Greenway Map

Looks like the map can be updated. The potential greenway along the Shannon from Limerick City to O'Brien's Bridge can be changed to 'proposed'.

https://www.limerickpost.ie/2018/07/03/key-tourism-projects-targeted-by-e2-3-million-fund/

Is it just yourself that can change the map? I see that there's a section in Limerick City that is marked as completed. It isn't even proposed as far as I am aware!

riddlinrussell wrote: »

Updated map with proposed Glanmire Greenway from here. I get the feeling there are a number of these 'local' greenways that are flying under the radar. Please let me know if you know of anything like this, or improvements made to greenways in your area.

It's great when you can update your map but the problem re greenways and greenway proposals springing up everywhere is that the €55 million which is apparently what's earmarked over the next 4 years wont go anywhere near completing even a fraction of the and many communities will be disappointed. Shane Ross keeps quoting this €55m to everyone who asks, latest time I saw it was yesterday via a tweet from Brian Hayes MEP citing an email from Shane Ross. €55 is chicken-feed in light of the pent-up demand for safe and enjoyble cycling infra so with General and Local Elections coming up think we'll need to tell our representatives that #IBikeIVote and it's time to #Allocate4Cycing

The highlighted section on the screenshot would be a fantastic greenway but it's a long way off I think. I don't even know if it's proposed. At the moment there is a narrow concrete path along some of that section but you wouldn't be able to cycle on it. Most of the rest is a muddy, broken semi-collapsed track that isn't even walkable. It is effectively offroad.

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

That goes past St Mary's Park/King's Island area, not exactly a place I would like to be cycling past with young kids.

Firstly, it doesn't. It's across the river from King's Island. The area is fine.

Secondly, even if it did, that's even more reason to put a Greenway there. The St. Mary's Park area has been fairly isolated for a few generations and that's one of the main reasons there's such social deprivation there. I'm not saying there wouldn't be challenges, but over time a Greenway would be very good for the area.

Thirdly, people from lower socio-economic backgrounds deserve cycling infrastructure, such as Greenways, just as much as everybody else.

riddlinrussell wrote: »

At the moment its mostly myself doing it, if anyone with different information wants to lend a hand I'd be glad to give them editing permissions. Where in Limerick isn't marked correctly? I think I based most of the routes there on what I could see on streetview/sattelite, and a few articles about various greenways there. Don't get much chance to go to Limerick so I don't have much first hand information.




Agreed, the NI greenway network (which is mostly just the main corridors and a few secondary routes for tourism) is estimated at £175 million, which is dirt cheap in terms of Goverment level funding, but given the clamour for greenway initiatives happening all over Ireland at the moment that €55 million figure is looking decidedly puny. I would suggest however that a similar 'Island greenway network' be proposed at the government level as part of any announcement on funding, especially as it would create a focus for projects and encourage them to link together disjointed sections.

And how much of that £175m have they actually spent since it was published?

riddlinrussell wrote: »

Well thats just the published cost of the whole network, not how much has been made available so far. About 100-200k has been made available so far with councils having developed proposals in competition for funding to bring them forward, I believe it had been narrowed down to 4 routes progressing at the moment to planning application stage. Having an overarching scheme for Countrywide greenways and a full price tag that people can look at and say 'so we are spending x billion on these roads/railways/hospital costs, and for only 4/500 million we could absolutely cover the country in a cycling/walking network which would save the HSE x billion over the next 20 years?' Gets people thinking about it and gives a proper target for transport ministers to fund towards instead of pulling a random million figure out of their arse.

Of course I agree with you re networked routes & €110m for their smaller area is better than €55m for here but comparison with NI is not entirely relevant. Afaik the 4 routes you mention are cross-border greenways being developed with mainly EU funding & the odd thing is that a criteria for fundig was that the routes had to be commuter routes. Hence Derry/Inishowen for eg which has gone to public consultation. On the other hand, while our greenway strategy hasn't been published yet the emphasis is overwhelmingly on tourism and tourism revenue and greenway groups seeking funding have to pitch their bid accordingly. Obviously any infra will benefit locals too.

