Royal Canal on a Road Bike

Mercian Pro · 19-11-2018 7:20pm

Qrt wrote: »

Is the Deep Sinking due to become a two way cycle track like other parts of the Royal Canal greenway?

Fingal Co Co appointed consultants last May for the planning and detail design of the section from Castleknock to the Kildare border near Leixlip. No word yet on what their design for the Deep Sinking will be but their brief is that it should comply with the Greenway standards set out in the National Cycle Manual. The latest word is that it will be 2020 before they even get to the planning permission stage so it doesn't seem to be a high priority for Fingal.

Qrt · 19-11-2018 7:44pm

Mercian Pro wrote: »

Fingal Co Co appointed consultants last May for the planning and detail design of the section from Castleknock to the Kildare border near Leixlip. No word yet on what their design for the Deep Sinking will be but their brief is that it should comply with the Greenway standards set out in the National Cycle Manual. The latest word is that it will be 2020 before they even get to the planning permission stage so it doesn't seem to be a high priority for Fingal.

Oh right, fantastic. I assumed it was under DCC jurisdiction. I think the sections by Broombridge and Croke Park are due to be two way cycle tracks. Anybody know?

Carawaystick · 19-11-2018 9:01pm

Qrt wrote: »

Oh right, fantastic. I assumed it was under DCC jurisdiction. I think the sections by Broombridge and Croke Park are due to be two way cycle tracks. Anybody know?

Theres a 4m wide hard surface from the red parrot to Charleville Mall beside North strand road already, apart from under the bridges, and a boreen width road from the railway overbridge down to Cross Gunns Bridge

Theres a van at the overbridge
https://www.google.ie/maps/@53.3709308,-6.2895348,43m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

Crossings of Dorset st and Phibsboro road needed, and a wider path between needed also.

Mercian Pro · 30-11-2018 12:33pm

The long-awaited Phase 2 of the Dublin section of the Greenway from Sheriff Street to the North Strand is finally due to start after Christmas. No word on Phase 3 to Phibsborough which was to start in 2017 and 2018 or Phase 4 to Ashtown.

http://irishcycle.com/2018/11/29/dublin-section-of-royal-canal-greenway-work-to-start-after-christmas/?fbclid=IwAR3Zf3ZVAIt__gDqsXG3Jt0TBykITB_gDJI5k2BVK3qlh6KQhlHNwGJQSE4

Weepsie · 30-11-2018 1:55pm

Mercian Pro wrote: »

The long-awaited Phase 2 of the Dublin section of the Greenway from Sheriff Street to the North Strand is finally due to start after Christmas. No word on Phase 3 to Phibsborough which was to start in 2017 and 2018 or Phase 4 to Ashtown.

http://irishcycle.com/2018/11/29/dublin-section-of-royal-canal-greenway-work-to-start-after-christmas/?fbclid=IwAR3Zf3ZVAIt__gDqsXG3Jt0TBykITB_gDJI5k2BVK3qlh6KQhlHNwGJQSE4

This should have been the first phase I'd have thought. Leo Varadkar was the minister responsible when the first phase was done. The first phase was done right on the doorstep of his constituency.

Mercian Pro · 30-11-2018 6:27pm

Weepsie wrote: »

This should have been the first phase I'd have thought. Leo Varadkar was the minister responsible when the first phase was done. The first phase was done right on the doorstep of his constituency.

The short section from the Liffey to Sheriff Street beside the Convention Centre is what Dublin City Council refer to as Phase 1. Using the same logic, Ashtown to Castleknock would be Fingal's first phase. As things stand, it looks like their second phase could be the last section of the entire Liffey to Shannon route to be completed despite being in the Taoiseach's constituency!

Mercian Pro · 03-12-2018 9:27pm

Great news on the Royal Canal Greenway FB page. Work has commenced on the last remaining grass section west of Maynooth between Ferran's Lock and Cloncurry Bridge https://www.facebook.com/1549278628668036/posts/2143923109203582/

Intended cycling Maynooth-Clondra-Longford today but ended up having to skip the last 16km to Clondra and back and go directly to Longford to catch the 16.15 train back to Dublin. A combination of a headwind, a delicious but time consuming bowl of soup at the Rustic Inn in Abbeyshrule and some very poor signage in Co Longford left me with 24km to cover in about 50min! Turning right up the Longford Branch instead of continuing to Clondra was the prudent option.

