New Contra flow bike lane at Newtownpark Avenue(?)

monument

smackyB wrote: »

And here was the response

"There will be Temporary repairs made to the potholes inside the next week.
Unfortunately, resurfacing the road is not in this years programme but will be done in the future."

The mind boggles....

The mind boggles? On the diffrence between Temporary repairs and resurfacing? If so...

Resurfacing = ripping up the tarmac on the road and then relaying the tarmac.

Temporary repairs = patching or filling in the pot holes, usually it does not last and is never too great.

smackyB

No the mind boggles as to why, when they formulated this plan for the contra-flow lane, they did not put aside any funds to resurface the road!

monument

smackyB wrote: »

No the mind boggles as to why, when they formulated this plan for the contra-flow lane, they did not put aside any funds to resurface the road!

Because if they had to resurface every road leading up to every new project, the money for new projects would not go too far.

nomdeboardie

monument wrote: »

Because if they had to resurface every road leading up to every new project, the money for new projects would not go too far.

Idrone Terrace is the one immediate link to it though*; it's the weak link.

(*Extending the contraflow lane to the one-way section of Main Street to complete the other possible entrance would be very valuable too)

monument

nomdeboardie wrote: »

Idrone Terrace is the one immediate link to it though*; it's the weak link.

(*Extending the contraflow lane to the one-way section of Main Street to complete the other possible entrance would be very valuable too)

I get that, but in fairness the council is working with a limited budget and the grants from the NTA etc for projects like this contra-flow lane is unlikely to extend to resurfacing the other road (even if it is a key link road to the project!). The pool of money from the NTA is spread across the Greater Dublin Area and across more than just cycling. I'm not saying the NTA has perfected how dish out money, but just that they can only give out so much for one area and/or on the one project.

Agreed on continuing it to Main Street. It was one of my main complaints when I seen the project finished, but on thinking about it the council were likely right in not doing it all in one. Now there is a greater demand and more people understand or at least get a better idea of how the contra-flow lane works. It now seems to work fairly well,

deadlyspot.com

smackyB wrote: »

I've used this new lane once or twice and think it's great except for the fact that road leading to this cycle lane (Idrone Terrace) is in a terrible condition.

Here's an email I sent to the council in March

"Hi, are there any plans to fix the road surface at Idrone Terrace, Blackrock? The road surface is in terrible shape with loose stones and lots of potholes. Given that this road is the source of traffic for the new contra-flow cycle lane on Newtown Avenue, it would be of great benefit to cyclists if the road was resurfaced."

And here was the response

"There will be Temporary repairs made to the potholes inside the next week.
Unfortunately, resurfacing the road is not in this years programme but will be done in the future."

The mind boggles....

monument wrote: »

The mind boggles? On the diffrence between Temporary repairs and resurfacing? If so...

Resurfacing = ripping up the tarmac on the road and then relaying the tarmac.

Temporary repairs = patching or filling in the pot holes, usually it does not last and is never too great.

This is Idrone Terrace

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdUA392OsOM


I think the idea is to go via Idrone Terrace from Main Street. There is that back alley way you could shortcut rather than Idrone Terrace, but it could have glass at the rear of the bar.

This is the alley behind Blackrock Main Street, called Idrone Mews.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehBSQGpdMK4

deadlyspot.com

Here is the route down from Seapoint. 2 cyclists actually go the wrong way on the contra flow. Contra - Contra flow if you want.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kw5f3fUw_kw

Moflojo

deadlyspot.com wrote: »

Here is the route down from Seapoint. 2 cyclists actually go the wrong way on the contra flow. Contra - Contra flow if you want.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kw5f3fUw_kw

I cycle this way on my commute to Dun Laoghaire. It seems to me that the vast majority of cyclists coming from Seapoint think it's a two-way cycle path!

As I pass them I tell them they're going the wrong way but they all shout back that it's two-way! And they get angry too!

