Royal Canal Greenway

Former Former · 11-03-2020 6:16pm

A Knight of Ireland wrote: »

So the greenway would totally on the south side of the canal the whole way ??

The decision doesn't lie with the councillors though, it's Fingal's parks department along with Waterways Ireland. The councillors can only make recommendations afaik.

Mercian Pro · 11-03-2020 6:24pm

A Knight of Ireland wrote: »

So the greenway would totally on the south side of the canal the whole way ??

The proposal that was published last year was to divert onto the north bank shortly after Castleknock station and to stay on that side through the Deep Sinking as far as Porterstown Road where it would link into the path that is already on the north bank.

There was a fair bit of local opposition to this so it will be interesting to see what will be proposed in the next round of consultations later this year. The process for this is set out in post #342 and everyone will get their chance to submit their views to the Council again.

A Knight of Ireland · 18-05-2020 12:12pm

I heard this morning that the Canal path between Castleknock train station and Coolmine train station is closed from 8am - 6pm daily for the next couple of weeks as the council are assessing the path? Anyone know when they are planning on starting construction of this essential amenity??

beauf · 18-05-2020 1:08pm

Where did you hear that.

I've heard its quite busy with people. Its impossible to social distance on that path, you have to squeeze past each other. Maybe its simply that.

tnegun · 18-05-2020 1:13pm

The mixed cycle/walking greenways are a disaster for social distancing near any built up areas

or it's certainly been my experience near Maynooth haven't been near it in weeks as a result.

Hurrache · 18-05-2020 1:43pm

You're right, the greenway from Ashtown to past Broombridge heading towards the city has been awful since the schools closed, I stopped using it as a result until the full lock down came along.

beauf · 18-05-2020 1:56pm

I've tried finding the lesser known trails to get the kids out more interesting places on the bikes. They all have people on them in places I've never met anyone before. So I've stopped trying.
Neighbours have reported the same.

Somewhere like Catherine's park would have more space for social distancing. But it is (was) closed to cars.

Hurrache · 18-05-2020 1:57pm

I was wondering about Catherine's park, it's vast with plenty of space, apart from the trail through the forest.

beauf · 18-05-2020 2:08pm

That trail is awesome.

But its pretty fantastic resource overall.

checky88 · 18-05-2020 2:17pm

A Knight of Ireland wrote: »

I heard this morning that the Canal path between Castleknock train station and Coolmine train station is closed from 8am - 6pm daily for the next couple of weeks as the council are assessing the path? Anyone know when they are planning on starting construction of this essential amenity??

Yeah just passed it at coolmine and the path is blocked with a sign saying closed for investigative work

beauf · 18-05-2020 2:27pm

checky88 wrote: »

Yeah just passed it at coolmine and the path is blocked with a sign saying closed for investigative work

Can't wait for them to make progress on this route. So hopefully that's a positive sign.

raheny red · 18-05-2020 3:39pm

beauf wrote: »

I've tried finding the lesser known trails to get the kids out more interesting places on the bikes. They all have people on them in places I've never met anyone before. So I've stopped trying.
Neighbours have reported the same.

Somewhere like Catherine's park would have more space for social distancing. But it is (was) closed to cars.

Head up to Abbotstown.

Mercian Pro · 18-05-2020 5:03pm

Hurrache wrote: »

You're right, the greenway from Ashtown to past Broombridge heading towards the city has been awful since the schools closed, I stopped using it as a result until the full lock down came along.

Just about OK when walking if you avoid the busier periods but best avoided on a bike.

beauf wrote: »

Can't wait for them to make progress on this route. So hopefully that's a positive sign.

The last round of consultations was based on switching over to the north bank on a new bridge shortly after Castleknock station. Hopefully they are not now thinking of staying on the south bank through the Deep Sinking as it can never be up to Greenway standards.

Hurrache · 18-05-2020 5:18pm

Mercian Pro wrote: »

Just about OK when walking if you avoid the busier periods but best avoided on a bike.

The mornings got noticeably busier with much more than usual walking or running and like you said, that was ok. But the evening commute was just hectic around there, avoid alright.

Birdie Num Num · 18-05-2020 5:53pm

Hurrache wrote: »

The mornings got noticeably busier with much more than usual walking or running and like you said, that was ok. But the evening commute was just hectic around there, avoid alright.

It's always much busier with pedestrians than bikes. It always has been.

Hurrache · 18-05-2020 6:22pm

That's not my point. My point is that it was just a lot more busier than normal .

tnegun · 18-05-2020 6:30pm

beauf wrote: »

Can't wait for them to make progress on this route. So hopefully that's a positive sign.

