Covid opening and the ring road

Bobeagleburger · 18-05-2020 8:06am #1

Interesting to see what impact this will have on the ring road project. Will the money be there for it? Or other similar projects for that matter. My assumption is a lot of them will be postponed.

18-05-2020 11:57am

6 wrote: »

Interesting to see what impact this will have on the ring road project. Will the money be there for it? Or other similar projects for that matter. My assumption is a lot of them will be postponed.

On the contrary, during a downturn in the economy is exactly when major infrastructure projects are best done.

There is going to be a lot of money printed in Europe to kick start economies again with a large portion of the monies being directed at infrastructure.

ChewyLouie · 18-05-2020 12:44pm

I think the two main threats to the ring road are the possible trialling of improved cycling and pedestrian facilities (which may incorporate public transport at a later stage, post-Covid) as well as the possibility of the greens being part of the next government formation.

youngrun · 18-05-2020 12:47pm

ChewyLouie wrote: »

I think the two main threats to the ring road are the possible trialling of improved cycling and pedestrian facilities (which may incorporate public transport at a later stage, post-Covid) as well as the possibility of the greens being part of the next government formation.

Yes Greens will have a different view

I wonder also will the entire Ring road submission need to be redone given the likely change in traffic volumes and demand etc post this crisis

biko · 18-05-2020 1:00pm

Moved out from news thread as this will spark its own discussion.

Mrs OBumble · 18-05-2020 3:15pm

ChewyLouie wrote: »

I think the two main threats to the ring road are the possible trialling of improved cycling and pedestrian facilities (which may incorporate public transport at a later stage, post-Covid) as well as the possibility of the greens being part of the next government formation.

I think that Covid will have a major negative effect on public transport viability. Even I am considering buying a car, and that something I never expected to say.

Bicycles are sweet in sunny weather. But hopeless for anyone with a dodgy knee (me) or who lives in an apartment without storage (also me).

ChewyLouie · 18-05-2020 4:23pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

But hopeless for anyone with a dodgy knee (me) or who lives in an apartment without storage (also me).

How about a well planned electric city bike scheme? Or secure community bike parking/storage?

It's true that cycling isn't going to suit everyone. Just like cars won't suit everyone, public transport won't suit everyone, electric scooters won't suit everyone etc...

It's a matter of finding a good future-proof balance of each of the above.

18-05-2020 5:26pm

ChewyLouie wrote: »

How about a well planned electric city bike scheme? Or secure community bike parking/storage?

It's true that cycling isn't going to suit everyone. Just like cars won't suit everyone, public transport won't suit everyone, electric scooters won't suit everyone etc...

It's a matter of finding a good future-proof balance of each of the above.

Yup and I think you will see the bike to work scheme being updated to account for the prices of ebikes

Geuze · 18-05-2020 7:26pm

Deleted User wrote: »

On the contrary, during a downturn in the economy is exactly when major infrastructure projects are best done.

There is going to be a lot of money printed in Europe to kick start economies again with a large portion of the monies being directed at infrastructure.

Note that the ECB's purchases of Govt debt do not imply more spending on infrastructure.

Govts may decide to increases infrastructure expenditure, yes maybe.

And they may borrow to do so, yes.

And then may feel that it's good that the ECB will be a large-scale buyer of Govt debt in the secondary markets, yes.

But the ECB does not directly finance infrastructure expenditure.

Mrs OBumble · 18-05-2020 7:44pm

ChewyLouie wrote: »

How about a well planned electric city bike scheme? Or secure community bike parking/storage?

It's true that cycling isn't going to suit everyone. Just like cars won't suit everyone, public transport won't suit everyone, electric scooters won't suit everyone etc...

It's a matter of finding a good future-proof balance of each of the above.

How exactly do you future proof shared transport (which is what our current public transport really is) in a socially distancing world? Redesign buses so they are made up with a spine with own-door single-seat pods that self-disinfect between uses???

Worn Out · 18-05-2020 8:52pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Yup and I think you will see the bike to work scheme being updated to account for the prices of ebikes

This is what they did a little while ago in the UK to account for the higher prices of ebikes. It’ll be a good move forward.

