Coillte Trails - Stay at Home

oinkely

I can get to trails within 5km, just have no bike now that the eldest child has outgrown their bike and commandeered my mtb with shorter stem and shorter seat post. New one ordered through LBS and BTW scheme, just waiting for the payment to go through from work ;-) Silver lining and all that

Flagrantfolly

Went up yesterday evening as now within the 5km limit. Great to get back up there and great to feel somewhat normal again! Trails in good condition. As above, ground is very dry so some of the corners, in particular the flatter ones, were sketchy so take her handy on those. Also, met 2 walkers on the trails...must be because of how quiet the trails are. One was a family of 4...I stopped to have a brief chat and, in fairness, the Dad was showing his 2 young lads the trails while things are quiet.

smacl

Curiousness99 wrote: »

CP Closed yesterday at least

i wonder when they are planning to reopen them?

18th May from what I can see but if they become too busy they'll probably get closed again. If you're within the 5k probably makes more sense to cycle up.

Curiousness99

smacl wrote: »

18th May from what I can see but if they become too busy they'll probably get closed again. If you're within the 5k probably makes more sense to cycle up.

I live very close to ticknock so would never drive myself so no issue for me’ but I’d guess opening the car parks and having a 20km limit isn’t going to work cause they’ll be mobbed

It’s usually very quiet where I live but went crazy busy just before the 2km limit came in, cars parked all over the place on a very narrow road, I’d guess the road will be closed again if that happens

Tenzor07

Curiousness99 wrote: »

I live very close to ticknock so would never drive myself so no issue for me’ but I’d guess opening the car parks and having a 20km limit isn’t going to work cause they’ll be mobbed
It’s usually very quiet where I live but went crazy busy just before the 2km limit came in, cars parked all over the place on a very narrow road, I’d guess the road will be closed again if that happens

I hope Coillte and the Gardai will pay more attention to places like Ticknock, i'd say it's nice and peaceful with the carpark closed, shame to go back to how it was, and i'm sure local residents are sick of it too..
Not sure what would help, paid parking with an attendant at the gate to limit numbers?

Lemming

Tenzor07 wrote: »

I hope Coillte and the Gardai will pay more attention to places like Ticknock, i'd say it's nice and peaceful with the carpark closed, shame to go back to how it was, and i'm sure local residents are sick of it too..
Not sure what would help, paid parking with an attendant at the gate to limit numbers?

I think paid parking is a deterrent to people using an amenity; what they need is not-infrequent periodic enforcement outside of the designated parking areas so scenes like the above don't happen.

A few visits dolling out parking tickets in quick succession over a few weeks will send the message out. Then they can just do less frequent visits for a while, then rinse repeat. Once bitten, twice shy, etc.


Edit: Tenz0r; your image isn't showing up either on your post, or my quote (but the markup is there) so no idea what's going on :-/

Curiousness99

Tenzor07 wrote: »

I hope Coillte and the Gardai will pay more attention to places like Ticknock, i'd say it's nice and peaceful with the carpark closed, shame to go back to how it was, and i'm sure local residents are sick of it too..
Not sure what would help, paid parking with an attendant at the gate to limit numbers?

It’s a real eye opener having less car traffic, loads more cyclists and walkers on my road and more enjoyable for them too

And safer to let my kids out on the road. I wouldn’t begrudge anyone enjoying amenities but someone driving to the top of the road and leaving charcoals from a barbecue or other crap behind is not welcome

Tenzor07

Curiousness99 wrote: »

It’s a real eye opener having less car traffic, loads more cyclists and walkers on my road and more enjoyable for them too
And safer to let my kids out on the road. I wouldn’t begrudge anyone enjoying amenities but someone driving to the top of the road and leaving charcoals from a barbecue or other crap behind is not welcome

Yea I mean I don't blame people, I blame Coillte for not managing sites like this properly, it was only in the last few months that they put some double yellow lines and a few staff to direct people...
Within 5km of Ticknock you probably have 100,000 people, so some management is definitely needed, I don't think my idea of a parking charge is far off the wall and the money could help improve the place too...

smacl

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Yea I mean I don't blame people, I blame Coillte for not managing sites like this properly, it was only in the last few months that they put some double yellow lines and a few staff to direct people...
Within 5km of Ticknock you probably have 100,000 people, so some management is definitely needed, I don't think my idea of a parking charge is far off the wall and the money could help improve the place too...

Possibly better to have a free pay and display option which you have to book in advance as a mechanism to limit numbers. That way people know they wont get parking before they set out.

It's not just Ticknock, all the closed Coilte car parks are liable to get mobbed on the 18th if they re-open. Wife got stopped by the Hellfire today to check she was in the 5k limit, so I'm guessing Ticknock will also get checks given its popularity.

