

    The only people who really know about the possible demand for this are Parkmore employers ('cos they have their employees home addresses).

    But I wondered if a thread would give some indication.

    Two quick questions for posters who live in Knocknacarra / Rahoon / Westside / Shantalla (and maybe Newcastle if you'd be prepared to walk down to the SQR):



    1) How many people in your household work in Parkmore West, Parkmore East, Galway Technology Park or Racecourse Business Park?

    (This doesn't have to be full-time or 5-days: any number of hours per day or days per week is fine. Answer as at today. Don't include Mervue or Lisbaun or Ballybrit or Briarhill.. or anywhere that a direct bus might not stop at.)




    2) Of those, how many might use a direct bus which used the Quin.. bridge and Bothar na dtreabh (ie not through Eyre Square)?

    (Emphasis on might: this is not a scientific survey, or a commitment.)

    See attached 2016 report. Might she'd some light on the situation.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 511 ✭✭✭ChewyLouie


    Triangle wrote: »
    See attached 2016 report. Might she'd some light on the situation.

    That report is shakey at best when you step through it. The survey was a student project. Full of jumping assumptions, typos and they even name the bridge wrong. Having worked with the lecturer involved, I suspect the level of supervision was minimal.

    Edit: I mean no disrespect to the student involved but an undergrad survey shouldn't be the basis for city infrastructure decisions and I've seen this report referenced several times.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,834 ✭✭✭?Cee?view


    I don't know how long that bus was funded by Digital ( if ever).

    But I do know that by October 2007, it was a BE service and charged passengers the standard city fare.

    Same with the bus to Medtronic in Parkmore, which was quietly dis-established sometime between 2007 and 2012.

    Re other employer buses:

    I've heard rumours of a shuttle bus between the Marine Institute and Orantown centre, and another between Cisco and Orantown. But never confirmed either.

    The HSE run a staff and patient shuttle bus between Merlin park and Newcastle.

    And at one stage Galway Cultural Institute had a student bus - but I've not seen it for a while.

    I'm going back to the late 80s and early 90s before Digital closed


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 960 ✭✭✭Triangle


    ChewyLouie wrote: »
    That report is shakey at best when you step through it. The survey was a student project. Full of jumping assumptions, typos and they even name the bridge wrong. Having worked with the lecturer involved, I suspect the level of supervision was minimal.

    Edit: I mean no disrespect to the student involved but an undergrad survey shouldn't be the basis for city infrastructure decisions and I've seen this report referenced several times.

    There was a survey done in parkmore in late 2018 by the businesses there. I'll see if I can get high level figures for people who commute from across the river.


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,001 ✭✭✭Bredabe


    I remember reading on facebook, that NRA won't let busses cross the bridge and BE feel there is not a demand for a bus on that route.


  • Registered Users Posts: 18,101 ✭✭✭✭JCX BXC


    Bredabe wrote: »
    I remember reading on facebook, that NRA won't let busses cross the bridge and BE feel there is not a demand for a bus on that route.

    Is it not the case that the NRA would allow services over the bridge, but only if they operated all day? BE said it's not viable bit city direct mooted trialling a service at peak times.


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,001 ✭✭✭Bredabe


    JCX BXC wrote: »
    Is it not the case that the NRA would allow services over the bridge, but only if they operated all day? BE said it's not viable bit city direct mooted trialling a service at peak times.

    I dont have anymore details, but in terms of all day over the bridge, the park and ride between the uni villages isn't afaik an all day service, if definitely only crosses a few times a day.

    When I asked a local cllr about busses to the briarhill/parkmore, he told me the nra didnt want the busses on the bridge. They didnt contradict me when I assumed it was a weight issue. He backed up what I had read that BE said it would be a loss maker for them, not that I fully accept or understand that logic.

    My colleague who lives there has been agitating for a rapid bus to there for work times and to be used as a shopping centre shuttle between times for years now, so I dont understand reluctance to run it as a trail. So many ppl are unhappy with the current service, so I cant see why trailing it would lose once it was known about.

    I have at least three potential employees that can't work there as the transport is so bad.


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,867 ✭✭✭what_traffic


    Bredabe wrote: »
    When I asked a local cllr about busses to the briarhill/parkmore, he told me the nra didnt want the busses on the bridge. They didnt contradict me when I assumed it was a weight issue. He backed up what I had read that BE said it would be a loss maker for them, not that I fully accept or understand that logic.
    Your local Cllr is talking nonsense + there are no weight restrictions on the NEW Bridge.
    Buses are light in comparison with fully laden HGV that cris cross this bridge constantly.
    Issue is as JCX BXC described. TII/NTA wanted a full scheduled service to run if they were issuing a licence.
    Both City Direct and BE reckon that would not make any money for them overall as outside of peak hours they would have low uptake, they are probably right.
    TII/NTA would not issue a licence for a service that would run 3/4 hours in the morning and 3/4 hours in the afternoon.


Advertisement