Driving into Trinity College daily, advise welcome

HowItsMade · 02-01-2014 02:44PM #1

*advice^
Hi, I'm currently a leaving cert student. I'm looking to go to trinity college next year. I already have a full license and my area doesn't have great public transport.

As far as I know the only option to drive into trinity is reduced car parking rates, which are still very high.. Does anyone know of any alternative or know of anyone who drives in there everyday? I'm still yet to come across someone who has done so. Please help me out

boombang · 02-01-2014 02:51PM

While loads of students drive to UCD I never heard of a student doing so at TCD. The campus spaces are very limited. I think there is some scheme to get a space in the basement of the new health sciences building on Pearse st, but I still recall it being hundreds and hundreds of Euro each year and you had to apply in advance.

I really can't imagine it being a practical option on a student budget.

I know other suggestion probably aren't what you are looking for, but could you drive to Dart/Luas/Commuter Rail line and do it that way?

seamus · 02-01-2014 02:56PM

Driving into the city every day is madness. You will waste 2 hours of your day, every day, sitting in traffic.

Bizarrely, you will also find your freedom severely restricted; when all of your friends are going off to the pub for a pint or meeting for something to eat after college or whatever, you can't have a drink cos you're driving, or you have to get your car before X o'clock and the prices go up. Trust me, from someone who drove into UCD most days, it's a really bad idea.

Look at alternative options. Work out the cost of driving for a year - you might actually find it's cheaper to rent close to college than it is to drive in every day.

HowItsMade · 02-01-2014 03:01PM

Thanks lads, I can't get my head around the way there's no student spaces in campus whatsoever. Money isn't a problem I work 2 jobs, still very determined to find a cost effective way of driving in though. Driving to a train station could be one option

02-01-2014 03:03PM

HowItsMade wrote: »

Thanks lads, I can't get my head around the way there's no student spaces in campus whatsoever. Money isn't a problem I work 2 jobs, still very determined to find a cost effective way of driving in though. Driving to a train station could be one option

Have you been on campus? It's tiny. I'm sure it's a struggle to provide staff with adequate parking, let alone students.

godtabh · 02-01-2014 03:05PM

HowItsMade wrote: »

Thanks lads, I can't get my head around the way there's no student spaces in campus whatsoever. Money isn't a problem I work 2 jobs, still very determined to find a cost effective way of driving in though. Driving to a train station could be one option

Sounds like you just want to drive whatever the cost (and there will be many!). If you are that sure about driving park and ride with trains/luas would be a lot easier but as Seamus said there will be other costs involved.

Darkglasses · 02-01-2014 03:05PM

If it was me I'd probably use park and ride on the luas, or else use a Dublin bike for the last leg of the journey.

bscm · 02-01-2014 03:09PM

There are a good few car parks within walking distance which do daily rates (Grand Canal is about 10 minutes away, Ballsbridge about 30 minutes).

Still not as cheap as public transport (you'd be looking at a minimum of 10 euro a day for parking)

HowItsMade · 02-01-2014 03:11PM

godtabh wrote: »

Sounds like you just want to drive whatever the cost (and there will be many!). If you are that sure about driving park and ride with trains/luas would be a lot easier but as Seamus said there will be other costs involved.

Driving is the most convenient option, time and comfort wise. I also need the car to commute to work so I won't be getting rid of it.

LaughOrDie · 02-01-2014 03:12PM

There is a car park on Prussia Street in Stoneybatter that will do parking for 30/week I think.

Cheapest I've seen.

You'd be about a 20 minute walk away though. Or a very quick bus.

I would avoid driving into the city centre at all costs though.

HowItsMade · 02-01-2014 03:13PM

bscm wrote: »

There are a good few car parks within walking distance which do daily rates (Grand Canal is about 10 minutes away, Ballsbridge about 30 minutes).

Still not as cheap as public transport (you'd be looking at a minimum of 10 euro a day for parking)

Yes, looking at €10 a day for parking, €50 a week. I'm here to try and find an affordable, convenient alternative, doesn't seem to be one though

HowItsMade · 02-01-2014 03:15PM

LaughOrDie wrote: »

There is a car park on Prussia Street in Stoneybatter that will do parking for 30/week I think.

Cheapest I've seen.

You'd be about a 20 minute walk away though. Or a very quick bus.

I would avoid driving into the city centre at all costs though.

30 a week, seems very reasonable compared to the others, thanks you. The drive isn't as bad as you think I've done it during rush hour a few times as well.

