nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

Child Item

Parking and traffic in Phoenix Park

horse7

Phoenix park is the biggest public park in Europe, so why is there no parking allowed since Corona?

Find more posts tagged with

Quick Links

Comments

beauf

Hurrache wrote: »

The solution is not to make it easier to get traffic into the city from outside of the county boundary, it's to provide better alternatives.

There's a car park at the parkway train station, not sure how full it gets. But even if the trains are pretty full by then, they can run regular express buses into the city from there, there's a bus lane right into the city apart from a section at Cabra and into Stoneybatter.

I'm not promoting more cars and yes there's vastly more traffic than 30yrs ago. But during this time we've actually reduced the throughput of the roads that used to carry this traffic.

The train capacity has increased something like a factor of 3 in that time. Unfortunately the demand had increased by x10.

I've had an annual train pass for decades. Hardly used it last year and didn't renew it this year. It's miserable now so overcrowded. Also I was doing a lot secondary journeys on the way home from work which required a car. If you are going across the city it's a lot faster to drive than get public transport. (Cycling is the quickest). But this is why you won't get people to switch out of their car unless they are heavily penalised for it. For many there isn't a lot of alternatives.

I say that as someone with far too many bicycles in the shed. I can see me moving to an eBike in the future. I'm fed up with the train.

beauf

When I used to cycle it the ave would have a few cars at Castleknock end then it would have cars from the Polo grounds to the zoo. Mostly on the zoo side as that's side going into town.

It's certainly isn't full the whole length as people like to exaggerate. I would generally be cycling between 9-9.30 so I seriously doubt there is rush of parking of commuters after that.

On my return after 6.30 there would still be about the same numbers of cars though not as clustered more evenly spread the length of the avenue and on a nice evenings lot more cars, and the foot traffic would have increased enormously.

Never had much of an issue with the cycle paths. But then I'm only going at a moderate pace not the high speed of the lycra brigade. Though I did upgrade my lights so I could see further at night. Specifically for the park. Especially on the parts that are unlit.

Even at that time in the morning you see a few people obviously heading to the zoo.

Hurrache

beauf wrote: »

They rebuilt the N3 with what is 3-4 lanes, then narrow it to one lane at Ashtown. Yeah I know bus lane etc.

As the stories above indicate, this traffic is coming from much further out than D15. Look at the queue into the N3/M50 in the mornings. Queues from the back roads from Lucan into Chapelizod. They further restricted traffic through Castleknock with the Lidl Junction.

The solution is not to make it easier to get traffic into the city from outside of the county boundary, it's to provide better alternatives.

There's a car park at the parkway train station, not sure how full it gets. But even if the trains are pretty full by then, they can run regular express buses into the city from there, there's a bus lane right into the city apart from a section at Cabra and into Stoneybatter.

[Deleted User]

daymobrew wrote: »

This is not true. The zoo car park does not open until 9:30am or later. The Pope's Cross car park is certainly not full at 9am if ever.

There used to be a lot of early parking between Wellington Monument and Parkgate Street but OPW changed that stretch to a cycle lane and this pretty much eliminated that.

How would the car park be full if its not open? The two car parks opposite are open early & full by 9am.
I said its a good thing that Chesterfield ave is now closed to parking considering it used to be full every day from early morn.

daymobrew

bubblypop wrote: »

The car parks & Chesterfield ave are full at 9am weekday mornings. They need to limit the time for parking.
The only people parking on grass happens at the weekends when the park users increase

This is not true. The zoo car park does not open until 9:30am or later. The Pope's Cross car park is certainly not full at 9am if ever.

There used to be a lot of early parking between Wellington Monument and Parkgate Street but OPW changed that stretch to a cycle lane and this pretty much eliminated that.

horse7

Also suitable for parking,there is a huge parade ground in the park with helicopter parking ,it's very secure. Garda GHQ. Polo grounds is hardly ever used and only by a few elite.

horse7

Also suitable for parking,there is a huge parade ground in the park with helicopter parking ,it's very secure. Garda GHQ. Polo grounds is hardly ever used and only by a few let's.

beauf

Will they view the results out of context I wonder.

