Galway motorists really grinding my gears

snubbleste

Control box at N6/N59 junction has metal bollards protecting it now from attacks by wayward motorists.

Baggy Trousers

snubbleste wrote: »

Control box at N6/N59 junction has metal bollards protecting it now from attacks by wayward motorists.

What about attacks from space?

snubbleste

Baggy Trousers wrote: »

What about attacks from space?

Galway City Council have issued a statement stating they have friendly relations with all extraterrestrials and will not be planning for such an eventuality

galwaycyclist

snubbleste wrote: »

Galway City Council have issued a statement stating they have friendly relations with all extraterrestrials and will not be planning for such an eventuality

Yes that ties in to how the roundabouts were supposed to work. The city council knew that putting high-flow roundabouts into a small university city would seriously penalise walking and cycling and cause worse traffic jams. So they did a deal with the extra terrestrials so that, at roundabouts, cyclists and pedestrians get beamed up to space and then beamed back down on the other side.

That way, the city could continue to function despite the use of incompetent road designs.

That deal is presumably the basis for the statement on ETs from the city council.that Snubbleste is referring to.

Zzippy

snubbleste wrote: »

Galway City Council have issued a statement stating they have friendly relations with all extraterrestrials and will not be planning for such an eventuality

No surprise. I think Padraig Conneely is an extra-terrestrial!

at1withmyself

I was wondering when coming from B&Q along the Western Distributor Road and taking a left at the roundabout towards Westside there are two lanes at first with enough space for about 6 cars on the left lane until the bus lane begins. Traffic then coming from Salthill would be in the right lane after the roundabout heading towards Westside. Anyway it seems that traffic from B&Q don't use the space along the left lane to filter in with traffic from the right lane. Most cars seem to try get into the right lane immediately after exiting the roundabout.

My question is - Is it acceptable to move along the left until the bus stop begins and then filter in?

bobbyss

at1withmyself wrote: »

I was wondering when coming from B&Q along the Western Distributor Road and taking a left at the roundabout towards Westside there are two lanes at first with enough space for about 6 cars on the left lane until the bus lane begins. Traffic then coming from Salthill would be in the right lane after the roundabout heading towards Westside. Anyway it seems that traffic from B&Q don't use the space along the left lane to filter in with traffic from the right lane. Most cars seem to try get into the right lane immediately after exiting the roundabout.

My question is - Is it acceptable to move along the left until the bus stop begins and then filter in?

What are the markings on the road before the bus lane starts, do you know?

at1withmyself

bobbyss wrote: »

What are the markings on the road before the bus lane starts, do you know?

There are arrows indicating to move into the right lane which makes me think its alright to filter down as far as the start of the bus lane??

Sniipe

[ul]
[li]Coming out of the UHG hospital onto the Browne Roundabout at 6pm. There is now a yellow box which few gives two hoots about (granted there are the minority that are nice).[/li]
[li]Still the Bodkin Junction coming from the bridge is my main issue with cars zooming into the left.[/li]
[li]Dock road, cars will skip from the right lane into the left lane.[/li]
[/ul]

joeKel73

I was in a taxi recently going up Bohermore and the driver made some comment about a cyclist. I mentioned that I cycle. Going through the roundabout he took the wrong lane and asked me - "What lane would you have taken on your bike?"...

A great debate kicked off and I got an insight into the mind of Galway Taxi drivers. Something along the lines of "It's a local agreement that on Mon-Fri between 8am-6.30pm you should use the right lane, at other times and on the weekends you're meant to use the left lane..."

Your Face

J o e wrote: »

I was in a taxi recently going up Bohermore and the driver made some comment about a cyclist. I mentioned that I cycle. Going through the roundabout he took the wrong lane and asked me - "What lane would you have taken on your bike?"...

A great debate kicked off and I got an insight into the mind of Galway Taxi drivers. Something along the lines of "It's a local agreement that on Mon-Fri between 8am-6.30pm you should use the right lane, at other times and on the weekends you're meant to use the left lane..."

They like to pass very close to me when I'm cycling. A few close calls with our legendary taxis drivers.

fergiesfolly

J o e wrote: »

I was in a taxi recently going up Bohermore and the driver made some comment about a cyclist. I mentioned that I cycle. Going through the roundabout he took the wrong lane and asked me - "What lane would you have taken on your bike?"...

A great debate kicked off and I got an insight into the mind of Galway Taxi drivers. Something along the lines of "It's a local agreement that on Mon-Fri between 8am-6.30pm you should use the right lane, at other times and on the weekends you're meant to use the left lane..."