As I passed one guy this morning and told him it was one-way he shouted back "No, no. It's ACTUALLY a two-way cycle path." Hence me seeking out this thread to have a rant/check that I'm not retarded.

Perhaps the council could erect the following sign, to clear up any confusion:

"Road signage open to personal interpretation; we don't mean it to be taken literally."

buffalo

Moflojo wrote: »

I cycle this way on my commute to Dun Laoghaire. It seems to me that the vast majority of cyclists coming from Seapoint think it's a two-way cycle path!

As I pass them I tell them they're going the wrong way but they all shout back that it's two-way! And they get angry too!

As I passed one guy this morning and told him it was one-way he shouted back "No, no. It's ACTUALLY a two-way cycle path." Hence me seeking out this thread to have a rant/check that I'm not retarded.

Perhaps the council could erect the following sign, to clear up any confusion:

"Road signage open to personal interpretation; we don't mean it to be taken literally."

I see the same on the contra-flow lane on Capel Street, people using it as a with-flow lane.

I have a question (slightly OT) - the Blackrock contra-flow is off-road (or at least, separated by a wee kerb), but the Capel Street one is on-road. What happens when I want to cycle along the contra-flow lane and it's full of parked cars on a Sunday? Is it not in effect, and therefore essentially doesn't exist? monument, tomasrojo, I'm hoping one of ye might know. Or anyone else?

monument

buffalo wrote: »

I see the same on the contra-flow lane on Capel Street, people using it as a with-flow lane.

It's understandable on Capel Street given the logos are the wrong way for part of it, but there's even directional arrows in Blackrock.

buffalo wrote: »

I have a question (slightly OT) - the Blackrock contra-flow is off-road (or at least, separated by a wee kerb), but the Capel Street one is on-road. What happens when I want to cycle along the contra-flow lane and it's full of parked cars on a Sunday? Is it not in effect, and therefore essentially doesn't exist? monument, tomasrojo, I'm hoping one of ye might know. Or anyone else?

It's 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Anyway, it's a job for the clamplers: http://www.dublincity.ie/RoadsandTraffic/Parking/Clamping/Pages/Clamping.aspx

Why it's marked with dashed lines I don't know, but it does not help. City council is/was thinking about fixing it -- they have done a fairly large fix to the one on Bull Alley Street, off Patrick Street.

buffalo

monument wrote: »

It's 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Anyway, it's a job for the clamplers: http://www.dublincity.ie/RoadsandTraffic/Parking/Clamping/Pages/Clamping.aspx

Why it's marked with dashed lines I don't know, but it does not help. City council is/was thinking about fixing it -- they have done a fairly large fix to the one on Bull Alley Street, off Patrick Street.

Thanks monument. Just looking at Streetview - I see no signs for times, or clearway. Are all contra-flow lanes automatically 24/7?

monument

buffalo wrote: »

Thanks monument. Just looking at Streetview - I see no signs for times, or clearway. Are all contra-flow lanes automatically 24/7?

I could be wrong but up to my eyes atm at don't have time to confirm but I think: Cycle lanes apply 24 hours, 7 days when they don't have a time plate. On broken lines loading is allowed, but not parking. Secondly on this section there are clearway signs and from this direction there is no end of clearway sign:

https://maps.google.com/?ll=53.35017,-6.26917&spn=0.001266,0.002642&hnear=Lower+Grangegorman,+Dublin+7,+Ireland&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=53.350132,-6.269052&panoid=HfTiMtSi0pwCwXtXqkiMBA&cbp=12,313.44,,0,11.06

check_six

deadlyspot.com wrote: »

Here is the route down from Seapoint. 2 cyclists actually go the wrong way on the contra flow. Contra - Contra flow if you want.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kw5f3fUw_kw

Moflojo wrote: »

I cycle this way on my commute to Dun Laoghaire. It seems to me that the vast majority of cyclists coming from Seapoint think it's a two-way cycle path!

