Avoiding congestion in Dublin city centre by using the Grand Canal cycle route

I've used the Rathmines - Grand Canal Dock section of track once with the trailer and hated every minute of the journey. I found it more frustrating dealing with pedestrians using the track, the unnecessary conflicts at certain junctions and the loss of priority at junctions. I found considerably slower than on the road with the trailer.

My preference when cycling with the trailer is to use the bigger roads with on-road cycle tracks or to use small quiet back streets. My least favorite streets are those with off-road cycle tracks due to their contrary construction.

I realise that I'm not quite answering your question. Starting from the Beacon Hotel would mean that you have the choice of the N11 with its pinch point at Donnybrook and fairly bumpy cycle track or possibly the Goatstown Road route, and then the canal cycle track after that?

I found the route route below pretty good, not too much traffic, flows pretty well and decent cycle lanes. Used to cycle home from Bolton street this way.
https://maps.google.ie/maps?saddr=Bewley's+Hotel+Leopardstown,+Dun+Laoghaire-Rathdown&daddr=53.268178,-6.2570648+to:53.346602,-6.2724572+to:drumcondra&hl=en&sll=53.321235,-6.227875&sspn=0.182723,0.445976&geocode=FYzbLAMdc02h_yFgMgNOXi88PCmLbFA2qAlnSDFgMgNOXi88PA%3BFdLOLAMdWIag_ynRAQwRKwpnSDFSSasuBLoALA%3BFSoBLgMdN0qg_ylboRKLKAxnSDF3Xxf95sRzDg%3BFf1eLgMdO5Og_yk7wbRidw5nSDEhMLkZqMcAJg&dirflg=b&mra=dpe&mrsp=2&sz=12&via=1,2&t=m&z=12&lci=bike

Sorry can't figure out how to get the link to work, route is to go Blackglen Rd to Harolds Grange Rd, Grange Rd then Rathfarnham Rd through Harolds Cross, Patrick Steet to Christchurch across the quays cut through Chancery Place/Greek Street to Kings Street turn right and follow the road round to Dorset Street and Drumcondra.

Edit: fixed link

Forgot to say above that on the way to Bolton street I'd go via goatstown/ranelagh as per link below though bride street might be a bit tight with a trailer.

https://maps.google.ie/maps?saddr=Bewleys+Hotel+Leopardstown,+Dun+Laoghaire-Rathdown&daddr=53.2747911,-6.2206276+to:53.3390733,-6.2692863+to:53.346602,-6.2724572+to:drumcondra&hl=en&ll=53.324106,-6.210022&spn=0.091355,0.222988&sll=53.338189,-6.264653&sspn=0.011416,0.027874&geocode=FYzbLAMdc02h_yFgMgNOXi88PCmLbFA2qAlnSDFgMgNOXi88PA%3BFafoLAMdrRSh_ymnqBIJCwlnSDHNdVEUqLw-kQ%3BFcHjLQMdmlag_yml7ADFIAxnSDHixpMrN9Xb0w%3BFSoBLgMdN0qg_ylboRKLKAxnSDF3Xxf95sRzDg%3BFf1eLgMdO5Og_yk7wbRidw5nSDEhMLkZqMcAJg&dirflg=b&mra=dpe&mrsp=2&sz=16&via=1,2,3&t=m&z=13&lci=bike

tomasrojo wrote: »

I have to make a trip on Mondays from Dublin 16 to Drumcondra, pulling a bike trailer. The trailer impedes my ability to filter, so progress through the city centre is very slow.

Would the Rathmines-Fairview cycle route get me through the city centre more smoothly? Does it actually go any further north than the quays yet?

Just head over the east link, avoid the cars parked in Ranelagh by going right at the dodder in Clonskeagh and just cross the n11 and avoid the city center entirely. No problem with filtering on any of those roads.

It's the same distance as going through the city, sorted.

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Upmc+Beacon+Hospital,+Dun+Laoghaire-Rathdown,+Ireland&daddr=53.3177981,-6.2339142+to:53.3341189,-6.2258839+to:53.3524047,-6.2250767+to:53.360012,-6.237878+to:Drumcondra,+Ireland&hl=en&sll=53.351217,-6.229935&sspn=0.047954,0.132093&geocode=FcfwLAMdjRih_yHNHeSHc4EMMikXwHOMCwlnSDHNHeSHc4EMMg%3BFaaQLQMdxuCg_yndA7mCtQ5nSDHFYGyyD2y5ag%3BFWbQLQMdJQCh_ylHYAACww5nSDGyIGfr5s_7CQ%3BFdQXLgMdTAOh_yll_Hg7-g5nSDGmYSRsgpzFRg%3BFYw1LgMdStGg_yk_ZjEhXw5nSDHUAtGnG_5TNQ%3BFf1eLgMdO5Og_yk7wbRidw5nSDEhMLkZqMcAJg&dirflg=b&mra=dvme&mrsp=3&sz=14&via=1,2,3,4&t=m&z=14&lci=bike

ezra_pound wrote: »

Just to be clear.

Cycling over the east link bridge is an offence.

I'm fairly sure it isn't. There is a cycle lane either side. Or their was, it's worn away.

Stephen_C wrote: »

Grange Rd then Rathfarnham Rd through Harolds Cross, Patrick Steet to Christchurch across the quays cut through Chancery Place/Greek Street to Kings Street turn right and follow the road round to Dorset Street and Drumcondra.

That's my route in to the city centre and on to the Northside. It's the most accessible with the trailer that I've found. The issue is avoiding the city centre. I've used the Sean O'Casey (pedestrian) bridge to cross the river when coming from Merrion Square - Pearse St. but I don't like the North Quays.

It's not illegal to cycle over the East Link but it is very narrow and whatever about being buzzed by Dublin busses, having a large juggernaut behind you that's heading for the docks is not a pleasant feeling.

I'll be down that way on Friday and I'm going to cycle through it. Who is to stop a cyclist?

tomasrojo wrote: »

Thanks again for all the advice. I tried variations on most of the suggestions, and the quickest, at a little under an hour, was Rathfarnham/Harold's Cross/Christchurch/Dorset Street. I used the Dargle river cycleway and some residential streets off Ballinteer Road to get to Nutgrove first. Vey nice, that bit.

Worst was my original intention of using the Grand Canal cycleway. The infrastructure was very nice at first, but petered out into cobblestones, confusion and horrible HGV-land. It also took about an hour and fifteen minutes.

Thanks for the update. I'll keep an eye out for you on Mondays.

tomasrojo wrote: »

Incidentally, on the subject of the Grand Canal cycleway, are there any plans to re-route part of it to avoid the cobblestones near Macken Street, or to re-surface that part? Does the cobbled street have a preservation order or something? Quite bizarre to run a route for cycling through there.

I don't believe so, I thanked the Politicians when they opened it, after they stated it was now a cycleway right across the city. I also asked them (sarcastically) when they were going to finish it by talking out the cobbles or providing a cyclable route. No response.

I cycle across those cobbles every day and I really don't see what the fuss is. Really ticks me off seeing eejits on Hybrids flying along the path so as to protect their delicate asses from the bumps.

Valentine1 wrote: »

I cycle across those cobbles every day and I really don't see what the fuss is. Really ticks me off seeing eejits on Hybrids flying along the path so as to protect their delicate asses from the bumps.

What ticks me off is the City Council trying to pass off something as a cycleway when it obviously isn't. Not many of us would share your desire to have a Paris-Roubaix section on our commute. I go round to Macken Street these days.