Cycle infrastructure planned for south Dublin

02-08-2021 10:00AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117694371#Comment_117694371

Do you want me to start talking about the multitude of options available here for overlanding for ramblers and cyclists that you could barely believe exist and leave the average Irish person speechless.

It is possible for cyclists and ramblers to travel the length and breadth of the country without being told by Farmers that they have no right to roam and there are closed asphalt roads up in the forest above me which are better paved than of the local roads back in Dublin.

Freight trucks, Motorcycles, tricycles and even Agricultural vehicles(higher gearing to make legal) can use the motorways here.

Podge_irl · 02-08-2021 10:05AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117694409#Comment_117694409

Wait til you hear about the number of other roads in the country...

There are multitudes of roads that prioritise or prohibit certain modes of transport from bus lanes to contraflow cycle lanes. By far the most money is spent on motorways of course. For all the war on drivers they are still, by far, the most catered for.

BabysCoffee · 02-08-2021 10:05AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117694375#Comment_117694375

You seem to have a lot of concern for "the elderly" people which is laudible. I wish you could be as concerned for other sectors of society and age groups.....you could show your concern for these groups by lobbying for safe cycle paths for all. Safe cycle paths for all would also of course benefit the elderly as bikes can be used as mobility aids if necessary and of course cycling is an activity that can keep us all in good shape and better health as we age.

02-08-2021 10:07AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117694365#Comment_117694365

There's a limited amount of space in a lot of the city so it is hard to avoid a zero sum situation. Could you outline any measure that helps cyclists that you would accept?

02-08-2021 10:10AM

I don't need to lobby for anything here. The local municipality has shown themselves to be competent, progressive and reasonable in their approach to traffic management. Maybe if I was in a mood to lobby I'd lobby about the e-scooters for hire which are becoming a menance even when not in use but the local municipality has given the operators rope with which to hang themselves and will address the topic if need be.

First Up · 02-08-2021 10:28AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117694433#Comment_117694433

Cycle lanes help on roads used by cars and trucks.

The city centre can include pedestrian/cyclist only areas without much inconvenience to anyone.

02-08-2021 10:28AM

My 84 year old (none of your business) can't walk or cycle distances despite having lived a very active life well in to old age.

is_that_so · 02-08-2021 10:36AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117694206#Comment_117694206

But they are voters and councillors have to listen. I've rarely had need to wander through that area but the Strand Road plan just looked all wrong. As it is a direct link to the East Link and a key artery for evening traffic you are adding a lot of pressure to almost every other route.

magicbastarder · 02-08-2021 10:38AM

still, the question remains - let's say someone wants to cycle from blackrock to marino, as an example. what route do you suggest for someone not used to cycling?

02-08-2021 10:41AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117693277#Comment_117693277

There is no better way, that is the whole point. There is nowhere for the cars who want to access the East Link to go, Merrion Road will be gridlocked Northwards and the next right turn is Serpentine Avenue.

The public transport isnt at full capacity so more people are driving, to work and will be driving their children to school if Dart is packed and buses wont stop. Children are commuting from all over Dublin, Wicklow and Meath to get to schools in Blackrock, closing Strand Road to traffic that will end up on the Merrion Road only makes the Merrion Road more dangerous so patents wont let their children cycle so thats more traffic.

The people who live in the area know what they are talking about, they have as much right to voice their opinion as loud cycling pressure groups who want to bully other road users off Strand Road.

Unless a new road is built across the Bay that can connect South to North by passing gridlocked city centre then Strand Road must stay as it is.

BabysCoffee · 02-08-2021 10:46AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117694520#Comment_117694520

Could they manage to sit in to a trishaw to be "piloted" by a volunteer?

I love the look of this initiative:

https://www.fingal.ie/cycling-without-age-fingal

is_that_so · 02-08-2021 10:47AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117694557#Comment_117694557

Not sure who this is aimed at. I have no great knowledge of the local area, apart from it having speed bumps everywhere, and lots of paid parking. Nothing wrong with that route but the how is the question and playing havoc with a busy traffic route and making locals suffer for that is not the way to do it. There is a big block of empty space off that road but reclaiming some of the beach for a route would go down even less well, never mind the cost of it. It does look like half a plan though. The basic proposal is fine but they need to find a reasonable solution to the traffic before taking way part of the road.

02-08-2021 10:49AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117694205#Comment_117694205

Christ, the posts get more and more stupid.

My neighbour aged seventy plus cant cycle, she has tried but hadnt the ability to even get up on the bike.

She has had arguements with cyclists who insist on pedalling at her while she steps into a segregated cycle lane to get to a park, one said, this is a cycle lane, you shouldnt be in it.

Another elderly man crossing from the shops fell backward over the kerb on the cycling lane, he fell back into traffic and came close to being run over.

