Irish Rail & Bikes

[Gary]

Has anyone else noticed the extreme lack of bike spaces available at train stations, Yesterday both DunLaoire and Pearse had no spaces available out of a total of 16 spaces at each station.. 16.. this compares to 500+ at train stations in Holland.

A single car park space could take 8 bikes, hardly a promotion of a healthy living non pollutant lifestyle! Pearse station has a good few cars parked behind the northbound platform, could this not be opened up or is that just for employees?

Also haven't come across any bike park for the new docklands station. Does one exist?

[Colm Moore]

Originally Posted by Gary

Also haven't come across any bike park for the new docklands station. Does one exist?

Under the third arch, you have to take your bike down the stairs or lift.

[Mark Gleeson]

Well not quite IE's fault still waiting on this canal side walkway/linear park thingy which would give level access, that be Treasury holdings problem

[Gary]

What about the area behind the northbound platform in Pearse, could that be used as an alternative exit out on to the back of IIB bank/ Holles Street. Could be a great incentive for people to cycle from the train station to stephen's green etc.

[Colm Donoghue]

where would the public transport workers park their private transport vehicles then?

[al2637]

I really believe we need to start taking the issue of bikes more seriously.

Firstly, free, secure and easily accessible parking at ALL stations. This is a no-brainer.

And secondly, we need to get to the situation where you can bring your bike onto the train with you. Designated spaces in each carriage to secure the bike. DART, Commuter, InterCity. Obviously the system has massive capacity problems at the moment, but we need to get to the situation where this is possible.

If we are serious about integrated public transport, we need to understand that bicycles are the glue which binds the system together...

(and yes, I live in Amsterdam )

[Gary]

Al

Agree with you strongly on that one, there's very little encouragement by a number of authorties, IE, Dublin City Council and with the exception of some good ones, Employers to involve bikes as a means of transport. One that could be easily integrated with Rail for people that are able to cycle, which must be a good 70% of commutters.

Lack of investment in bike parks and proper segregated cycle paths will not encourage the Dutch Model. As you say its just something that's not takien seriously by the Mercedes Ministers. Will the Greens offer us anything different!?

[Mark]

Perhaps each station should be obliged to provide x amount of secure, covered bicycle spaces per % of xkm of catchment area?

A target of x amount of 'bike&rides' should be set and incorporated into the IE station awards.

The weather factor is just a poor excuse. Lazyness, poor facilities to, from and at the stations are the major reasons.

A bit of marketing would go a long way.

Also another factor I have noticed in regard to cycling in Ireland is that most people keep their bikes in a garage or shed covered in furntiure, rubbish etc. Not having your bike readily available at your place of living is actually a huge deterrent.

I have actively noticed bikes being stolen from my local station. In broad daylight - Crazy stuff!

[al2637]

I've only had a bike for the last 2 months, but it's great, makes the city seem so much smaller. Hopefully with the traffic calming measures in the city, and the move to restrict it even more to traffic, we should see an increase in cycling.

Any chance we could build cycle tracks along side any new Luas lines?

But we are talking about a country which does stuff like this:

[Oisin88]

Originally Posted by al2637

But we are talking about a country which does stuff like this:
<pictures from above>

These are brilliant!!!

[Mark]

Im involved daily in road design and I can tell you that cycle lanes are still getting short changed at design stage.

[Colm Donoghue]

I'm fairly sure at one stage the cable stayed rail bridge at Dundrum was to have cycle lanes in parallel with the rails but that got scrapped.

Look at the new bridge proposed over the Royal Canal

The Sutton to Sandy cove cycle track has been on the long finger as long as I remember,

Andrew st., Dublin 2 has the only contraflow cycle lane I know of, yet busses, postal vans, cars etc are regularily parked blocking the entire cycle lane.

What are the bike parking facilities at Heuston like these days? Can you still leave bikes inside the shed there?

What is the story with bike parking at Adamstown, are there covered spaces?

