Cycle infrastructure planned for south Dublin

Consultation on Roebuck Road changes closing on Tuesday

Not just time. A total waste of your money and mine, on a fools errand.

DaCor, you're living in dreamland. The whole premise for the cycle lane trial, Covid mobility measures, has passed.

The statutory instrument for the trials was supposed to be enacted as a regulation (stroke of the Ministers pen) in Sept 2021 and yet it wasn't, and then was supposed to appear as an amendment to primary legislation in tandem with the variable speed limits and the eScooters and yet it wasn't and yet both of those issues have been progressed under separate Bills. Have you not asked yourself, where the Trials Bill has disappeared to and why?

I'm definitely not the one who needs to provide evidence here, the written judgement speaks for itself.

You've convinced yourself a High Court interpretation was novel and that the Judge is demented!

I'm saying neither of those assertions are true and that the Judgement came out more or less as I expected it would when the challenge was lodged.

I suppose if the Court of Appeal finds against the City Council too, you'll be coming on here telling us that the three judges are mad, bad and dangerous to know.

Filming or photographing someone or something in the public realm is not against the law.

However, if you believe there is an intention to harass, intimidate or abuse in any way, by their actions, gather your own evidence of this and report it to the Gardaí.

She's not harmless, and she's not nuts either.

I asked her to stop filming me.

She read me the law, and gave me a mouthful of abuse.

I know where she works.. some govt. Dept, so point in complaining to employer.

Yeah sure man.

He's been intending to use his powers in this area for ten month now, and yet nothing. Regulations and guidelines? All sounds a bit weak willed and mealy mouthed to me.

Does it not concern you how open to challenge such impotent measures would be compared to primary legislation? Ryan really has backpedalled (no pun intended) from his forthright stance on the matter when the Judgement was originally handed down last summer.

And do you know why he has? Because just like turf and distributor roads in Limerick, whenever he gets too big for his boots, the backbenchers of his partner Parties in Government remind him what a weak position he is in politically, and that if he pushes trivial matters too far and precipitates an election, it'll be his Party that disappears off the map, not their's.

If FF and FG don't deliver on the NSMP, the voters won't give a monkey's, because it's a luxury, a frivolity. The only thing on the minds of the electorate are inflation, housing and healthcare. Even voters with climate change at the heart of their thinking know the NSMP is only tinkering and that real change is down to renewable energy, reduced consumption in the built environment and agricultural technology and offsetting measures, those being 70% of the ball game.

Ryan may be stupid, but he's not stupid enough to sign his own political death warrant.

I'm not a legal expert (like many on here I imagine!), but it would be remiss of DCC not to appeal such a far reaching judgement. Active travel and a move away from cars isn't a Government policy that is going to disappear with a change of Government or rising sea levels in Sandymount...

I don't talk for everyone, only those with the resources to make an impact.

But that aside, it was clear that a majority of Sandymount, Ringsend and Irishtown residents were against the Council's plan, let's have no revisionism on that one. The public consultation fora might have allowed input from all over the Country, but when it came to direct contact and the feeling on the doorsteps, the local public reps were under absolutely no illusion which side their bread was buttered on.

Infrastructure is not just for the immediate residents - it is for the anyone who uses, or would potentially use, the infrastructure. Much like Deansgrange, residents should have a say, and not a veto. They are not the only ones affected by the (lack of) infrastructure.

Tell me then, why isn't there a cycleway on one traffic lane of Strand Road / Beach Road as we speak?

I always discuss things, it's just that the group think here chooses not to hear the reality of what I say.

You see that's where you're wrong. I'm always interested in compromises that result in a win/win, but generally in here a project won't get any credence unless it overtly disadvantages motorists in some way.

I'm all for every aspect of Bus Connects for example, because it delivers the kind of impact that handing over busy traffic lanes to cycling simply does not do.

Haven't cycled in Dublin city centre for several years. So was pleasantly surprised to find out how relatively handy it is now with all the cycle and bus lanes. Pleasant even, enjoyable.

One thing I did notice though was that about half of cyclists are not too bothered about stopping at traffic lights, except maybe at major junctions. Otherwise they just sidle past you, quick look and carry on. Can see pros and cons to doing this. Trouble is, it's OK for the savvy but encourages others and if majority of cyclists crash the lights, then there's safety issues for them and pedestrians etc.

Don't know what the answer is but something that cyclists/ city authorities are going to need to sort out as more people cycle. How does it work out in other large cities with lots of cyclists?

In the Netherlands, you get a €95 fine for breaking a red light. And both electronic and in-person enforcement is pretty vigorous.

It's a bit of a chicken and egg situation in Ireland, when does the cohesion of the cycling network result in investment in dedicated enforcement, and so on. Its a valid area to look into, but pending that, I don't see why the Guards couldn't set up some stings at locations identified for low observance of red lights, in the same way that speed traps and mass drink-driving check points are set up for motorists. Publicity of these sort of things really do work wonders for awareness and compliance.

I do find it equally annoying when I'm cycling or driving, to be waiting on a red and see other bikes do everything from sailing through unchecked to creeping onto the junction, or tying their departure to the adjacent pedestrian light. All very dangerous and a terrible example to younger cyclists joining the road.

Yes, I think that we're not great at observing rules and regulations that seem to be a nuisance. Bit like what the yanks called jay walking - in some countries, citizens are fastidious in terms of finding a pedestrian crossing. Here most (inc myself) will cross at will, having taken a good look,

Compliance with all road traffic rules in Ireland is poorly enforced. I've actually seen a lot more cyclists get pulled over than car drivers in Dublin City Centre. If we start rigorous enforcement of the rules I think that has to start with car drivers.

I wouldn't go down that road here - I mean vast majority of motorists stop at traffic lights when red. And wait till the green.

I was going along in the bike lane, passed out a couple of slower bikes and then stopped at next lights. They sailed past, I passed them again and ditto etc. Just annoying to see that sort of indifference to the basic rules around traffic lights. Though I'll hold my hand up and say I got fed up and scooted through a pedestrian crossing as no one on it.

When I lived in Dublin many years ago, there were no bike lanes and it was survival of the fittest. You had your wits fully about you and acted accordingly. But most cyclists still stopped for lights, at most you got ahead a little before the green came.

Times change I guess.