ChewyLouie · 18-05-2020 9:04pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

How exactly do you future proof shared transport (which is what our current public transport really is) in a socially distancing world? Redesign buses so they are made up with a spine with own-door single-seat pods that self-disinfect between uses???

For future proofing I was referring to handling population growth... without falling into the trap of induced demand from road construction.

Anyway I'm jumping out of this thread early before I get sucked into another spiralling debate against incessant narrow minded negativity. Thankfully we don't have to reinvent the wheel, other European cities have showcased solutions that work brilliantly, we can pick a blend of these. Hopefully Covid will get us looking at things through a new lens now and start questioning old solutions. Over and out!

19-05-2020 12:31am

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

I think that Covid will have a major negative effect on public transport viability. Even I am considering buying a car, and that something I never expected to say.

Bicycles are sweet in sunny weather. But hopeless for anyone with a dodgy knee (me) or who lives in an apartment without storage (also me).

Plenty of apartment dwelling OAPs all over the manage a bike easily, storage and usage. It's really not a big deal. Injuries notwithstanding obv

19-05-2020 12:33am

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

How exactly do you future proof shared transport (which is what our current public transport really is) in a socially distancing world? Redesign buses so they are made up with a spine with own-door single-seat pods that self-disinfect between uses???

Please don't try derailing another thread with your silliness. Ask serious questions, get serious answers.

19-05-2020 12:40am

Geuze wrote: »

Note that the ECB's purchases of Govt debt do not imply more spending on infrastructure.

Govts may decide to increases infrastructure expenditure, yes maybe.

And they may borrow to do so, yes.

And then may feel that it's good that the ECB will be a large-scale buyer of Govt debt in the secondary markets, yes.

But the ECB does not directly finance infrastructure expenditure.

Who said anything about the ECB???

It's the EIB that fund infrastructure.

Mrs OBumble · 19-05-2020 1:45am

Deleted User wrote: »

Please don't try derailing another thread with your silliness. Ask serious questions, get serious answers.

I've asked an absolutely serious question.

Pretty disappointed with the response so far, TBH. Speaks volumes about unwillingness to engage in the real, difficult questions which practical concerns, and now the the Covid situation, have raised.

The really funny bit is that I'm the only who has actually been living the lifestyle which some advocates here promote: I live in the city centre, don't own a car, only rent very infrequently, usually use public (ie shared) transport. Whereas most others spout on about it, but own cars and use 'em at least weekly. I'm extremely disappointed to be considering car ownership - and still keen to find any way I can avoid it (are scooters legal yet???)

19-05-2020 7:46am

With the Greens about to enter Government, I’m seeing the writing on the wall. This project is toast.

With that in mind, and me about to make the Big Move to the place I’ll probably stay for the next twenty years, if not my life, I’m abandoning Galway. Without the bypass the place is at capacity, and the best way I can serve Galway’s green masters is not to pollute it further trying to raise a family, build a career, or even a business.

If I’m wrong, and the road gets built, I’ll be back and push for pedestrianisation in the city centre that yhe road will facilitate. In the meantime, the perpetual row can continue without me.

I’m off to Shannon.

It’s Connemara I feel sorry for. The towns there are on a limb downstream from a tourniquet, and dying a slow death because of it.

ben.schlomo · 19-05-2020 8:52am

[Deleted User] wrote: »

With the Greens about to enter Government, I’m seeing the writing on the wall. This project is toast.

With that in mind, and me about to make the Big Move to the place I’ll probably stay for the next twenty years, if not my life, I’m abandoning Galway. Without the bypass the place is at capacity, and the best way I can serve Galway’s green masters is not to pollute it further trying to raise a family, build a career, or even a business.

If I’m wrong, and the road gets built, I’ll be back and push for pedestrianisation in the city centre that yhe road will facilitate. In the meantime, the perpetual row can continue without me.

I’m off to Shannon.

It’s Connemara I feel sorry for. The towns there are on a limb downstream from a tourniquet, and dying a slow death because of it.