Other than the issue of the missing signs, it was a great cycle in beautiful winter sunshine. The full Dublin to Clondra spin goes on the to-do list for next summer.
Video and photo at https://www.relive.cc/view/1998123779

Gerry · 04-12-2018 12:45pm

Great stuff, some real nice pics there.

Miklos · 14-12-2018 12:18pm

Made an unplanned excursion along the canal yesterday, went all the way along from Kilcock to the Royal Canal Amenity Group just outside Leixlip. Difficult going in a few very muddy sections on 25s but really fun all the same.

Definitely going to go again when it dries up a bit, I'd love to go all the way.

Mercian Pro · 20-12-2018 12:39am

So, according to a press release from Minister Ross tonight, construction will start next year on phases 2, 3 and 4 of the Dublin part of the Royal Canal Greenway together with a section in Kildare (presumably Ferrans Lock to Cloncurry). IF, and it's a big if, this happens, Castleknock to Maynooth will be the last remaining sections still to start.
We'll see.
http://irishcycle.com/2018/12/19/minister-ross-asks-nta-to-set-up-cycling-office-after-dail-inaction-criticism/

tnegun · 20-12-2018 3:13pm

Any word on the Confey to Maynooth Harbour piece? I think it was due to start early 2019 but haven't heard much since the ground investigation works earlier in the year.

Mercian Pro · 21-12-2018 11:50am

tnegun wrote: »

Any word on the Confey to Maynooth Harbour piece? I think it was due to start early 2019 but haven't heard much since the ground investigation works earlier in the year.

You're right - I had forgotten that this section has still to be upgraded. The last update on the Royal Canal Greenway website is from Feb 2018 when it was due to start in the first quarter of 2018 and be finished by mid-year! If there are any bike friendly Councillors in Kildare Co Co, they might be able to provide an update.

mloc123 · 21-12-2018 2:57pm

Mercian Pro wrote: »

You're right - I had forgotten that this section has still to be upgraded. The last update on the Royal Canal Greenway website is from Feb 2018 when it was due to start in the first quarter of 2018 and be finished by mid-year! If there are any bike friendly Councillors in Kildare Co Co, they might be able to provide an update.

If they would just do the 1km stretch from Intel to Carton I would be happy. The rest of the section is fine.

mr spuckler · 21-12-2018 3:19pm

mloc123 wrote: »

If they would just do the 1km stretch from Intel to Carton I would be happy. The rest of the section is fine.

yep, bit of a tooth rattler alright.

mloc123 · 21-12-2018 3:30pm

mr spuckler wrote: »

yep, bit of a tooth rattler alright.

Was *okay* after the summer drought... but after a few weeks of rain my 28c slicks were no match

Carawaystick · 21-12-2018 7:04pm

mloc123 wrote: »

If they would just do the 1km stretch from Intel to Carton I would be happy. The rest of the section is fine.

Confey to Co Dublin or even to Clonsilla would be even better.

mloc123 · 21-12-2018 8:31pm

Carawaystick wrote: »

Confey to Co Dublin or even to Clonsilla would be even better.

Yeah... I am being selfish as Leixlip to Kilcock is my evening training route :pac:

mloc123 · 02-01-2019 7:20pm

Greenway is closed until March just after Kilcock (heading towards Mullingar).

blueballfc · 02-01-2019 10:59pm

mloc123 wrote: »

Greenway is closed until March just after Kilcock (heading towards Mullingar).

Thanks good to know if you look at the royal canal Facebook page that was referenced by others there is a lot of work happening
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2163524227243470&id=1549278628668036

mloc123 · 02-01-2019 11:09pm

blueballfc wrote: »

Thanks good to know if you look at the royal canal Facebook page that was referenced by others there is a lot of work happening
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2163524227243470&id=1549278628668036

Looks like work beyond Ferans is coming along.. I was hoping to get that far today for a look

Thargor · 03-01-2019 5:10pm

Are all these projects leading to a point where you will be able to cycle the whole canal on tarmac or will there always be sections of a few km of grass?

mloc123 · 03-01-2019 5:43pm

Thargor wrote: »

Are all these projects leading to a point where you will be able to cycle the whole canal on tarmac or will there always be sections of a few km of grass?