Peterx · 02-01-2014 03:16PM

drive as far as the start of the heavy traffic and just before the paid parking and cycle from there.

HowItsMade · 02-01-2014 03:17PM

Darkglasses wrote: »

If it was me I'd probably use park and ride on the luas, or else use a Dublin bike for the last leg of the journey.

Just checked there and Dublin Bike scheme is only €20/year, will have a better look thanks

Abby19 · 02-01-2014 03:31PM

HowItsMade wrote: »

Yes, looking at €10 a day for parking, €50 a week. I'm here to try and find an affordable, convenient alternative, doesn't seem to be one though

Slightly more affordable and more convenient than Ballsbridge ...

There is a student deal for €7 a day in the Q-Park at St Stephen's Green/RCSI parking on presentation of a valid Trinity student card.
Valid in some other car parks they have but only in the evenings in Setanta.

7am-6pm €7
4pm-12 midnight €3

HowItsMade · 02-01-2014 03:38PM

Abby19 wrote: »

Slightly more affordable and more convenient than Ballsbridge ...

There is a student deal for €7 a day in the Q-Park at St Stephen's Green/RCSI parking on presentation of a valid Trinity student card.
Valid in some other car parks they have but only in the evenings in Setanta.

7am-6pm €7
4pm-12 midnight €3

Thanks, looking on their website now and it says nothing about a student deal, how sure are you off this offer?

Abby19 · 02-01-2014 03:41PM

HowItsMade wrote: »

Thanks, looking on their website now and it says nothing about a student deal, how sure are you off this offer?

100% Definite - couldn't find the offer myself online so I actually rang them to confirm. So was valid approximately 10 mins ago

I may have to use in the not too distant future to so needed to confirm myself

username123 · 02-01-2014 03:54PM

HowItsMade wrote: »

Thanks lads, I can't get my head around the way there's no student spaces in campus whatsoever.

It's an old campus, cars weren't around to worry about! And in modern times the city officials try to keep traffic OUT of the city centre, not encourage it in.

I think it'd be madness to drive to and fro TCD daily. Financial cost, time wasted sitting in traffic, even on a train you can read over lecture notes or whatever but you're trapped in a car not able to do anything. Plus you will miss out on a massive amount of the spontaneity of student life if you're tied to a car or car parking hours etc..

Where are you based? Would you cycle in and out? Or drive to a train station? It might be cheaper to rent somewhere within walking distance of the college?

TJ Mackie · 02-01-2014 03:59PM

bscm wrote: »

There are a good few car parks within walking distance which do daily rates (Grand Canal is about 10 minutes away, Ballsbridge about 30 minutes).

You could walk Ringsend to Trinity in 15 minutes. There are parking spaces to be had for €80 a month, on a month-to-month basis (i.e. no minimum lease) if that was affordable. I've been renting one since last July, just gave back the Key Fob today to rent one for €100 a month underneath my apartment.

HowItsMade · 02-01-2014 04:02PM

username123 wrote: »

It's an old campus, cars weren't around to worry about! And in modern times the city officials try to keep traffic OUT of the city centre, not encourage it in.

I think it'd be madness to drive to and fro TCD daily. Financial cost, time wasted sitting in traffic, even on a train you can read over lecture notes or whatever but you're trapped in a car not able to do anything. Plus you will miss out on a massive amount of the spontaneity of student life if you're tied to a car or car parking hours etc..

Where are you based? Would you cycle in and out? Or drive to a train station? It might be cheaper to rent somewhere within walking distance of the college?

Yeah maybe I'm underestimating the concrete hours of college and car parks. Too far too cycle there's a back road or too, based out in Hollystown. Driving to a train station is a strong possibility if I don't decide to drive in. Would not move out though

HowItsMade · 02-01-2014 04:04PM

TJ Mackie wrote: »

You could walk Ringsend to Trinity in 15 minutes. There are parking spaces to be had for €80 a month, on a month-to-month basis (i.e. no minimum lease) if that was affordable. I've been renting one since last July, just gave back the Key Fob today to rent one for €100 a month underneath my apartment.

Never knew car spaces could be rented yearly or monthly. I'll have a look, thanks for the advice

Victor · 02-01-2014 04:05PM

Put your exact locations (home and TCD) and relevant dates and times into www.a-b.ie and tweak the settings. Select "take neighbouring stops into account for origin and destination maximum 20 min walk".