Maybe they are trying to see how sustainable removing cars for all amenities in the park? Would be.

Phil.x

Was at the zoo today and was asked by ticket inspector on arrival what mode of transport I used to get to the zoo today, she said it was for a survey.

beauf

I assume you'd get a pass.

...or an eBike...

(Joke)

horse7

That's not a great idea, I work in James hospital ,12 hour shifts,no parking available in the hospital,so I park the car and cycle from my car to the hospital.

beauf

Put tolls on all the gates. If you go in and out the same gate free. If you go in one gate and out the opposite a toll.

If you are in the park for longer than 5 hours on a weekday, toll.

Just clamp people parking for more than 4 hours on a weekday.

Use all the money to subsidise the attractions that lose money.

Of course, since you aren't allow change anything thats not possible.

beauf

They rebuilt the N3 with what is 3-4 lanes, then narrow it to one lane at Ashtown. Yeah I know bus lane etc.

As the stories above indicate, this traffic is coming from much further out than D15. Look at the queue into the N3/M50 in the mornings. Queues from the back roads from Lucan into Chapelizod. They further restricted traffic through Castleknock with the Lidl Junction.

hotmail.com

Larbre34 wrote: »

Yeah it should be signal controlled like the NCR gate.

Then traffic will spill over into the Navan Rd creating a traffic bottleneck at the Halfway House roundabout.

They are better off keeping that gate closed permanently.

The Park was packed yesterday with walkers because of the good weather. It was quieter on the days mentioned here because the weather wasn't great, not because of parking.

Pinch Flat

Caranica wrote: »

Until recently I was seconded to an office just off O'Connell Street. Was surprised to get an "X is retiring email" which celebrated that while X lived in Meath they drove to the Phoenix Park every day and parked there and walked to work for many many years. Until then I didn't realise people did such things.

Could never understand this. A huge amount of free parking within walking distance of the city centre. No wonder it's chocablock in the morning with cars.

beauf

Maybe they should restore it back to this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrtX83l65wQ

I particularly like this one, with an "average speed" of 102mph.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C5_WnF5l8U

beauf

Hurrache wrote: »

Man-made? Ah sure look how convenient it would be to knock Dublin Castle, Christ Church, The Four Courts and so on, shift them out of the city and replace them with carparks for the convenience of all the commuters.

Research the history of the Phoenix Park before making any further comment as to its man madness.

Because moving a gate or creating a new one is exactly like moving a castle.

2011

The gate piers at the Parkgate Street entrance, which were dismantled for the 1932 Eucharistic Congress,
have been re-erected along with the adjoining link walls

Gates all used to have cattle grids on them. Maybe they should restore them :rolleyes:

The Avenue lights have been modernised even electrified at times. The Popes Cross etc is are not original, the extension to the Zoo. The new hospital in Mary campus, and they've removed and then put back the roundabouts, did it once simply for the Tour De France. The "cycle" path on the north road is recent.

They spent 800k on the gates (removing then restoring) before an after the recent Popes visits.

But yeah lets keep using a not fit for purpose gate. Makes a lot of sense.

Hurrache

Man-made? Ah sure look how convenient it would be to knock Dublin Castle, Christ Church, The Four Courts and so on, shift them out of the city and replace them with carparks for the convenience of all the commuters.

Research the history of the Phoenix Park before making any further comment as to its man madness.

Caranica

Until recently I was seconded to an office just off O'Connell Street. Was surprised to get an "X is retiring email" which celebrated that while X lived in Meath they drove to the Phoenix Park every day and parked there and walked to work for many many years. Until then I didn't realise people did such things.

[Deleted User]

beauf wrote: »

The problems with parking were also due to the numbers parking there using the park. As it was busy in the evening and the weekends. People parking on the grass and everywhere.

If the problem was only commuters it would be at it's worst at 9am and it isn't. It's easy to stop them just clamp people parking longer than 3 hours on a week day.

The fact that people using the park are having to park on the grass shows the lack of parking even now.