Tony04

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Yea I mean I don't blame people, I blame Coillte for not managing sites like this properly, it was only in the last few months that they put some double yellow lines and a few staff to direct people...
Within 5km of Ticknock you probably have 100,000 people, so some management is definitely needed, I don't think my idea of a parking charge is far off the wall and the money could help improve the place too...

Would make total sense considering rural trail centres like ballyhoura have one, but yet the trail center that serves a city of 1 million doesnt.

bogmanfan

The issue with Ticknock is there just aren't enough spaces there to satisfy demand. In the last 2 years I've have seen a huge increase in the numbers of people up there at weekends. I've often said that an ambulance or fire engine wouldn't make it up that road due to the idiots parking on both sides. I'm sorry, but if you arrive there and there's nowhere left to park your car, move on.

I'd have no issue with them putting in paid parking. But then I usually park at the Gap anyway, and pedal up from there.

Curiousness99

agree 100% that there should be no parking outside car parks
on narrow roads.

The lack of traffic, mostly, since the lockdown has really confirmed to me tha where I live there should be local access only cause theres no where to go at a certain point on my road * and.its a dead.end)and all the land is private beyond that.

I d guess my neighbours would agree as.well as all the cyclists and walkers who's be safer and don't have to inhale diesel and petrol fumes. less rubbish too

Tenzor07

From the 18th, groups of 4 may have a socially distanced group ride 5km from home...

Progress!

But not sure when forestry carparks will open again, maybe phase 3

Alkers

Tenzor07 wrote: »

From the 18th, groups of 4 may have a socially distanced group ride 5km from home...

Progress!

But not sure when forestry carparks will open again, maybe phase 3

Car parks aren't that important when you should only be going there if within 5km

prunudo

Alkers wrote: »

Car parks aren't that important when you should only be going there if within 5km

True but also saw this.


https://wicklownews.net/2020/05/county-council-to-open-car-parks-from-monday/

Tenzor07

Alkers wrote: »

Car parks aren't that important when you should only be going there if within 5km

That's pretty obvious yea..

Bot1

There were a good few cars parked on Ticknock road this morning! Lads going biking.
They had to pass the road blocks also.

Tenzor07

Bot1 wrote: »

There were a good few cars parked on Ticknock road this morning! Lads going biking.
They had to pass the road blocks also.

Yea I heard that alright, I'd expect to see double yellow painted lines the length of the entire road soon, would say the locals are going apesh1t over the parking...

Curiousness99

I’ve seen it in wales and Scotland where there is no car access beyond a certain point, actually two places in Wicklow too I can think of, As a local you do get pretty fed up with the stupid parking, on blind Bends etc and no way a fire engine could pass

smacl

I noticed Coilte carparks for Hellfire and Cruagh re-opened this morning for 7am so guessing Ticknock will probably be the same. Be interested to see how well social distancing will be maintained, particularly on narrower tracks.

Tenzor07

smacl wrote: »

I noticed Coilte carparks for Hellfire and Cruagh re-opened this morning for 7am so guessing Ticknock will probably be the same. Be interested to see how well social distancing will be maintained, particularly on narrower tracks.

I'd be more curious to know how many of the cars parked up at Ticknock etc. are registered to addresses within 5km... :pac:

Curiousness99

smacl wrote: »

I noticed Coilte carparks for Hellfire and Cruagh re-opened this morning for 7am so guessing Ticknock will probably be the same. Be interested to see how well social distancing will be maintained, particularly on narrower tracks.

Spun across to Cruagh yesterday afternoon, cars all over the place parked on the road so probably as well off to open the car park, Kilmashogue car park open today too, assume ticknock is as well

Curiousness99

Tenzor07 wrote: »

I'd be more curious to know how many of the cars parked up at Ticknock etc. are registered to addresses within 5km... :pac:

Compliance With 5km and essential journeys has deteriorated markedly From what I can see, was chatting to a work colleague who’s plays a lot of golf. He was saying over 50% of names on the timesheet were from Dublin and the club is in Kildare

Apparently same story at other clubs around the place. The government akded the clubs to police it who then asked their members to..

Hope that r0 number stays low ...

Curiousness99

Was up ticknock earlier, great evening and all but don't think I’ve ever seen so many mtbers Up there. Trails are now super dusty

Tenzor07

Curiousness99 wrote: »

Was up ticknock earlier, great evening and all but don't think I’ve ever seen so many mtbers Up there. Trails are now super dusty

All locals too I bet!

CramCycle

Lemming wrote: »

I think paid parking is a deterrent to people using an amenity; what they need is not-infrequent periodic enforcement outside of the designated parking areas so scenes like the above don't happen.

