S2S Cycleway - northside

mrcheez · 04-10-2013 1:36pm

So, despite the 3km section of bike path (along the section between Clontarf and Raheny - joining Wooden Bridge to the causeway) that was supposed to be started before the end of the year, having been tossed around various departments/managers, I got confirmation from the NTA that this will finally be started "early 2014"

If anyone's interested

Jocry · 04-10-2013 2:13pm

mrcheez wrote: »

So, despite the 3km section of bike path (along the section between Clontarf and Raheny - joining Wooden Bridge to the causeway) that was supposed to be started before the end of the year, having been tossed around various departments/managers, I got confirmation from the NTA that this will finally be started "early 2014"

If anyone's interested

Suuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrre it will be, I'll believe it when I see it :rolleyes:

hardCopy · 04-10-2013 2:28pm

Jocry wrote: »

Suuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrre it will be, I'll believe it when I see it :rolleyes:

I'll believe it when I've cycled on it!

Rogue-Trooper · 04-10-2013 4:36pm

mrcheez wrote: »

I got confirmation from the NTA that this will finally be started "early 2014"

So I guess in the meantime we'll just have to try not 'tramline' on the giant cracks in the 'cycle lane' along that stretch...............

duffyshuffle · 04-10-2013 8:33pm

I emailed the council about that stretch and encourage every else to, I told them someone will fall and sue or injure themselves/die which doesn't seem unlikely given the crazy state of the road, took me about two mins, contact on the DCC website

mrcheez · 05-10-2013 2:01pm

duffyshuffle wrote: »

I emailed the council about that stretch and encourage every else to, I told them someone will fall and sue or injure themselves/die which doesn't seem unlikely given the crazy state of the road, took me about two mins, contact on the DCC website

I very much doubt they'll upgrade the cycle path on the road if they're going to be adding a new path on the coast-side, but I agree more people need to get in contact with the NTA (who are handling the S2S now) and make sure that "early 2014" doesn't mean "late 2017"

mrcheez · 10-01-2014 3:11pm

mrcheez wrote: »

Sorry I should have been more specific ... when is work to start on the Bull Wall to Wooden Bridge section as the article I quoted said

Hence work should be commencing around now?

So.. eh... when should I start to harangue the NTA about the delay in starting work on the "completion of the Dublin Bay cycle path"?

For the record the article posted in the Irish Times was posted on Apr 2013 with title "Work to start on Dublin Bay cycle path" (it's now found via archive.org https://web.archive.org/web/20130519234027/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/work-to-start-on-dublin-bay-cycle-path-1.1390672)

This first section will close the 2km gap in the current promenade and cycle path running from Clontarf to Sutton.

reckon if I wait until April, that will be embarrassing enough for them?

Doctor Bob · 10-01-2014 5:51pm

AFAIK, the section of the NTA that was in charge of the project (NTA Design Section, formerly the QBN Project Office) was recalled to DCC - their actual employer - late last year. The project is still being funded by the NTA, but I suspect that responsibility for the design and construction has returned to DCC.

Also, I think construction can only happen during specific windows, i.e. outside the breeding/feeding season for certain types of birds, so I'd still expect that it will begin in 'early 2014', but that might mean March rather than early January.

buffalo · 10-01-2014 5:57pm

Anyone care to start a pool* as to whether that section will be postponed in favour of flood defence works, given the state of the place over the last couple of weeks?

edit: *no pun consciously intended

mrcheez · 14-01-2014 1:02am

I got a reply to this...

"Design drawings and contract documents are currently being finalised. Pending confirmation of funding, it is hoped to proceed to tender in Spring 2014, with a view to starting construction in mid-2014. The provisional construction programme is approximately 15 months however seasonal restrictions on carrying out work within the lagoon may impinge on this."

So it's only going TO TENDER in Spring 2014, then 15 months development time (or probably longer with flooding/weather problems in the meantime).

Ah well, gonna have to stick to the Howth Road for next few years I guess.

hardCopy · 14-01-2014 1:10am

mrcheez wrote: »

I got a reply to this...

"Design drawings and contract documents are currently being finalised. Pending confirmation of funding, it is hoped to proceed to tender in Spring 2014, with a view to starting construction in mid-2014. The provisional construction programme is approximately 15 months however seasonal restrictions on carrying out work within the lagoon may impinge on this."

So it's only going TO TENDER in Spring 2014, then 15 months development time (or probably longer with flooding/weather problems in the meantime).

Ah well, gonna have to stick to the Howth Road for next few years I guess.

Things should proceed smoothly, as long as we don't get hit by any unexpected seasons this year

mrcheez · 11-07-2014 12:16am

Apparently work is due to begin on this in October.