As I pass them I tell them they're going the wrong way but they all shout back that it's two-way! And they get angry too!

As I passed one guy this morning and told him it was one-way he shouted back "No, no. It's ACTUALLY a two-way cycle path." Hence me seeking out this thread to have a rant/check that I'm not retarded.

Perhaps the council could erect the following sign, to clear up any confusion:

"Road signage open to personal interpretation; we don't mean it to be taken literally."

It's more than just a "two-way" cycle track, it also doubles up as a handy bit of extra road for people in a hurry, as I found out last weekend. I was heading towards Blackrock village on the road with kids and trailer in tow. A car rushed up behind us, slowed a beat, then roared past us by hopping up fully onto the cycle track, he swerved in just ahead of the parked cars.
With crushing inevitability he parked on Idrone Terrace 100m down the road, he was driving a Golf, and he had a 'baby on board' sticker in his rear window.

Sometimes I wonder if people like this have a switch in their heads that reminds them that they are nearly home and they should really do something stupid before they get there so as not to have wasted a journey!

nomdeboardie

check_six wrote: »

It's more than just a "two-way" cycle track, it also doubles up as a handy bit of extra road for people in a hurry ...

Another example: Was cycling along the contraflow, saw a car stopped in it ahead. Thought it might be a cheeky parker, so stopped to take out my phone for a photo as I approached. Then saw there was an occupant, on their mobile, who quickly avoided photographic capture by driving off :pac: I wouldn't necessarily make too much of this particular incident, though - might :rolleyes: have been an emergency call for them for all I knew (benefit of the doubt) - but I'd advise any other motorised encroachers to avoid doing it if there's any cyclists on the horizon...

deadlyspot.com

monument wrote: »

I could be wrong but up to my eyes atm at don't have time to confirm but I think: Cycle lanes apply 24 hours, 7 days when they don't have a time plate. On broken lines loading is allowed, but not parking. Secondly on this section there are clearway signs and from this direction there is no end of clearway sign:

https://maps.google.com/?ll=53.35017,-6.26917&spn=0.001266,0.002642&hnear=Lower+Grangegorman,+Dublin+7,+Ireland&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=53.350132,-6.269052&panoid=HfTiMtSi0pwCwXtXqkiMBA&cbp=12,313.44,,0,11.06

They put a contra flow on Capel Street. Wow... I have to check that out tomorrow.

deadlyspot.com

Moflojo wrote: »

I cycle this way on my commute to Dun Laoghaire. It seems to me that the vast majority of cyclists coming from Seapoint think it's a two-way cycle path!

As I pass them I tell them they're going the wrong way but they all shout back that it's two-way! And they get angry too!

As I passed one guy this morning and told him it was one-way he shouted back "No, no. It's ACTUALLY a two-way cycle path." Hence me seeking out this thread to have a rant/check that I'm not retarded.

Perhaps the council could erect the following sign, to clear up any confusion:

"Road signage open to personal interpretation; we don't mean it to be taken literally."

Had to have a little laugh when I read that. It's amazing how it could be read as that. I have been thinking for some time, we need to put more of these on roads. Could be useful here.

check_six wrote: »

It's more than just a "two-way" cycle track, it also doubles up as a handy bit of extra road for people in a hurry, as I found out last weekend. I was heading towards Blackrock village on the road with kids and trailer in tow. A car rushed up behind us, slowed a beat, then roared past us by hopping up fully onto the cycle track, he swerved in just ahead of the parked cars.
With crushing inevitability he parked on Idrone Terrace 100m down the road, he was driving a Golf, and he had a 'baby on board' sticker in his rear window.

Sometimes I wonder if people like this have a switch in their heads that reminds them that they are nearly home and they should really do something stupid before they get there so as not to have wasted a journey!