Connemara dying a slow death? I don't think Moycullen has ever been as busy/had as much activity, Oughterard is still as busy as ever and Clifden is busy during the on season. Strange.

19-05-2020 9:12am

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Connemara dying a slow death? I don't think Moycullen has ever been as busy/had as much activity, Oughterard is still as busy as ever and Clifden is busy during the on season. Strange.

I was referring to manufacturing, but hey you keep your little quaint garden village ideas, they’ll sustain you when you visit for 2 weeks and then never darken their door for the rest of the year...

ben.schlomo · 19-05-2020 10:43am

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I was referring to manufacturing, but hey you keep your little quaint garden village ideas, they’ll sustain you when you visit for 2 weeks and then never darken their door for the rest of the year...

Connemara as a centre of manufacturing? Two weeks? Sustain me? Darkening doors? You ok hun?

biko · 19-05-2020 10:44am

Bring the civility up please.

19-05-2020 7:28pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

I've asked an absolutely serious question.

No, you didn't, you asked

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Redesign buses so they are made up with a spine with own-door single-seat pods that self-disinfect between uses???

Moving on...

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Pretty disappointed with the response so far, TBH. Speaks volumes about unwillingness to engage in the real, difficult questions which practical concerns, and now the the Covid situation, have raised.

The really funny bit is that I'm the only who has actually been living the lifestyle which some advocates here promote: I live in the city centre, don't own a car, only rent very infrequently, usually use public (ie shared) transport. Whereas most others spout on about it, but own cars and use 'em at least weekly. I'm extremely disappointed to be considering car ownership - and still keen to find any way I can avoid it (are scooters legal yet???)

PT is not going away and is still available for use. All that is required of users is face masks, which I think are going to end up becoming the norm. The exact same precautions required for PT will be required for busy stores.

Best as I can tell, options are

PT - Mask required
Walk
Cycle - Pushbike
Cycle - eBike
Scooter - Illegal I think
Car
Taxi - mask required??
Skateboard
Rollerblades
Motorbike
Moped
Mobility Scooter

Some of those might suit, some might not, choose what is best for you. Thats not an exhaustive list btw, so there may be other options too.

As for the ring road, I'm really on the fence. Some days I think its vital, other days I think its nuts that we are looking at spending half a billion euros on a road for a city that can be cycled end-to-end in about 35 mins.

Imagine, we have a city where, for anyone who both lives and works in it, they can get from home to work in 35 mins on a bike. Thats nothing.

Tha GTS stated that 5% of Galway commuters cycled. Even just getting that to 20% would go a long way towards addressing congestion issues in the city.

Note, I'm not saying cycling is the only solution, but that it has to be a part of the solution, with other facets being P&R's around the city, more frequent PT routes, infrastructure for cycling/walking safely etc

Mrs OBumble · 19-05-2020 10:48pm

Deleted User wrote: »

No, you didn't, you asked

Moving on...

PT is not going away and is still available for use. All that is required of users is face masks, which I think are going to end up becoming the norm. The exact same precautions required for PT will be required for busy stores.

Best as I can tell, options are
PT - Mask required

Walk

Cycle - Pushbike

Cycle - eBike

Scooter - Illegal I think

Car

Taxi - mask required??

Skateboard

Rollerblades

Motorbike

Moped

Mobility Scooter

Some of those might suit, some might not, choose what is best for you. Thats not an exhaustive list btw, so there may be other options too.

As for the ring road, I'm really on the fence. Some days I think its vital, other days I think its nuts that we are looking at spending half a billion euros on a road for a city that can be cycled end-to-end in about 35 mins.

Imagine, we have a city where, for anyone who both lives and works in it, they can get from home to work in 35 mins on a bike. Thats nothing.

Tha GTS stated that 5% of Galway commuters cycled. Even just getting that to 20% would go a long way towards addressing congestion issues in the city.

Note, I'm not saying cycling is the only solution, but that it has to be a part of the solution, with other facets being P&R's around the city, more frequent PT routes, infrastructure for cycling/walking safely etc

And you have totally missed my point about viability.