October seems like an odd time to start work so alas it will probably be the following Spring for work to commence.

So much for starting mid-2013.

mrcheez · 23-09-2014 2:55pm

Moved again to Spring 2015 ... what are bets I'll still be posting on this topic in 2016?

Leroy42 · 23-09-2014 3:00pm

^^to be fair, cycling season is over. No point starting it until next Spring at this stage!

mrcheez · 23-09-2014 3:24pm

?? I'm going to continue cycling this route through winter (as will many others) - when in fact this upgrade would have been of most benefit

Jocry · 23-09-2014 4:16pm

Leroy42 wrote: »

^^to be fair, cycling season is over. No point starting it until next Spring at this stage!

Makes sense to upgrade when less traffic I would have thought

mrcheez · 23-09-2014 4:28pm

I wasn't even aware there was a "cycling season". Do some cyclists put their bikes away for 6 months and take the bus/train to work? *shudder*

(I'm assuming most people on this route are using it for commuting. So commuting is "seasonless" imho.)

mrcheez · 13-01-2015 9:31pm

mrcheez wrote: »

Moved again to Spring 2015 ... what are bets I'll still be posting on this topic in 2016?

April 1st is now the date to begin. Can't wait to be fooled again.

buffalo · 17-02-2015 8:36am

Soon... apparently.

Construction of the “missing link” of the Dublin Bay cycle path is to start in six weeks time, more than a decade since planning of the route began.

Dublin City Council plans to spend in the region of €5 million to fill in the missing 2km section of its flagship cycle route from the Wooden Bridge to Causeway Road in Clontarf.

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/construction-of-5m-dublin-cycle-path-to-start-in-six-weeks-1.2106254

Raam · 17-02-2015 8:39am

buffalo wrote: »

Soon... apparently.

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/construction-of-5m-dublin-cycle-path-to-start-in-six-weeks-1.2106254

I really hope they don't f*ck it up.

Raam · 17-02-2015 8:42am

Cyclists can return to the path 300m short of the causeway, but must cross two lanes of traffic at a point not governed by signals.

In the meantime, a much better option is to use the traffic lights at the causeway.

Lusk_Doyle · 17-02-2015 8:56am

Raam wrote: »

I really hope they don't f*ck it up.

With a purse of €5m? You know they will.

neris · 17-02-2015 10:18am

Raam wrote: »

I really hope they don't f*ck it up.

dublin city councils specialty is ****ing things up. they could do anything without a cock up no matter what the budget was

""The path was put in place by the council in the early 1990s but a space was left between the Causeway Road and the Wooden Bridge because no solution could be found to building on the environmentally sensitive lagoon""

a 2-3 meter wide cycle way built on the sea side of teh road is hardly going to have such a drastic affect on the "lagoon". The whole plan sounds cobbled together just to make it look like they are doing somthing. Few years from opening and they might aswell have made the new cycle lane in cobbles coz going by the rest of the cycle lanes in dublin they all fall to bits

Leroy42 · 17-02-2015 11:13am

neris wrote: »

they might aswell have made the new cycle lane in cobbles

Now that is a great idea, Our own version of Paris-Roubaix.

Would certainly get rid of all the skateboards, roller-blades etc.

A 2km section of cobbles, that would be a Strava segment worth fighting for!

mirrormatrix · 17-02-2015 11:39am

neris wrote: »

a 2-3 meter wide cycle way built on the sea side of teh road is hardly going to have such a drastic affect on the "lagoon".

And what basis have you for that statement? Have you done your own survey on the environmental impact of the cycle lane? Bull island is a very unique ecosystem and has been recognised as such by UNESCO. I think it's pretty important that whatever is done to benefit cyclists that it doesn't have an adverse impact on this resource.

Raam · 17-02-2015 11:40am

I wonder what environmental study was done when they put two golf courses on the island.

Atlantic Dawn · 17-02-2015 11:55am

18 months to build 2km? there were motorways built in less.

Recently they have placed dog litter bins on the inside lane of the cycle track around Sutton so that they are actually encroaching on to the lane and you have to move in to the oncoming lane to safely pass them, at night you could easily crash in to them if you didn't know they were there. Also if someone with a dog wants to place their litter in the bin they must cross 2 busy cycle tracks to do this, idiotic planning with no safety study comes to mind.

Leroy42 · 17-02-2015 11:59am

Raam wrote: »

I wonder what environmental study was done when they put two golf courses on the island.

What does it matter, They are already there and as such is irrelevant.

What is being proposed here is to do something that 'could' have an impact and therefore needs to be considered (and has been hence the reason for the original decision not to do anything.