Not tarmac, but crushed sand/gravel (which is fine to cycle on 23c tyres). That is the plan. You will be able to cycle from Dublin to Longford along the canal/Greenway.

EC1000 · 03-01-2019 6:30pm

mloc123 wrote: »

Not tarmac, but crushed sand/gravel (which is fine to cycle on 23c tyres). That is the plan. You will be able to cycle from Dublin to Longford along the canal/Greenway.

It's a great facility when done right. The vast majority of the canal is already completed, including the whole of Westmeath from the Meath to the Longford border and links up with the 42km Greenway from Mullingar to Athlone. Its great for running or biking.

Mercian Pro · 04-01-2019 9:12pm

Some more news of progress on the Dublin City sections:

https://www.facebook.com/1549278628668036/posts/2164624360466790/

Gerry · 04-01-2019 10:55pm

I took the canal for part of the commute yesterday, from the rcag boathouse to maynooth. Was perfect conditions, tiny bit slippy and plenty of roots to keep you paying attention. On road bike with 25c slicks it was good fun.

blueballfc · 08-01-2019 4:58pm

Looks like royal canal is getting more investment in Longford (well at least spurs from it)
"200,000 spent on construction of a link from the Royal Canal to Newcastle Woods in Ballymahon" and "€193,982 will be allocated for the construction of a walkway and cycleway linking the Royal Canal from Lanesboro to Clondra"

https://www.longfordleader.ie/news/home/356622/major-greenway-investment-for-longford-with-announcement-of-over-745k-in-funding.html

Hurrache · 08-01-2019 5:42pm

Have the family cycle from Dublin to Ballymahon for their stay in Centre Parcs!

All you need is some enterprising B&B's and guesthouses along the way to group together and offer support such as forwarding the luggage to the next stop, offer support at various stops with packed lunches, and you could make a weeks holiday out of the greenways once they're done.

Off I dash to my local enterprise office.....

site_owner · 11-01-2019 2:32pm

i need to get to porterstown tomorrow, not familiar with the area at all. google is telling me to take the royal canal way, after the cycle way it seems to be better infrastructure too (blue)
i'll be on a bullitt with 2 kids.

am i liable to fall in the canal or get stuck at a kissing gate?

is this realistic or should i go through the park and take the dodgy roads? (white)

surball · 11-01-2019 3:26pm

site_owner wrote: »

i need to get to porterstown tomorrow, not familiar with the area at all. google is telling me to take the royal canal way, after the cycle way it seems to be better infrastructure too (blue)
i'll be on a bullitt with 2 kids.

am i liable to fall in the canal or get stuck at a kissing gate?

is this realistic or should i go through the park and take the dodgy roads? (white)

I think you will be caught out by the kissing gates, certainly on the stretch between phibsboro and ashtown.

cdaly_ · 11-01-2019 3:57pm

site_owner wrote: »

i need to get to porterstown tomorrow, not familiar with the area at all. google is telling me to take the royal canal way, after the cycle way it seems to be better infrastructure too (blue)
i'll be on a bullitt with 2 kids.

am i liable to fall in the canal or get stuck at a kissing gate?

is this realistic or should i go through the park and take the dodgy roads? (white)

I'd suggest Griffith Ave, Ratoath Road, Ballycoolin. Not as dodgy as city centre though the latter parts are fairly busy but with off-road 'cycle track' and dual carriageway so no 'need' for close passing.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Baldoyle,+Dublin/53.3760993,-6.4058928/@53.3816847,-6.2704193,13z/data=!4m19!4m18!1m15!1m1!1s0x48670539e43a8707:0x2600c7a819bdad02!2m2!1d-6.1373863!2d53.3948669!3m4!1m2!1d-6.2935322!2d53.3895942!3s0x48670df07cdcb8d1:0x5b29cefd52ce6f45!3m4!1m2!1d-6.358618!2d53.4036437!3s0x4867129a37af24f1:0xb69dc84876102599!1m0!3e1