Flimsy masks (which most people are too stupid to use correctly) aren't going to change anything. If I am sick, a non-surgical mask may (not conclusively proven for this virus, but believed to be likely) reduce the chance that I infect other people. But it will not protect ME from catching anything. That doesn't inspire me to catch a bus, when I have any other option.

Without a fundamental redesign (my suggestion was 100% serious, btw; there was a cable-car similar to that, sans the disinfectant, in the town where I grew up), I don't believe that many people will be happy to get back into crowded buses, or even moderately full ones. That means that there won't be so much demand, so there won't be so many buses, so there won't be so much demand, etc.

20-05-2020 1:33am

Excluding a resurgence in transmission rates, life is going to return to normal faster than folks might think, albeit with required changes in behaviour (masks, distancing, hand washing) . Come October the restrictions will be a distant memory for most but the desire to distance and protect oneself will likely remain.

By that time, the amount of space available for private cars on the road will have been reduced, on street parking will be reduced and this will be to facilitate an increase in the numbers of walkers and cyclists.

Does this provide justification for or against the ring road, I don't know. It depends on how ambitious and courageous Galway City Council are in implementing measures in a similar vein to DCC.

For example, if GCC go the whole hog and wipe out on street parking (800 spaces) that would leave 4,100 off street public parking spaces, essentially a 20% reduction. This is planned as part of the GTS and they will never have a better opportunity to implement it. That alone would be the nudge a lot of folks need to choose a more sustainable alternative which again would contribute to the reduction in car traffic and the congestion it causes.

gordongekko · 20-05-2020 7:12am

Deleted User wrote: »

Come October the restrictions will be a distant memory for most but the desire to distance and protect oneself will likely remain.

Thats flu season. Cant imagine many people wanting to be on a bus with someone near you coughing

beardybrewer · 20-05-2020 10:35am

By every metric car use is expected to explode as people try to avoid each other.

Sod the bog and build it. Infrastructure projects will be crucial to rebuild the economy.

Mrs OBumble · 20-05-2020 11:13am

[Deleted User] wrote: »

....but the desire to distance and protect oneself will likely remain.

By that time, the amount of space available for private cars on the road will have been reduced, ..... This is planned as part of the GTS and they will never have a better opportunity to implement it. .

Pre-Covid thinking for a post-Covid world.

Plans are going to face some substantial revisions methinks.

what_traffic · 20-05-2020 11:45am

beardybrewer wrote: »

By every metric car use is expected to explode as people try to avoid each other.

Sod the bog and build it. Infrastructure projects will be crucial to rebuild the economy.

What bog and what metrics?

Reckon it will be put on ice for next Gov(5 yrs) regardless who is forming it; greenfield road schemes are not sufficiently labour intensive as building houses; however they do lend themselves to social distancing. Reckon 2035 completion now at the earlist if it ever goes ahead.

?Cee?view · 20-05-2020 11:53am

Deleted User wrote: »

With the Greens about to enter Government, I’m seeing the writing on the wall. This project is toast.

With that in mind, and me about to make the Big Move to the place I’ll probably stay for the next twenty years, if not my life, I’m abandoning Galway. Without the bypass the place is at capacity, and the best way I can serve Galway’s green masters is not to pollute it further trying to raise a family, build a career, or even a business.

If I’m wrong, and the road gets built, I’ll be back and push for pedestrianisation in the city centre that yhe road will facilitate. In the meantime, the perpetual row can continue without me.

I’m off to Shannon.

It’s Connemara I feel sorry for. The towns there are on a limb downstream from a tourniquet, and dying a slow death because of it.

You're so right. If the Greens get to a position where they can influence matters, Galway is finished. They were a major factor in stopping the road last time.

Connemara is completely outside the interest of your usual urban Green type. To them it's a holiday park occasionally to be visited, not an area where sustainable livelihoods for people need to be maintained.

