Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi all! We have been experiencing an issue on site where threads have been missing the latest postings. The platform host Vanilla are working on this issue. A workaround that has been used by some is to navigate back from 1 to 10+ pages to re-sync the thread and this will then show the latest posts. Thanks, Mike.
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Greenway Map

12357…10

Comments

  • #202
    Zen0
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 469 ✭✭Zen0


    nilhg wrote: »
    Kildare Co Co just published a Part 8 notice for a greenway development on the Grand Canal mainline:

    http://www.kildare.ie/CountyCouncil/PressReleasesAdverts/Part8-GrandCanalGreenway.html

    The wheels are turning, slowly at the moment but hopefully progress will be steady.


    Have mixed views on this. Did the Six Aqueducts Audax last year and the Grand Canal section was probably the highlight. The long grass sections made it seem very remote and certainly unique in cycling terms.


  • #203
    riddlinrussell
    Registered Users Posts: 1,034 ✭✭✭riddlinrussell


    Zen0 wrote: »
    Have mixed views on this. Did the Six Aqueducts Audax last year and the Grand Canal section was probably the highlight. The long grass sections made it seem very remote and certainly unique in cycling terms.

    Making it more accessible is pretty vital to cycling in Ireland, its one of what I would consider the 'great routes', linking large sections of the country by bike. I think 'remote' greenways/routes are fine to be grassed tracks, but keeping something as major as the grand canal for the 'hardcore' is a bit too miserly.


  • #204
    Zen0
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 469 ✭✭Zen0


    riddlinrussell wrote: »
    Making it more accessible is pretty vital to cycling in Ireland, its one of what I would consider the 'great routes', linking large sections of the country by bike. I think 'remote' greenways/routes are fine to be grassed tracks, but keeping something as major as the grand canal for the 'hardcore' is a bit too miserly.

    I get all that stuff, and you are right of course. I just mourn the loss of wild spaces anywhere.


  • #205
    riddlinrussell
    Registered Users Posts: 1,034 ✭✭✭riddlinrussell


    Zen0 wrote: »
    I get all that stuff, and you are right of course. I just mourn the loss of wild spaces anywhere.

    If it helps they look to be going with unbound compacted gravel/dust tracks for the majority of it.....

    Kildare CoCo Report


  • #206
    monument
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 14,088 Mod ✭✭✭✭monument


    riddlinrussell wrote: »
    If it helps they look to be going with unbound compacted gravel/dust tracks for the majority of it.....

    Kildare CoCo Report

    Dust surfaces are not natural and seep into the canal water — a sealed surface is probably better all around.


  • #207
    Corca Baiscinn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 643 ✭✭✭Corca Baiscinn


    monument wrote: »
    Dust surfaces are not natural and seep into the canal water — a sealed surface is probably better all around.

    Probably needs more maintenance on that account and maintenance is never built into the budget.


  • #208
    riddlinrussell
    Registered Users Posts: 1,034 ✭✭✭riddlinrussell


    monument wrote: »
    Dust surfaces are not natural and seep into the canal water — a sealed surface is probably better all around.

    Apologies, that was supposed to be sarcastic, the report claims unbound surfaces are more in keeping and I suppose is claiming a lower environmental impact...


  • #209
    MillyD123
    Registered Users Posts: 84 ✭✭MillyD123


    Great map and I see the Waterford To New Ross Greenway listed. Any update on this proposed route. Haven’t heard anything locally in a long time ...


  • #210
    Mercian Pro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,299 ✭✭✭Mercian Pro


    Zen0 wrote: »
    Have mixed views on this. Did the Six Aqueducts Audax last year and the Grand Canal section was probably the highlight. The long grass sections made it seem very remote and certainly unique in cycling terms.

    The ideal arrangement is probably what is planned for the Ferran's Lock to Cloncurry section of the Royal Canal in the new year. The cycle route will be on the north bank, largely making use of some existing quiet access roads while the south bank will remain grassed - better for walking and for hard-core cyclists! From memory there are a few existing sections between Longwood and Mullingar where a similar arrangement exists.


