Galway to Athlone Greenway

Ranleth · 26-02-2021 12:56pm #1

I haven't seen a thread on the topic but there is public consultation taking place for 5 different proposed routes for Galway - Athlone.

https://www.galwaytoathlonecycleway.com/pages/consultation.php

4 routes go through Athenry. The 5th goes via the Burren and to Galway along the coast via Kinvara and Clarinbridge.

Any new greenway is good new but personally I'd love the idea of safely cycling into Galway city and out towards the Burren.

buffalo · 26-02-2021 1:10pm

Worth noting that the closing date for this is Monday 1st March, so only a couple of days to provide feedback.

Ranleth · 26-02-2021 1:21pm

Lots of info on the Red Route 5 here: https://redroute5.wordpress.com/

I haven't found any additional details on the other routes other than what's on the main consultation website.
If people are aware of anything please share.

26-02-2021 3:37pm

Ranleth wrote: »

Lots of info on the Red Route 5 here: https://redroute5.wordpress.com/

I haven't found any additional details on the other routes other than what's on the main consultation website.
If people are aware of anything please share.

This route will be done regardless as part of the Atlantic route, so better off choosing one of the others

It would also be bonkers for it not to go through Athenry given the linkup to the QMG greenway there

jamesd · 26-02-2021 4:32pm

All routes except for 5 go through Athenry.

Routes 1, 2 and 3 are boring for cycling , route 4,5 would have some excellent cycling on it as along the Shannon and then out of Portumna to Woodford and back into Loughrea or Gort so would have some nice stops on it.

Id pick route 4 or 5 myself ,Id nearly pick 4 over 5 though for the better route, Ill do a vote now thanks OP as I suppose every vote counts.

ratracer · 26-02-2021 4:40pm

Deleted User wrote: »

This route will be done regardless as part of the Atlantic route, so better off choosing one of the others

It would also be bonkers for it not to go through Athenry given the linkup to the QMG greenway there

No it won't. the primary purpose of this is to link up the EuroVelo routes.

I think the complete opposite to you on this DaCor. This project is going to go ahead on one of those routes. IMO, the route should be one of the longer ones, encompassing either the north of the county or the south of the county. Motorways are designed to get from A to B as quickly as possible, cycleways are the opposite, and therefor it makes no sense taking a straight line to Athenry.

If the red route is chosen, and it is the only route that incorporates any part of the coast, it would then leave Galway Co Co with only a small section from either Kilcolgan or Oranmore over to Athenry to link up with the QMG, although at the rate that project is going, the Athlone- Galway will be up and running long before it. Public Reps could then apply a lot of joint pressure on Galway CoCo to join the two. A stand alone red route will never be developed, as the council just couldn't afford to fund it.

It's a red for me!!

Duckjob · 26-02-2021 5:59pm

ratracer wrote: »

No it won't. the primary purpose of this is to link up the EuroVelo routes.

I think the complete opposite to you on this DaCor. This project is going to go ahead on one of those routes. IMO, the route should be one of the longer ones, encompassing either the north of the county or the south of the county. Motorways are designed to get from A to B as quickly as possible, cycleways are the opposite, and therefor it makes no sense taking a straight line to Athenry.

That very much depends on whether you are trying to get people out cycling just for recreation or you want them to actually leave their cars at home and cycle to the places they need to go like they are doing in NL with their high speed cycleways.

Concentrating just on the former is rather myopic IMO and does little to move us away from our car-centric ways.

ratracer · 26-02-2021 8:07pm

Duckjob wrote: »

That very much depends on whether you are trying to get people out cycling just for recreation or you want them to actually leave their cars at home and cycle to the places they need to go like they are doing in NL with their high speed cycleways.

Concentrating just on the former is rather myopic IMO and does little to move us away from our car-centric ways.

It’s a good point, but again I’d refer back to my reasons for the red route......building it that way and then pushing the council to link this greenway with the QMG via Oranmore would open up commuter cycling to a much larger swathe of the population. As it is, I would imagine most cycle commuters ( although there aren’t that many) from Athenry would route via Derrydonnell to Oranmore, or else in the Monivea Road if heading for Parkmore. Current wishlists I’ve read from various parties have floated the idea of park’n’ride, or bike’n’ride from the airport, with cycle lanes developed along the route, so both of these routes could be possible.