Did you ask him who this " local agreement" is with?
The problem I have with taxi drivers is they take the driving they do at night( breakneck speed through amber lights, wide arcs around corners, driving along the middle of the road) into their day time driving and think it's the norm.
I'd make everyone of them re-take the driving test every year, make them have basic first aid qualifications and MOT the car every year too.
They're taking fee paying customers into cars with nothing more than a basic driving license as a qualification.

biko

You're making it sound like a driving licence is not enough to drive with, when it actually is. Even with passengers.

Taxi drivers also have a SPSV licence so they do have extra qualifications over the general population.

Panthro

Came in monivea road to carnmore cross this morning, 80km zone, fair few houses either side of the road.
Didn't stop a Kia sportage i think it was fron overtaking me easily doing well over 120km on that stretch of road.
Whoever it was, was only a fcuking dick head.

Panthro

Panthro wrote: »

Came in monivea road to carnmore cross this morning, 80km zone, fair few houses either side of the road.
Didn't stop a Kia sportage i think it was fron overtaking me easily doing well over 120km on that stretch of road.
Whoever it was, was only a fcuking dick head.

80kmh on that road is a joke, should be 100kmh. Big wide open road with a good surface keeping it to 100 is hard never mind 80.

snubbleste

Amalia Melodic Racism wrote: »

80kmh on that road is a joke, should be 100kmh. Big wide open road with a good surface keeping it to 100 is hard never mind 80.

But there are houses either side of the road. That's why the speed limit is at 80kph.

snubbleste

snubbleste wrote: »

But there are houses either side of the road. That's why the speed limit is at 80kph.

Plenty of roads have houses either side and are much worse roads than that and have 100kmh speed limits, in fact bar motorways every road in the country has houses either side of it.

It's a stupid speed limit, if it wasn't for the fact we have the worlds most ridiculous speed limit, 50kmh limit on the dual carriage way linking the headford road roundabout and the tuam road junction then this one would look even more silly.

Mrs OBumble

Forgetting the limit for a moment, what do you think is a safe speed for that road on a fine day with only moderate traffic on the road?

Worn Out

parking wherever the hell they like bothers me. Here's on Friday afternoon parked ON the pedestrian crossing in salthill. What really bugs me is that it's less than 100 Mtrs from the Garda station.

Worn Out

And here's another one a couple of weeks ago. This was taken after I'd politely asked another motorist trying to park on the crossing that it was dangerous and illegal. This car simply slotted in after and walked off into Salthill about their business.

gordongekko

People taking pictures of parked cars grinds my gears

Mrs OBumble

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Forgetting the limit for a moment, what do you think is a safe speed for that road on a fine day with only moderate traffic on the road?

I'd feel perfectly safe driving in the road at 120kmh and have done. That's obviously never going to be set though as our over cautious laws only allow that speed on motorways (where the limit should be much higher) so 100kmh as I said earlier would be a suitable speed limit.

Panthro

Amalia Melodic Racism wrote: »

80kmh on that road is a joke, should be 100kmh. Big wide open road with a good surface keeping it to 100 is hard never mind 80.

Think you misunderstood, I came in monivea road to carnmore cross. I'm talking from egans pub to carnmore cross.
It's not a particularly good stretch of road, plenty of houses either side. 100km would be plenty on it.

bobbyss

I think the limit on the Q Bridge is 50k.
50!

gordongekko

bobbyss wrote: »

I think the limit on the Q Bridge is 50k.
50!

Someone was killed in that bridge a few years ago.

Panthro

Panthro wrote: »

Think you misunderstood, I came in monivea road to carnmore cross. I'm talking from egans pub to carnmore cross.
It's not a particularly good stretch of road, plenty of houses either side. 100km would be plenty on it.

Sorry I misread and understood it was from carnmore cross into town.

bobbyss wrote: »

I think the limit on the Q Bridge is 50k.
50!

Another joke of a limit should be 100kmh.

bobbyss

Amalia Melodic Racism wrote: »

Sorry I misread and understood it was from carnmore cross into town.



Another joke of a limit should be 100kmh.

It is incredible to think that it is 50.
I would bet 95% of traffic breaks the law in driving over it. I think the reason is because all roads in city limits have a 50 limit but I am open to correction on that.

Bothar na Treabh. 50k? Maybe 99% break the law. By the way, how small is that 50k sign on that road? Perhaps the size of a stamp. A tourist, coming to our ... beautiful city, has no chance at all. Here he sees a fine road and puts the foot down. If the council are serious about the speed limit on these two rads let's have BIG speed limit signs.