  • Advertisement
  • #211
    Johnboy1951
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,031 ✭✭✭✭Johnboy1951


    Mercian Pro wrote: »
    The ideal arrangement is probably what is planned for the Ferran's Lock to Cloncurry section of the Royal Canal in the new year. The cycle route will be on the north bank, largely making use of some existing quiet access roads while the south bank will remain grassed - better for walking and for hard-core cyclists! From memory there are a few existing sections between Longwood and Mullingar where a similar arrangement exists.

    Grass is hardly idea for anyone pushing a buggy/pram or using a wheelchair?

    Especially after rain - which we get a lot of in Ireland.


  • #212
    no.8
    Registered Users Posts: 778 ✭✭✭no.8


    Johnboy1951 wrote:
    Grass is hardly idea for anyone pushing a buggy/pram or using a wheelchair?

    Johnboy1951 wrote:
    Especially after rain - which we get a lot of in Ireland.


    I see nothing wrong with the posters suggestion. One side paved, the other side kept natural. This is used extensively on offical marked cycling routes in Europe. Its quite dull for a mountain biker or runner to be stuck on tarmac all the time. Nothing wrong with a natural surface, so long as it is easy to maintain.


  • #213
    Johnboy1951
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,031 ✭✭✭✭Johnboy1951


    no.8 wrote: »
    I see nothing wrong with the posters suggestion. One side paved, the other side kept natural. This is used extensively on offical marked cycling routes in Europe. Its quite dull for a mountain biker or runner to be stuck on tarmac all the time. Nothing wrong with a natural surface, so long as it is easy to maintain.

    I understand this to mean the South Bank will remain grassed for walking on, while the North Bank is for cyclists and includes some roads.

    You seem to have a different interpretation. ;)
    The cycle route will be on the north bank, largely making use of some existing quiet access roads while the south bank will remain grassed - better for walking and for hard-core cyclists!


  • #214
    Mercian Pro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,299 ✭✭✭Mercian Pro


    Johnboy1951 wrote: »
    I understand this to mean the South Bank will remain grassed for walking on, while the North Bank is for cyclists and includes some roads.

    You seem to have a different interpretation. ;)

    The south bank will remain grassed. The Greenway on the north bank will be open to walkers, cyclists and very limited local motor access (3 houses).


  • #215
    Grassey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,393 ✭✭✭Grassey


    2.7m-funding-for-county-limerick-greenway-hailed-as-major-and-historic-investment.html


  • #216
    John Hutton
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,301 ✭✭✭John Hutton


    So what's the current longest continuous stretch of Greenway?


  • Advertisement
  • #217
    Mercian Pro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,299 ✭✭✭Mercian Pro


    John Hutton wrote: »
    So what's the current longest continuous stretch of Greenway?

    Writing this on the train back from Longford having cycled the Mullingar to Longford section of the Royal Canal Greenway. Technically, the 94km from Moyvalley in Kildare to Cloondara on the Shannon is completed but the signage in Longford could certainly do with some improvements. A fair bit of the Greenway makes use of quiet roads where the original towpath was upgraded to single lane access road years ago. I think I met 3 cars of which 2 were Waterways Ireland and about 8 cyclists over the 63km.


  • #218
    Corca Baiscinn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 643 ✭✭✭Corca Baiscinn


    Mercian Pro wrote: »
    Writing this on the train back from Longford having cycled the Mullingar to Longford section of the Royal Canal Greenway. Technically, the 94km from Moyvalley in Kildare to Cloondara on the Shannon is completed but the signage in Longford could certainly do with some improvements. A fair bit of the Greenway makes use of quiet roads where the original towpath was upgraded to single lane access road years ago. I think I met 3 cars of which 2 were Waterways Ireland and about 8 cyclists over the 63km.