I don’t believe my idea is myopic, on the contrary, it’s looking at the bigger picture for long term development of realistic cycling infrastructure in the county. Believe me, I’ll be happy with whichever route is chosen, but for now I’m a firm advocate of the red route.

murrcoole · 27-02-2021 12:55am

Fully agree Rat Racer! Route 5 has the most scenic diversity and it contributes to the Atlantic Route - its got the most to offer. There's no guarantee that the QMG will even go ahead so I think Athenry needs to focus on that first, then there's an easy link via Athenry to Oranmore - its bonkers to try and link up to a Greenway that's not there - so give people of Galway a good option to head out to Kinvara, Burren and Gort.
Route 5 is alive!

nilhg · 27-02-2021 10:06am

The red route would also have the advantage of joining up with the Grand Canal greenway which will reach the Shannon at Shannon Harbour/Banagher. That would seem to be an obvious advantage but the excellent red route site doesn't seem to pick up on it. That would mean an easy and quick linkage to Tullamore and onward to the South East

Duckjob · 27-02-2021 1:47pm

ratracer wrote: »

It’s a good point, but again I’d refer back to my reasons for the red route......building it that way and then pushing the council to link this greenway with the QMG via Oranmore would open up commuter cycling to a much larger swathe of the population. As it is, I would imagine most cycle commuters ( although there aren’t that many) from Athenry would route via Derrydonnell to Oranmore, or else in the Monivea Road if heading for Parkmore. Current wishlists I’ve read from various parties have floated the idea of park’n’ride, or bike’n’ride from the airport, with cycle lanes developed along the route, so both of these routes could be possible.

I don’t believe my idea is myopic, on the contrary, it’s looking at the bigger picture for long term development of realistic cycling infrastructure in the county. Believe me, I’ll be happy with whichever route is chosen, but for now I’m a firm advocate of the red route.

I hear what you're saying. The problem with all of this though (and this is where our planners thinking really hasnt yet caught up) is that a cycle paths aren't just single purpose.

You can build a lovely 50km route that goes from A to B. People will come out and walk and cycle on it. The problem is, if it's a greenway then it's completley unusable for somebody who lives in A, works in B and wants to get from A to B as quickly and safely as possible.

People out walking and cycling with their young kids aren't going to appreciate somebody flying by at 30kph+ , and people wanting the utility of a fast route are going to appreciate having to go slow all the time to avoid pissing people off.

murrcoole · 27-02-2021 10:14pm

nilhg wrote: »

The red route would also have the advantage of joining up with the Grand Canal greenway which will reach the Shannon at Shannon Harbour/Banagher. That would seem to be an obvious advantage but the excellent red route site doesn't seem to pick up on it. That would mean an easy and quick linkage to Tullamore and onward to the South East

Thanks Nilhg : Very good advice - this was just added to the Red Route Website (under Route 5 is Strategic) :

Sharon mc · 27-02-2021 11:23pm

In my opinion route 5 has way more to offer than the other routes. It’s much more scenic and diverse. From mountains, to rivers, lakes, the burren and the coast. It has it all. It will easily link in with the Wild Atlantic way, Eurovelo routes 1&2, and east Clare way.
People seem to assume this route will get built anyway, but that’s quite frankly not true. There are currently no plans to make a greenway/cycleway along the coast, from Galway city to the Burren, and to make assumptions this will be built at some point is the future is flawed.
This is our chance to have our say. We can make this happen! If you like route 5 please submit your vote on the link below. It takes about 30 seconds and every vote counts!!
https://redroute5.wordpress.com/support-route-5/

buffalo · 28-02-2021 12:19am

Sharon mc wrote: »

In my opinion route 5 has way more to offer than the other routes. It’s much more scenic and diverse. From mountains, to rivers, lakes, the burren and the coast. It has it all. It will easily link in with the Wild Atlantic way, Eurovelo routes 1&2, and east Clare way.
People seem to assume this route will get built anyway, but that’s quite frankly not true. There are currently no plans to make a greenway/cycleway along the coast, from Galway city to the Burren, and to make assumptions this will be built at some point is the future is flawed.
This is our chance to have our say. We can make this happen! If you like route 5 please submit your vote on the link below. It takes about 30 seconds and every vote counts!!
https://redroute5.wordpress.com/support-route-5/

By the way, if you genuinely support route 5, I wouldn't use a boilerplate email to submit your feedback. It will just get lumped in with all the matching emails.

Take the time to draft your own feedback, even if it's just a one or two. The more detailed the reasoning the better though.

Route 5 looks excellent, but for me this first project is about getting from A-B and the most direct wins. I did submit that all routes should eventually be built for a network that is attractive to all types of cyclist.

Sharon mc · 28-02-2021 1:35am

The boiler plate is better for ease of use than none at all! If people click on 2nd option they can provide they’re own opinion. We’ve had disadvantages where route 5 was seen as an offshoot. Even on the mapping it was all yellow until Woodford, whereas it should have been both yellow and red! This has caused great confusion and enabled some communities to think route 4 was their only option...
At the end of the day, from our website to FB page I think we’ve done a remarkable job in the short timeframe! The people of south Galway are hungry and whether our route gets chosen or not it won’t be from lack of trying!