Part of the map along my commute seems to be wrong.



The marked (green) path is actually a pitch and put course. There may or may not be a path through it, but it's not always open in any case. I've marked the actual cycle route in red.

Edit: That's near Glasnevin cemetery in Dublin btw.

riddlinrussell wrote: »

True Greenways are almost always tourism focused, although with benefits for locals and a fantastic alternative route for anyone wanting to travel cross country on foot or by bike. But linking them into a cohesive network is important for encouraging things like Dutch style cycle tourism, and also for getting groups together to form a stronger funding base, if you want a greenway in your area its much better if you can go to the council/government with 'We have a detailed design for building the planned greenway connecting Euro Velo route 2 to the Great Western Greenway" instead of "Wed like to get a greenway from Lenanne to Maam Cross"

The Greenway groups I am familiar with re very conscious of the need for a network & are planning accordingly but the actual funding available will have to greatly increase.I did a submission to the Greenway Strategy myself and stressed the need for a network It means though, that counties have to cooperate to get funding across county borders. Between the involvement of TII, NTA, Waterways Ireland, Dept Ag (via Rural Recereation Scheme Grants) DTTAS & Local Enterprise Offices it's hard to join up the funders/builders never mid the actual greenways!

Hi OP, DTTAS Greenway Strategy finally published today! I wonder how quickly you'll be able to amend your "potential" and "planned" Greenways to complete!

http://www.dttas.ie/press-releases/2018/ministers-launch-strategy-future-development-national-and-regional-greenways


http://www.dttas.ie/tourism/english/greenways

I am a great fan of greenways and their potential and welcome the expansion of a greenway network nationwide. However I also believe there is untapped potential in onroad cycling on quiet rural roads. Ireland has the most extensive network of public roads per square mile of almost any country in the world. I recently cycled nearly 50km through stunning scenery on quiet rural roads with grass down the centre in the north west of Ireland. In all that time I met 5 cars one quad and one tractor.
Is there a potential to develop some of these little used routes for long distance cycling trails. Possibly through the use of signage, restricted speed limits and coloured, perhaps green, tarmac when resurfacing?
It is possible to travel huge distances in rural ireland along this network of minor, little used backroads.
They are already in public ownership and with a little imagination could be used to link greenways or create safe, scenic long distance cycle routes.

The current marked long distance cycle routes in Ireland leave a lot to be desired.
The Tour dHumbert Route is difficult to get any information on.
I have yet to find a map online of the Northwest Trail. It’s website is full of generic stock images under headings like culture, which shows a picture of an African tribe?
The Kingfisher Route also seems to have gone by the wayside.
Should we seek to develop onroad cycling as well as greenways?

SafeSurfer wrote: »

I am a great fan of greenways and their potential and welcome the expansion of a greenway network nationwide. However I also believe there is untapped potential in onroad cycling on quiet rural roads.

Should we seek to develop onroad cycling as well as greenways?

I'd subscribe to this idea too. For the majority of my long cycles I plot a route that avoids main roads where possible and or busy secondary roads. There are so many enjoyable routes to be found about the place where you'd rarely encounter another car. Abroad a lot of minor roads I've cycled would have bicycle signs and when running broadly parallel to main roads would have only local access cars.

The only issue I'd see is how to regulate local access only routes here without some stick such as bollards / traffic calming to avoid rat runs around certain populated areas.

Its a shared lane though, so no need for a driver to avoid being in it...

It is horribly confusing driving those type roads though as it's just narrow white line overload. I presume the dotted cycle lines are to remind drivers about cyclists... given that the central line is also doted so cars can overtake cyclists as they approach them and the oncoming traffic lane is clear?

Grassey wrote: »

I'd subscribe to this idea too. For the majority of my long cycles I plot a route that avoids main roads where possible and or busy secondary roads. There are so many enjoyable routes to be found about the place where you'd rarely encounter another car. Abroad a lot of minor roads I've cycled would have bicycle signs and when running broadly parallel to main roads would have only local access cars.