    Did you go back to Longford on the road from Clondra or via the link back by Royal Cana + link or via the road (N%?) Agree re signage from Longford, we joined it at Longford Slashers but there's an earlier entrance we didn't find.

    Presume you were on a road bike? How did you find the gates/barriers? We found ok for standard bikes but would be hopeless for cargo/mobility/recumbent/adult trikes etc. Was only as far as Ballymahon tho', hope to do the next section in 2019
    Btw, Was your train bike space free in Longford?


  • #219
    Mercian Pro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,299 ✭✭✭Mercian Pro


    Corca Baiscinn wrote: »
    Did you go back to Longford on the road from Clondra or via the link back by Royal Cana + link or via the road (N%?) Agree re signage from Longford, we joined it at Longford Slashers but there's an earlier entrance we didn't find.

    Presume you were on a road bike? How did you find the gates/barriers? We found ok for standard bikes but would be hopeless for cargo/mobility/recumbent/adult trikes etc. Was only as far as Ballymahon tho', hope to do the next section in 2019
    Btw, Was your train bike space free in Longford?

    Greenway all the way. Didn't make it as far as Clondra. More details over at https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057747877&page=14

    After the 20th one, the gates began to annoy me but they are still a lot better than the kissing gates still used in Dublin. There were only two bike spaces on the train and both were full as far as Maynooth heading down. I was able to prop the bike in the lobby till I got a space. Coming back from Longford both spaces were empty so no problem.


  • #220
    John Hutton
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,301 ✭✭✭John Hutton


    Mercian Pro wrote: »
    Writing this on the train back from Longford having cycled the Mullingar to Longford section of the Royal Canal Greenway. Technically, the 94km from Moyvalley in Kildare to Cloondara on the Shannon is completed but the signage in Longford could certainly do with some improvements. A fair bit of the Greenway makes use of quiet roads where the original towpath was upgraded to single lane access road years ago. I think I met 3 cars of which 2 were Waterways Ireland and about 8 cyclists over the 63km.

    I'd love to cycle the whole thing. What's the best way to get from dublin with me bike to moyvalley?

    Aside from cycling ofc!


  • #221
    cdaly_
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,440 ✭✭✭cdaly_


    Pedal!

    No really, you can get on at North Strand and, apart from around 1km at the Deep Sinking, it's grass/gravel/road all the way. The Deep Sinking bit is passable on foot or on the bike with a bit of care.


  • Advertisement
  • #222
    Mercian Pro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,299 ✭✭✭Mercian Pro


    Check out the Royal Canal on a Road Bike thread linked above. There are three tricky sections - the Deep Sinking; Ferran's to Cloncurry and just before Moyvalley. All can be avoided if you wish by detouring onto the roads for a few km. The Royal Canal Greenway Facebook site includes suggested detours for the latter two. Keep an eye on the Royal Canal thread as the Moyvalley section is very close to being finished.


  • #223
    mloc123
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,454 ✭✭✭mloc123


    Quite looking forward to the section from Ferran's to Cloncurry to be completed. I will be able to cycle from my house to Longford and back without having to share with a single car.


  • #224
    Corca Baiscinn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 643 ✭✭✭Corca Baiscinn


    Mercian Pro wrote: »
    Greenway all the way. Didn't make it as far as Clondra. More details over at https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057747877&page=14

    After the 20th one, the gates began to annoy me but they are still a lot better than the kissing gates still used in Dublin. There were only two bike spaces on the train and both were full as far as Maynooth heading down. I was able to prop the bike in the lobby till I got a space. Coming back from Longford both spaces were empty so no problem.

    Lucky you got to do that, I know someone who had problems keeping bike in lobby even tho they had booked a bike space. it was already taken by an earlier arrival and your ticket has no evidence of space being booked. I'd be in favour of charging a €5 for a bike and having an actual bike ticket


  • #225
    cdaly_
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,440 ✭✭✭cdaly_


    I had one occasion coming from Carlow on match day when the bike space was taken by a passenger sitting on the rack who refused to move. Getting off at Heuston, I noticed that the back of his jacket was covered in chain oil from the bike in the other rack...