Sharon mc · 28-02-2021 1:38am

The reason for the boiler plate emails also, is because every vote counts. We’ve been underdogs from the start and needed a way to get people to vote. It’s better than no vote is how we see it &#55357;&#56834;

KTBFFH · 28-02-2021 2:10am

Route 5 is the clear winner if they go down the scenic route of taking in attractions and linking places for people to visit. Particularly with the current emphasis on A Just Transition to the climate crises it focuses on areas of disadvantage that have been affected by the closure of Bord na Mona power plant.
My worry is that route 3 through Ballinasloe will have significantly more numbers advocativg for it in their area, but it is pretty much a route A to B as quick as you can option. And even with that, its not connecting villages and towns tocities close enough to actually encourage a shift from driving to work to cycling. The purpose of this cycleway is not to just get some wokers to start cycling to work, it has a much broader remit than that.

Millions have already been spent on the Meelick Weir renovation (it's brand new and absolutely stunning, everyone should check it out at least once) and it makes sense to link with this in some way to encourage tourism in the area.

Sharon mc · 28-02-2021 2:36am

Yes, most of route 5 is in disadvantaged clar areas, which would help these communities a lot. The Meelick weir is included in this route

nilhg · 28-02-2021 8:20am

Reports again yesterday of the Guards checking people going into leisure areas for compliance with the 5km rule, a sure sign that there aren't enough of these facilities countrywide, that's why I think it's important that whichever of the routes are eventually chosen and built for the Athlone to Galway greenway that the areas that miss out keep working away to get their version done as well.

The red route website makes a very strong case for it as a standalone with linkages out even if it isn't the official A to B route.

Mercian Pro · 28-02-2021 3:02pm

Duckjob wrote: »

People out walking and cycling with their young kids aren't going to appreciate somebody flying by at 30kph+ , and people wanting the utility of a fast route are going to appreciate having to go slow all the time to avoid pissing people off.

I think that assumes reasonably intensive use of a Greenway and that those potentially conflicting uses would be happening at the same time. In practice, even on the busy Clontarf section of the S2S, you rarely get commuters and family groups at the same time.

Regarding the optimum route from Athlone to Galway, if it is to attract long distance touring cyclists heading to the WAW, it would need to be a bit more direct than the red route.

serfboard · 01-03-2021 3:36pm

Mercian Pro wrote: »

Regarding the optimum route from Athlone to Galway, if it is to attract long distance touring cyclists heading to the WAW, it would need to be a bit more direct than the red route.

Or we could have a bit of ambition and do both the direct route and the scenic route, with whichever one is chosen now being done first and a clear commitment to do the other one whenever the next round of funding comes up.

Duckjob · 01-03-2021 4:43pm

Mercian Pro wrote: »

I think that assumes reasonably intensive use of a Greenway and that those potentially conflicting uses would be happening at the same time. In practice, even on the busy Clontarf section of the S2S, you rarely get commuters and family groups at the same time.

I'd say its safe to say most folk on here would love to see a mass shift away from cars. You're not going to get that unless you provide friction free infrastructure that caters for a high-volume take-up of walking and cycling.

People's travel choices are heavily influenced by the travel options available to them. Therefore you need to make provision for the travel patterns you want, not the travel patterns you currently have.

KTBFFH · 27-03-2021 12:50am

Any idea when an update will be provided on final decision?

ratracer · 19-07-2021 3:26pm

So the 2nd report is out, with the results/findings of the Public Consultation process.

Interestingly, the Red Route received the most public submissions. I don't know how much merit that gets in the overall final route selection, I presume the consultations with land owners on all routes will weigh heavily on this.

https://www.galwaytoathlonecycleway.com/media/download_gallery/2nd%20Public%20Consultation%20Report.pdf

19-07-2021 4:47pm

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117632892#Comment_117632892

Maybe if the Galway ring road gets canned we can ask for this (in black)

Because no matter what route is chosen, Galway will remain bereft of bike infrastructure throughout the whole county.

Randy Archer · 22-07-2021 1:33pm

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/116422822#Comment_116422822

Not necessarily. Based on the 40 km between Athlone to Mullingar , you will have at least 32-35 km of cycleway to be able to flat out , only needing to slow down at the annoying gates and 2-3 km on either side of built up areas (which, yes, is infuriating ) this said route , the go slow (15 Km/h) is in Athlone and Moate and about 2-3 km leading into Mullingar . The rest of it is pretty deserted most days , bar the odd cyclist and Walker . Very few walk that far out of the built up areas .

more or less the same case with the canal between Mullingar to Longford and Mullingar to Maynooth (though there are more busy areas on the later)

