Good news for Condell Road

LimerickCity

It appears as though the speed limit will be increased to 80kph.
Might cut out the undertaking and tail gating. 

http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/motoring/282740/speed-limit-increase-proposed-for-major-limerick-road.html

Jofspring

Speed limit increase will be good but seems a big jump from 50 up to 80. 70 would even suffice. When you go up to 80 you will get people hitting 90+ chancing it and that’s when it will become really dangerous.

Insect Overlord

For all practical purposes, it's been 60-65 all along on that stretch. There is no safe spot for a Garda vehicle to stop and observe traffic there unless they set up a full check-point.
The problem with it being 50kmph is often when it comes to learner drivers or people who haven't driven on that road before. You'd frequently get stuck behind someone barely topping 40 but have no option to overtake.

h3000

Insect Overlord wrote: »

For all practical purposes, it's been 60-65 all along on that stretch. There is no safe spot for a Garda vehicle to stop and observe traffic there unless they set up a full check-point.
The problem with it being 50kmph is often when it comes to learner drivers or people who haven't driven on that road before. You'd frequently get stuck behind someone barely topping 40 but have no option to overtake.

I've seen one of the bicycle cops there doing a speed trap before.

Tails142

I love driving at 50 along it and watching the steam come out of people's ears behind me as they sit inches off my bumper. What will I do for fun now?

Berty

I like the comment "ah sure we only put a cycle and bus lane there to get money from the government". We've all been saying for years that it's very rare to see a bus using that lane, now we have in inkling why. They're still using the Ennis road.

Also the suggestion to put the cycle lane on a pavement. With the greatest respect to cyclists, all geared up at the weekends(for example) in groups they will not travel in single file on a pavement cycle lane to protect themselves. They will cycle on the road/bus lane to cycle together as a group.

The Gosafe camera van won't get much pickings if it's 80kmh all the way to Coonagh.

Lastly his comments about people struggling to get down to 50kmh from the M18. Frankly if you can't lower you speed at Shannon from 120kmh to 100kmh then to 80mh by the Radisson and then 60kmh by Coonagh roundabout area and then 50kmh on the Condell road then there's something wrong with you.

LimerickCity

Insect Overlord wrote: »

There is no safe spot for a Garda vehicle to stop and observe traffic there unless they set up a full check-point.
.

I have seen the Garda a few times in the park by the traffic lights clocking people coming in towards to the city.

LimerickCity

Berty wrote: »

I like the comment "ah sure we only put a cycle and bus lane there to get money from the government". We've all been saying for years that it's very rare to see a bus using that lane, now we have in inkling why. They're still using the Ennis road.

Also the suggestion to put the cycle lane on a pavement. With the greatest respect to cyclists, all geared up at the weekends(for example) in groups they will not travel in single file on a pavement cycle lane to protect themselves. They will cycle on the road/bus lane to cycle together as a group.

The Gosafe camera van won't get much pickings if it's 80kmh all the way to Coonagh.

Lastly his comments about people struggling to get down to 50kmh from the M18. Frankly if you can't lower you speed at Shannon from 120kmh to 100kmh then to 80mh by the Radisson and then 60kmh by Coonagh roundabout area and then 50kmh on the Condell road then there's something wrong with you.

Many many people have been caught speeding between the Clonmacken and Coonagh roundabouts. I have spoken to quite a few people who were between 65-70 on this 60 stretch.

Green farmer

In fairness, 50 kph was always too low there. 80kph seems more appropriate.

Cookiemunster

Simply delete the unused bus lane, reinstated the two lanes with hard shoulders and put the bike lanes inside the hard shoulders.

washman3

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Simply delete the unused bus lane, reinstated the two lanes with hard shoulders and put the bike lanes inside the hard shoulders.

That's exactly what's needed. What was the genius thinking to put a bus lane there in the first place.!
The 50km limit was imposed in order to 'encourage' motorists to use the tunnel, or rather frustrate them to use it.
Glad its coming back up to 80km.

zulutango

I can't see it happening unless they full segregrate the cycle lanes on both sides, and that would mean removing the bus lane, which the Dept. of Transport simply won't allow for the sake of speeding up cars for a few km's. It flies in the face of national policy. There'll be a lot of opposition locally also. And then there's the cost of doing the above, which will really kill off the idea.

Cookiemunster

zulutango wrote: »

I can't see it happening unless they full segregrate the cycle lanes on both sides, and that would mean removing the bus lane, which the Dept. of Transport simply won't allow for the sake of speeding up cars for a few km's. It flies in the face of national policy. There'll be a lot of opposition locally also. And then there's the cost of doing the above, which will really kill off the idea.

Will there? On what grounds?

zulutango

Guaranteed. Endangering cyclists by increasing speed limits will draw a lot of opposition. The road also goes through a wildlife sanctuary and a lot of pedestrians use the paths along it. It's effectively a leisure amenity too. There's a whole load of interest groups around that area with political weight who will resist this.

