Cork - BusConnects

The final revised network for Cork was published today:

https://busconnects.ie/cork/

The new 1 is the new main east west corridor from Mahon to Ballincollig as they want it to mirror the future Luas line and be a 24 hour service.

Based on the higher frequency and the 90 minute ticket there'll be a high frequency transfer from the 1 to the 3 (to Apple) in the city centre.

I disagree about the North and South Links. Almost no buses will be using these roads and there are no major populations living along these roads (at least the N40 and N27) with any type of access to the roads to make bus stops. As well as that, the housing near the roads are low density. Having bus lanes would be a waste of space as there would never be any type of need for them. The N40 is supposed to be a 'freeway' running through the southside (originally around it but we know what happened there) so that cars don't need to drive through residential roads or the city centre to get to either side of the city. That idea is very much enforced in these plans. As the Douglas Road will be local access only now with three bus gates, the thousands of cars a day that use the Douglas Road will need to go somewhere, even if there was a huge reduction in car usage in favour of buses (as is the hope). The South Douglas Road likely won't be able to fit this excess traffic, and so people south of the N40 and east of the N27 are being told to use the N27 to access the City Centre or the Southern Distributor (also partially included in this through the extension of Grange Road to Carrigaline Road, the Kinsale Rd - Douglas bus corridor) to get around the city west of the N27

As for the rest of your comment, I can't give an opinion just yet. I have only looked at the Maryborough - City Centre route and it looks good to me. Fingerpost changed to a junction with bus priority, a bus gate added to allow buses onto East Douglas Street (which is being made a cul-de-sac for private cars), Old Carrigaline Road made two way, bus gates on Douglas Road look practical, etc. Will be extremely controversial though

Bus gates at Well Road, Bellair and Ballinlough Road. Cars can access their house on Douglas Road using the the various points of access to the road from South Douglas Road (like Belvedere Lawn, Rosebank and Cross Douglas Road), Ballinlough Road/Bellair, Eglantine Park and Woodview. Cars can freely move around the local access areas, but the three bus gates prevents someone from driving from Douglas to the city centre on the Douglas Road, reducing traffic on the road for buses while mantaining local access for houses and schools. I assume the buses will have a scanner so only buses can get through. I think there is already one at the back of Mahon Point

Some of the details are really strange.

I don't understand the motivation to keep the Tivoli Dual Carriageway a 60kmh Dual Carriageway for instance: traffic is often backed up there, I would have thought it a prime candidate for a bus lane, especially if it's all 60kmh. And some of the cycle routes are a bit off the wall, they're effectively "get out of the way of important traffic" routes, rather than actually offering anything for cyclists. Often on narrow, steep longer routes than the obvious route.

Lots of good stuff in there too though. On balance I would like to see all of it done, rather than none of it done.

Local councillors are elected on a couple of hundred votes. That is what critical infrastructure rests on in this country.

Absolutely embarrassing that we have these councillors calling the shots. BusConnects will die a death at the hands of these dinosaurs in City Hall and the nimbys that will be emboldened by their stance.

Accounts like that make me despair. Spreading lies and BS without any effective way of taking them down. Kinda makes me wish we could approach infrastructure projects in a more China-like way and just send idiots like that off to labor camps for a decade or two!

Amazing…an article discussing opposition to the plan which doesn’t mention Terry Shannon. That’s a first.

The consultants for this are very very against one way running on different roads for bus services as it inevitably means that on at least one leg of the journey a lot of people have a much longer walk at the end to get home etc. Case studies show that this difference is enough to put people off using the bus.

Bit of a bump, but Ballincollig is festooned with anti-Bus-Connects signs

1) Save our trees!

2) Don't cut down 60 trees!

3) Save our right turn lanes!

I mean really.

It's true. The signs being nailed to the tree is the pièce de résistance.

Heaven help us the karens will be chaining themselves to the right turn lanes. A new level of entitlement.

It's a complete capitulation to NIMBYs, vested interests and the generally ignorant populace of the city bat large. Might as well cancel the entire project and leave things as it is at this point because the new plans will deliver NO improvement at all. NTA should have just gone in and forced the original plans through the courts!