Randy Archer · 22-07-2021 1:45pm

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117633357#Comment_117633357

Lads , the point of the Route is to get people from Dublin to Galway in a reasonably quick fashion on the bikes . The locals then get to take advantage of the amenities

you are tripping if you think the cycling tourists are going to want to spend more than 13 hours cutting through the back arse of Galway , when they can get to Galway in a shorter time by avoiding most of the south Galway routes (Dublin to Galway is completely doable in a day )

reality is m it’s going to be close enough to either the motorway or rail line . People won’t want to be too far from access to public transport in case hey have mishaps . They need to be close to the bigger towns in case they need to do pit stops to the bike shop , not villages and towns where time has forgotten and where there are more sheep than people

the bigger towns, due to political bases are going to get it, hence why Ballinasloe will be the next town after Athlone, whether via Shannonbridge (needless extra kilometres, but it’s close to Clonmacnoise and does provide a natural loop back to Athlone and they can go through thr bogs and up the disused canal) or closer to either the motorway , R446 or the rail line

id be surprised if Portumna gets considered. Banagher ? Good grief why ? More money to fix the bridge ? No chance . From a Dublin to Galway point of view, that would be ridiculous

sorry, folks, but the way ye are talking ye would swear that the country lanes and regional roads are not suitable for cycling . That is simply not true. Many of them are almost deserted at the weekend bar a few motors bringing home the turf . The vast majority of the country lanes and back roads including the R446 itself , from Ballinasloe to Loughrea, Portumna and up to Ballyforan , Ballygar , Mountbellew, Kilkerrin , Mount Mary , Creggs, Glenamaddy/Dunmore and into Roscommon are safe and very very rideable . Many of them are even down as cycling loops (especially around Ballyforan Ballgar )

I make no comment about areas of Galway past Loughrea as I’m not familiar with these routes

bear in mind, a reason why Athlone to Galway has been delayed is due to landowners objections , so there’s a lot of wishful thinking, I’m afraid .

The State ain’t going to be able to justify paying off all the landowners , even if, it makes sense tourist wise , to run through every half decent town with a place of interest .

it’s going to have to be up to the county councils to build their own add on routes thereafter , like places like Kilbeggan intend to do (link it to Athlone Mullingar to the Canal route that goes through Tullamore)

these are all routes that I know really well, support and would love to see get expanded, especially around Aughrim, Killimor, Portumna and loops around Lough Derg or part thereof …. But it ain’t going to happen …

it makes total sense to have Clonfert, Clonmacnoise , drum/Moore/Clonown (Roscommon side of Athlone) , Portumna and Aughrim all connected due to the monasteries and the military history of Aughrim n Athlone (1690/91) but when you take into account the Dublin to Galway nature of this route…. that’s an awful way out . Thankfully the majority of those roads , whether regional or local are perfectly safe to ride

Shannonbridge to clonfert is an awful pain in the arse as it’s a longish road cycle when there is already a bog trial and bridge ready and waiting to be upgraded and only a hop over the Shannon, probably knock of 10km off what would be needed if you go by road … but it will be costly and with the floods around those areas in the winter ….…

a more significant issue are the floods plans around the Shannon and River Suck . We want to be able to use the cycleway all year round so many areas around the shores of the Shannon and Suck are out , as these areas have seen floods every year

Randy Archer · 22-07-2021 1:49pm

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117646474#Comment_117646474

I should add, if they were that concerned about scenery etc, they wouldn’t have used the Athlone to Mullingar rail line with embankments which block most of the view … but they did because it was State land. Great surface and safe and silent and access to great scenic rounds around lakes and tourist spots no more than 10km away, but boring as F

nilhg · 22-07-2021 2:20pm

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117646474#Comment_117646474

It's interesting that you think the point of the greenway is to get people from Dublin to Galway or vice versa as quickly as possible, my thinking would be that there will be very few using it that way, my own personal opinion is that apart form the very touristy areas that 90% of the use of them is local people out for their daily exercise in very safe conditions. Having watched the Nationwide program on the Royal canal, I didn't see anything to change my mind.

I think it would be preferable if the Athlone-Galway route is relatively direct but I wouldn't see it as a deal breaker.

22-07-2021 3:04pm

Lads , the point of the Route is to get people from Dublin to Galway in a reasonably quick fashion on the bikes .

That doesn't figure anywhere in any documentation as a justification for the route @Randy Archer. Love to know where you are getting it from

you are tripping if you think the cycling tourists are going to want to spend more than 13 hours cutting through the back arse of Galway , when they can get to Galway in a shorter time by avoiding most of the south Galway routes (Dublin to Galway is completely doable in a day )

I'm not sure you understand the point of proper walking/cycling infrastructure. A primary driver is significant segregation from road traffic to allow for relaxing and safe travel.

I and many others, have travelled along a lot of the current greenways and at no point did the length of the route come into my thought when getting from A to B. If its 20km from A to B or 30 km from A to B, I'm still going to travel from A to B regardless

reality is m it’s going to be close enough to either the motorway or rail line . People won’t want to be too far from access to public transport in case hey have mishaps . They need to be close to the bigger towns in case they need to do pit stops to the bike shop , not villages and towns where time has forgotten and where there are more sheep than people

the bigger towns, due to political bases are going to get it, hence why Ballinasloe will be the next town after Athlone, whether via Shannonbridge (needless extra kilometres, but it’s close to Clonmacnoise and does provide a natural loop back to Athlone and they can go through thr bogs and up the disused canal) or closer to either the motorway , R446 or the rail line

id be surprised if Portumna gets considered. Banagher ? Good grief why ? More money to fix the bridge ? No chance . From a Dublin to Galway point of view, that would be ridiculous

Reality is actually that nothing is decided yet on the route. The preferred route will be released shortly.

sorry, folks, but the way ye are talking ye would swear that the country lanes and regional roads are not suitable for cycling . That is simply not true. Many of them are almost deserted at the weekend bar a few motors bringing home the turf . The vast majority of the country lanes and back roads from Ballinasloe to Loughrea, Portumna and up to Ballyforan , Ballygar , Mountbellew, Kilkerrin , Mount Mary , Creggs, Glenamaddy/Dunmore and into Roscommon are safe and very very rideable . Many of them are even down as cycling loops .