I believe that cycle lanes on the verge of a road are worse than useless and should be removed. Like Georges st, Aungier st, Wexford st, Donnybrook.
It is illegal for cyclist to cycle outside these but Cars can drive in them if they "need" to

similarily shared pedestrian / Cycle lanes are also a disaster. pedestrians are not expected to obey traffic lanes or interact with traffic. These are designed by people who must bring their three year old on their first bike with stabilizers on them.


To get back on topic, the bike shelters at my local station are of the "curve to not really protect your bike from the rain but look modern and cool" type. similar to the one across from the Galloping Green on the n11 qbc. better than nothing but only just.

[Gary]

"The Sutton to Sandy cove cycle track has been on the long finger as long as I remember"

Yea think that's now become part of an overall program to increase the water defences along the coastline while putting in a bike track, how long will that all take is a another story..

"Andrew st., Dublin 2 has the only contraflow cycle lane I know of, yet busses, postal vans, cars etc are regularily parked blocking the entire cycle lane"

There's actually another one outside Kilmanham Jail but you'd want to be on some quiet illegal sweets to even think about using it against the flow of traffic.

I reckon Cyclists, Pedestrians and Road Traffic needs to be seperated by kerbs where at all possible.

"I believe that cycle lanes on the verge of a road are worse than useless and should be removed. Like Georges st, Aungier st, Wexford st, Donnybrook.
It is illegal for cyclist to cycle outside these but Cars can drive in them if they "need" to"

Don't think its illegal for bikes not to use them but could wrong on that. Where's a continous white happens on a cycle lane cars aren't meant to cross.

Bottom line Dublin City is not the safest place to cycle so will need some creative thinking by a Dublin Transport Office to co-ordinate IE, DCC etc..
[/quote]

[ACustomer]

Cycle lanes which are separate from the road (Churchtown Road, Nuutgrove Avenue in D14) are often strewn with rubbish, including broken glass. Also they have to odd death-trap in the form of a pot-hole. No wonder cyclists do do not use them all the time.

I'd love to get some Council engineers and penpushers by the scruff of the neck and make them ride a bicycle on these squalid excuses for cycle lanes.

Some of the on-road cycle lanes are on roads so narrow, the whole idea is a joke. Iv'e heard them described as well-marked killing zones for cyclists.

[CSL]

You can cycle outside the bike lane markers if you want;

all a bike lane means really is you can't park there in hours.

road traffic acts determine who can be in them.

[markpb]

Originally Posted by CSL

You can cycle outside the bike lane markers if you want;
all a bike lane means really is you can't park there in hours.

Actually you can't. A cycle lane which is bordered by a continuous white line must be used by a cyclist. The only time this isn't true is when the cyclist is performing a lane change manoeuver, such as to turn right. I've been forced off the road on at least one occasion by a member of the Traffic Corp for violating this. It's a daft rule that both Dublin Cycling Campaign and Dublin City Council want revoked.

[Gary]

Originally Posted by markpb

Actually you can't. A cycle lane which is bordered by a continuous white line must be used by a cyclist. The only time this isn't true is when the cyclist is performing a lane change manoeuver, such as to turn right. I've been forced off the road on at least one occasion by a member of the Traffic Corp for violating this. It's a daft rule that both Dublin Cycling Campaign and Dublin City Council want revoked.

But you're allowed cycle two abreast, so that rule kinda conflicts with the one above?

[markpb]

Originally Posted by Gary

But you're allowed cycle two abreast, so that rule kinda conflicts with the one above?

I can't find it right now but IIRC there's no law allowing you to cycle two-abrest - there just isn't a law forbidding it. I'll dig up the standing orders tonight if I can find them, they've been posted by robfitz of SDCC SPC several times.

[dowlingm]

there used to be tv cycling safety ads which said "never more than 2 abreast".

[CSL]

OK My fault on this.

I was wrong on the cycle lanes; if one exists you must follow it.

Here is the SI on it :


http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/ZZSI1...ZSI182Y1997A14


Here are the rules regarding 2 abreast

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/ZZSI1...ZSI182Y1997A47