A capitulation to nimbys and local political interests. Waste of time as these new plans won't improve the bus experience, so best to scrap it altogether to be honest.

If the NTA should have learnedanything from the BusConnects Dublin experience, it's that the infrastructure improvements should be done in a localised way using Part 8. These big city-wide plans only poke every bear of a NIMBY across the whole city and galvanise people against the plan.

BusConnects should be a network redesign and the common branding, standard bus stops, etc. The road layout changes can be more easily done under Part 8. Start off by picking some low hanging fruit of pinchpoints where benefits can be realised but also relatively uncontroversial. Those works could be done much quicker that way than jumping through all the hoops a mega project like BusConnects entails. I'd be confident more works would be done by 2030 using this route rather than going through the slog that is BusConnects (where clearly nothing of note will be done by 2030).

I think it's fair to say that the original Cork Bus Connect plan has been scrapped because what is remaining is a few route changes and some minor adjustments.

This was supposed to be a major improvement for public transport in the city, with more frequent and reliable buses, dedicated lanes, and better connections. But thanks to a vocal minority of nimbies (not in my backyard), who opposed any changes to their precious roads and parking spaces, the plan has been shelved.

This is a huge setback for Cork and its residents, who deserve better options for getting around. It appears to me that the nimbies have shown once again that they have more influence than the wider public, who would benefit from a more sustainable and efficient transport system. In my opinion they have ignored the facts and the evidence, and instead focused on their own selfish interests.

They have ruined the proposed Cork Bus Connect plan, and they have done a disservice to the city and its future. They have put their own convenience over the common good, and they have stifled progress and innovation. They have shown that they don't care about the environment, the economy, or the quality of life of their fellow citizens.

I'm not surprised, yet still disappointed. We need to stand up to the nimbies and demand better transport solutions for Cork. We need to make our voices heard and show that we care about our city and its future. We need to support the Cork Bus Connect plan and make it happen.

I usually am not one for going and providing feedback about public policy, but enough is enough, this caving to single issue people (don't take my right turn), not in my backyard pressure must stop, we need efficient public transport that connects people, workplaces and shops to survive.

Cork is the second-largest city in Ireland and a major economic and cultural hub. However, its public transport system is inadequate and unreliable, causing congestion, pollution and frustration for residents and visitors alike.

An efficient public transport system would reduce traffic and improve air quality in Cork. According to a recent study by the European Environment Agency, Cork has the worst air quality in Ireland and ranks among the worst in Europe. The main source of air pollution in Cork is road transport, which emits harmful particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide. By providing more frequent, reliable and affordable public transport options more people would be encouraged to leave their cars at home and use public transport instead. This would ease the pressure on the roads and lower the emissions of greenhouse gases and pollutants.

An efficient public transport system would also boost the economy and tourism of Cork. Cork has a vibrant and diverse economy, with sectors such as pharmaceuticals, technology, education and food. However, the lack of public transport infrastructure hinders the growth and development of these sectors, as it makes it harder for workers, students and customers to access them. By improving the connectivity and accessibility of public transport, more businesses would be attracted to invest in Cork, creating more jobs and opportunities for the local population. Moreover, an efficient public transport system would enhance the attractiveness of Cork as a tourist destination, as it would make it easier for visitors to explore the city and its surroundings.

An efficient public transport system would also improve the quality of life and social inclusion of Cork's residents. Cork is a diverse and multicultural city, with people from different backgrounds, cultures and abilities. However, the current public transport system does not cater to the needs and preferences of all these groups, as it is often inaccessible, delayed or requires multiple changes to reach a desitination.

By designing a public transport system that is inclusive, accessible and affordable for everyone, more people would be able to participate in the social and cultural life of the city, reducing isolation and fostering community cohesion.

In conclusion, an efficient public transport system is needed for Cork, Ireland, as it would bring multiple benefits to the city and its people. It would reduce traffic and improve air quality, boost the economy and tourism, and improve the quality of life and social inclusion of Cork's residents.

Therefore, I urge you to participate in feedback to the authorities and stakeholders, so that they take action and invest in a better public transport system for Cork.