Of course they are suitable, thats why they are so heavily trafficked at the moment with thousands of families going out for spins....oh wait no they're not. Hmm, I wonder why

bear in mind, a reason why Athlone to Galway has been delayed is due to landowners objections , so there’s a lot of wishful thinking, I’m afraid . The State ain’t going to be able to justify paying off all the landowners , even if, it makes sense tourist wise , to run through every half decent town with a place of interest . it’s going to have to be up to the county councils to build their own add on routes thereafter , as places like Kilbeggan intend to do (link it to Athlone Mullingar to the Canal route that goes through Tullamore)

Kerry has shown there is a way to do it using CPO. Its already planned to use CPO for this route. There is a significant amount of discussions ongoing with landowners along the route.

a more significantly, the floods plans around the Shannon. We want to be able to use the cycleway all year round so many areas around the shores of the Shannon are out , as these areas have seen floods every year

There are flood maps for the small area where this would be a concern

Randy Archer · 22-07-2021 7:54pm

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117646814#Comment_117646814

You do realise the sole purpose of this cross county project , right ? You aware of what Euro Velo is ?

considering tourists have never had next to no interest in visited many of these towns that time has forgot / aka more sheep than people, what on earth makes ye think that long distance cycling tourists want to go to these spots , completely out of the way, before getting into Galway City- they certainly ain’t appealing (the quite roads are prefect to get lost and to train , I don’t want to diss them because I use them )

Its the gombeen politicians that seek to ensure their fiefdom gets included . It certainly wouldn’t happen without the EU money . The Dublin - Athlone - Galway route falls under the “EV2 Capitals Route” . The original design was due to go through the Roscommon / Galway side of Co Galway and never intended to touch South Galway

anyway, once the county councils see what it’s going to cost, don’t expect the route being interesting . The locals , particularly the walkers get a nice extra ( most of these routes are actually deserted most of the time ,not heavily trafficked with cyclists doing long distances)

but yes ! It will be mostly the locals using these . the walkers ruin it actually with their idiotic behaviour . Unless you are willing to cycle out a few kilometres outside the built up areas, forget about using the greenways if you want to do training

Athlone to Mullingar is not really used . Bar Garrycastle, Moate, and Mullingar and occasionally Castletown Georghegan, you WILL be able to count on one hand the amount of cyclists that you shall pass once outside these built up areas if you do the full length

Randy Archer · 22-07-2021 8:05pm

@DaCor - you could start with looking at the Euro Velo websites for a start. That ought to have been obvious

you are extremely naive if you think the route won’t be dictated by which part of the county has political power .

CPO ? Sweet Jesus . Comparing fields of uneconomical rock and bog of Kerry to the pastures of South Galway lol . “Planned” . Yes planned! Good look to the authorities succeeding when the land owners successfully defeat them in the courts !

nilhg · 22-07-2021 8:29pm

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117648510#Comment_117648510

Lots going on there, I'm not sure where to start, maybe with the loads of tourists hurrying to Galway on a greenway where you can ride for miles without meeting anyone?

Anyway there's no point us hashing this out, it will be what it is when the powers that be decide, one thing though, I'm not aware of any EU sourced funding for the greenways, most of it seems to come through the county councils from central government, maybe you have a link for your assertion? The 8.1 million announced last year for Galway-Athlone announced last year through TII has no mention of any EU element.

22-07-2021 8:52pm

You do realise the sole purpose of this cross county project , right ? You aware of what Euro Velo is ?

considering tourists have never had next to no interest in visited many of these towns that time has forgot / aka more sheep than people, what on earth makes ye think that long distance cycling tourists want to go to these spots , completely out of the way, before getting into Galway City- they certainly ain’t appealing

The users of existing greenways would say otherwise. Again, you seem to think the purpose is to provide the shortest possible route to Galway from Dublin. Hell even the multi billion motorway doesn't even do that lol

the quite roads are prefect to get lost and to train , I don’t want to diss them because I use them

but yes ! It will be mostly the locals using these . the walkers ruin it actually with their idiotic behaviour . Unless you are willing to cycle out a few kilometres outside the built up areas, forget about using the greenways if you want to do training

Ummm, greenways are not for training at speeds of 40-50kmph, there are toddlers, buggies, wheelchairs and walkers on them for gods sake. Any member of any cycling club will tell you that. That you don't comprehend this and seem to have a problem with this speaks volumes. So yes, please DO forget about using greenways for training.