If you are in college and commuting, will you be able to keep up your two jobs?

Will you still have two jobs through the leaving cert?

HowItsMade · 02-01-2014 04:11PM

Victor wrote: »

Put your exact locations (home and TCD) and relevant dates and times into www.a-b.ie and tweak the settings. Select "take neighbouring stops into account for origin and destination maximum 20 min walk".

If you are in college and commuting, will you be able to keep up your two jobs?

Will you still have two jobs through the leaving cert?

Is it really that mad to drive into trinity nowadays? That website doesn't take into account driving. Main options it's giving me is a bus stop 20 minute walk away down a dangerous back road.

Get Real · 02-01-2014 04:13PM

could you drive to blanchardstown shopping centre? (5min drive for you) get the 39a straight to college green?

HowItsMade · 02-01-2014 04:23PM

Get Real wrote: »

could you drive to blanchardstown shopping centre? (5min drive for you) get the 39a straight to college green?

Yes, the centre is about 15 minutes max from me, but that's as a last resort, primarily I'd like to drive, doesn't seen feasible though

seamus · 02-01-2014 04:31PM

I know how much you love driving when you're 18 and it gives you the freedom to get where you want to, but believe me the romantic notion will soon fade when you're leaving college at 5pm and don't get home till 7.30 because there's something on in the city.

Believe me, driving into college will be the biggest waste of time and money you can imagine, you will absolutely kick yourself a couple of years later when you realise it. It's not that far to cycle. 15km; even if you're unfit you'll cover that in 45 minutes. It'll be by far the quickest way in and out of college, it'll save you money and give you the freedom to enjoy college life without worrying about your car.

maguic24 · 02-01-2014 04:37PM

HowItsMade wrote: »

Thanks lads, I can't get my head around the way there's no student spaces in campus whatsoever. Money isn't a problem I work 2 jobs, still very determined to find a cost effective way of driving in though. Driving to a train station could be one option

Where are you driving from?? If you are coming from the N4 direction, you could park in Liffey Valley for free and get the bus from there into town. Loads of people do it.

City driving is a real nightmare. I live in Dublin and get the bus into town. As bad as the buses are, it's still not half as bad as trying to get round the city centre without getting ambushed or stuck in a one way system. >.<

HowItsMade · 02-01-2014 04:37PM

seamus wrote: »

I know how much you love driving when you're 18 and it gives you the freedom to get where you want to, but believe me the romantic notion will soon fade when you're leaving college at 5pm and don't get home till 7.30 because there's something on in the city.

Believe me, driving into college will be the biggest waste of time and money you can imagine, you will absolutely kick yourself a couple of years later when you realise it. It's not that far to cycle. 15km; even if you're unfit you'll cover that in 45 minutes. It'll be by far the quickest way in and out of college, it'll save you money and give you the freedom to enjoy college life without worrying about your car.

Food for thought there, seems like driving is in a bit of a no go. A 2 and a half hour drive home sounds like a breeze when in the winter months I'll be waking up at half 7 to cycle in the dark in horrible conditions to make it in for a morning lecture.

HowItsMade · 02-01-2014 04:38PM

Then there's the whole other argument of opting for dcu with a 15 minute drive similar course and free parking.

Rowley Birkin QC · 02-01-2014 04:45PM

I drove in and out of college for a while and as someone has already said the cost of parking is one thing but the restrictions on your freedom to go with the flow are another entirely.

Lovely Girl: After lecture pint?
HowItsMade: Can't, I have the car.

Also, I know you're saying that money isn't an issue but in this case you're wantonly wasting it to make your life worse. €120 extra per month in college goes a long way.

Finally, if you're driving in, you're losing the valuable time on the bus to review lecture/exam notes before going in to the class/exam.

HowItsMade · 02-01-2014 05:14PM

Rowley Birkin QC wrote: »

I drove in and out of college for a while and as someone has already said the cost of parking is one thing but the restrictions on your freedom to go with the flow are another entirely.

Lovely Girl: After lecture pint?
HowItsMade: Can't, I have the car.

Also, I know you're saying that money isn't an issue but in this case you're wantonly wasting it to make your life worse. €120 extra per month in college goes a long way.

Finally, if you're driving in, you're losing the valuable time on the bus to review lecture/exam notes before going in to the class/exam.

Finally someone that's actually done it. Can I ask where you commuted from and where you parked?

Driving into Trinity College daily, advise welcome

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