Cities around the world that are reducing car access

AlmightyCushion · 21-05-2021 12:04pm

magicbastarder wrote: »

this is, at first glance, a handy app. you can tag potholes/badly designed infrastructure etc.

https://twitter.com/DubCityCouncil/status/1395316030789009408

Are DCC monitoring things that are tagged so they can fix and improve them or is it just a heads up to other cyclists?

magicbastarder · 21-05-2021 12:07pm

i don't know if they're being monitored, i suspect the main use is knowledge sharing among cyclists.

p_haugh · 21-05-2021 3:02pm

Some good news on the Capel Street front - while the proposal will be going ahead as planned, DCC have agreed to trial full pedestrianisation over a number of weekends during the summer. Hopefully this leads to it being done permanently!

https://twitter.com/newschambers/status/1395738484527276035?s=19

Seth Brundle · 21-05-2021 3:03pm

That's awful - where will the shop owners park now?

bb1234567 · 21-05-2021 3:25pm

It's mad that after those trials in Capel Street happen, and everyone has a wonderful time enjoying the street as a non-car sewer, and business booms, and traffic chaos calamity doesn't ensue in the surrounding streets, and the elderly and disabled do just fine with it all, we will still hear those exact same arguments from the exact same suspects all over again when the conversation about permanent pedestrianisation begins. There's no winning with them unless you just don't listen to them.

Thelonious Monk · 21-05-2021 4:17pm

Man I love reading the moaners on Twitter when these things are announced

Thelonious Monk · 21-05-2021 4:21pm

59% of businesses in favour, great to see

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p_haugh · 21-05-2021 5:39pm

Meanwhile on the other side of the Liffey

https://twitter.com/dlrcc/status/1395771564348608516?s=20

NIMAN · 21-05-2021 5:46pm

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

Man I love reading the moaners on Twitter when these things are announced

Most major cities around the world are looking at implementing it, but as soon as Dublin city centre was mentioned, I heard moaners on LiveLive last week coming out with the rarest situations they could think of as an excuse as to why it shouldn't be done.

"What if someone who is blind or has bad vision has an appt in X street, and has to get dropped 300 metres away at X, they have to walk that far from the taxi".

That was an actual example I heard.

If you want to find reasons NOT to do things, you will always find a endless list of eventualities.

BonnieSituation · 22-05-2021 12:03am

bb1234567 wrote: »

It's mad that after those trials in Capel Street happen, and everyone has a wonderful time enjoying the street as a non-car sewer, and business booms, and traffic chaos calamity doesn't ensue in the surrounding streets, and the elderly and disabled do just fine with it all, we will still hear those exact same arguments from the exact same suspects all over again when the conversation about permanent pedestrianisation begins. There's no winning with them unless you just don't listen to them.

As it was ever thus.

This is why we can't have nice things.

cgcsb · 22-05-2021 10:31am

NIMAN wrote: »

Most major cities around the world are looking at implementing it, but as soon as Dublin city centre was mentioned, I heard moaners on LiveLive last week coming out with the rarest situations they could think of as an excuse as to why it shouldn't be done.

"What if someone who is blind or has bad vision has an appt in X street, and has to get dropped 300 metres away at X, they have to walk that far from the taxi".

That was an actual example I heard.

If you want to find reasons NOT to do things, you will always find a endless list of eventualities.

Logically more pedestrianisation is empowering the blind to be able to walk around more free of danger. Maybe the blind person would love the independence and sense of freedom offered by that 300m walk.

Ben D Bus · 22-05-2021 6:49pm

magicbastarder wrote: »

this is, at first glance, a handy app. you can tag potholes/badly designed infrastructure etc.

https://twitter.com/DubCityCouncil/status/1395316030789009408

I've been using it for months. Didn't realise it was only in Beta. It's interesting seeing all my trips mapped out. Hopefully it helps identify popular routes and assists with prioritising infrastructure developments. I've logged plenty of potholes, dodgy protected cycle lanes and kissing gates. Hope somebody benefits!