I hav enever seen a car stopped on any of these roads for speeding.

snubbleste

bobbyss wrote: »

It is incredible to think that it is 50.
I would bet 95% of traffic breaks the law in driving over it. I think the reason is because all roads in city limits have a 50 limit but I am open to correction on that.
Bothar na Treabh. 50k? Maybe 99% break the law. By the way, how small is that 50k sign on that road? Perhaps the size of a stamp. A tourist, coming to our ... beautiful city, has no chance at all. Here he sees a fine road and puts the foot down. If the council are serious about the speed limit on these two rads let's have BIG speed limit signs. I hav enever seen a car stopped on any of these roads for speeding.

QB 50kph because it is in an urban area.
BnadT is 50kph also because of the entrance to Glenburren Park. The speed limit signs are large when they change from one limit to another - small signs are used as a reminder along routes.
If a tourist/anyone puts 'the foot down', they are deliberately committing an offence as the speed limits are highly visible. There is no excuse.
Plenty of speed traps on QB & BnadT in the past.

snubbleste

snubbleste wrote: »

QB 50kph because it is in an urban area.
BnadT is 50kph also because of the entrance to Glenburren Park. The speed limit signs are large when they change from one limit to another - small signs are used as a reminder along routes.
If a tourist/anyone puts 'the foot down', they are deliberately committing an offence as the speed limits are highly visible. There is no excuse.
Plenty of speed traps on QB & BnadT in the past.

Having blanket speed limits just because you are in a certain area is stupid. It should be done by road and the QB limit should be raised and bother na dtreabh should be raised without a shadow of a doubt it's probably the most stupid speed limit in the world. An entrance to an estate is not a reason to have a low limit, houses and secondary roads enter 100kmh speed limits on every national route in the country.

snubbleste

Amalia Melodic Racism wrote: »

An entrance to an estate is not a reason to have a low limit, houses and secondary roads enter 100kmh speed limits on every national route in the country.

According to GalwayCityCouncil it is a valid reason.

bobbyss

snubbleste wrote: »

QB 50kph because it is in an urban area.
BnadT is 50kph also because of the entrance to Glenburren Park. The speed limit signs are large when they change from one limit to another - small signs are used as a reminder along routes.
If a tourist/anyone puts 'the foot down', they are deliberately committing an offence as the speed limits are highly visible. There is no excuse.
Plenty of speed traps on QB & BnadT in the past.

I am not so sure about speed signs being 'highly visible' on the BnT Road. You come off the Tuam RA and get on the BnT Road, where is the first speed sign? How many 'reminders' are there along the way esp for people whose eyesight is not great. I don't think there are any big signs on the left of that road going into Tirellan RA. Again, correct me if I am wrong.

I never see much of a police presence checking speed on the Q Bridge I have to say.
I am not sure what you mean by speed traps?

Are there any data available to us (from the gardai) re speeding fines & location dates/times etc etc. It would be interesting to see where/when the tickets are issued.

Unrealistic

bobbyss wrote: »

I am not so sure about speed signs being 'highly visible' on the BnT Road. You come off the Tuam RA and get on the BnT Road, where is the first speed sign? How many 'reminders' are there along the way esp for people whose eyesight is not great. I don't think there are any big signs on the left of that road going into Tirellan RA. Again, correct me if I am wrong.

Without commenting on the rights or wrongs of the speed limit on that road I think you're misunderstanding the way the speed limit zones and signs work. You don't get a big 50kmh sign every time you pass through a junction. You normally get a large 60kmh sign, and then a large 50kmh sign, when you enter a built up area and that speed limit applies until you leave the built up area and see a 60kmh/80kmh/100kmh sign as appropriate. If you approach what was the Font Roundabout (where the Tuam Road intersects BnT) you are already well within a 50kmh zone. If you came in the Tuam Road you were already in a 50kmh zone from Castlegar Church. If you were coming from the direction of the motorway you were in a 50kph zone from what was the Morris Roundabout (Ballybane turn off). Both of those spots have large 50kph signs. The smaller signs are a reminder that you are still in a 50kph zone. Whether you notice them or not doesn't change the fact that you should know you are in a 50kmh zone. (And if someone's eyesight is that bad that they can't see those signs then it is questionable whether their eyesight is good enough for them to be driving in the first place.)

Cheshire Cat

bobbyss wrote: »

I am not so sure about speed signs being 'highly visible' on the BnT Road. You come off the Tuam RA and get on the BnT Road, where is the first speed sign? How many 'reminders' are there along the way esp for people whose eyesight is not great. I don't think there are any big signs on the left of that road going into Tirellan RA. Again, correct me if I am wrong.