The car parks & Chesterfield ave are full at 9am weekday mornings. They need to limit the time for parking.
The only people parking on grass happens at the weekends when the park users increase

beauf

Hurrache wrote: »

Demolish a historical wall and gate to cater for traffic?

They can move historical buildings.

I'm not sure why we can't move a wall and gate. It's not like we haven't moved the other ones or knocked them down by accident previously.

It's not for traffic. It's to facilitate better use of the park. Why not close the exit entirely and move it down to the roundabout at the race course entrance. Put a car park just inside in the entrance so people can park and walk to the visitor center, zoo, Farmleigh etc. And not have to drive all over it.

The whole park is man made. Currently it doesn't function properly. The current exit is an accident waiting to happen. It's insanely stupid to keep using it unchanged.

Hurrache

beauf wrote: »

I don't see why they can't make the gates wider put a wide roundabout in.

Any signal controlled junction would make traffic worse. It makes it safer...but slower.

Demolish a historical wall and gate to cater for traffic?

beauf

bubblypop wrote: »

Closing Chesterfield ave to parking is brilliant, in fact they need to close the carparks to anyone not using the park. Although I don't know how, maybe use a time limit.
It's usually full of cars using it as free parking for going to town.
It's much better now since its only park users parking there.

The problems with parking were also due to the numbers parking there using the park. As it was busy in the evening and the weekends. People parking on the grass and everywhere.

If the problem was only commuters it would be at it's worst at 9am and it isn't. It's easy to stop them just clamp people parking longer than 3 hours on a week day.

The fact that people using the park are having to park on the grass shows the lack of parking even now.

[Deleted User]

Closing Chesterfield ave to parking is brilliant, in fact they need to close the carparks to anyone not using the park. Although I don't know how, maybe use a time limit.
It's usually full of cars using it as free parking for going to town.
It's much better now since its only park users parking there.

beauf

I don't see why they can't make the gates wider put a wide roundabout in.

Any signal controlled junction would make traffic worse. It makes it safer...but slower.

Larbre34

Caranica wrote: »

I'd like to see Ashtown Gate closed if they can't put in a traffic management system. That junction with Blackhorse Avenue is one of the most ridiculous in the city. Right of way, what's that?

Yeah it should be signal controlled like the NCR gate.

Caranica

I'd like to see Ashtown Gate closed if they can't put in a traffic management system. That junction with Blackhorse Avenue is one of the most ridiculous in the city. Right of way, what's that?

Larbre34

I think its time to revert to standard Summer setup in the Park asap. Both for reasons of traffic control and returning numbers of people to the more remote areas of the Park, which itself is a vital passive security feature.

Close the Avenue from Mountjoy roundabout to the Phoenix Monument roundabout from Friday at 7pm to Monday at 6am, for small events and socially distanced leisure.

Re-open all eight traffic gates with alternative through route at weekends via the North Road and Ashtown.

Reinstate parking on the verge of the Avenue all week and on the sections available during weekend hours. This is a necessary relief valve for what will be a very popular national amenity and will be required for Dublin Zoo to be viable.

ongarboy

I visited(drove) to park for first time since lockdown last Sunday and only became aware of Chesterfield Ave not allowing parking then. However, I was able to drive in freely from Castleknock Gates with no delay. We got easy parking near Ashtown gates albeit on the grass verge where many others were parked. While it was busy along that perimeter road with walkers and cyclists in the mid afternoon, it was eerily quiet by 5pm as we returned to our car. I didn't see the traffic congestion everyone is talking about and this was a Sunday afternoon in summer.

beauf

I think it was a OPW to discourage traffic. Which kinda does work. Its mixed bag though.

I think it achieves this, but by pushing, traffic into the more scenic roads. Which seems counter productive.

There are three distinct issues.

1) Through traffic.
3) People using it as Park and Ride
2) Parking for people using the Park recreation.

The OPW objective always seems to be block all cars from the park entirely, and reduce the numbers of people using the park.

They should just put electronic gates on the park and issue tags to essential workers. End off.