  • #226
    Citizen Wolf
    Registered Users Posts: 4 ✭Citizen Wolf


    Excellent map. Well done.
    How do I add an image here on Boards to make an update to part of your map? (sorry, I'm not a techie).

    Anyway, I guess I'll just describe it. The portion between the Dart crossing at Sutton (where it says Irish Rail car park) up along Strand Rd (on the sea-ward side of the road) to where it says Baldoyle parish - that's been completed for a number of years.

    I see another spot - All along the Alfie Byrne Road - that's also completely segregated, and actually (little bit of history) as far as I know, it was the first completely segregated cycle lane in the country when it was built in the early 1980s. The bastards actually removed a chunk of it when they built the entrance to East Point Business Park. The cycle track used to go all the way along the east side of the Alfie Byrne road from Clontarf to the E Wall Rd. Now you have to cross over to the west side of the Alfie Byrne road at the entrance to Business Park, if you want to continue on the cycle-track. >:/


  • #227
    site_owner
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 955 ✭✭✭site_owner


    Isnt that one in baldoyle just a footpath?
    I never like using it anyway, not marked and very bumpy


  • #228
    Citizen Wolf
    Registered Users Posts: 4 ✭Citizen Wolf


    No, it's a cycle-track.


  • #229
    site_owner
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 955 ✭✭✭site_owner


    I had a look and its proposed to convert it from a promenade to a cycle track but its a footpath now.

    Do you have confirmation from somewhere else?

    https://consult.fingal.ie/en/consultation/sutton-malahide-greenway/chapter/2-route-link-options-sheet-1


  • #230
    Citizen Wolf
    Registered Users Posts: 4 ✭Citizen Wolf


    Fair enough. That's a bit of a surprise as it's used as a cycle track by lots of people right now. Perhaps it's not official atm, but from the maps it's the exact same route that they plan to use as the Greenway cycle-track. Nothing will change on-the-ground, so effectively it's finished along that portion.

    Thanks for the links to the maps, btw. Good to have.


  • #231
    site_owner
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 955 ✭✭✭site_owner


    Citizen Wolf wrote: »
    Fair enough. That's a bit of a surprise as it's used as a cycle track by lots of people right now. Perhaps it's not official atm, but from the maps it's the exact same route that they plan to use as the Greenway cycle-track. Nothing will change on-the-ground, so effectively it's finished along that portion.

    Thanks for the links to the maps, btw. Good to have.

    I cycle it if i have the trailer and the kids going to the beach, otherwise I usually go the other road to sutton, via the elphin.

    As a track it needs a few things, the surface is very bumpy and no clear segregation being the simple ones.

    Less easy is the transitions at either end. At the baldoyle end its very messy and you are on footpath with a sharp corner. Unless you jump off at the library but thats a dodgy spot to try cross that road.

    At the sutton end, you are just faced with a highish kerb drop into traffic on the narrow road.

    I'm glad you prompted me to look it up and that they have some pipe dreams to do something with it :)

    My solution would be to route behind the church and community centre at baldoyle to join the greenway at red arches and then behind the dart station at sutton straight onto Claremont and then its a quietway almost all the way to howth, just need to widen the trail beside the dart line


  • Advertisement
  • #232
    riddlinrussell
    Registered Users Posts: 1,034 ✭✭✭riddlinrussell


    Citizen Wolf wrote: »
    Excellent map. Well done.
    How do I add an image here on Boards to make an update to part of your map? (sorry, I'm not a techie).

    Anyway, I guess I'll just describe it. The portion between the Dart crossing at Sutton (where it says Irish Rail car park) up along Strand Rd (on the sea-ward side of the road) to where it says Baldoyle parish - that's been completed for a number of years.