What.....!? Have to rewatch the video going down to see how that is even possible. That's just plain outrageous driving.

nomdeboardie wrote: »

Another example: Was cycling along the contraflow, saw a car stopped in it ahead. Thought it might be a cheeky parker, so stopped to take out my phone for a photo as I approached. Then saw there was an occupant, on their mobile, who quickly avoided photographic capture by driving off I wouldn't necessarily make too much of this particular incident, though - might have been an emergency call for them for all I knew (benefit of the doubt) - but I'd advise any other motorised encroachers to avoid doing it if there's any cyclists on the horizon...

Good man :-)

tomasrojo

buffalo wrote: »

I have a question (slightly OT) - the Blackrock contra-flow is off-road (or at least, separated by a wee kerb), but the Capel Street one is on-road. What happens when I want to cycle along the contra-flow lane and it's full of parked cars on a Sunday? Is it not in effect, and therefore essentially doesn't exist? monument, tomasrojo, I'm hoping one of ye might know. Or anyone else?

Good question. I have no idea! I hope monument's answer above was satisfactory ...

(From a practical point of view -- leaving the letter of the law aside -- passing one parked car on a contra-flow is ok, since you just have to do it carefully and quickly. But effectively cycling the wrong way the whole way down the north end of Capel Street because of parked cars seems a bad idea.)

buffalo

deadlyspot.com wrote: »

They put a contra flow on Capel Street. Wow... I have to check that out tomorrow.

It's just at the top - the Dorset Street end. You can turn off Dorset St onto Capel St, and go as far as the junction with Parnell Street (by the Sinn Fein shop). There you yield, and then join the with-flow traffic.

monument wrote: »

I could be wrong but up to my eyes atm at don't have time to confirm but I think: Cycle lanes apply 24 hours, 7 days when they don't have a time plate. On broken lines loading is allowed, but not parking. Secondly on this section there are clearway signs and from this direction there is no end of clearway sign:

https://maps.google.com/?ll=53.35017,-6.26917&spn=0.001266,0.002642&hnear=Lower+Grangegorman,+Dublin+7,+Ireland&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=53.350132,-6.269052&panoid=HfTiMtSi0pwCwXtXqkiMBA&cbp=12,313.44,,0,11.06

Clearway sign there alright, and solid white lines on that section. But on Capel St proper there's dashed white lines, and no signs that I can see. I'll investigate it with detail next time I'm down that way. Will drop DCC a line if I can grab a photo of lots of parked cars on it, ask what the story is.

tomasrojo wrote: »

Good question. I have no idea! I hope monument's answer above was satisfactory ...

(From a practical point of view -- leaving the letter of the law aside -- passing one parked car on a contra-flow is ok, since you just have to do it carefully and quickly. But effectively cycling the wrong way the whole way down the north end of Capel Street because of parked cars seems a bad idea.)

Yeah, it just caught me out the once. It's not a regular route for me, but came down that way one quiet Sunday. Realised I was almost in the middle of the road, going the wrong way down a one-way street. Bloody salmon cyclists! :pac:

nomdeboardie

smackyB wrote: »

I've used this new lane once or twice and think it's great except for the fact that road leading to this cycle lane (Idrone Terrace) is in a terrible condition.

Here's an email I sent to the council in March

"Hi, are there any plans to fix the road surface at Idrone Terrace, Blackrock? The road surface is in terrible shape with loose stones and lots of potholes. Given that this road is the source of traffic for the new contra-flow cycle lane on Newtown Avenue, it would be of great benefit to cyclists if the road was resurfaced."

And here was the response

"There will be Temporary repairs made to the potholes inside the next week.
Unfortunately, resurfacing the road is not in this years programme but will be done in the future."

The mind boggles....

Must have changed their minds - Idrone Terrace being resurfaced today

deadlyspot.com

nomdeboardie wrote: »

Must have changed their minds - Idrone Terrace being resurfaced today

That's great for all those people living there, and of course to all the cyclist passers by.

Now if they could CPO some land from Deepwell Gardens while it's cheap and widen the path from the train station to the park.