Thelonious Monk · 23-05-2021 5:27pm

This is gas given the uproar against any car reduction measures, good enough for them in Galway

https://twitter.com/CloHiggins/status/1396457263599075336

CatInABox · 24-05-2021 10:33am

Lower Liffey Street pedestrianisation to go ahead this summer

https://twitter.com/DublinCommuters/status/1396760090875731969

About damn time

p_haugh · 24-05-2021 11:56am

Some snaps of the newly pedestrianised streets.

https://twitter.com/weareDublinTown/status/1396778718090211332?s=19

Thelonious Monk · 24-05-2021 11:59am

I was just on Merrion Row, it's very underwhelming

bb1234567 · 24-05-2021 12:01pm

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

I was just on Merrion Row, it's very underwhelming

How so

Thelonious Monk · 24-05-2021 12:06pm

2 or 3 bits of extended footpath, but nothing done on the corners of Ely and Merrion Street which is a nightmare at lunchtime where there's not enough room for people to stand and cars and vans take the corners dangerously

cgcsb · 24-05-2021 12:46pm

Underwhelming on all fronts to be honest but it's incremental progress and that is to be welcomed.

I note Capel street got a very loud response regarding the scheme's lack of ambition and they'll be trialing a more ambitious version in June so hoping that leads to something better.

In my view the College Green and dame Street pedestrianisation is the silver bullet that'll really change things here. They should also be widening footpaths on dame St all the way from Geore's St to Christchurch with a bus gate at City Hall

Peregrine · 24-05-2021 12:53pm

cgcsb wrote: »

I note Capel street got a very loud response regarding the scheme's lack of ambition and they'll be trialing a more ambitious version in June so hoping that leads to something better.

Only slightly more ambitious. Looks like it'll be evenings only on Fridays and Saturdays from June 11th. Hopefully that will change.

Sam Russell · 24-05-2021 12:55pm

A bus-gate on Merrion Row would be good - with no parking at all (or maybe 7am to midnight) and deliveries and taxies outside 7am to 7pm.

cgcsb · 24-05-2021 2:04pm

If only DCC could convert all of drury st to bicycle parking . There needs to be some scheme to get the multi storeys demolished. They were built thanks to tax incentives so perhaps a tax incentive could them knocked down or reused in some alternative way.

namloc1980 · 24-05-2021 2:11pm

Why are Councillors in Galway complaining about all the cars in Salthill? This is exactly what they want, like this FG Councillor from a few weeks ago posting a picture of a load of cars as something positive:

.

CatInABox · 24-05-2021 2:19pm

cgcsb wrote: »

If only DCC could convert all of drury st to bicycle parking . There needs to be some scheme to get the multi storeys demolished. They were built thanks to tax incentives so perhaps a tax incentive could them knocked down or reused in some alternative way.

Instead, what we've got is Frank McDonald appealing planning permission to tear down the Trinity Street car park, because the nine storey replacement is too tall.

Jesus wept.

Thelonious Monk · 24-05-2021 2:26pm

I had to cycle in and out of office in Dublin centre today but the carry on with cars is just ridiculous. There are vans or cars facing the wrong way parked in nearly all the bike lanes without bollards, cars and vans parked fully up on the footpath all over the place, I don't remember it being this bad before but maybe I just wasn't paying attention. It's simply down to zero enforcement, you can basically do what you like in the city centre in a car especially if you leave your hazards on.
It does mean you have to take the full lane a lot of the time much to the anger of motorists behind you. Also counted 5 red light breaks, one was a van speeding through a pedestrian crossing just as I was about to cross. It's chaotic alright.

Thelonious Monk · 24-05-2021 2:29pm

Also Salthill got what they deserved yesterday with the car meet carry on. I hope they continue to do it every Sunday. Maybe we should organise one for Sandymount?