Good luck in your move. Shannon though? A bit soulless. Try Ennis maybe?

what_traffic · 20-05-2020 11:56am

Deleted User wrote: »

Does this provide justification for or against the ring road, I don't know. It depends on how ambitious and courageous Galway City Council are in implementing measures in a similar vein to DCC.

For example, if GCC go the whole hog and wipe out on street parking (800 spaces) that would leave 4,100 off street public parking spaces, essentially a 20% reduction. This is planned as part of the GTS and they will never have a better opportunity to implement it. That alone would be the nudge a lot of folks need to choose a more sustainable alternative which again would contribute to the reduction in car traffic and the congestion it causes.

Just cannot see it happening to any huge degree - unless the business community really force there hand here? Very little done to date in the Spatial Area Zone which in itself is very limited. In ways its not there fault - they have very limited power, knowledge and resources. The way Local Goverment is setup in this Country makes this inevitable. Events like this Pandemic really show up these limiatations.
The whole system for requesting changes is not very transparent - does not inspire confidence. Static forms(not online); cannot see previous requests.

20-05-2020 3:07pm

what_traffic wrote: »

Just cannot see it happening to any huge degree - unless the business community really force there hand here? Very little done to date in the Spatial Area Zone which in itself is very limited. In ways its not there fault - they have very limited power, knowledge and resources. The way Local Goverment is setup in this Country makes this inevitable. Events like this Pandemic really show up these limiatations.
The whole system for requesting changes is not very transparent - does not inspire confidence. Static forms(not online); cannot see previous requests.

Aye, maybe, but Ross has issued direction to Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Galway city councils to start implementing "mobility" measures asap with the aim to facilitate a major increase in the numebrs of walkers and cyclists. What will be done and how well it will be done remains to be seen. I remain (naively) hopeful though

The reluctance Mrs. Bumble mentions in regards to using crowded PT is exactly the driver to invest in these measures asap. The roads around Galway were already over capacity prior to Covid so post-covid either there are alternatives to cars/PT in place or get ready for 2 hr commutes.

While the ring road may help, the fact it won't arrive for at least a decade (if its ever built) means there is no point including in the list of measures for mobility in terms of post-covid mobility.

what_traffic · 20-05-2020 9:44pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Aye, maybe, but Ross has issued direction to Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Galway city councils to start implementing "mobility" measures asap with the aim to facilitate a major increase in the numebrs of walkers and cyclists. What will be done and how well it will be done remains to be seen. I remain (naively) hopeful though

The reluctance Mrs. Bumble mentions in regards to using crowded PT is exactly the driver to invest in these measures asap. The roads around Galway were already over capacity prior to Covid so post-covid either there are alternatives to cars/PT in place or get ready for 2 hr commutes.

Not sure about Cork, but the Public Transport no's for Limerick and Waterford are for sure worse than Galway City. Galway is nothing on Dublin, its in the single digits in terms of usage; so not the big pressure or those Citys to change anything I reckon. In Dublin they have no choice as no's using Public transport is massive.
In Galway City people who can cycle and walk will probably, PT will have 1/4 to 1/5 of the peak demand capacity; but when are we going to see this PEAK car traffic demand return though is the question?

The Galway City Ring Road model is entirely dependent on this PEAK traffic demand; roughly 5h out of 24h. If home working becomes part of the work culture and retail habits change could this peak demand be negated altogether?
Most offices are only going to have 20/25% workforce in at any one time for the forseeable future.

cooperguy · 20-05-2020 11:35pm

what_traffic wrote: »

Not sure about Cork, but the Public Transport no's for Limerick and Waterford are for sure worse than Galway City. Galway is nothing on Dublin, its in the single digits in terms of usage; so not the big pressure or those Citys to change anything I reckon. In Dublin they have no choice as no's using Public transport is massive.
In Galway City people who can cycle and walk will probably, PT will have 1/4 to 1/5 of the peak demand capacity; but when are we going to see this PEAK car traffic demand return though is the question?

The Galway City Ring Road model is entirely dependent on this PEAK traffic demand; roughly 5h out of 24h. If home working becomes part of the work culture and retail habits change could this peak demand be negated altogether?
Most offices are only going to have 20/25% workforce in at any one time for the forseeable future.