    I see another spot - All along the Alfie Byrne Road - that's also completely segregated, and actually (little bit of history) as far as I know, it was the first completely segregated cycle lane in the country when it was built in the early 1980s. The bastards actually removed a chunk of it when they built the entrance to East Point Business Park. The cycle track used to go all the way along the east side of the Alfie Byrne road from Clontarf to the E Wall Rd. Now you have to cross over to the west side of the Alfie Byrne road at the entrance to Business Park, if you want to continue on the cycle-track. >:/

    Thanks for that I didn't even look at the street view just the S2S routemap.... Ive updated the route now, A bit of creative thinking and a bridge over the M50 would make it possible to cycle through Eastpoint to east wall road...


  • #233
    Mercian Pro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,299 ✭✭✭Mercian Pro


    riddlinrussell wrote: »
    Thanks for that I didn't even look at the street view just the S2S routemap.... Ive updated the route now, A bit of creative thinking and a bridge over the M50 would make it possible to cycle through Eastpoint to east wall road...

    From memory, the original S2S route went along East Wall Road from Alfie Byrne Road to the East Link. For most of it, the footpath is wide enough to allow for a segregated cycle path. Going through Eastpoint would be quieter but getting over the M50 would be quite a challenge.

    The most recent DCC plan is for two new pedestrian/cyclist bridges over the Liffey - one just to the west of the East Link that would facilitate the S2S and the other crossing from Wapping Street to Stoney Blood Road. Both bridges were originally to be further upstream.


  • #234
    beauf
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,648 ✭✭✭✭beauf


    I'm confused what's it got to do with the M50


  • #235
    Mercian Pro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,299 ✭✭✭Mercian Pro


    beauf wrote: »
    I'm confused what's it got to do with the M50

    Rather bizarrely, the Port Tunnel forms part of the M50. Presumably, if the Eastern Bypass is ever built under/along Sandymount Strand, it will be part of the M50 too!


  • #236
    beauf
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,648 ✭✭✭✭beauf


    I never noticed that before lol. Tks.


  • #237
    loyatemu
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,104 ✭✭✭✭loyatemu


    it wouldn't have to go over the motorway if it went around the edge of Eastpoint, there's a footpath along the top of the reclaimed land already.

    HSi7ig3.png


  • #238
    no.8
    Registered Users Posts: 778 ✭✭✭no.8


    Any credible updates of late?

    P.S. The map doesn't seem to load at this time (worked fine a few weeks ago).


  • #239
    riddlinrussell
    Registered Users Posts: 1,034 ✭✭✭riddlinrussell


    no.8 wrote: »
    Any credible updates of late?

    P.S. The map doesn't seem to load at this time (worked fine a few weeks ago).

    Hmm the links still work fine for me?

    Bits and pieces, Michael Ring has announced a fair bit of funding, I added in the Ballinasloe to Shannon Harbour Canal and the planned route from there to Athlone, a proposed Cycle and Walking bridge over the Shannon at Shannon Harbour to link Grand Canal to EuroVelo2 beyond the Shannon (My proposal). I get a lot of my info and updates from the fantastic Greenways thread on the infrastructure board, and periodically monitoring the internet for updates.


  • #240
    no.8
    Registered Users Posts: 778 ✭✭✭no.8


    riddlinrussell wrote: »
    Hmm the links still work fine for me?

    Bits and pieces, Michael Ring has announced a fair bit of funding, I added in the Ballinasloe to Shannon Harbour Canal and the planned route from there to Athlone, a proposed Cycle and Walking bridge over the Shannon at Shannon Harbour to link Grand Canal to EuroVelo2 beyond the Shannon (My proposal). I get a lot of my info and updates from the fantastic Greenways thread on the infrastructure board, and periodically monitoring the internet for updates.

    Thanks for the reply!
    Seems to be working now.

    Let's hope we see more green and orange lines on this map by the end of 2019.


  • Advertisement
  • #241
    Tombo2001
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,709 ✭✭✭Tombo2001


    Anyone done the Newry Canal Greenway? How much is it off road?


