The consultation on the infrastructure element of the BusConnects corridors is now open.
Unfortunately it looks like BusConnects in Douglas at least is dead before it begins thanks to the genius councillors in City Hall.
Do you have some stats to quantify that statement? And also what does it have to do with the argument against cycle lanes? If anything it's an argument for them as for me the worst thing about cycling in bad weather is poor driver behaviour so there are even more benefits to segregation.
The fact that less people cycle in the winter than the summer, is it ?
What kind of a silly point is that?
Where are there 8 lane roads proposed to go through residential areas?
I have to wonder, have the NTA the power to change the weather as well ?
Just that I notice there are a lot less cyclists on the roads in the winter than the summer.
Or will these over 100 km's of cycle lanes also have roofs on them ?
The devil is in the detail.
Honestly 8 lane roads through residential areas seems like complete overkill to me. Widening it in bottleneck areas to give buses priority, yes, absolutely. But this amount of it? With roads so wide you can't have leafy streets anymore, it's just concrete, tarmac and fumes.
A recent example of going too far is the renovation of blackrock station on the railway line greenway. They did a really fantastic job with the cleanup of the bridge and stonework, the signage is great, and the access to it is much clearer. And then they added (because it wasn't in the original plans) galvanised safety railings and a load of ramps that make the place look like it's permanently scaffolded, stripping away the character they worked so hard to restore, making it rattle and rumble, and the passage between the ramps is quite tight, I saw the squeeze in the marathon. They just don't seem to know when to take a measured approach on these things.
Nobody is expecting a utopia, but infrastructure is a necessary step if there's to be any improvement at all. Half of this project is about cycle infrastructure too which has to be done right for it to be any use.
Who operates the Cork City Bus Service on behalf of the NTA ?
The answer to that is Bus Eireann.
They provide what is known as a Bus Service.
This Bus Service will be operating on these PROPOSED new routes, these are NEW Routes, therefore a new service.
I said a BUS SERVICE because that is a factual description of what Bus Eireann operate, I am not sure what else to call them.
What? A bus service isn't being introduced, dedicated bus lanes connecting from the furthest neighbourhoods right into the city centre. Unless cars decide to use these lanes too like in Dublin (thankfully, most people in Cork seem to respect bus lanes from what I can see) then they will really help the service, which has all of its routes redesigned for 2023/2024
There seems to be notions on this thread that we have a utopian bus service being introduced.
Bus Eireann is a fine example of a state company that holds the interests of its unionised staff above the interests of the public.
Some common sense please, your notions are admirable.
That's the main thing people don't realise I think, they think they can continue indefinitely with their parking and traffic situations that just about work for them, but it's going to change one way or another. We can either manage the change or let it happen in a totally chaotic way. Or what we'll end up with, managed chaos for all.
Yup. It'll mean people won't switch to buses if they won't have priority and remain stuck in traffic anyway. This will mean more will stay in cars and the vicious cycle will continue. Add a growing population and the future is a grim traffic gridlocked one for Cork if the property owners and councillors get their way. It's a lose lose if this doesn't go ahead as much as possible.
One thing for sure is if it's watered down it won't work for anyone, parkers, bus, or bicycle users.
People have every right to object to this, and we have every right to disagree with their objections and vote accordingly
I'm a little bit torn by this one tbh. My dad is a city councillor (WP, NE ward), and has been asked to put his position forward by residents of St. Luke's cross.
I can understand why residents are in uproar at having their car parking space removed, as it obviously will impact on their lives in a big way.
I can also see the greater good of the plan (if it works!).
I don't know how to advise my dad in which way to go. He is big into public transport and sustainability issues. I'm trying to find a third way... Any advice?
I would not expect it to, obviously other peoples differing views on this is completely alien.
That makes no sense.
While listening to other large swathes of the public is it ?
Wake up, as I said I am glad I live in a democracy
What's democratic about councillors ignoring large swathes of the public and backing property owning NIMBYs only? Strange variety of "democracy".
I for one am glad we live in a democracy, seems strange on this thread to have a different view on this subject and the attitude of those promoting it.
This is a good way to figure out who to not give a vote to in the local or national elections, namely not one of the Fianna Fáil councillors or TD
Taoiseach: Part of Cork's €600m BusConnects plan has left elderly in tears (irishexaminer.com) Ye'll never have nought in the swampy bog. Double height traffic lights and traffic gridlock is the preferred way for Cork. My old village in NL has better transportation than Cork.