Whatever about Sandycove to Sutton, which appears to be an all or nothing approach.

ChipPanBuddha

nomdeboardie wrote: »

Must have changed their minds - Idrone Terrace being resurfaced today

The Council will probably be using up the remainder of their 2012 budget at the moment. Hopefully they will be doing a decent job on it. It's like the rocky road to Dublin at the moment.

http://www.dlrcoco.ie/newsevents/latestnews/title,8855,en.html

deadlyspot.com

ChipPanBuddha wrote: »

The Council will probably be using up the remainder of their 2012 budget at the moment. Hopefully they will be doing a decent job on it. It's like the rocky road to Dublin at the moment.

http://www.dlrcoco.ie/newsevents/latestnews/title,8855,en.html

Yeah, fair enough. I wonder if I could nab them for a bit more of that.

deadlyspot.com

I took an updated look at the Contra Flow cycle lane. I incuded Idrone Terrace. It's a much better surface now and the bike symbols look great on the shared road way. Still a shame there is no loop sensor for the lights, but they appear to work quick.

Anyway, here it is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBawHo1vH-g

jsoc

well done to dlrcoco for done this. Very progressive.

+1 for the idea of reducing the size of Deepwell Gardens to allow space for a bike lane but does anyone think that would be even possible?

Also anyone have any issues with motorists when cycling on the shared road in the direction of Blackrock? I had one incident 2 months back where I got honked out of it and a driver past me very closely. I manged to catch him soon after and he told me I should be using the bike lane..before I could get into a discussion he drove off when lights went green. I decided (for the first time ever) to go to the local Garda station to report the incident... I was told later he got a caution...now every time I use the shared road I'm expecting the same display of road rage. hopefully that was a once off and motorists get used to the signage.

deadlyspot.com

My guess on the Deepwell gardens is that it is not possible. The hope is the Sandycove to Sutton cycle route would overcome this problem.

Well done on getting a caution for the driver. It's hard to get the Gardai to listen. Which station did you go to? Were the large cycle lane markings in the shared lane at the time? There's no excuse for intimidation from drivers.

jsoc

local Garda station is Blackrock.
Took a bit of explaining ..maybe I was not making too much sense as I was quite annoyed at what had happened but the Garda did call me back after she went to check that there was actually road markings to indicate cyclists use the shared road when traveling into Blackrock (which have been there a number of months now)

ChipPanBuddha

jsoc wrote: »

Also anyone have any issues with motorists when cycling on the shared road in the direction of Blackrock? I had one incident 2 months back where I got honked out of it and a driver past me very closely. I manged to catch him soon after and he told me I should be using the bike lane..before I could get into a discussion he drove off when lights went green. I decided (for the first time ever) to go to the local Garda station to report the incident... I was told later he got a caution...now every time I use the shared road I'm expecting the same display of road rage. hopefully that was a once off and motorists get used to the signage.

I had a driver blasting his horn and shouting at me to get off the road and into the cycle lane a few months ago. He wasn't interested when I tried to explain it was a contra flow lane and I was right to be on the road heading towards Blackrock. He was livid that I'd slow him down by about 10 or 20 seconds.

OssianSmyth

jsoc wrote: »

+1 for the idea of reducing the size of Deepwell Gardens to allow space for a bike lane but does anyone think that would be even possible?.

I've asked the council to consider a CPO. If it can be done for roads and railways then why not for a cycle path? There are three acres of garden and only a narrow strip would be required.

Contact the council on transportation@dlrcoco.ie or the NTA on info@nationaltransport.ie to request that this project be considered.

You can visit Deepwell House and gardens in the mornings from 3 Jan to 1 Feb.

jsoc

Just spotted Deepwell for sale
http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/homes-and-property/new-to-market/my-goodness-former-guinness-home-deepwell-in-blackrock-seeks-10m-1.1394654

wonder if we can start a whip around and buy the damn gardens at least