The only issue I'd see is how to regulate local access only routes here without some stick such as bollards / traffic calming to avoid rat runs around certain populated areas.

Eamonn

Yep I have a load of quiet routes in my area.
Massive advantage to living away from the cities.

Was out last week for 30k. For the first 12 or so k I'd say I met 0 cars and about 20 walkers. Rest was slightly busier 10 to 15 cars.

Bear in mind that most country cars are a pleasure to meet.

Throw in a mild evening a bit of scenery up. The hills. A pleasure

riddlinrussell wrote: »

I think the main thing with the vast, VAST majority of these quiet routes is they are totally inconspicuous and just... roads. If quiet route cycling is to be encouraged and grown then there needs to be clearer marking of the quiet roads for cyclists to follow routes and VERY clear marking for cars etc. making them aware that the route is very popular with cyclists, maybe doing a bit of road design to ensure low speeds, like a different coloured tarmac. As you say most drivers on those routes will be happily trundling along, but you cant guarantee that there wont be some boy racer lad flying along the boreens at 100, especially if they aren't marked clearly as cycle highways

Personally I like it just the way it is .

Start creating routes and putting in rules, start getting aggro and no one to enforce anything.

Also start getting the claims artists who fall over and reckon the council should be filling every pothole and sweeping every road.

A pool of info among like minded cyclists??Routes, notes etc

riddlinrussell wrote: »

If its implemented like it is in Germany I don't see why it should cause major problems, doing nothing is all well and good for confident cyclists but it means its a closed shop for anyone less confident wanting to get out and cycle.


This is the sort of signage you'd want along with fingerposts, which I've seen in a few places in Clare but you'd want a lot more countrywide

Fair enough. I wouldn't be against anything sensible.

Just find in this country we seem to go about everything a bit arse ways.

Cycle lanes that just end etc.

You also need give and take. Eg if I meet Jimmy the farmer with his massive tractor and bale trailer I must pull in and leave him off.

You've to remember that these country roads are for all.

riddlinrussell wrote: »

Interestingly enough there actually another sign in Germany saying a road is a cycle track with an explicit warning to cyclists to make way for farm and forestry machinery! Combinations of those where appropriate, and good fingerposting, would bring enormous benefit to cycling tourism in Ireland.

Seems the germans know what they're at

Cabaal wrote: »

We should of course also use quieter rural roads without a doubt,

Perfect example near me is the old N9 kilkenny to Waterford
It was replaced by the M9 motorway back in 2008/2009, it has a very good surface and its not a very busy road at all for the majority of it. Specifically from Knocktopher to Waterford, I've regularly run and cycled it and you'd only meet a hand full of cars so its perfect for a cycle route.

It has one issue, the Kilkenny to Knocktopher section via Thomastown is much busier which is a shame, but with some planning provisions could be made to make it safer for cyclists.

Same her in Clare since the M18 opened you can ride on the old road from Drumline Shannon all the way to Gort and beyond. real quiet road super surface, mostly hard shoulder. Its great. 62 Km to before Ardrahan. You just have to get past Ennis, other than that its uninterupted.

Je_suis_Jean wrote: »

When does it look like it will it be possible to cycle (on a road bike) from Ringsend in Dublin all the way to Eyre Square in Galway city via dedicated greenways?

If you wanted to do it now how much of the 220km would be operational Greenway? Has anyone on here tried to do the full trip?

completion date? very much unknown at this point

there's currently no greenway west beyond Athlone, which is about 120km from Dublin.
then in terms of getting to Athlone you can travel the entire distance from Furey's pub in Moyvalley as far as Athlone via greenways, some of which are for cyclists & pedestrians only and some of which are very quiet country / access roads. this works out at around 80km of greenway, between Dublin and Moyvalley is a bit hit and miss and to use the greenways would require a few hops on and off as they're not properly joined up as yet. Intel as far as Kilcock is a decent long stretch though, maybe 10-15km.