Community cycle for the Salthill Greenway this Sunday

SchrodingersCat · 24-09-2021 2:57pm #1

If any of you want to join us, there is more information here: https://twitter.com/GalwayUrban

zell12 · 24-09-2021 8:47pm

This should've happened decades ago. An amenity right on our doorstep begging to be used

Don Juan II · 24-09-2021 8:51pm

Definitely going. Was at the last one a couple of weeks ago and it was a great atmosphere

24-09-2021 10:53pm

Seems to be real momentum behind a Salthill greenway now, long time overdue. Would be brilliant for Salthill. Will be joining the cycle on Sunday!

26-09-2021 3:24pm

250-300 out on bikes in the wind and rain today calling for a Salthill cycleway trial! Great show of community support.

Homelander · 27-09-2021 12:45am

While I think a Salthill cycleway is a great idea, it's not as simple as is made out. A lot of people who are "against" it aren't against a cycleway in principle or a longer term plan, it's that it would be a headache planning wise and likely be faced with multiple legal challenges.

Basically, again, it's not as simple as is being made out.

As for a temporary one, there are also associated issues with it as well. I really hate when people make it a "people don't want cycleways" thing, as if people are voting against common sense, when it's a lot more nuanced than that.

27-09-2021 8:19am

Yes to achieve change there has to be some change. That makes people uneasy. The current over reliance on cars in Salthill isn't sustainable. A solution can be found that accommodates everyone.

Trialing solutions will allow different configurations to be tried in real world scenarios, better than any predictive models of behaviour.

We shouldn't be prevented from making progress over a fear of challenges. The minister for transport is bringing in additional powers for councils to temporarily trial options. Plus there are often references to a legal challenge in Dublin but that's not yet resolved. There was strong opposition to the pedestrianisation of Shop Street and that worked out ok.

Are the "issues" with a trial worse than the current issues with access to/through Salthill, especially considering future population growth and the car solution has nowhere to sustainably grow? Thousands are driving to Salthill with families and driving kids to the 16 schools within 1km of the route just because the route isn't safe for active travel, it's a catch 22 that we need to break the loop on.

what_traffic · 27-09-2021 4:39pm

Council voted on this 17-1

Councillors vote in favour of temporary cycleway in Salthill

https://www.rte.ie/news/regional/2021/0927/1249290-councillors-vote-for-temporary-cycleway-in-salthill/

Thelonious Monk · 27-09-2021 5:21pm

Good on you Galway, ridiculous that there's such a hullabulloo in this country over temporary bike lanes though.

27-09-2021 6:57pm

Brilliant - over to the council now to follow through and make it happen!

what_traffic · 28-09-2021 8:25am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117946774#Comment_117946774

That's the problem alright, our Councils are really not fit for purpose.

Have they filled any of those 22 new positions that the NTA/Dept of Transport funded?

28-09-2021 8:34am

No they haven't recruited a single new role yet, apparently it'll take a couple of years to get the paperwork done. They reassigned 7 existing roles to use this new funding, don't know how they got away with that as it was funding for new jobs, but 15 are still left unused.

The minister for transport has also offered to allocate funding for this trial if the vote went through, hopefully they step up and draw down that funding now rather than putting efforts into blocking and delaying.

what_traffic · 28-09-2021 10:54am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117948276#Comment_117948276

Cannot imagine they can draw it down if they cannot spend it?

Probably will end up outsourcing it if they cannot attract the staff to the Council itself.

28-09-2021 12:18pm

They can attract the staff, they just haven't started recruitment yet.

Storm 10 · 29-09-2021 10:55am

Was talking to an engineer friend who was saying as they have to draw up plans for the cycleway way which will probably involve the removal of bus stops and shelters along the prom and lamp posts etc and may involve the compulsory purchase of some property it will be years before it gets done , as soon as the plans are published there will be objections which will cause the delays.

beardybrewer · 29-09-2021 12:01pm

That's what I would expect. There is really only a small part of the prom wide enough to accommodate the cycle path without removing parking.

29-09-2021 12:16pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117953238#Comment_117953238

They already have plans from 2016 from the city all the way to Barna, they spent a lot of money on consultants to draw them up. They'll need to be refreshed but the back is broken on that. The existing drawings allow a lot of the prom parking to move across the road, with gaps for junctions and a few pinch points.

The motion that was passed was for a temporary trial of the route, which is possible without much heavy changes. It was amended to be one-way up from Blackrock to avoid some council concerns.

It should be possible to make the temp changes for a trial within a few weeks, like the temp outdoor dining changes that were facilitated.

Community cycle for the Salthill Greenway this Sunday

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