  • #242
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 50,167 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    there was some (sometimes bad tempered!) discussion about a proposed greystones to wicklow greenway in the nature and birdwatching forum:

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057948563


  • #243
    chalkitdown1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,477 ✭✭✭chalkitdown1


    Awesome map.

    I noticed you missed a few bits in Cork City; the one starting at Blackrock Castle and running around Mahon to meet the old railway as well as a shorter section connecting the Industrial park to Mahon Shoping Centre.

    11.png

    Blackrock Castle to Passage West is a great Cycle. I really hope they finish the route all the way to Crosshaven.


  • #244
    riddlinrussell
    Registered Users Posts: 1,034 ✭✭✭riddlinrussell


    chalkitdown1 wrote: »
    Awesome map.

    I noticed you missed a few bits in Cork City; the one starting at Blackrock Castle and running around Mahon to meet the old railway as well as a shorter section connecting the Industrial park to Mahon Shoping Centre.

    Blackrock Castle to Passage West is a great Cycle. I really hope they finish the route all the way to Crosshaven.

    Cheers for that! I rely mostly on people on the ground updating me, I've not personally been into Cork City since I was about two...

    EDIT: Not sure I'd be able to put the bit from the Greenway to Mahon Industrial estate on as completed... mostly looks like park trails? Unfortunately I don't have a distinction for them, they wouldn't exactly count as a 'full' greenway, but still cyclable for a majority of people. I should maybe develop what a 'greenway' should aim to be for the criteria, one of them would probably be that someone on an assisted bicycle/cargo bike could travel the full length of it.


  • #245
    Corca Baiscinn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 643 ✭✭✭Corca Baiscinn


    riddlinrussell wrote: »
    Cheers for that! I rely mostly on people on the ground updating me, I've not personally been into Cork City since I was about two...

    EDIT: Not sure I'd be able to put the bit from the Greenway to Mahon Industrial estate on as completed... mostly looks like park trails? Unfortunately I don't have a distinction for them, they wouldn't exactly count as a 'full' greenway, but still cyclable for a majority of people. I should maybe develop what a 'greenway' should aim to be for the criteria, one of them would probably be that someone on an assisted bicycle/cargo bike could travel the full length of it.

    Yes or towing a child trailer.
    Haven't checked your map lately but Greenways seem to be coming thick and fast. Have you seen Michael Ring's latest Rural Recreation list? Seems to funds for a section of the old Cavan and Leitrim railway?


  • #246
    Mercian Pro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,299 ✭✭✭Mercian Pro


    Defining what constitutes a Greenway could prove to be quite problematic. When I saw Longford and Westmeath County Councils marketing the Royal Canal as a Greenway, I had visions of wide level paths, totally segregated from traffic. The reality is slightly different with many sections of quiet roadway utilised along the route. Over the years, sections of towpath were paved and upgraded to give motor access to lock-keepers cottages and isolated farms. In some cases, narrow single-lane roads run on both sides of the canal. There is very limited traffic of any kind on these roads and it makes perfect sense to use them as cycleways but are they Greenways?
    Converted railways are generally more straightforward but even on the Great Western Greenway, there are short stretches where you end up mixing it with busy traffic.


  • Advertisement
  • #247
    riddlinrussell
    Registered Users Posts: 1,034 ✭✭✭riddlinrussell


    Mercian Pro wrote: »
    Defining what constitutes a Greenway could prove to be quite problematic. When I saw Longford and Westmeath County Councils marketing the Royal Canal as a Greenway, I had visions of wide level paths, totally segregated from traffic. The reality is slightly different with many sections of quiet roadway utilised along the route. Over the years, sections of towpath were paved and upgraded to give motor access to lock-keepers cottages and isolated farms. In some cases, narrow single-lane roads run on both sides of the canal. There is very limited traffic of any kind on these roads and it makes perfect sense to use them as cycleways but are they Greenways?
    Converted railways are generally more straightforward but even on the Great Western Greenway, there are short stretches where you end up mixing it with busy traffic.