The reason is really very obvious and simple. There are too many cars on our roads at the same time.
Car ownership per 1000 people has jumped from 228 in 1990 to 442 in 2019! There was no shortage of traffic in 1990 yet we've almost doubled the amount of cars on our roads in that 29 years (probably by more than that as the population has also increased). What did we expect to happen?
Have no doubt, that without intervention, ownership will continue to increase and so will traffic. People see measures as "anti car" or as a "war on cars", but the reality is that it just cannot continue on as it it - it won't work for anyone - certainly not for car owners (I am one). And, no, EVs won't help.
What might help would be a massive shift towards shared car systems but people are so wedded to their cars that there is reluctance to this.
Oh, I've just remembered the solution that a poster on this forum came up with a few years ago - they suggested that if the cost of car ownership and use was substantially reduced, people would be encouraged to use them less🤣😂😅😁. That was a good one. Anyone want to claim ownership of that bright idea??
Traffic won't be solved by EVs and it won't be solved by Dunkettle interchange being finished. A lot of people out there think that Dunkettle is some sort of panacea for Cork traffic once it's completed.
People who have no intention of ever setting foot on a bus are dictating the debate over BusConnects and active transport in the city.
It's possible - if not probable- (based on U.S. studies) that electric cars will actually make the problem worse. Because owners believe that 1) the running costs are effectively nil (lower running costs and those charging costs are essentially "lost" in a bimonthly electricity bill) and 2) there is no environmental or societal impact from an EV, owners are inclined to use them more often compared to those with ICE cars.
I have noticed just in the last few weeks that traffic is horrifically bad too, I'm not sure what the reason is or I'm just now noticing it. However, the Douglas Road (especially at the Well Road end) always feels bumper to bumper. I've also saw people highlight that this traffic won't be solved by electric cars
I see a problem where a lot of the objectors, despite what they say, do not actually want more efficient and sustainable transport if it impacts on their car use in any way whatsoever. I believe that most of the loudest voices of objection come from people who have no desire or expectation to ever step foot on a bus.
These people seem to fail to realise that unless there is a huge shift in how people travel, traffic is just going to get worse and worse and worse. No amount of road building or improvement is going to change that.
I think people are forgetting what this process is for, though. All these issues people have with it, that's what they're looking for. They designed these routes based on past experiences and Google Maps. For example, they're not aware of the historical significance of the Douglas Road's wall or the trees. They also don't know of the importance of certain parking spots, or how certain roads don't work the way they think they do due to XYZ. This process is to gather all of that local knowledge, to combine it with their plans. For instance, none of these schemes are in planning. These aren't concrete plans in anyway. So I am completely fine with people having issues with these plans, such as a a bridge going through the Mangala or them not noticing that Maryborough Hill was already widened in 2019 and doesn't need to be widened again or more. What I do have an issue with is people thinking this is being railroaded into their lives and the detriment of everyone. I'm sure the next round of consultation will see large scale changes, especiallt with the Mangala Bridge being removed. Even after then, they will need to go for planning permission, which will be another opportunity for people to raise issues. It's just for some reason people in Ireland catasrophise everything. The whole aim of this project is to improve public transport, traffic and lives, not to ruin them. They want our knowledge
However, as notAMember said, more communication is needed, such as the above I just mentioned. It's hard though when councillors with vested interests try everything to have this project fail before it even starts
I think it's a shame the concerns aren't being addressed publicly, through communication channels they have.
For people losing their property - tell people up front what they will be paid for their land, and make sure it's based on some logic, and reasonably generous.
For people losing parking (and I know some of these are elderly people in wheelchairs losing accessible parking spaces), pay them, or facilitate them relocating to a suitable house.
For people who are concerned about our mature trees being pulled down, integrate the existing trees into the design.
It shouldn't be a take it or leave it conversation. Don't know why people have to be so black and white about it.
That's what these consultations are for, to take input and assess whether an adjustment makes sense or not.
More of the same. A city of anti-progress.
Virgin Media News on Twitter: "#WATCH A €600 million Bus Connects project planned for parts of Cork is being met with opposition Southern Correspondent @PaulByrne_1 reports from Ballincollig ⤵️ #VMNews | #busconnects | #Ballincollig https://t.co/zSQGWNzmv2" / Twitter