The original design was due to go through the Roscommon / Galway side of Co Galway and never intended to touch South Galway

The original design/route is dead and buried, pointless trying to use it as a basis for any argument and to be honest I've no idea what point you are trying to make anyway

anyway, once the county councils see what it’s going to cost, don’t expect the route being interesting . The locals , particularly the walkers get a nice extra ( most of these routes are actually deserted most of the time ,not heavily trafficked with cyclists doing long distances)

Long distance form a part of the userbase, certainly, but they are not the only users. You seem to be only focused on a subset of users and their needs, its a strange position to take considering greenways, by their very nature and design, are for all abilities and needs

Randy Archer · 22-07-2021 9:31pm

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117648687#Comment_117648687

I take it that you actually haven’t been on these greenways much nor have done many coast to coast cycles from Dublin - Galway and back . You also don’t take into account the typical Irish weather where rain is a common feature …

maybe try some , then come back to us

Randy Archer · 22-07-2021 9:35pm

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117648763#Comment_117648763

Which greenways ?

they ain’t and haven’t done a thing for Moate, Castletown , Clonard or Longford, Tullamore (canal) so….. got any actual stats to back up the claim that it has actually boasted income and retail / hotels etc for the areas along the Dublin route ? No bike shops /tours have got rich from it , and I have a friend who actually ran a tour business for the canals and the greenway and the river suck walking trails on the Roscommon /Galway border - that is not in anyway to be implied that they haven’t been fantastic additions to communities though

it’s evident that you don’t actually live along these areas or use the facilities in place ,so it’s laughable to be putting up arguments that you can’t back up. Plans and forecasts of how much money it might bring into an area is a huge difference to what it actually has brought in so far !

there’s a huge difference between the areas covering the Dublin to Galway proposed greenway (much of it through bog and middle of no where with little to see ) and a greenway like Waterford (which is class) and Kerry or even tourist hot spot like Westport .

The locals who are doing 5-10 km walks certainly were not crowding into the deli /cafe/ town to buy food thereafter , either ! (Pre Covid)

anyway, it won’t matter a jot, the private landowners will have final say, whatever route it will be, it will be welcomed because there’s great scenery around South Galway and the Galway Roscommon border and the many many roads that it will pass are rideable if one wants to detour

nilhg · 22-07-2021 9:42pm

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117648930#Comment_117648930

Well since you asked, not so much Dublin to Galway but there's this,

https://www.strava.com/activities/330149371

And this

https://www.strava.com/activities/1052258314

And the year after we did this

https://www.strava.com/activities/1612687938

and the day after this

https://www.strava.com/activities/1615712056

And a few weeks ago I went on my holidays

https://www.strava.com/activities/5594944909

and came home on the greenway

https://www.strava.com/activities/5611587275

Randy Archer · 22-07-2021 9:45pm

“shortest possible route to Galway from Dublin. Hell even the multi billion motorway doesn't even do that lol”

wow. I have heard it all now lol 😂. Think you will find that it is precisely the propose , within the confines of suitable land for a motorway

22-07-2021 9:49pm

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117648930#Comment_117648930

I've read it several times but I'm struggling to see how your post is a direct reply to nilhg's.

Also, whats with the confrontational attitude. If you want a discussion, discuss, like a grown up and give the passive aggressive silliness a rest, otherwise you'll just end up on ignore lists or have your posts reported.

Which greenways ?

Which greenways what?

they ain’t and haven’t done a thing for Moate, Castletown , Clonard or Longford, Tullamore (canal) so….. got any actual stats to back up the claim that it has actually boasted income and retail for the areas along the Dublin route ?

With all due respect, if you want that info, go get it yourself, I'm not your secretary. Also, where did I make that claim?

there’s a huge difference between the areas from Dublin to Galway (much of it through bog and middle of no where with little to see ) and a greenway like Waterford (which is class) and Kerry

You are absolutely correct, there are huge differences in the geography of Ireland

You edited your post after I posted the above, but to be honest you keep jumping from topic to topic, make little sense in a lot of what you are saying and seem to just want to belittle so I'll be leaving it there.

