Royal Canal Greenway

The conversation was dirt/gravel path vs the hard surface, its the same issue. Its all maintained.

If you're referring to the deep sinking its not viable for the majority of people. The North side isn't passable at all.

It makes no sense to block an entire amenity over a small stretch. Lobby to create a nature reserve in Kellystown. A load of space there, soon to be high rise.

I've been using that canal for decades.

It's an amenity AND it's a transport link. It's a canal after all. Many people use it to cycle into town. Because it's a nice alternative route. Or just for a cycle to nowhere, and just be away from traffic. If you're cycling you don't have to take the most efficient route if the purpose is to enjoy the journey.

They want to open it to more people.

There's far more pavements beside roads than cycle lanes. So the same argument applies to walkers as it does to cyclists. Lol.

I see the canal towpath is closing from Brinn Bridge (Drumcondra Road) to Newcomen Bridge (Amiens Street) from the 17th of April to facilitate sheet piling and ducting work. Good to see a bit of work starting on this stretch.

I believe so. I found a typical cross-section below, but I'm not sure if it's the most up to date. I also believe they'll be constructing a new large ramp at Croke Park, but I'm not really sure what the purpose is.

I wonder if it's only for match days? The image they've shown is a gated section that I've never seen open.

Nice to have another exit if that's the case.

Currently feels a bit like a trench run....

skangers always use those choke points to hang out in and scope targets. I'm amazed at the number of tourists types I see wandering around there oblivious to the danger.

Bit pointless as a post match exit though. Looks more like maintenance access. No idea though. Not a section I hang around in, any time I've been through it.

Found this

Not sure if previously posted. Might be of interest.

It doesn't look very close to being finished at the moment, the path "base" and "edges" (whatever you call those) seem to be more or less done, but the actual path is still missing. Maybe they needed to wait for warmer/drier weather.

I assume those with a mobility pass aren't paying parking. There are also electric mobility devices these days.

Maybe you'd prefer an obstacle course and fitness test to make access to amenities more "EX"clusive.

: )

Knew this would be the response I'd get and why I was half tempted to not even bother replying

Funny enough not long back from a trip too Waterford, visited the greenway which is the dream people on here have and guess what, I didn't see anyone on it (3 different parts)

Went on the unpaved dangerous canal yesterday, seen runners, dog walkers etc

No I never said that

There's better surfaces you can have then slapping a concrete path with thick concrete barriers at the side (as I've said doesn't seem to get the people out to use it in Waterford)

Go up the Wicklow mountains and see the wooden decking walkway or would people rather than be changed into a concrete path as well?

Saying people use it for transport, completely scrambles some people brains.

The idea being I might use it to go into town 8am on a monday. But also a walk in the evening or at the weekend seems to be incomprehensible to some.

City parks are man made too, but that doesn't mean to can't have parts of them which resemble "wild" nature.

I see a dichotomy here. There is an advantage to the paved surface for bikes, wheelchairs, and easier walking in winter etc. I will take advantage of this when it opens on my bike. Some people will commute on it, e.g. to Leixlip, Maynooth, Blanch, or the Dublin docklands.

There's also something being lost. The "natural" surface on a long-distance trail. I recall there was sufficient public opposition to stop paving the Barrow towpath a few years ago.

Grass or tarmac? The towpath debate – The Irish Times

I think walkers are fine. There's loads of them using it as it is for years. If twisting an ankle on a rough surface was such a danger, no-one would go hill walking, or even stray off the paths in the Phoenix Park. You could put in a paved path up to the Sugarloaf, perhaps with a stairlift for the final ascent!

From Ashtown to Phibsboro has a decent paved surface already, its fine for cycling. I guess the money has to be spent getting it up to the "standard". It could be better spent on new greenways elsewhere. e.g. the Dodder or the Tolka.

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So no date for opening the Confey to Louisa bridge section? Its unfortunate for it to be closed off for so long. I'm not looking forward to sections from Confey to Castleknock station getting closed for that long.

How about one thing we could agree on?

The toll collectors cottage should be turned into a coffee shop/vending machine and have a tool stand with a pump etc in it

https://urbanculture.fotonique.com/the-toll-collectors-house-at-the-ryewater-aqueduct-on-the-royal-canal/

Well what they will do is come up with as many dumb plans as possible until they wear people down. That how we got a 2 Billion + Hospital with no room to expand.

What's caused all these issue is the authorities not retaining old train lines, canals, and land either side in case of possible future expansion. Not enough room for bridges. They build right up to the boundary of everything. Then to top it, its people who don't even live beside these developments and not effected by them, telling locals to suck it up.

I'm not entirely sure what (or where) you're referring to.

Would be nice, but I imagine it would need to be subsidised. Can't imagine it could sustain business from greenway users, could it?

Sounds like a nice idea. Unlike other parts of the canal, I've never met anyone out there anytime i've been on the Rye viaduct or Leixlip waterfall/spa baths. Worth a try anyway.

I only 'discovered' the Royal Canal during the covid lockdown despite being in D15 since 2004. Great amenity and the thought of being able to do a Friday evening walk from Mulhuddart to Leixlip (and sometimes onward to Maynooth) kept me going through many of those bleak wfh weeks in the summer of 2020. Have continued using it since.

I can see both sides of the rough track/proper surface debate. I'm really glad that I got to experience it when it was a wide variety of surfaces and the grass trails were probably my favourite part. However, it'll also be great if a better surface enables more people to be able to use it safely and confidently. And even from my point of view a better surface would enable it to be used in months like March/April/November whereas currently there can be really unpleasant muddy sections.

So for me there's understandable nostalgia for what is being 'lost', but it really seems that what is coming is going to be an improvement for everyone.