Sam Russell · 24-05-2021 2:30pm

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

I had to cycle in and out of office in Dublin centre today but the carry on with cars is just ridiculous. There are vans or cars facing the wrong way parked in nearly all the bike lanes without bollards, cars and vans parked fully up on the footpath all over the place, I don't remember it being this bad before but maybe I just wasn't paying attention. It's simply down to zero enforcement, you can basically do what you like in the city centre in a car especially if you leave your hazards on.
It does mean you have to take the full lane a lot of the time much to the anger of motorists behind you. Also counted 5 red light breaks, one was a van speeding through a pedestrian crossing just as I was about to cross. It's chaotic alright.

Back to normal so.

A while ago, I saw a Garda van with a Garda sitting in it parked on a double yellow line and on the pavement with a continuous line - did not bother him one bit.

MJohnston · 24-05-2021 2:48pm

Similar to something posted on Twitter a couple of weeks ago:

https://twitter.com/yimbyie/status/1392801926421565442

bb1234567 · 24-05-2021 3:20pm

MJohnston wrote: »

Similar to something posted on Twitter a couple of weeks ago:

https://twitter.com/yimbyie/status/1392801926421565442

I'm gonna post this screenshot straight to any knuckledragger complaining about pedestrianisations excluding or inconveniencing the disabled

Thelonious Monk · 24-05-2021 8:15pm

https://twitter.com/lauren_tuite/status/1396903108727517193

Looks pretty good tbf, can't wait to be able to have a drink there in a couple of weeks

magicbastarder · 26-05-2021 1:26pm

https://twitter.com/paulmurphy_TD/status/1397515449068294147

Pete_Cavan · 26-05-2021 8:10pm

magicbastarder wrote: »

https://twitter.com/paulmurphy_TD/status/1397515449068294147

A ban specifically on SUVs! It's unenforceable* and would achieve nothing as arseholes would just start driving different vehicles. Sounds like a very basic attempt by the car lobby at deflecting attention on a small element of the overall problem so that the crux of the problem gets overlooked, and it is obviously working.

*how do you define an SUV? Who is going to enforce this ban? Does a Duster count given it is smaller than many cars (personally I'd ban Dusters from everywhere but that is beside the point)?

con___manx1 · 26-05-2021 8:26pm

Car sharing for work purposes should be encouraged.
Its not ideal for everyone. I enjoy having the car to myself but it's better for your pocket and the environment regardless. I have a hundred k round trip to work everyday. It saves me at least €1000 a year with 1 person sharing.
It also keeps the mileage down on your car and wear on your tyres.

cgcsb · 26-05-2021 11:34pm

The SUV thing sounds like a brainfart. A ban on all diesel cars using anpnr cameras at the canal cordon would be useful. Also ban petrol cars over a certain age and then gradually make it a ban on all non electric cars while pedestrianising the city centre as much as possible. Then slap a congestion charge on the electric cars and remove the on street parking.

cgcsb · 26-05-2021 11:35pm

con___manx1 wrote: »

Car sharing for work purposes should be encouraged.
Its not ideal for everyone. I enjoy having the car to myself but it's better for your pocket and the environment regardless. I have a hundred k round trip to work everyday. It saves me at least €1000 a year with 1 person sharing.
It also keeps the mileage down on your car and wear on your tyres.

What an odd post. We're way past that. Almost all commutes are under 15km in Dublin

Heartbreak Hank · 27-05-2021 12:48pm

Very interesting series of presentations on cycling infrastructure design by NTA hosted by Engineers Ireland.

First one is currently underway - might be on YouTube later.

Link

Podge_irl · 27-05-2021 4:46pm

https://twitter.com/DubCityCouncil/status/1397934361689968640?s=20

How could anyone possibly prefer the before picture here!?

cgcsb · 27-05-2021 4:50pm

Podge_irl wrote: »

https://twitter.com/DubCityCouncil/status/1397934361689968640?s=20

How could anyone possibly prefer the before picture here!?

Mannix Flynn

namloc1980 · 27-05-2021 6:08pm

Podge_irl wrote: »

https://twitter.com/DubCityCouncil/status/1397934361689968640?s=20

How could anyone possibly prefer the before picture here!?