From what I have read, the 'solution' seems to be to narrow the existing lanes to make way for the cycle path. This has the effect that road space will be decreased for all meaning that any cyclists that what to use the road will not have even less space for vehicular traffic to pass.

Effectively, kicking the cyclist off the road and forcing them to use the cycle lane. The cycle lane is not always the best option.

neris · 17-02-2015 12:02pm

mirrormatrix wrote: »

And what basis have you for that statement? Have you done your own survey on the environmental impact of the cycle lane? Bull island is a very unique ecosystem and has been recognised as such by UNESCO. I think it's pretty important that whatever is done to benefit cyclists that it doesn't have an adverse impact on this resource.

a 2-3 meter wide cycle path the best part of a mile away from bull island right beside the road is hardly going to wipe out the bird & wildlife population. they can build a cycle way in piers if they have to just so the little fishys can swim right up to wall and keep the tree huggers happy. the only place theyd be building is between the causeway road and the wooden bridge

hardCopy · 17-02-2015 12:02pm

mirrormatrix wrote: »

And what basis have you for that statement? Have you done your own survey on the environmental impact of the cycle lane? Bull island is a very unique ecosystem and has been recognised as such by UNESCO. I think it's pretty important that whatever is done to benefit cyclists that it doesn't have an adverse impact on this resource.

Raam wrote: »

I wonder what environmental study was done when they put two golf courses on the island.

The causeway itself has destroyed the lagoon and should have been replaced with a bridge years ago.

Raam · 17-02-2015 12:03pm

Leroy42 wrote: »

What does it matter, They are already there and as such is irrelevant.

What is being proposed here is to do something that 'could' have an impact and therefore needs to be considered (and has been hence the reason for the original decision not to do anything.

I'm not disputing that it needs to be done.

mirrormatrix · 17-02-2015 12:30pm

Raam wrote: »

I wonder what environmental study was done when they put two golf courses on the island.

I'm not saying that sticking golf courses (or indeed the causeway) was a good decision at all. But at least this time the environmental impact of the change is being assessed, which I think is a good thing.

Leroy, I hadn't actually thought of that as a natural consequence of narrowing the road to accommodate a cycle lane. But it makes sense that driver hostility to cyclists on the road could increase as a result of it being put in place, given that cars would have decreased space in which to overtake.

Tenzor07 · 17-02-2015 12:53pm

mirrormatrix wrote: »

But it makes sense that driver hostility to cyclists on the road could increase as a result of it being put in place, given that cars would have decreased space in which to overtake.

As opposed to the current "design" which puts the bicyclist out into the middle of the lane heading north on the Clontarf road due to the number of parked cars and poor road surface? Heading south bound again you have a very poor road surface to the far left so cyclists have to move out more on that section of the road..
So in your imagination realistically how would a properly designed and constructed cycle lane "increase hostility" over the current unsafe situation?

mirrormatrix · 17-02-2015 1:29pm

Point I'm making (or rather that Leroy made) is that if the intention for the cycle lane is to narrow the road to give the necessary room for a cycle lane, anyone who chooses to cycle on the road after it is built will be sharing a much smaller lane with motor traffic. This might (and I'm not saying this is right) increase driver hostility because they now have even less space in which to overtake cyclists, while certain cyclists - legally - continue to use the road rather than the newly built cycle lane.

You're absolutely right though, the road surface on the coast road beside St. Annes is an absolute deathtrap.

Tenzor07 · 17-02-2015 2:04pm

mirrormatrix wrote: »

Point I'm making (or rather that Leroy made) is that if the intention for the cycle lane is to narrow the road to give the necessary room for a cycle lane, anyone who chooses to cycle on the road after it is built will be sharing a much smaller lane with motor traffic. This might (and I'm not saying this is right) increase driver hostility because they now have even less space in which to overtake cyclists, while certain cyclists - legally - continue to use the road rather than the newly built cycle lane.
You're absolutely right though, the road surface on the coast road beside St. Annes is an absolute deathtrap.

Don't think this will be an issue for this particular section. And from what I read anyways, the road space available to motorised traffic will be only marginally narrowed.

And besides, cycle paths in Ireland are not designed to be quick, safe, direct and well maintained cycle routes, they are designed merely to remove bicyclists from the main lines of motorised traffic.

Carawaystick · 19-02-2015 1:26am

Raam wrote: »

I wonder what environmental study was done when they put two golf courses on the island.

Or what environmental study was done when cars were prevented from driving on the beach?

Tenzor07 · 19-02-2015 10:31am

Carawaystick wrote: »

Or what environmental study was done when cars were prevented from driving on the beach?