That doesn't account for growth over the next few decades. This is a long term infrastructure project, not something that is supposed to be for the next few years of traffic

what_traffic · 21-05-2020 9:31am

cooperguy wrote: »

That doesn't account for growth over the next few decades. This is a long term infrastructure project, not something that is supposed to be for the next few years of traffic

Whats the title of the thread?
We are talking short to medium term here. i.e 2025-2035
May not have a return of Peak travel demand of 2019 until 2025? or longer perhaps?;it all depends on what transportation models will be followed during these Covid19 times.

cooperguy · 21-05-2020 9:36pm

what_traffic wrote: »

Whats the title of the thread?
We are talking short to medium term here. i.e 2025-2035
May not have a return of Peak travel demand of 2019 until 2025? or longer perhaps?;it all depends on what transportation models will be followed during these Covid19 times.

The ring road wont be ready until at least 2025! The ring road is a medium term plan that would be stupid to disrupt over a short term issue.

Reminds me of the people bleating on about not needing Dublin Airport terminal 2 when they were building it during the recession

21-05-2020 10:11pm

DCC effectively reducing capacity for private vehicles by 30% in Dublin asap

22-05-2020 5:58am

Deleted User wrote: »

DCC effectively reducing capacity for private vehicles by 30% in Dublin asap

Respectfully, Dublin has its ring road. Crowded? Yes, but it’s there. Without that then extra pedestrianisation in Galway is a non-runner

what_traffic · 22-05-2020 8:24am

cooperguy wrote: »

The ring road wont be ready until at least 2025! The ring road is a medium term plan that would be stupid to disrupt over a short term issue.

I disagree on the timelines. 2025 is short term. Previous threads I have been saying 2030 as a completion date, now with Covid am pushing that out until 2035/2040.
The Oral Hearing still not complete.
How are the peak demand models affected by the pandemic? there are going to be waves of it over next no of years; how many who knows.
The whole funding priority's of Dept of Transport for next 5 years has changed overnight.

ChewyLouie · 22-05-2020 8:49am

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Respectfully, Dublin has its ring road. Crowded? Yes, but it’s there. Without that then extra pedestrianisation in Galway is a non-runner

Galway already has its ring road too.

"New Galway Ring Road and Bridge"
https://www.rte.ie/archives/collections/news/21265447-new-galway-ring-road-and-bridge/

History repeating itself. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result..? Induced demand?

22-05-2020 12:10pm

ChewyLouie wrote: »

Galway already has its ring road too.

"New Galway Ring Road and Bridge"
https://www.rte.ie/archives/collections/news/21265447-new-galway-ring-road-and-bridge/

History repeating itself. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result..? Induced demand?

That’s not a ring road. There are parts of the city both sides of it.

Also your video is from 30 years ago.

And induced demand is Andrew Wakefield science.

And even if it wasnmt, If Galway is to go all in on demand suppression, it needs people to move out. I’m starting by moving to Shannon.

Build the road or tell me to f*ck off. The choice is binary.

?Cee?view · 22-05-2020 12:23pm

Deleted User wrote: »

And induced demand is Andrew Wakefield science.

Nail on the head here. But to say what you've said on Galway Boards is akin to sacrilege!

ChewyLouie · 22-05-2020 12:39pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Also your video is from 30 years ago.

It is, what's the plan for 30 years in the future when the 2nd ring road is at capacity?
3rd ring road with a bridge/tunnel across Lough Corrib?

what_traffic · 22-05-2020 1:08pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Build the road or tell me to f*ck off. The choice is binary.

The other choice that ya forgot to mention is that you can ignore this thread so we can continue a civil discussion.

Wompa1 · 22-05-2020 1:23pm

Ring road might be a waste of time and money if work trends completely change. So many in Galway work in office settings. If there's a big uptake on work from home strategies then the traffic may take care of itself for the most part.

It might still be sh1te when there's an event on, around Christmas and on weekends but that would mostly be around the city centre which won't really change even with the ring road.