There's always a few who'd prefer the before picture and think that parked vehicles mean that a place is "hopping" or indicates it is "thriving". And also someone who'll say "but what about <insert unlikely and nonsense example>, how will they manage?".

donvito99 · 27-05-2021 6:24pm

namloc1980 wrote: »

And also someone who'll say "but what about <insert unlikely and nonsense example>, how will they manage?".

How will the blind find parking when they need to buy new reading glasses in Specsavers? Something Owen Keegan something, etc.

Thelonious Monk · 27-05-2021 8:29pm

There are people bitching and moaning about the above on Twitter alright, about delivery drivers etc. As if they care about deliveries and as if Grafton St never got anything delivered.

Heartbreak Hank · 28-05-2021 2:49pm

Heartbreak Hank wrote: »

Very interesting series of presentations on cycling infrastructure design by NTA hosted by Engineers Ireland.

First one is currently underway - might be on YouTube later.

Link

Invites for the rest of the events below:

3rd June: Active Travel Series - Pop-Up Infrastructure - Free Online Webinar
10th June: Active Travel Series - Effective Communication Approaches for Sustainable Travel Schemes - Free Online Webinar
17th June: Active Travel Series - Scheme Development Through Options Assessment Process - Free Online Webinar
24th June: Active Travel Series - BusConnects - Designing for Sustainable Modes - Free Online Webinar
1st July: Active Travel Series - Statutory Processes for Active Travel Schemes - Free Online Webinar

Thelonious Monk · 30-05-2021 10:56pm

pedestrianisation going well

https://twitter.com/adamos29/status/1399079866545410048

MJohnston · 30-05-2021 10:59pm

Gardai being their usual moronic, reactionary self. No doubt their boss got a bollocking from the FFGers after the scenes the other night.

cgcsb · 31-05-2021 10:56am

It's just so Irish. Its slightly more effort to put in bins, toilets and monitor the situation so we'll just close the area off and make a worse problem elsewhere. That'll solve it

namloc1980 · 31-05-2021 12:49pm

This is normal:

Dublin streets could be closed off after enormous crowds gather over weekend

A number of Garda sources said areas could be fenced off in Dublin city centre to prevent crowds gathering in a similar fashion again. They added that other controls, such as those seen around Temple Bar on St Patrick’s Day, could be implemented.

This would involve a cordon being placed around areas and access points being manned by gardaí. While access would be open to anyone, places could be temporarily closed or people moved on should they become too congested.

Pete_Cavan · 31-05-2021 4:38pm

I think it is right that steps be taken to avoid open air can-drinking fests. That is of little/no benefit to the businesses in these areas and the mess it generates is unacceptable. Part of the problem is temporary and caused by pent up demand to socialise and the novelty of particular areas having been pedestrianised, both of which will wear off.

Another part of the problem is that there is huge demand to socialise outdoor in a car-free environment in the city centre but the demand far exceeds the space available. The solution here is to provide much more such areas to spread that demand. Imagine having a wide choice of pedestrian areas to go, rather than everyone heading to the same couple of places.

Thelonious Monk · 31-05-2021 5:20pm

I'm sick of people being seen as unwanted unless they are spending money or a benefit to businesses. How did we allow this to become a common view of people? Can people not just be outside without spending money?

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Pete_Cavan · 31-05-2021 5:37pm

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

I'm sick of people being seen as unwanted unless they are spending money or a benefit to businesses. How did we allow this to become a common view of people? Can people not just be outside without spending money?

It's not about spending money. Buying cans/bottles also involves spending money but many leave the rubbish behind them for others to clean up. At least when eating/drinking from a particular premises, they take on some of the clean up and also have some responsibility for not letting things get out of hand. If the Gardai have to deal with disorder and get lots of complaints about litter etc, they generally take this kind of unwanted response.

Thelonious Monk · 31-05-2021 5:40pm

Yeah the littering is inexcusable, I don't know what can be done to change the mindset of Irish people to clean up after themselves but all the council is doing for the outdoor summer is allowing bars and restaurants to have outdoor areas without having to pay any charges. The rep from DCC on Claire Byrne earlier said that the working definition of "outdoor summer" means facilitating businesses.

Cities around the world that are reducing car access

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