I'd be intrigued to hear how you got on through the Deep Sinking on a Bullit though...

site_owner · 11-01-2019 4:58pm

cdaly_ wrote: »

I'd suggest Griffith Ave, Ratoath Road, Ballycoolin. Not as dodgy as city centre though the latter parts are fairly busy but with off-road 'cycle track' and dual carriageway so no 'need' for close passing.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Baldoyle,+Dublin/53.3760993,-6.4058928/@53.3816847,-6.2704193,13z/data=!4m19!4m18!1m15!1m1!1s0x48670539e43a8707:0x2600c7a819bdad02!2m2!1d-6.1373863!2d53.3948669!3m4!1m2!1d-6.2935322!2d53.3895942!3s0x48670df07cdcb8d1:0x5b29cefd52ce6f45!3m4!1m2!1d-6.358618!2d53.4036437!3s0x4867129a37af24f1:0xb69dc84876102599!1m0!3e1

I'd be intrigued to hear how you got on through the Deep Sinking on a Bullit though...

twitter has helped me get a good handle on what i'd be facing on the canal tow path so thats going to be a trip for another day. theres a few finicky bits that involved lifting and twsting the bike, which i doubt i'll manage with them onboard.

now, the route you've suggested looks great, i hadnt thought of it at all. i might head down the malahide road and up collins avenue to make it a little more direct.

the only bit i dont know about is around the cappagh road towards the hospital, is it a bit dodgy there for cars speeding and the road being narrow (years since i was out there)

columbus_66 · 11-01-2019 5:12pm

I think you would be much better off going through the Phoenix park as has plenty of lanes with no kissing gates. You could go out through White's gate although there is a bit of narrow road after Castleknock college but it is the most direct. Otherwise go up through Castleknock and Coolmine to get the cycle\bus lanes. There is a lane that comes out opposite the entrance to the Castleknock hotel but I haven't tried it yet.

Hurrache · 11-01-2019 5:12pm

Cars travel relatively slowly on the Cappagh Road towards the hospital, there's plenty of traffic calming on the road. Once you take that right turn at the lights (at the Ratoath Road/Cappagh Road junction) to cycle down by the hospital the road narrows a bit until you get over the bridge spanning the M50.

Bonus with this route is that it's a nice down hill the length of Snugburough Road as far as the N3.

site_owner · 11-01-2019 7:09pm

columbus_66 wrote: »

I think you would be much better off going through the Phoenix park as has plenty of lanes with no kissing gates. You could go out through White's gate although there is a bit of narrow road after Castleknock college but it is the most direct. Otherwise go up through Castleknock and Coolmine to get the cycle\bus lanes. There is a lane that comes out opposite the entrance to the Castleknock hotel but I haven't tried it yet.

That sounds like a possible option, any chance you could put it on Google maps?

columbus_66 · 11-01-2019 11:13pm

site_owner wrote: »

That sounds like a possible option, any chance you could put it on Google maps?

The lane is at the end of the Beeches road if that's what you're asking? Otherwise you're first map was most direct. I use those roads every day.

Xxxx

columbus_66 · 11-01-2019 11:19pm

columbus_66 wrote: »

The lane is at the end of the Beeches road if that's what you're asking? Otherwise you're first map was most direct. I use

Ooops Wrong link!

Near Unnamed Road, Diswellstown, Co. Dublin
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZvCP3

blueballfc · 21-01-2019 5:53pm

maynooth to leixlip section getting started !!! also on FB page

https://www.waterwaysireland.org/news-centre/marine-notices/882/marine-notice-05-of-2019---royal-canal---closure-of-canal-towpath-and-navigation-west-of-leixlip-?fbclid=IwAR06ieQ40yJydX5XacWPabptnPjPc537dSv52JhP3hlk_jP2EqBiE5j0Ec8

mloc123 · 21-01-2019 8:08pm

blueballfc wrote: »

maynooth to leixlip section getting started !!! also on FB page

https://www.waterwaysireland.org/news-centre/marine-notices/882/marine-notice-05-of-2019---royal-canal---closure-of-canal-towpath-and-navigation-west-of-leixlip-?fbclid=IwAR06ieQ40yJydX5XacWPabptnPjPc537dSv52JhP3hlk_jP2EqBiE5j0Ec8

Excellent, that section was a mud bath for the last couple of months

Mercian Pro · 21-01-2019 8:50pm

By my calculations that's another 5.4km to be upgraded. Should be completed by March next if all goes to plan. Does it still leave another 2km grassy section between Deey Bridge and Carton/Pike Bridge?