They did the same last year or late 2018 between Maynooth and Carton. They mapped drains and surveyed it but that was it they actually made the path worse when they left it.

beauf · 18-05-2020 6:48pm

raheny red wrote: »

Head up to Abbotstown.

That's a decent stretch for me. The Park is closer.

But whats in Abbotstown? I mean I've been there in the various facilities. But what are you referring to.

muckwarrior · 18-05-2020 6:55pm

As someone who's moving to the Brompton/Delwood area, I hope the greenway goes ahead on the northside with a couple of extra access points. It'd be so much easier to access the canal than having to go via either of the train stations.

raheny red · 18-05-2020 7:06pm

beauf wrote: »

That's a decent stretch for me. The Park is closer.

But whats in Abbotstown? I mean I've been there in the various facilities. But what are you referring to.

There's a new (well I think it's new) 2 km trail. The kids may be kept entertained for an hour or so. :-) and more importantly anytime I've gone it's dead.

beauf · 18-05-2020 7:07pm

Its a much longer route to town than just going through the park. Locally though it would be great.

beauf · 18-05-2020 7:07pm

raheny red wrote: »

There's a new (well I think it's new) 2 km trail. The kids may be kept entertained for an hour or so. :-)

Ooh really. Any links?

raheny red · 18-05-2020 7:12pm

beauf wrote: »

Ooh really. Any links?

None I'm afraid. I just came across it by chance when looking for a new walk. Yiz will have the place to yourselves pretty much. Not many using it.

The canal on Saturday at about 3ish was very busy. Wasn't helped with a certain group having their horses with them....

Birdie Num Num · 18-05-2020 7:16pm

raheny red wrote: »

Head up to Abbotstown.

Ssssh

Former Former · 18-05-2020 7:50pm

muckwarrior wrote: »

As someone who's moving to the Brompton/Delwood area, I hope the greenway goes ahead on the northside with a couple of extra access points. It'd be so much easier to access the canal than having to go via either of the train stations.

Your future neighbours do not share your perspective

daymobrew · 18-05-2020 8:42pm

beauf wrote: »

Ooh really. Any links?

The National Sports Campus site has no useful info.

I think that the cross country track is between the hospice and M50, below Sport Ireland office.

muckwarrior · 18-05-2020 9:30pm

Former Former wrote: »

Your future neighbours do not share your perspective

Some people just fear change. Where I currently live the canal is about 30 seconds from my front door and it's a tremendous resource.

donaghs · 18-05-2020 11:05pm

raheny red wrote: »

There's a new (well I think it's new) 2 km trail. The kids may be kept entertained for an hour or so. :-) and more importantly anytime I've gone it's dead.

Is it open to the public? You think they’d want to keep people off the cross country course anyway. I’ve heard of people having a look at the old abbotstown house and graveyard etc. Didn’t think it was officially open to wander around.

Back to the original post, had a canal wander from Castleknock station past coolmine a while back. The wildness of it is beautiful. Something will be lost with a wide tarmac surface, even if other gain something.

Mercian Pro · 19-05-2020 8:30am

donaghs wrote: »

Back to the original post, had a canal wander from Castleknock station past coolmine a while back. The wildness of it is beautiful. Something will be lost with a wide tarmac surface, even if other gain something.

AFAIK the existing rough path through the Deep Sinking will be retained for walkers if the main Greenway route goes ahead on the opposite bank.

A Knight of Ireland · 19-05-2020 10:44am

muckwarrior wrote: »

Some people just fear change. Where I currently live the canal is about 30 seconds from my front door and it's a tremendous resource.

I know during the first public consultation there was hundreds of residents turning up at FCC airing their grievances about the dangers of this walkway. It is already a place for anti social behaviour and underage drinking. They shouldnt be making it easier to access unless these access points in Delwood came with coded gates that only the residents could use.

Personally I think it will be great but there needs to be proper lighting and security cameras all over the place to keep it safe and a place that locals can enjoy.

Hurrache · 19-05-2020 11:08am

If it's already a place for anti social and underage drinking, it's hardly going to make it a place for anti social and underage drinking. I'd imagine, being a teenager once, that the current attractiveness of the spot is the fact it's out of the way and not so readily accessible.

Why should I contribute towards the costs of electronic gates that will exclude me from using, and accessing, a public amenity?

beauf · 19-05-2020 11:14am

Hurrache wrote: »

If it's already a place for anti social and underage drinking, it's hardly going to make it a place for anti social and underage drinking. I'd imagine, being a teenager once, that the current attractiveness of the spot is the fact it's out of the way and not so readily accessible.