Cars are banned from the beach now as far as I can remember, or at least strictly limited access....

Caused a furore when it was introduced though! :eek:

Raam · 19-02-2015 10:40am

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Cars are banned from the beach now as far as I can remember, or at least strictly limited access....

Caused a furore when it was introduced though! :eek:

Get them banned from using the Phoenix Park as a through-way would be nice tool.

surpy · 19-02-2015 10:48am

The only people I ever see willingly cycle on the coast road are auld lads with Dunnes bags on their handle bars wobbling to the shops / pub and very rarely a lone commuting/sporting cyclist. Never once seen a group on the road.

I cycle / drive the route regularly and almost all cyclists seem to prefer the dedicated lane.

I think they had a counter for a while at the (to see how many were still on the road) James larkin section so maybe they are taking into account the apparent low Road usage by cyclists when considering narrowing the driving lanes?

ted1 · 19-02-2015 10:50am

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Cars are banned from the beach now as far as I can remember, or at least strictly limited access....

Caused a furore when it was introduced though! :eek:

They are totally banned now. Came in to place at the end of the summer

hardCopy · 19-02-2015 10:50am

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Cars are banned from the beach now as far as I can remember, or at least strictly limited access....

Caused a furore when it was introduced though! :eek:

I have to admit I thought it was overkill when they closed the road to the beach but having been to the beach the last two weekends, it is greatly improved.

Tenzor07 · 19-02-2015 10:54am

surpy wrote: »

I cycle / drive the route regularly and almost all cyclists seem to prefer the dedicated lane.
I think they had a counter for a while at the (to see how many were still on the road) James larkin section so maybe they are taking into account the apparent low Road usage by cyclists when considering narrowing the driving lanes?

Using the off-road cycle lane is all well and good for the majority of users, though if I see a group of 4+ doing "up and overs" on it instead of the road, then I ain't movin'! :pac:

ted1 · 19-02-2015 11:11am

hardCopy wrote: »

I have to admit I thought it was overkill when they closed the road to the beach but having been to the beach the last two weekends, it is greatly improved.

Try it again on a sunny day. No parking. Try kitesurfing there, we now have to lug our gear a good distance and the cars are being broken into

buffalo · 19-02-2015 12:19pm

ted1 wrote: »

Try it again on a sunny day. No parking. Try kitesurfing there, we now have to lug our gear a good distance and the cars are being broken into

Get a cargo bike.

ted1 · 19-02-2015 1:09pm

buffalo wrote: »

Get a cargo bike.

Very tempted.but it would be empty when I get back off the water. Kites cost about 1200 each and you usually bring 3 to the beach

odyssey06 · 19-02-2015 8:52pm

ted1 wrote: »

They are totally banned now. Came in to place at the end of the summer

That was the case in autumn but ban has been lifted and you can drive onto 'near' part of beach from Wooden Bridge end of island.

mrcheez · 09-04-2015 10:32am

mrcheez wrote: »

April 1st is now the date to begin. Can't wait to be fooled again.

Wow, against all odds and completely unexpected behaviour for Dublin City Council, they've actually finally started work on this at the date they promised! Only took about 10 years.

Spotted a full team of workmen laying out traffic cones and digging up the path.

And here I was thinking they were going to find some other excuse to move it to 2016 ...17...yadda yadda.

too late to say April Fools??

Rogue-Trooper · 09-04-2015 11:43am

mrcheez wrote: »

Wow, against all odds and completely unexpected behaviour for Dublin City Council, they've actually finally started work on this at the date they promised! Only took about 10 years.

Spotted a full team of workmen laying out traffic cones and digging up the path.

And here I was thinking they were going to find some other excuse to move it to 2016 ...17...yadda yadda.

too late to say April Fools??

How dare you give us false hope! :rolleyes:

Just thinking this morning how much worse that section of road is getting there. Wish they'd hurry up - I'm sick of replacing spokes............

mrcheez · 09-04-2015 12:20pm

Rogue-Trooper wrote: »

How dare you give us false hope! :rolleyes:

sorry :pac:

I don't honestly know why they constantly promise dates to start if they never meet them.

It's pretty simple: Don't specify a date to start until you've organised contractors and have written agreement from them that they will start on X. Once X has been agreed THEN announce when the work will begin.

TBH I wouldn't mind if the work started on 1st October, as long as that was a solid, agreed-upon date!

I take it this is just how the civil service operates?!? Must be a fun place to work.

mrcheez · 10-04-2015 9:28pm

Moved to *after* May 14th. I actually give up...

S2S Cycleway - northside

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