A few visits dolling out parking tickets in quick succession over a few weeks will send the message out. Then they can just do less frequent visits for a while, then rinse repeat. Once bitten, twice shy, etc.

I wouldn't be a fan of paid parking and I never drive up there. A parkign attendant from South Dublin CC who comes in at random times and tickets everyone parked incorrectly would be a better way to do it IMO. At the minute though, in the current crisis, have a parking attendant at the gate, only those over a certain age or who have mobility issues can get in and that's that.

Curiousness99 wrote: »

Compliance With 5km and essential journeys has deteriorated markedly From what I can see, was chatting to a work colleague who’s plays a lot of golf. He was saying over 50% of names on the timesheet were from Dublin and the club is in Kildare

Doesn't exist anymore as far as I can see. No garda checkpoints either. A brother in law is a golfer and he seen a golf club on the news and one of the guys talking was from at least 60km away

Hope that r0 number stays low ...

You and me both, but alas by the time we see if it doesn't it will already have done a fair whack of damage.

Tenzor07

CramCycle wrote: »

Doesn't exist anymore as far as I can see. No garda checkpoints either. A brother in law is a golfer and he seen a golf club on the news and one of the guys talking was from at least 60km away.

Mate of mine was saying that the Gards did have a checkpoint on the way up to Ticknock yesterday evening, and did turn people back...
So I guess you go up and take your chances...

Regarding the parking, I think a €5 charge for places like Ticknock would be a good idea, and use the revenue for maintenance of the carpark area and stick in some bins for all the bags of Dog poop!

Caroline_ie

I feel sorry for those who think MTB only happens in trails centre. Open mountains = you hardly meet anyone.

bogmanfan

Caroline_ie wrote: »

I feel sorry for those who think MTB only happens in trails centre. Open mountains = you hardly meet anyone.

Also, so many other places to ride your bike apart from Ticknock. I hope most will realise this and maybe try to hit different spots once the restrictions ease. Otherwise there'll be a tailback to Ballymount on the M50!

Curiousness99

Caroline_ie wrote: »

I feel sorry for those who think MTB only happens in trails centre. Open mountains = you hardly meet anyone.

Shhh, don’t be encouraging them or you’ll start meeting more people..

I’ve never been up ticknock So much as recently cause I’m sticking to the limits but given the current dry conditions I’d be elsewhere

Tenzor07

bogmanfan wrote: »

Also, so many other places to ride your bike apart from Ticknock. I hope most will realise this and maybe try to hit different spots once the restrictions ease. Otherwise there'll be a tailback to Ballymount on the M50!

I remember before the full lockdown came into force Ballinastoe was just crazy, people were practically parking in every ditch along the road from the trailcentre parking area.. I predict a similar situation after the 8th of June...

bogmanfan

Tenzor07 wrote: »

I remember before the full lockdown came into force Ballinastoe was just crazy, people were practically parking in every ditch along the road from the trailcentre parking area.. I predict a similar situation after the 8th of June...

I was in Ballinastoe myself on the Sunday before Lockdown, although we went along around 4pm and it was grand. Not every spin has to start at 10am - if people spaced out a bit better over the day there wouldn't be the same issues.

Can't wait to hit the trails again, but I'll be steering clear of Ticknock/Ballinastoe/GAP for the first couple of weeks anyway. And will try to get out in afternoons/evenings and skip weekend mornings for the time being.

nak

Tenzor07 wrote: »

I remember before the full lockdown came into force Ballinastoe was just crazy, people were practically parking in every ditch along the road from the trailcentre parking area.. I predict a similar situation after the 8th of June...

In fairness everywhere in Wicklow was the same. Glendalough was so bad the gards had to close the carpark. My local options are mostly fire road but better that than sitting in a traffic jam headed to Wicklow in June unless it rains, then we'll be fine

prunudo

I've noticed over the last year or so more and more walkers are parking at Ballinastoe. If anything i think the bike trials are quieter than before.
Same with Djouce, a lot more walkers lately (pre lockdown), but not a huge change in amount of bikes.

Tenzor07

prunudo wrote: »

I've noticed over the last year or so more and more walkers are parking at Ballinastoe. If anything i think the bike trials are quieter than before.
Same with Djouce, a lot more walkers lately (pre lockdown), but not a huge change in amount of bikes.

Not sure how busy Djouce Golf course is but they could make a fortune if they opened up the parking to the public...

Tenzor07

If you go down to the Woods today.... Be careful:






On a side note, just look at the CARnage around by the Hellfire, you'd swear people were locked in their homes for months and hadn't seen the sun!



Next weekend is due to be warm, sunny and dry so more CARnage...

prunudo

Hope the biker was okay and makes full recovery.

I know i probably shouldn't be, but I'm always amazed at people's lack of self awareness when parking in situations like above, they have no thought for what or who might have to pass by their badly parked car.