    Exactly! Theres a good number of quiet road sections along the Grand canal too, very quiet stretches, I'd say in an ideal scenario there would be big signs on the road approach to those sections warning of cyclists and that they have priority.

    I think its Newport especially on the Great Western? It basically dumps you in the town, with barely any cycling provision and you have to make your way across it. I should actually put a clear break in the GWG there because its not satisfactory at all.


  • #248
    Johnboy1951
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,031 ✭✭✭✭Johnboy1951


    riddlinrussell wrote: »
    Exactly! Theres a good number of quiet road sections along the Grand canal too, very quiet stretches, I'd say in an ideal scenario there would be big signs on the road approach to those sections warning of cyclists and that they have priority.

    I think its Newport especially on the Great Western? It basically dumps you in the town, with barely any cycling provision and you have to make your way across it. I should actually put a clear break in the GWG there because its not satisfactory at all.

    I would not consider any use of a public road to be part of a Greenway.
    It would be more a means of getting from one section of a Greenway to another.
    Therefore any map should show those sections as breaks .... or if priority is given to walkers and cyclists over vehicular traffic, then some form of specific marker/colour should be used for those sections.

    It appears to me that there are lots of sections of alleged Greenways that are not as safe for pedestrians/baby buggies/wheelchairs/cyclists/etc as is implied in the name and purpose of the Greenways.

    Also we should not forget the GREEN in the name.
    A route through a town could never be considered a GREENway!


  • #249
    Mercian Pro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,299 ✭✭✭Mercian Pro


    riddlinrussell wrote: »
    Exactly! Theres a good number of quiet road sections along the Grand canal too, very quiet stretches, I'd say in an ideal scenario there would be big signs on the road approach to those sections warning of cyclists and that they have priority.

    I think its Newport especially on the Great Western? It basically dumps you in the town, with barely any cycling provision and you have to make your way across it. I should actually put a clear break in the GWG there because its not satisfactory at all.

    In fairness to the County Councils, a lot of those sections on the Royal Canal have their standard quarter-open gates on them. Most between Mullingar and Longford were locked part-open when I cycled there before Christmas and presumably only householders on the stretch have keys. It's a bit annoying having to slow right down to get through, and I don't know how suitable they are for cyclists on cargo bikes or with trailers, but they do keep the cars away.

    Yes, it was the outskirts of Newport I was thinking of but I may have seen some publicity recently for planned improvement works. I haven't been down that way in a while but, AFAIK, the final section into Achill Sound is now off-road. Good to see that funding and consequent improvement/maintenance works aren't forgotten about.


  • #250
    riddlinrussell
    Registered Users Posts: 1,034 ✭✭✭riddlinrussell


    Johnboy1951 wrote: »
    I would not consider any use of a public road to be part of a Greenway.
    It would be more a means of getting from one section of a Greenway to another.
    Therefore any map should show those sections as breaks .... or if priority is given to walkers and cyclists over vehicular traffic, then some form of specific marker/colour should be used for those sections.

    It appears to me that there are lots of sections of alleged Greenways that are not as safe for pedestrians/baby buggies/wheelchairs/cyclists/etc as is implied in the name and purpose of the Greenways.

    Also we should not forget the GREEN in the name.
    A route through a town could never be considered a GREENway!

    A route through a town would be classed as a cycleway for the purposes of my map, I don't make a distinction between a protected cycleway and a greenway as they should both serve the purpose of providing safe cycling for all.


  • #251
    Johnboy1951
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,031 ✭✭✭✭Johnboy1951


    riddlinrussell wrote: »
    A route through a town would be classed as a cycleway for the purposes of my map, I don't make a distinction between a protected cycleway and a greenway as they should both serve the purpose of providing safe cycling for all.

    Maybe you should consider that idea.

    Hopefully Greenways are not designed solely for cyclists.
    They are certainly not used solely by cyclists.


  • Advertisement
Advertisement