I will, however, answer your point about being a user and say that I have done the full length of the great western greenway, the old rail trail, most of waterford and the canal from Mullingar up to.......can't honestly recall, but did a good stretch. Not sure what relevance or bearing any of that has on anything I've posted or that it increases or lessens the value of those posts, but you seem to think it has some bearing so I'll let you determine the value of that knowledge

Randy Archer · 22-07-2021 9:59pm

“Ummm, greenways are not for training at speeds of 40-50kmph, there are toddlers, buggies, wheelchairs and walkers on them for gods sake. Any member of any cycling club will tell you that. That you don't comprehend this and seem to have a problem with this speaks volumes. So yes, please DO forget about using greenways for training.”

where did I say training in built up areas ? I didn’t !

toddlers , buggies ,wheelchairs ,walkers ? outside of the built up areas ? Yep, you have never been on these greenways !!! You won’t find many of them 10 km away from the main built up areas at all. once you go out 5-10 km of those areas, you won’t and don’t see many walkers , certainly not buggies etc

There’s PLENTY of Kms for cyclists to get a bit of training in safely, miles away from any of these lot ! . You clearly haven’t cycled these greenways or canals in full . They are next to empty most days ,once you get out of the built up areas (which is great by the way)

I clearly, stated cyclists can’t speed around the built up areas. I have no qualms about that . I have to assume you are capable of reading and comprehension, so you are either dishonest or trying badly to pick an argument that you won’t be able to stand

The stupidity of walkers include the following :

not walking on the correct side of the greenway , as you would if you were walking a country road
Actually standing smack in the middle of the cycleway yapping away as if the world revolves around ye
dogs unleashed , children allowed to run around
walking with headphones on, in built up areas (not an issue once you are out of those areas)
Walking three - four abreast talking up the entire path

you seem to be seriously under the mistaken notion that these greenways would ever have been considered, never mind constructed, but for the CYCLING tourism boom . They defianntly wouldn’t have existed if the county councils were left to their own devices, sure many a populist councillor had notions of rebuilding rail tracks and train , thinking, bizarrely that it would have brought ghost towns back to life .

The walkers would have been back to walking the country lanes, fields and trials and certainly no inter county trials , if it weren’t for the promotion of the trans European cycling project

Randy Archer · 22-07-2021 10:26pm

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117649021#Comment_117649021

no Confrontion at all. If he wants you make clearly unsubstantiated and I’ll informed and naive comments, which clearly aren’t backed up with any experience of ridding these routes , and then put up laughable memes , well, that’s on him, he ought not complain when he can’t back it up though .

I never understand why people stick their oar into a discussion when they haven’t the basic understanding of the topic and then play victim and waffle about confrontation when they are rebutted , but sure, that’s the way people are now days

Randy Archer · 22-07-2021 10:48pm

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117648983#Comment_117648983

You are having a laugh lol . Kindly read carefully, this is clearly what I said . Your fine cycling achievements don’t rebut a single thing .

“I take it that you actually haven’t been on these greenways much nor have done many coast to coast cycles from Dublin - Galway and back . You also don’t take into account the typical Irish weather where rain is a common feature”

With the exception of the last sentence, none of those rides are remotely relevant to any experience of Galway to Dublin Greenway (obviously, those rides are miles better kudos)

mizen to malign head … total false equivalence of epic proportions - a famous established route based on an achievement of doing each of the extreme points on the island . a journey people from all over the world come to do . Predominately road too ! Not a km of greenway in 20015 either . It doesn’t address what i said , just shows that you are a totally radical road warrior , bar the last ride with the canal and barely 5km of the Athlone - Mullingar greenway going into Mullingar lol - not exactly authoritative

doesn’t remotely rebut the reality that the Mullingar - Athlone greenway is pretty empty most days of the week, once you pass out of the built up areas , and the Athlone to the outskirts of Galway city won’t be much different for many kilometres (which is not a bad thing)

A point already clearly pointed out with regard to comparisons to the Mayo, Kerry and Waterford Greenways ie actual tourist hotspots

the comments clearly refer to the Dublin to Galway greenway, ,which you clearly have little to no familiarity with ; the current and the proposed route ie through bogs and villages that towns forgot with little to no tourist attractions . Ie the Ballinasloes , Aughrim , Laramcetowns , Loughrea etc of this world

nilhg · 22-07-2021 10:48pm

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117649154#Comment_117649154

Ah Lord, I'm stepping away from this, first rule is don't feed the troll, I've posted links to my strava, where I've ridden the greenway, I've asked you to clarify your comments about EU money which you ignored and you call me naive and ill informed. I'm sure your local politicians will be delighted to see you coming when you make your representations on the new Galway to Athlone greenway.

Randy Archer · 22-07-2021 10:52pm

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117649021#Comment_117649021

Ah, you did!

I said

“considering tourists have never had next to no interest in visited many of these towns that time has forgot / aka more sheep than people, what on earth makes ye think that long distance cycling tourists want to go to these spots , completely out of the way, before getting into Galway City- they certainly ain’t appealing”

You claimed otherwise

“ The users of existing greenways would say otherwise”

that’s for you to back that up !

if was pointed out to you that specific areas on this specific greenway haven’t gained economically from it as promised . Wow, with one or two rides, you think you know better than someone who uses it regularly

your response ? Nonsense about secretaries and alleging that wasn’t what you claimed ….

but then, you are the chap who seems to think that the building of motorways isn’t about getting people from A to B as fast as possible, with the suitable land permitting to do so .

