Greenways [greenway map of Ireland in post 1]

Sorry I missed this, only saw it now.

This new Eastgate entrance will primarily be used by people coming from the City/Glanmire directions. Once the city-Dunkettle greenway is complete this will likely be more heavily used. Definitely most people cycling and walking to Eastgate will be from the train though, and will in future use the new bridge directly from the station to Eastgate. Both access ways are needed, this is just the first one. I don't have visibility on timelines for the bridge I'm afraid.

On Fernwood, that's an older existing housing estate to the North of Ballinglanna. My understanding is that there will be full vehicular access between the two (not just bus) and the new BusConnects bus route will have a terminus at SuperValu (Hazelwood) then go to Brooklodge, Marwood, past the current Glanmire terminus (Glyntown road) and continue through Fernwood, Ballinglanna, and down to Glanmire Bridge and Glanmire Village proper. So this will be quite a busy road not just a sustainable transport route. The cycle route unfortunately begins at the join between Fernwood and Ballinglanna so sadly not a full route/corridor, but it does unlock a large section of Riverstown to be able to safely cycle towards Little Island. Anyway, right now the path between both estates is apparently in-use, but only for pedestrians and cyclists.

I called to one of the public consultations on the Cork Kinsale Greenway preferred route corridor. While overall, a slick presentation, there was some "interesting" route choices. Some steep hills and pushing through farms rather than following the road or the old railway line. How they were crossing the N71 was vague and the future tie ins for the future West Cork Greenway(!) were outlined. The plan is to use the Ballinhassig Tunnel and go over the Viaduct.

What was more interesting was the behaviour of some locals. I called after work so I was in a pair of trousers and a half decent shirt. I was rudely shouted at by a resident "You! Hey You!! Have you anything to do with this load of rubbish!" while looking at a map. He was going on about "they'll be looking in my bedroom window" and "over my dead body".....

Then, I heard of a push to organise a local action group in Ballinhassig to object to this and stop it.

It'll be a while before anything is built I'd say.....

Oh ya, before anyone say anything, one of the route options was passing my front door.

There's no way to provide wide enough pedestrian footpaths/cycle lanes beneath the bridges. It's unfortunate, but unless you're going to narrow the canal to almost nothing then they had to make a compromise with crossing the main roads.

We may have different definitions of perfectly satisfactory

The new ramps are significantly longer and less steep, and far wider than the narrow path under the bridge. And Jones Rd is not a motorway or a primary artery!

I walked the stretch along Croke Park on Friday and it's fantastic! It felt so narrow, dark and dodgy before, it's completely opened up now. Massive improvement. Roll on the final stretch to Drumcondra!!

And what happened if you met a cyclist coming the other way?

I don't think they should have taken away the paths under the bridges but to be fair the odds of meeting other cyclists will go way up as this is now going to be a very viable commuting route due to the upgrades.

Safety Queens within DCC have clearly won the battle with this one.

I will agree with you on the layout of areas near the bridges. The unopened section at Drumcondra bridge has a similar area, only accessible from one side. They will be a magnet for anti social behavior, littering and urinating.

I will disagree with your "assinine in the extreme" comment however! I guess time will tell how successful the works are. With direct access to the North and South Docklands, it's likely to become very busy once fully opened. Just look at the volume of bikes using the C2CC route.

https://mypoint.limerick.ie/en/consultation/application-coimisi%C3%BAn-plean%C3%A1la-proposed-limerick-city-greenway-ul-ntp-alongside-eastern-and-western

Limerick Council have applied for permission to extend the UL greenway east into the National Technology Park. While good news, it's a significant change from the initial plan to extend it right into Annacotty village.

I can't see any explanation as to why this is. The proposal UL to Castleconnell greenway was supposed to start at the now dropped section so maybe it'll be built as part of that.

The free flow left turn lanes are really poor from a pedestrian and cyclist point of view. Maybe the school traffic won't be as bad if people going to schools feel safe enough to walk and cycle

I think the Grand Canal Greenway from Tullamore west to Shannon Harbour is completed now, but it's not on the map. That stretch seems to end at the Lough Boora link rather than continue on to the Shannon.

Here's the press release from last October.

R

Not perfect but you can get a rough version using Overpass Turbo: https://overpass-turbo.eu/s/29dE

the other thing I wanted to highlight is the bandon to city proposed greenway, my friend lives close to the impacted area and I happened across a Facebook page recently.
astonishing, I am utterly astounded at the rhetoric that is being communicated. The negativity and moaning, they complain abound being forced or rail roared but the anti greenway faction are in fact forcing and rail roading their message around the local community. Nobody is allowed have an opinion or have a different view.
to quote some of the what’s app texts I was shown:

1 greenways cause crime

2 greenways are used as a mode of transport for criminals

3 greenways cause pollution

4 greenways affects wildlife and decreases biodiversity

5 greenways upset cows and reduces milk yield

6 the viaduct will be a suicidal hotspot

They are not proposing to build an artillery range out in the area.

I just wish there was a fair ans balanced discussion I know it is an emotive subject for farmers and land but the greenway will also bring positives that are not allowed to be spoken of.

Sorry for the rant! I was just so enraged when i

Saw the group text and the Facebook Page I needed to vent!!!!

My sympathies. There is nothing so toxic as the comments under any Facebook post about improvements or new infrastructure or proposals for infrastructure improvements of any kind. I don't mean just greenways. You see it no matter what public body or local authority is making the original post.

They just seem to serve as lightning rods for the disaffected, NIMBYs or just general pub bores. Maybe they serve as useful valves for all these people to get their frustrations out somewhere but it does tend to make you wonder about the general state of suppresed anger that way too many people seem to have in their lives.