Strettie11

What is strange none of the councillors asked about accidents and deaths on that stretch of road
in last 10 years there have been 3 deaths and 1 serious injury
in the last 5 months there was 1 fatality in June and in August a 3 car collision .

I cannot say if speed was a reason but you would think it would be a question asked

Also "Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets" the guidebook issued by Dept of Transport on road design, recommends where cycle lanes are not segregated max speed should be 60kph

Jose Maria

Anyone notice the high speeds the Bus Eireann buses go at in the bus lane along there

The Specialist

They need to review the cycle lanes and put them away from the roads if at all possible. Why should traffic crawl along that road for the sake of a cycle lane that is rarely ever used?

It's also laughable that a speed limit should be determined by the use of bicycles on a road rather than motor traffic volume - you know, the thing the roads are designed and there for in the first place?

Cookiemunster

Jose Maria wrote: »

Anyone notice the high speeds the Bus Eireann buses go at in the bus lane along there

Yeah the 51 regularly bombs along at 70-80kph in the evenings undertaking all the traffic that's generally also traveling above 50kph.

Vanquished

A new signalised junction beyond Barrington's pier to facilitate housing developments on both sides of the Condell road is due to go to construction next year. With the resultant increase in traffic that these developments will generate, I really can't see the limit being increased to 80.

Insect Overlord

The Specialist wrote: »

Why should traffic crawl along that road for the sake of a cycle lane that is rarely ever used?

I'd have to say you're wrong there. The bus lane isn't used much, but there are always commuter cyclists on that stretch as well as clubs training together in the evenings.

zulutango

It's used a lot by Limerick Triathlon Club and Limerick Cycling Club and I think The Hub Cycling Club also. All are using it perfectly legally and I really can't imagine that they will agree to their environment being made more dangerous, especially in a year where they lost a member to a RTA and in a year where a number of sport cyclists have already been killed on irish roads. The number of road deaths nationally is the highest in five years too and that will influence people's reaction to this proposal.

And people say the bus lane isn't used much, but even if there's a few busses per hour using it that's actually quite a lot of people. Again, I'd be very surprised if Bus Éireann, who are fighting tooth and nail for better infrastructure will roll over. Nor will the Dept. of Transport. I'd imagine that coach companies will get in on the act. Shannon Airport will be unhappy that the bus service between the city and the airport is being impacted too.

The Specialist

zulutango wrote: »

It's used a lot by Limerick Triathlon Club and Limerick Cycling Club and I think The Hub Cycling Club also. All are using it perfectly legally and I really can't imagine that they will agree to their environment being made more dangerous, especially in a year where they lost a member to a RTA and in a year where a number of sport cyclists have already been killed on irish roads. The number of road deaths nationally is the highest in five years too and that will influence people's reaction to this proposal.

It's not "their environment" - it's one of the main road routes in to the city from the Clare side. Traffic flow + progress should take precedence over any leisure activites, and that includes cycling.

martyc5674

The Specialist wrote: »

It's also laughable that a speed limit should be determined by the use of bicycles on a road rather than motor traffic volume - you know, the thing the roads are designed and there for in the first place?

The roads are there for People... however they choose to travel. Personally I'd rather see more bikes and buses than cars entering and polluting our city air... that we ALL have to breathe... the air was unpolluted in the first place.

martyc5674

The Specialist wrote: »

It's not "their environment" - it's one of the main road routes in to the city from the Clare side. Traffic flow + progress should take precedence over any leisure activites, and that includes cycling.

Why?

kilburn

How many of you have actually read the story ?

They said they will segregate the cycling lane from the main traffic !

martyc5674

kilburn wrote: »

How many of you have actually read the story ?

They said they will segregate the cycling lane from the main traffic !

Out for consultation... nothing is decided.

Insect Overlord

Indeed. Many people are in favour of a change (and clearly there are others with different reasons for being against it) but no changes have been confirmed at all yet.

kilburn

Where it will obviously be included

chicorytip

Jofspring wrote:

Speed limit increase will be good but seems a big jump from 50 up to 80. 70 would even suffice. When you go up to 80 you will get people hitting 90+ chancing it and that’s when it will become really dangerous.

An increase in the speed limit on what is essentially a suburban road is unwise. In Dublin City centre and some of it's inner suburbs the maximum speed limit is 30 k.p.h. Why are there still so many drivers unwilling to show just a little bit of patience and restraint on short stretches of road such as this?

marno21

chicorytip wrote: »

An increase in the speed limit on what is essentially a suburban road is unwise. In Dublin City centre and some of it's inner suburbs the maximum speed limit is 30 k.p.h. Why are there still so many drivers unwilling to show just a little bit of patience and restraint on short stretches of road such as this?

Because the Condell Road has few accesses and has very good sight lines for a 50km/h. It's a higher standard of road than most 80km/h roads and a fair few 100km/h roads.

60km/h at least should be put in here. It's a challenge to keep the car below 50km/h on the road at present

Cordell

I can't see it happening. 60 maybe, down to 50 when approaching the traffic lights before the Shannonbridge roundabout.