Carawaystick · 21-01-2019 11:44pm

Mercian Pro wrote: »

By my calculations that's another 5.4km to be upgraded. Should be completed by March next if all goes to plan. Does it still leave another 2km grassy section between Deey Bridge and Carton/Pike Bridge?

I thought from Deey Bridge west it was stony gravel to Pike bridge?
Its grass back to almost Clonsilla after the Dunboyne line railway

mloc123 · 22-01-2019 9:21am

Carawaystick wrote: »

I thought from Deey Bridge west it was stony gravel to Pike bridge?
Its grass back to almost Clonsilla after the Dunboyne line railway

There is 1km of mud from Deey Bridge on, it turns to gravel about 500m before Carton

Mercian Pro · 24-01-2019 5:43pm

mloc123 wrote: »

There is 1km of mud from Deey Bridge on, it turns to gravel about 500m before Carton

That's what I thought. Why the **** could they not just do it all in one contract?

mloc123 · 24-01-2019 5:46pm

Mercian Pro wrote: »

That's what I thought. Why the **** could they not just do it all in one contract?

I am optimistic they will...

mloc123 · 28-01-2019 12:51pm

Not looking good, they have closed the canal from Intel back towards Confey but no sign of anything in the other direction

Mercian Pro · 28-01-2019 9:59pm

mloc123 wrote: »

I am optimistic they will...

mloc123 wrote: »

Not looking good, they have closed the canal from Intel back towards Confey but no sign of anything in the other direction

I had thought from your first comment that you had insider information but it doesn't look that way now!

I have just messaged Waterways Ireland about and will update here if and when I hear from them. It would be crazy for them to have to tender the last short bit separately when they now have a similar contract in place.

mloc123 · 28-01-2019 10:04pm

Mercian Pro wrote: »

I had thought from your first comment that you had insider information but it doesn't look that way now!

I have just messaged Waterways Ireland about and will update here if and when I hear from them. It would be crazy for them to have to tender the last short bit separately when they now have a similar contract in place.

No inside information... just foolish optimism.

The worst part of it is, the section from Confey to Intel was very easy to cycle already.

Carawaystick · 30-01-2019 1:02am

mloc123 wrote: »

No inside information... just foolish optimism.

The worst part of it is, the section from Confey to Intel was very easy to cycle already.

Yeah, intel east is much better than intel west...

Are they widening the entrances to let buggies or cargo bikes on?

mloc123 · 30-01-2019 10:30am

Carawaystick wrote: »

Yeah, intel east is much better than intel west...

Are they widening the entrances to let buggies or cargo bikes on?

Not sure on that, I can just manage to get a Bullit with canopy through the current opening.

The other sections that they have done do follow a standard design of having two staggered wooden gates that are easier to get through.

Mercian Pro · 30-01-2019 10:26pm

mloc123 wrote: »

Not sure on that, I can just manage to get a Bullit with canopy through the current opening.

The other sections that they have done do follow a standard design of having two staggered wooden gates that are easier to get through.

Mercian Pro · 04-02-2019 6:40pm

The Dublin Cycling Campaign has posted on FB that work has (finally) started on the Sheriff Street to North Strand section or Phase 2 as Dublin City Council call it.

More details at https://irishcycle.com/2019/02/04/work-starts-on-royal-canal-greenway-beside-dublin-docklands/?fbclid=IwAR2z4BjFGka-rVtiwCgc8UA8sySNUXOxUeuBYhCRhTSijs5pQncl-pVRQ8I

Royal Canal on a Road Bike

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