22-05-2020 2:55pm

Wompa1 wrote: »

Ring road might be a waste of time and money if work trends completely change. So many in Galway work in office settings. If there's a big uptake on work from home strategies then the traffic may take care of itself for the most part.

This!

For those who can and want to WFH, it has become a realistic possibility for the future. My own place has said that even when things go back to normal, they will have reduced the desk space by 50% and will be allocated based on which category you fall into

1. - 100% onsite, perm desk
2. - Up to 50% onsite, shared desk
3. - 0-50% onsite, hot desk

For those onsite, no in-person meetings will be allowed without a solid justification and prior approval from Managers etc.

There are a LOT of staff in the like of Parkmore, Ballybrit that work in roles that do not require them to be onsite for any portion of the work week, with meetings etc, happening through Teams/Zoom etc.

If this was 5 years ago, yeah it would have been tough to do it well. Now, with all the cloud collaboration tools its extremely easy to do for those who want to and can WFH.

Obviously it is not for everyone or for every role, but there are a buttload of people/roles where this can be done very easily.

I'm WFH since this kicked off and I'm looking out at my car, which has had a single fill of fuel in 2 months and I'm honestly thinking about dumping it. It no longer serves any purpose. Between the bike and PT, if I'm not commuting, I don't need it. My bet is there are a lot of other folks thinking similar

Mrs OBumble · 22-05-2020 3:04pm

The majority of workers in Parkmore are in medical device manufacturing or related industries. They will not be working from home, ever.

The ones who can WFH will ... until their jobs are outsourced to Eastern Europe.

Be careful what you wish for.

22-05-2020 3:34pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

The majority of workers in Parkmore are in medical device manufacturing or related industries. They will not be working from home, ever.

The ones who can WFH will ... until their jobs are outsourced to Eastern Europe.

Be careful what you wish for.

And of course, you can’t ask goods or stretchers to use busses. But sure it’s only ever carscum that use roads, not vans or busses or tractors or ambulances...

DaCor, if you want a majority WFH workforce, you would need to throw some Molotovs into the factories employing a large chunk of Galwegians. You’d need to destroy them, drive them out, shut them down. Good luck advocating for that.

I’m off to Shannon anyways.

grbear · 22-05-2020 4:26pm

Is anyone talking about having the majority of people working from home? I haven't seen that suggested in here.

The last few months have shown us that a lot more people are capable of working from home than we had assumed to be the case. That number will only increase as more people are connected to high speed internet connections and more companies adopt services like Teams and Slack.

Going back to the ring road I think it'll go ahead as planned with the possibility of a few minor alterations. The next step of the plan for Galway will change though. Cycling in particular needs to be given greater priority.

22-05-2020 6:10pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

The majority of workers in Parkmore are in medical device manufacturing or related industries. They will not be working from home, ever.

Umm, you may not be aware, but they are already. If you work there and you are not directly involved in the physical manufacturing, you are not onsite.

22-05-2020 6:13pm

Deleted User wrote: »

And of course, you can’t ask goods or stretchers to use busses. But sure it’s only ever carscum that use roads, not vans or busses or tractors or ambulances...

DaCor, if you want a majority WFH workforce, you would need to throw some Molotovs into the factories employing a large chunk of Galwegians. You’d need to destroy them, drive them out, shut them down. Good luck advocating for that.

eh???

ChewyLouie · 22-05-2020 7:12pm

Our office in Parkmore is likely to be fairly empty for the next 12 months or more. We can open in August but with restrictions which practically means no team meetings and so we'd be doing our meetings online anyway so may as well continue WFH.

The future is looking like we'll only need a smaller office space that employees can book for project kick offs, planning/design sessions or client meetings.

If that is the future, I can imagine a lot more cafes and small lunch options popping up closer to the residential areas for Mon-Fri.

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I'm WFH since this kicked off and I'm looking out at my car, which has had a single fill of fuel in 2 months and I'm honestly thinking about dumping it. It no longer serves any purpose.

Same! Very very tempted to trade it for an electric cargo bike!

Covid opening and the ring road

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