Clontarf to City Centre Cycle & Bus Priority Project discussion (renamed)

Sir Galahad · 18-01-2023 12:39AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120121986#Comment_120121986

So DCC have decided without planning permission to put a chicane in.

AngryLips · 18-01-2023 10:04AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120090604#Comment_120090604

Is there a particular reason or rationale that saw them put in a one-way cycle lane instead of a two-way cycle lane for this project?

bk · 18-01-2023 12:41PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120123450#Comment_120123450

I haven't looked it up, maybe someone else knows. One area of difficulty I can think of is the rail bridge outside Clontarf DART station. I don't think there would be space there for a footpath, two way cycle lane, bus lane and traffic lane under the bridge arch. It is already tight as it is. I'd guess they'd have to do major reconstruction work on the bridge in order to fit it in.

A real pity, a two way cycle lane along Fairview Park would have been lovely.

Beta Ray Bill · 18-01-2023 03:51PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120122920#Comment_120122920

Seems like a crap solution.

I don't believe their data either.

The Buses are getting through faster because less people are heading into town via Fairview, not because they've put cones on the road that block buses as well as cars.

I actually cannot remember the last time I drove into town, even on the Motorcycle now that I think of it. It's easily over 2 months ago anyway.

So the no cars thing is definitely deterring people, I'm lucky I live on the rail line though.

Gloomtastic! · 18-01-2023 04:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120124996#Comment_120124996

If you avoid the morning rush and the Fairview pinch point, driving into/out of town takes the same time as before the roadworks.

Tenzor07 · 19-01-2023 11:35PM

The whole area in and around Alfie Byrne road/Clontarf dart station is an unholy mess for motorists and cyclists too...

The last time I commuted by car through Fairview was during the pandemic years, wouldn't attempt it now either in a car or on a bicycle if you paid me, and very reluctantly would use a slow overcrowded Dublin bus... The whole area all the way from Alfie Byrne to Connolly Station is a building site where cars/busses/bicycles all struggle to get through...

JRant · 20-01-2023 12:16AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120132136#Comment_120132136

It's even a pain for pedestrians being honest.

brianc89 · 20-01-2023 01:09AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120132136#Comment_120132136

It is a building site right now...

Citizen Six · 20-01-2023 08:26AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120132136#Comment_120132136

I've no issues on the bike to be honest. And it's actually an enjoyable cycle along the park, inbound.

I don't go through the park anymore, as it's not easy to get back on the road once you reach the Tolka.

Tenzor07 · 20-01-2023 11:23AM

The whole project is an example of trying to appease everyone, and at the same time pleasing no one who lives/works/travels by foot/car/bus/bike through that area...

I can see the cycle lanes becoming congested at peak times like the ones over on the Grand Canal area where if you're travelling west bound in the mornings as everyone heads eastwards towards the city then it's like trying to face a load of roman chariots heading directly for you!

bikeman1 · 20-01-2023 03:27PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120133163#Comment_120133163

If that's what it ends up being, then that is a massive success. Hundreds and thousands of extra people staying fit, no damage to the environment, safely cycling in and out of the city from the Northside who never did before because of the death trap that it used to be.

Also, don't forget, this cycle lane is not a two way, but one on either side of the road. I'm sure some "Tour de France" cyclists might be delayed behind some slower ones, but that's not the end of the world. They are a bit like the crazy drivers doing mad overtakes on a country road, only to be caught up a kilometre away in the next village.

Pete_Cavan · 20-01-2023 03:46PM

I'm sure it will be very busy at certain times but that would be a sign of success. The load should get spread somewhat which should help, people using ABR to get to Eastpoint/the Point area, using the Royal Canal to get to Docklands and going all the way to the end to get to the more traditional city centre

Shedite27 · 20-01-2023 03:55PM

As a cyclist I 100% prefer a Canal style cycle path than sharing a bus lane. I'll take the slower commute for the comfort and safety. We're not expecting a cycling dual carriageway for overtaking

Tenzor07 · 20-01-2023 04:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120134469#Comment_120134469

We'll see! There's plenty of people just out for a leisurely cycle, there's commuters who want to get to their destinations quickly, and people on destricted eBikes that can do 40kph+

JRant · 20-01-2023 04:56PM

It's going to look great once completed but I'd be sticking to the roads from early autumn until spring. The stretch from Westwood to annesley bridge will be lethal with fallen leaves during this time and let's be honest it's not going to be cleaned.

Pete_Cavan · 20-01-2023 08:16PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120134993#Comment_120134993

The council deal with the leaves there anyway, I'm sure they'll remove them from the cycle lane too.

Citizen Six · 20-01-2023 09:48PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120135803#Comment_120135803

They don't do much for the leaves on Griffith Avenue, so I wouldn't hold out much hope.

bk · 20-01-2023 11:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120136221#Comment_120136221

Errr... They definitely remove all the leaves on Griffith Avenue! Pretty big operation.

