Grand Canal Cycle Path - Be Careful

If you're down Monasterevin direction there's also an aquaduct, bringing the Barrow line over the Barrow. Higher bridge, and possibly a little longer. Continues all the way to St. Mullins

dhaughton99 wrote: »

I noticed a Garda motorcycle doing the rounds along the canal between ninth lock and Kylemore about 11:30 this Sunday morning. Long may it continue.

Good. Few scramblers playing chicken last week, and some lads had set fire to one of the locks also. Class acts.

Bob24 wrote: »

I know having police presence is better than nothing and a quick fix in the short term. But in the long term a better outcome would be for the area to be safe without requiring constant police presence.

Agreed... a large scale cull could achieve it

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

That stretch mentioned above is covered by CCTV as far as I'm aware though

It is, but in my experience it means nothing. I rang the CCTV operator after I was knocked off my bicycle by a kid with a plank of wood. He said the camera I was right next to didn't capture the incident but he was now capturing the group closing in on me, throwing stones at me, etc. I got out of the situation and phoned the local guards. They more or less said there was nothing they could do because I had said the group were a bunch of kids. In a round-about way - maybe avoid the area - I gave up going by that lock in the evenings ever since that 3rd incident I had at that lock.

That was 4 years ago. Nothing changes. As soon as the kids have holidays, you read about these awful incidents in this area.

Anyone listen to liveline today about the trouble along the ninth lock to bluebell?

dhaughton99 wrote: »

Anyone listen to liveline today about the trouble along the ninth lock to bluebell?

I randomly caught a bit of that on the radio this afternoon then (half-)listened online (segment linked on this page https://www.rte.ie/radio1/liveline/#103099093 ). People phoning in other incidents also. Utter scumbags indeed - they're "why we can't have nice things", one way or another...

tnegun wrote: »

I've cycled that section regularly over the past 2 years commuting, I've had a couple of close calls with the natives too. I just greet them with a smile and a howya lads if needed and that usually works but once schools are out and we get good weather like last week all bets are off and any later than 6.30-7pm I stick to the roads.

Same here. I’d rather take my chances with the Naas rd traffic rather than getting a kicking or bike robbed.

Ive called the guards several times re the kids on scrambler bikes and they'll openly tell you there is nothing they can do but send a car up at some stage to have a look but can't engage them. no point in even trying to explain a car can't get close they drive don't care. I just keep m head down and go for it but there's no denying it's risky

tnegun wrote: »

Ive called the guards several times re the kids on scrambler bikes and they'll openly tell you there is nothing they can do but send a car up at some stage to have a look but can't engage them. no point in even trying to explain a car can't get close they drive don't care. I just keep m head down and go for it but there's no denying it's risky

See, this is what I don't understand. It's illegal to drive scrambler bikes on the canal path. The kids riding them are probably not old enough to be allowed to drive them and (I'm guessing here) they probably do not have licences. So why is there nothing the Guards can do? They are, as far as I'm aware, entitled to stop them, ask for licences and if they do not have them, to seize the bikes.

Similarly, if gangs of youths are assaulting people regularly at the same points, why can the Guards not mount patrols on bikes or motorbikes there? Really it's not good enough.

LennoxR wrote: »

See, this is what I don't understand. It's illegal to drive scrambler bikes on the canal path. The kids riding them are probably not old enough to be allowed to drive them and (I'm guessing here) they probably do not have licences. So why is there nothing the Guards can do? They are, as far as I'm aware, entitled to stop them, ask for licences and if they do not have them, to seize the bikes.

Similarly, if gangs of youths are assaulting people regularly at the same points, why can the Guards not mount patrols on bikes or motorbikes there? Really it's not good enough.

I'd guess that what the Garda meant was that if they go up there, the boys will scatter, chances of catching them is slim, and they'll probably just treat it like getting a chase

There was an article in the local paper about scramblers. It opened with this line:

Laws giving the gardai power to seize quads and scramblers being ridden dangerously and terrorising communities are being considered.

We don't already have a law or two to do this already?

It went on to quote Deputy Lahart:

Existing road traffic legislation does not apply to green spaces, housing estates or public parks, which are the very places where these vehicles are most commonly used and causing hassle.

So maybe you can do what you like with a vehicle on the greenways, at least until they come up with a bill, etc. which the article finishes by saying the first stage of this bill went unopposed by the government.

To me, just feels like nobody in authority is willing to get tough on this. Increasing the maximum fine to €5,000, as they are proposing, means nothing to these kids or parents.

Full article is here: https://dublingazette.com/news/scrambler-quad-32452/

LeChienMefiant wrote: »

I've recently purchased a Babboe City Cargo Bike and would like to take the kids out for a spin on the weekend starting from Ballsbridge side of Ranelagh. How far will we get before we hit the undead? Is there a better option for a quiet off road/segregated ride? We'll probably head off early (~8am) if it means a quiet life.

The gates will be a bigger issue than the scumbags, I am not sure you will get through at Inchicore on a cargo bike

LeChienMefiant wrote: »

That's probably fine, the young fellas are not going to last more than half hour each way I think.

In that case you will be fine. The bad spots are... around Bluebell, around Park West and between Clondalkin and Grange Castle

It's so sad looking at the quality of that surface, an amenity the rest of the country would be envious of. Ruined by scrotes. I'm not in any rush out to experience that.