Leixlip Cycle Pathway Canal

Anyone know if it's planned to do work between Maynooth and Kilcock? Part of that is pretty rough and would be great if they'd a track there better suited to cycling.

That's disappointing I must say. It's more like a dirt track than a pathway, slightest bit of rain and it's barely accessbile in parts.

I get that, Maynooth to Leixlip is a disgrace. However Maynooth to Kilcock is also pretty crap too. Both should be properly paved.

If you've ever been on Grand Canal from Lucan towards Dublin it's night and day compared to the Maynooth / Kilcock section

"Fine" - as in enough to do the job, yes.

It's OK. There's still puddles, sludgey bits, gravel all over it.

Compared to other greenways and parts of the canal, it's crap.

Maynooth-Leixlip is far worse, but that doesn't make Maynooth-Kilcock good.

That's correct. Originally due to open around St. Patrick's Day.

Hard to understand the delay. Seems like a very simple job. If it takes that long for a short section, it will be years before the Leixlip-Maynooth section is ready.

Last weekend it was accessable from the Confey end from route under bridge with a wire fence slightly ajar that you could exit on the LB end.

A lot of ground works took place, noticably raised path stretches to prevent flooding... (Speculation) And path significantly widened throughout. There are lamp posts awaiting light fittings. Otherwise it looks finished.

Another point re: Maynooth - Kilcock - presumably light fittings are required and not present. I hope the powers that be do not accept Maynooth - Kilcock stretch of the greenway to be completed.

No I mean Maynooth to Kilcock. It's a dirt track as a pathway - that's not what a greenway should be.

I agree, but “greenway” standard will mean wide tarmac all the way.

they are even ripping up old concrete and tarmac on the canal in Dublin City to meet the new requirements.

I'm not saying that the pathway / greenway from Maynooth to Kilcock is in dire need of upgrade and nowhere near as bad as Maynooth - Leixlip is or was, but the surface is poor in many parts. If you walk along it your shoes are filthy as it's a dirt track. I can't believe the surface is in anyway suitable for wheelchairs and it's not ideal for cycling either. Maynooth and Kilcock should be significant parts of the greenway with lots of stop off points for anyone cycling along there and it's not good enough to have the path in it's current format.

Well that was just one point. It's also completely impassable after a period of rain, so where you've got the view that its fit for purpose for wheelchair users is beyond me. There's no lighting either. So by a very very low standard yes it ticks the box.

I use hiking boots mostly when walking on trails in damp weather.

If I’m running, wet runners are the price you have to pay for getting your exercise on soft ground that’s less damaging to you joints than concrete or tarmac.

There was a proposal to tarmac the barrow way years back, and it was opposed, locals mostly felt that overall something was being lost forever, worth more than what they’d gain.

tarmac still seems to be rejected

As much as I enjoy cycling too, the “nature” aspect of the towpaths are killed off by the wide tarmac greenway standard which goes almost right up to the water. And the modern streetlights on the Leixlip sections. The space

maybe limited in parts, but there isn’t much consideration for mixed-use activities. I.e. the hikers, runners, bird watchers, anglers etc.

Id imagine it will kill of most of the long-distance hiking, not many will want to do the “national famine way” all the way on tarmac.

Really? I cycle that section from time to time. It's fine as it is. Better to spend money on the busier sections from Maynooth towards the city. The Deep Sinking is on hold because of nimbys including the Taoiseach

Ridiculously over engineered and over reaching proposal anyway. If they just improved the path there wouldn't be so much resistance.

Agree that the Lucan-Clondalkin section is one of the best I've used. I think it hits a sudden stop at what I presume is the county line?

They aren't proposing a simple path though. It's disingenuous to suggest they are. They are trying to add features, solutions that aren't on any other stretch.

Never heard that Irish Rail argument. The current path is in the exactly in the same place.

Fair point but maybe as a 'greenway' (which it is and is heavily advertised as such) there should be a consistent standard all the way through - like you might expect on a motorway that goes from county to county.

Bernard Caldwell:

I don't know if this is publicly accessible: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2820625758190802/posts/3481517488768289/

You're misquoting me. I never at any point said: "Walkers, joggers, cyclists, buggies, wheelchairs and so on all are fine on it."

The problem is you can’t please everyone.

You could aim to do something to please the most people.

In this case I think a hard surface would please more people than a different type of surface. but I think the wide greenway standard with lampposts etc is overkill. It leaves little room for other activities, or nature/foliage on the canal side .

Clearly a natural surface canal towpath after rain isn't very suitable for wheelchairs. Should all long distance trails be made wheelchair accessible?

It will be a Greenway. Before that it was a towpath trail, from the Shannon to Dublin.

Later the Royal canal way: Royal Canal Way | Sport Ireland

Also part of the National Famine way: National Famine Way - National Famine Walk - Strokestown Park