It does need to improve though. The issue is they leave all the leaves fall first before clearing them. So there is a dodgy period of a few weeks when there are lots of leaves on the ground before they come. I do think they need to get a street/leaf cleaning type machine designed to fit the bike lane and have it run up and down the bike lane every few days so it doesn't build up in the first place. At the moment they are out with shovels and brushes, should definitely be easier ways.

BTW this is nothing new, it has been the same on the footpaths for years, I've had many slips or near slips with the leaves on the footpath too.

Citizen Six · 21-01-2023 01:00AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120136653#Comment_120136653

I cycled it a lot this year, and it was pretty bad on a lot of occasions. I also noticed locals out a couple of times doing massive leaf clear ups.

I've also noticed a lot less of those street sweepers than there used to be, a decade or more ago. But you'd think one of those would be perfect.

p_haugh · 21-01-2023 01:08AM

I know DLR invested in some bike-lane sized lane sweepers back at the start of covid when the CMR was first set up.

I seem to rmember that DCC also got some? I could be wrong though.

bk · 21-01-2023 12:02PM

"I cycled it a lot this year, and it was pretty bad on a lot of occasions. I also noticed locals out a couple of times doing massive leaf clear ups."

Yes, I walk Griffith Avenue every day. They work with the residents who live along the road to do a big leaf clean up after they fall. People take the leaves from their gardens and front of their houses into decomposable bags which are then collected by DCC and there are now also mulch cages for leaves.

Looks like they do have street cleaning machines too:

"Waste Management will have staff sweeping footpaths, the compact sweeper will also clear footpaths, the large road sweeper will clear the main road followed by the compact sweeper. "

https://www.gadra.ie/latest-news/archive-articles/307-dcc-leaf-collection-plan-2022-for-gadra-area.html

I do think they do a relatively decent job. What they need to improve on is consistently using the street cleaner on the cycle paths as the leaves start to fall, rather then just waiting a few weeks until they have all fallen.

Of course this would all have been easier for them if they had built the cycle lane as a two lane cycle lane on one side of the road, rather then both sides. Could just do one run with the street sweeper rather then two.

Beta Ray Bill · 24-01-2023 11:50AM

Walked by this morning

This is the Semi Permanent Cone setup on the road

This is the Cycle lane.

I thought it was going to be a two way system (dunno why I thought that) anyway it's defo not wide enough for 2

Traffic was backed up heavily enough down the coast road at approx 8:15am

bk · 24-01-2023 12:33PM

Yes, I took a walk down to Clontarf over the weekend.

The traffic lights here look to be temporary lights, they have large bricks all around the bottom of them. There is also no road markings and the bike lane across the top of Alfie Byrne Road isn't in place, nor is the island on Griffith Avenue finished.

Frankly the whole place looked like a massive building site, they appear to be far from finished.

I wouldn't read too much into how things are laid out at the moment. I would assume that there will replace/fix the traffic lights, add a yellow junction box, road lining, etc. before it is finished.

Yes the cones on the Bus lane is a bit mad. If it continues to be an issue once complete, then they should use bollards to separate the bus lane from the general lane along this approach stretch, like near Collins Avenue.

Yes, the cycle lane is one way only unfortunately. There will be a new cycle lane on the North side of the road too for the Clontarf direction.

BTW It was chaos around there on Saturday, they appeared to be relaying/tarmacking the middle lane inbound. The road was reduced to just two lanes total, one in each direction and there much have been a dozen dump trucks lined up waiting to offload.

Laughable that some people think all this is for a cycle lane!

Shedite27 · 24-01-2023 01:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120150058#Comment_120150058

They were working on the surfacing all day Sunday too

CatInABox · 24-01-2023 02:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120150058#Comment_120150058

It is a building site, and will be for ages. This project has a end date of December 2023, so it's basically got a year to run yet.

bikeman1 · 24-01-2023 05:32PM

There will be some small gains before the end date. The inbound bike lane will be open while the switch over to the other side in Fairview. This will be more disruptive for pedestrians all along Fairview with a building site right at the door of all the business premises. It should however be quicker as that side doesn't need a massive new pipeline to be installed.

Seth Brundle · 24-01-2023 06:29PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120150058#Comment_120150058

Laughable that some people think all this is for a cycle lane!

It's not really given that almost every news article about the works describe it as a cycle path and either fail to mention or very discreetly mention the main works happening.

Nobody gives a toss about a water pipe being upgraded so the media outlets mention cycle paths because they know it will get a reaction.

Citizen Six · 24-01-2023 08:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120137846#Comment_120137846

Cycled both directions between Malahide Rd and Drumcondra Rd this morning. Still a lot of leaves in the cycle path, and most there a long time so well rotted. A few sections where it wouldn't be safe if you needed to brake.

p_haugh · 30-01-2023 12:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120137014#Comment_120137014

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120137846#Comment_120137846

Here's a pic of the ones DLR are currently using

https://twitter.com/garretbaldwin/status/1619993925607124995?t=Y2plKStObgsfT3XnjJ5JOA&s=19

Murph_D · 10-02-2023 10:41PM

Work has started now on the outbound side of Amiens St.

Clontarf to City Centre Cycle & Bus Priority Project discussion (renamed)

Comments