Why should I contribute towards the costs of electronic gates that will exclude me from using, and accessing, a public amenity?

Otherwise it won't happen?

Hurrache · 19-05-2020 11:32am

Not buying their blackmail.

beauf · 19-05-2020 12:04pm

...and I expect they won't buy yours.

Hurrache · 19-05-2020 1:12pm

Seriously beauf, what blackmail of mine?

beauf · 19-05-2020 1:36pm

That they have pay the price of any problems.

Mercian Pro · 19-05-2020 4:26pm

Please let's not revive the old Delwood vs the Greenway discussion again. There are pages and pages of it just back a bit in this thread if you really want to go there. Sometime later this year Fingal County Council are going to be coming back with proposals for a route that will either be on the south or the north side of the canal. Could we wait until then before renewing hostilities?

beauf · 19-05-2020 4:34pm

Solution is to buy a mountain bike.

Make your own greenway.

Former Former Former · 25-05-2021 11:02am

Jaysus it's all happening this week

https://consult.fingal.ie/en/consultation/royal-canal-urban-greenway

OfflerCrocGod · 25-05-2021 12:19pm

Former Former Former wrote: »

Jaysus it's all happening this week

https://consult.fingal.ie/en/consultation/royal-canal-urban-greenway

I got all excited, though they were starting construction work. It's just more consultation.

Phil.x · 25-05-2021 2:11pm

Hopefully it will be like an Expressway into the city by bike, but I guess it won't.

cgcsb · 25-05-2021 2:30pm

Phil.x wrote: »

Hopefully it will be like an Expressway into the city by bike, but I guess it won't.

It's rough enough between ashtown and summerhill

Former Former Former · 25-05-2021 3:31pm

Phil.x wrote: »

Hopefully it will be like an Expressway into the city by bike, but I guess it won't.

In the mornings it will be.

On a summer evening, you'll be sharing it with joggers and families (west of Ashtown) and the local scrotes drinking cans and pelting you with stones (east of Ashtown).

L1011 · 25-05-2021 4:06pm

Scrotes drinking cans will vanish if there's a significant increase in people using it. Broombridge station area was a no-go zone before the Luas works for instance.

Mercian Pro · 25-05-2021 5:37pm

cgcsb wrote: »

It's rough enough between ashtown and summerhill

All due to be upgraded by Dublin City Council and likely to be well finished before the Fingal sections as the rate they have been going.

Flinty997 · 25-05-2021 7:31pm

Phil.x wrote: »

Hopefully it will be like an Expressway into the city by bike, but I guess it won't.

Going via the canal even before it became popular was a lot slower than just going through the park. So if you wanted speed the canal isn't it. Less so I expect since it got busy.

Still it's a nice alternative route. Especially on a summer evening.

daymobrew · 25-05-2021 8:42pm

Former Former Former wrote: »

On a summer evening, you'll be sharing it with joggers and families (west of Ashtown) and the local scrotes drinking cans and pelting you with stones (east of Ashtown).

Between 2003 and 2008 I used to commute along the towpath between Ashtown and Cross Guns Bridge. Never did I get any hassle from anyone. Never.

The swans near Broombridge could be aggressive because the narrow path meant you had to pass close to them.

Flinty997 · 25-05-2021 9:47pm

They used to regularly stone the train along there. Smashing windows etc.

I personally never had any hassle cycling that route. But I never cycled it regularly. But back then it's was very quiet and a bit isolated. You'd want to be a bit smart about it.

These days it's probably very busy. Which probably slows you down, but it's not as isolated as it used to be, so much safer I assume.

Former Former Former · 26-05-2021 9:30am

daymobrew wrote: »

Between 2003 and 2008 I used to commute along the towpath between Ashtown and Cross Guns Bridge. Never did I get any hassle from anyone. Never.

Ah, I may have been exaggerating for comic effect, but that section of the line has been absolutely plagued with anti-social behaviour for as long as I've been commuting into the city (24 years and counting).

In fairness, it seems to have improved since the Luas opened and hopefully more people on the greenway will mean fewer bored scrotes hanging around looking for something to amuse them - but you only need to be unlucky once.

donaghs · 26-05-2021 10:35am

Mercian Pro wrote: »

All due to be upgraded by Dublin City Council and likely to be well finished before the Fingal sections as the rate they have been going.

I'm not sure if he was referring to "rough" "people" or the "surface". :pac:

I've never had any surface or people issues cycling in between Castleknock station and town. But you could certainly bump into the wrong crowd between Ashtown and Summerhill. Ive had more encounters on evening trains though , back in the day.

From the train, used to see plenty of cans drinkers , occasional stone throwers.

Royal Canal Greenway

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