Tenzor07

prunudo wrote: »

Hope the biker was okay and makes full recovery.
I know i probably shouldn't be, but I'm always amazed at people's lack of self awareness when parking in situations like above, they have no thought for what or who might have to pass by their badly parked car.

Looks like it happened on the top Metro trail after Tom's climb?

It will only get worse unless you have Gardai plus a couple of tow-trucks doing loops around the forestry carparks....

mad turnip

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Looks like it happened on the top Metro trail after Tom's climb?

It will only get worse unless you have Gardai plus a couple of tow-trucks doing loops around the forestry carparks....

Not sure if anyone has gone down the new black, 'penguin' near Tom's trail. I'm lost for words. Cliff, rockface is all that comes to mind.

Tenzor07

mad turnip wrote: »

Not sure if anyone has gone down the new black, 'penguin' near Tom's trail. I'm lost for words. Cliff, rockface is all that comes to mind.

Haven't gone down any MTB trails in about 2 months now...

#5kfromhome #stayhomestaysafe

fatbhoy

mad turnip wrote: »

Not sure if anyone has gone down the new black, 'penguin' near Tom's trail. I'm lost for words. Cliff, rockface is all that comes to mind.

Where is that exactly?

Hurrache

Tenzor07 wrote: »

If you go down to the Woods today.... Be careful:






On a side note, just look at the CARnage around by the Hellfire, you'd swear people were locked in their homes for months and hadn't seen the sun!



Next weekend is due to be warm, sunny and dry so more CARnage...

That road leading to the Hellfire has been like that a lot this year, pre virus. Some people are just selfish idiots. And the ridiculous thing is that further up the road at Cruagh, and even Tibradden, there's plenty of parking in the actual carparks.

People out for walks apparently don't want to walk too much.

Tenzor07

Hurrache wrote: »

That road leading to the Hellfire has been like that a lot this year, pre virus. Some people are just selfish idiots. And the ridiculous thing is that further up the road at Cruagh, and even Tibradden, there's plenty of parking in the actual carparks.
People out for walks apparently don't want to walk too much.

One emergency service missing from the pic is the Gardai, they don't seem to be about anymore trying to control parking around the Dublin mountains?
People will continue to abandon there cars wherever they can as there's no consequences for doing so...

Hurrache

Nah, you'll never see them do anything re parking etc anywhere really, never mind the mountains. Last time I saw them do any sort of high profile activity in these areas was the time they had checkpoints on the roads to the various recreational sites after a glut of car break ins at the usual car parks.

Not only is it dangerous due to this issue the fire brigade highlighted, you then also have people drive towards you on the wrong side of the road to get around them without giving way to you when you're already progressing, rightly, on your side of the road. It then bloody leads to gridlock because you'll have others behind them also chancing their arm.

bogmanfan

This is also a reminder to us all to take it easy when we get back on the trails. I can't remember the last time I went 2 months without getting out on the bike. I've been doing a bit of fitness work, but skills will be rusty. Probably best not to launch straight into the really rough stuff first day back!

Tenzor07 wrote: »

If you go down to the Woods today.... Be careful:






On a side note, just look at the CARnage around by the Hellfire, you'd swear people were locked in their homes for months and hadn't seen the sun!



Next weekend is due to be warm, sunny and dry so more CARnage...

Rodin

Hurrache wrote: »

That road leading to the Hellfire has been like that a lot this year, pre virus. Some people are just selfish idiots. And the ridiculous thing is that further up the road at Cruagh, and even Tibradden, there's plenty of parking in the actual carparks.

People out for walks apparently don't want to walk too much.

And what has been done about it?

Rodin

Tenzor07 wrote: »

One emergency service missing from the pic is the Gardai, they don't seem to be about anymore trying to control parking around the Dublin mountains?
People will continue to abandon there cars wherever they can as there's no consequences for doing so...

People do lots of things because they fear no consequence.
So there needs to be consequences .
It's that simple.

Curiousness99

Rodin wrote: »

People do lots of things because they fear no consequence.
So there needs to be consequences .
It's that simple.

Unfortunately that’s what required before a lot of people change their behaviour

I said it before Here but myself and all my neighbors are fed up with all the traffic and stupid parking, on the narrow cul de sac road we live on,parking in front gates and on blind corners.

I was over cruagh direction yesterday and I am pretty sure I saw that fire engine, seemed to come from glencullen direction

Wanderer78

rte news at one broadcasting from ticknock live there now

nak

Rodin wrote: »

And what has been done about it?

Gards issued fines to all the cars parked on the road for 2 weekends in a row. Also on Stocking Lane further up last week but think they were looking for someone as 4 cars and a chopper lapping the hill.