I never see much of a police presence checking speed on the Q Bridge I have to say.
I am not sure what you mean by speed traps?

Are there any data available to us (from the gardai) re speeding fines & location dates/times etc etc. It would be interesting to see where/when the tickets are issued.

There are quite a few of the smaller reminders, although I never bothered to count them.
I find the bolded part of your post very worrying. If a driver's eyesight isn't good enough to see traffic signs, they shouldn't be on the road at all! At least not until after a trip to specsavers!

Unrealistic beat me to it! Glad I'm not alone.

challengemaster

bobbyss wrote: »

I never see much of a police presence checking speed on the Q Bridge I have to say.
I am not sure what you mean by speed traps?

I've seen them at least 3 times in the last few weeks, that's not including other times they were general checkpoints.

bobbyss

Cheshire Cat wrote: »

There are quite a few of the smaller reminders, although I never bothered to count them.
I find the bolded part of your post very worrying. If a driver's eyesight isn't good enough to see traffic signs, they shouldn't be on the road at all! At least not until after a trip to specsavers!

Unrealistic beat me to it! Glad I'm not alone.

I must check myself on the number of reminders there are from Tuam Road along BnT to Tirellan RA.

I couldn't agree more re eyesight.

Neady83

bobbyss wrote: »

I never see much of a police presence checking speed on the Q Bridge I have to say.
I am not sure what you mean by speed traps?
.

I walk and run the Q bridge regularly and I've lost count of the number of times I've seen cars pulled over by unmarked garda cars. I've also seen the guards follow a car through the lights, into the Tesco carpark and pull them over for speeding on the Q bridge.

It usually happens during quiet periods on the bridge e.g. after rush hour in the evening

dastardly00

bobbyss wrote: »

I must check myself on the number of reminders there are from Tuam Road along BnT to Tirellan RA.

I counted four of the small circular 50 km/h signs when traveling along Bothar Na dTreabh from the Tuam Rd. junction to the Kirwan Roundabout.

Juran

Was traffic crazy or what this evening?? I could see so many tourists / rental cars stuck in traffic with us locals, they must have been thinking wtf. If I visited a city abroad and experienced that traffic, I would make a u turn and go to another city. This can't continue .... Our lives are miserable every evening from 4pm to 7pm ...

FortySeven

Juran wrote: »

Was traffic crazy or what this evening?? I could see so many tourists / rental cars stuck in traffic with us locals, they must have been thinking wtf. If I visited a city abroad and experienced that traffic, I would make a u turn and go to another city. This can't continue .... Our lives are miserable every evening from 4pm to 7pm ...

It's grand, we're getting more bus lanes, cycle paths and pavements. Getting rid of a few bridges will help too. The council have a plan. All be sorted soon.

Imelda May and Damien Dempsey are playing the big top.

what_traffic

FortySeven wrote: »

It's grand, we're getting more bus lanes, cycle paths and pavements. Getting rid of a few bridges will help too. The council have a plan. All be sorted soon.

Looking forward to your Utopian vision FortySeven ! When is all of this happening?

what_traffic

Juran wrote: »

Was traffic crazy or what this evening?? I could see so many tourists / rental cars stuck in traffic with us locals, they must have been thinking wtf. If I visited a city abroad and experienced that traffic, I would make a u turn and go to another city. This can't continue .... Our lives are miserable every evening from 4pm to 7pm ...

#GIAF + Rain + lots and lots of cars on the roads = Lots of Car Traffic

Juran

galway city council + poor traffic mgt + no proper public transport system + talking about a bypass for 20 yrs instead of building one = heavy traffic

FortySeven

what_traffic wrote: »

Looking forward to your Utopian vision FortySeven ! When is all of this happening?

Not my vision. Sarcasm. Check out the salmon weir bridge thread in this forum for council plan.

what_traffic

I reckon it will be post #19

FortySeven

what_traffic wrote: »

I reckon it will be post #19

When someone mentions ladies day?

what_traffic

FortySeven wrote: »

When someone mentions ladies day?

When the "Galway City Car Traffic Thread" gets locked.
Ha ha

FortySeven

what_traffic wrote: »

When the "Galway City Car Traffic Thread" gets locked.
Ha ha

Is the moderator a cyclist or something?

galwaycyclist

Juran wrote: »

galway city council + poor traffic mgt + no proper public transport system + talking about a bypass for 20 yrs instead of building one = heavy traffic

Why would traffic going to the big top use a bypass?

FortySeven

galwaycyclist wrote: »

Why would traffic going to the big top use a bypass?

All the traffic not going to the big top could use the bypass. You know, to avoid the traffic going to the big top.