But I saved the best examples of distortion for last

You said :

“Ummm, greenways are not for training at speeds of 40-50kmph, there are toddlers, buggies, wheelchairs and walkers on them for gods sake. Any member of any cycling club will tell you that. That you don't comprehend this and seem to have a problem with this speaks volumes. So yes, please DO forget about using greenways for training.”

You WILL NOT find any of those users outside 10 km of the built up areas of Athlone, Moate and Mullingar on the current Mullingar -Athlone line and that most certainly won’t be much different for the vast majority of kilometres that will be used for the Athlone Galway line on most days of the week , due to the fact that they are more sheep than people in those areas - thus leaving you with miles of free road to let rip

ANY PERSON WHO ACTUALLY RIDES THAT GREENWAY REGULARLY , WILL TELL YOU THAT , alas, you seem to think different after one or two visits - stick you what you know, chief

Fabulous dishonest attempt of distortion to falsely suggest that I remotely implied that training could be done around the built up areas , when it was specifically excluded

nilhg · 22-07-2021 10:58pm

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117649263#Comment_117649263

I really shouldn't do this but you'll find that most or all of those town you mention are on this Audax I did not so long ago

https://www.strava.com/activities/1414440648

I'll also tell you I live in Kildare not too far from the Royal canal greenway, and only a few KMs from the new Barrow Blueway and 10kms from the Grand canal greenway which will meet the Shannon at Shannon Harbour. I'm well familiar with all the issues with Blueways/Greenways, despite what you want to think.

Anyway that's my final word on this, unless someone wants to talk about the project itself.

Randy Archer · 22-07-2021 11:23pm

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117649303#Comment_117649303

You are right , you REALLY REALLY SHOULD NOT

NOT A single km of the Mullingar to Athlone greenway ,and the Likely Athlone to Galway route , and all road (mostly great rides for cycling ) .

last I checked, Kildare is o where near the specific greenway, neither is Shannon Harbour (nor will it be)

It most certainly doesn’t even touch on the fact that much of the route and proposed route will be deserted bar the built up areas

Completely IRRELEVANT. So, ya, you really shouldn’t have

those said areas aren’t exactly hotspots for tourism, (well bar the Slieve Bloom area for serious cyclists like your good self - a greenway link to that area would be savage as the roads are dicey with traffic , especially the Athlone to Ferbane road) the main purpose of the greenway - the actual point made , which you chose to ignore (intentionally or not, I cant tell)

Royal canal won’t go anywhere near the proposed Athlone - Galway route bar the disused part in Ballinasloe

All your strava links do is show off your epic road warrior awesomeness (kuddos) It doesn’t address the likelihood of the greenway itself and the fact that it’s unlikely that the Route between Athlone to Galway is going to add on extra kilometres so that a many back arse of no where villages in South Galway (which I love cycling around) are going to be added onto an already lengthy and costly (and awesome, well, I most parts) coast to coast greenway , even if it makes sense in terms of a few attractions like an auld monastery (yawn) or ring fort and endless bog , which can be already be found in Longford via the canal or much of the Athlone - Mullingar route

It be fantastic if it were to occur , but don’t hold your breath . Landowners ain’t going to budge . Galway county council haven’t covered themselves in glory for the past 6 years , and some of them clowns would have it adjacent to the R446 (a nice road to cycle on btw) or worse , along the rail line , if they have their way ..

the likelihood of the route going through the Roscommon side of Athlone down to Shannon bridge rather than go straight to Ballinasloe via the bog / adjacent to the R446 will already be costly enough (need to upgrade the bog train bridge to achieve this , thus more money on top of the new bridge to be built in Athlone ) and add more kilometres . People of Portumna are tripping if they think this line is going down towards them too

but, this won’t affect the likes of you because you have no qualms tackling the roads

ratracer · 22-07-2021 11:53pm

03-08-2021 5:21am

https://galwaybayfm.ie/galway-bay-fm-news-desk/liaison-personnel-contacting-farmers-regarding-plans-to-develop-greenway-between-galway-and-athlone/

Qw

buffalo · 06-12-2021 5:14pm

Those campaigning for the red route will be pleased: https://galwaybayfm.ie/galway-bay-fm-news-desk/details-of-preferred-route-corridor-for-athlone-galway-greenway-emerge/

Galway Bay FM news has learned that Red Route 5, which will pass through South and East Galway, has emerged as the preferred route.

As the final leg of a national Greenway connecting Dublin to Galway, a number of towns and villages will be featured on Route 5 including Ballinasloe, Portumna, Gort, Kinvara, Clarinbridge, Oranmore and Ballyloughane Beach, before reaching Galway city.

ratracer · 06-12-2021 5:50pm

Great news, now just get it built 😀😀

Ranleth · 06-12-2021 9:30pm

Would love to see some sort of phased plan. I was in Coole park a few weeks back and they were doing a lot of work upgrading the route, should be ideal for cycling.

Galway to Athlone Greenway

Comments