BabysCoffee · 02-08-2021 10:54AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117694597#Comment_117694597

Is it safety concerns you have regarding older people and cycle lanes? Maybe you could visualise the first scenario with the personinvolved stepping in to a car lane......the outcome could be very different.

I'm shocked by the second scenario - are you honestly blaming cycle lanes for an older person nearly getting run over by a car?

magicbastarder · 02-08-2021 10:57AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117694591#Comment_117694591

was a general question. i used to cycle it, and beach road inbound was no friendly place for cyclists at all in the evening rush hour, because of cars parked on the footpath with the likes of a cement truck sitting alongside; so the only option for a cyclist was to take the footpath (and squeezing past a car parked half on the path), or cycling in the oncoming lane, not something you should need to ask a newbie cyclist to do. just imagine what it's like cycling on this road with a large vehicle sitting with maybe a 50cm gap between it and either of the two grey cars here:

https://www.google.com/maps/@53.3351491,-6.2147823,3a,75y,296.23h,74.87t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sExV1fAuirkz0Zmcuwbii9A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

with all the talk of discrimination against the infirm, the irony is that the infrastructure at the moment discriminates against those who don't want to or can't drive.

Flinty997 · 02-08-2021 11:02AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117694597#Comment_117694597

More stupid, thats for sure..

That's only an argument for better designed infrastructure.

Someone who can walk to a park unaided, isn't going to have a problem on electrically assisted tricycle.

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/tricycles.html

https://cyclingwithoutage.ie/

Not everyone can cycle. That's not a good reason to deny other who can, access to good infrastructure.

02-08-2021 11:22AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117694587#Comment_117694587

They'd die of embarassment as would anyone faced with such an indignity.

Trudee · 02-08-2021 11:33AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117694025#Comment_117694025

Also page 18 of doc you attached

Flinty997 · 02-08-2021 11:38AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117694708#Comment_117694708

That you'd say such about vulnerable people with mobility issues, says everything.

02-08-2021 11:50AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117694779#Comment_117694779

You see, I know this person as an individual, not as a member of a group deserving of condescension.

Flinty997 · 02-08-2021 11:57AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117694827#Comment_117694827

Well stop being condescending then.

02-08-2021 12:02PM

No, you are the one who is being condescending by labelling them and deciding for them without their input as to what is "good enough" for them.

There is a distinct lack of empathy on this sub-forum

Rechuchote · 02-08-2021 12:03PM

Our chance of reaching a healthy old age is far higher if we're lifelong cyclists.

The thing about having a good network of cycling infrastructure is that fewer people will drive, and it will be easier to provide good public transport.

In the Netherlands, elderly and disabled people can buy tiny, cheap, slow-moving, light Dutch-made cars (I think Canta is the name), which they are entitled to use on cycle lanes. We could do the same here, if it's old people we're worried about.

02-08-2021 12:11PM

Wouldn't that require the formal recognition of powered quadricycles which is something that government at both local and national level have no interest in. Insurance for quadricycles in other European Countries is a triviality too but an insurmountable problem in Ireland.

First Up · 02-08-2021 12:15PM

I don't think anyone disagrees with the benefits of cycling but many journeys can't be undertaken by bicycle. If any of the people in cars and trucks using Strand Rd to get to the East Link have left their bikes at home, it is for good practical reasons.

tomasrojo · 02-08-2021 12:16PM

Mark O'Halloran asked on Twitter what was Mannix's deal with bicycles, and this was in the replies:

https://twitter.com/padraig_kenny/status/1422152444809711621

is_that_so · 02-08-2021 12:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117694923#Comment_117694923

It's not just Mannix being Mannix, the residents feel they have a point to prove as well.

Podge_irl · 02-08-2021 12:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117694919#Comment_117694919

Except that’s almost certainly not true for a significant portion of them. The majority of drives are short, single occupancy trips.

magicbastarder · 02-08-2021 12:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117694919#Comment_117694919

'good practical reasons' for leaving their bikes at home includes 'not wanting to because they're squeezed off the road by motorised vehicles which are predominantly single occupancy'.

tomasrojo · 02-08-2021 12:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117694245#Comment_117694245

Yes, they're definitely appealing. I also assume if this scenario is a realistic possibility, there will have to be legislation change anyway. I don't think Éamon Ryan can let this happen politically (he'd obviously be opposed to it in principle as well), and unless the coalition fancy an election they're not going to end it over an issue like this.

I'll wait and see what someone more official says about it.

Larbre, don't bother replying to this with one of your elaborate fantasies. I'll only see a ghostly outline.

EDIT: Some people are saying this could affect school zones as well. That's not a good look for a lot of politicians either.

Cycle infrastructure planned for south Dublin

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