17th April, 2012
Had a good meeting with Mayor Andrew Montague and the Dublin Fifth Province team this afternoon. We were brainstorming on the issue of cycling, and how to build on the success of the Dublin Bikes, the Cycle to Work Scheme and other initiatives that have led to a rise in cycling in recent years.
Here's my own suggestions:
1. Provide traffic calming on the roads that encourage speeding. These are often one way streets that get wider as you travel down them. I'm thinking of Kildare Street as you travel towards Stephen's Green from Nassau Street, or the West side of Parnell Square as you head towards Dorset Street. This one's a pet hate of mine. You can stand and watch expectant mothers legging it across the 'Formula One' junction (thanks Andrew) at the top of Parnell Square near the Municipal Art Gallery to get out of the way of speeding car. Tighter curve radii, road narrowing and rumble strips can help slow down traffic, even tree planting can contribute to a sense of enclosure and help calm the traffic.
2. Provide child priority zones with good signs in residential neighbourhoods and near schools. Perhaps the 30 kph signs could have a logo of a child to remind car drivers of the vulnerability of young children to speeding.
3. Provide cycle lanes on fast multi-lane roads. By fast I mean roads where the speed limit is over 30 kph. On slower roads it may be possible to provide enough passive enforcement to keep cars to the speed limit, but at higher speeds we need to provide cycle lanes, particularly for less skilled or less confident cyclists.
4. Retrofit quality cycle routes beside canals, the coast and rivers. This means the Liffey Quays as well as alongside the Tolka, the Dodder and the Royal and Grand Canals. It's fascinating how the lane reductions on Wolfe Tone Quay after the floods hasn't led to the City grinding to a halt. My strong view is that we need to widen footpaths and provide a decent continuous cycle lane on both the North and South Quays.
5. Produce a 'We Love Cyclists' sticker for buildings used by the public. Such a notice could make it clear that cyclists are welcome, and indicate where bike racks are located, and show the distance to Dublin Bike stations or nearby bike routes. As Andrew pointed out, there's always that slightly embarrassing moment when you enter a lobby and stop to remove you wet weather gear. You can't help but think that a security guard is about to hop on you, thinking that you're about to strip off. A welcoming sign would reassure you and might make others think about getting on their bike.
6. Provide contra-flow cycle lanes on one-way streets. I remember Carmencita Hederman arguing for this on the City Council twenty years ago with limited success. It took years to convince the Council to provide even the most minimalist stretches of contra-flow on North Brunswick Street. We need to have such lanes on roads like Merrion Row and Nassau Street. The new scheme on Newtown Avenue in Blackrock that I worked on with Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Manager Owen Keegan is now open and shows how successful it can be to put in the missing link in the chain.
7. Publicise the benefits of cycling. We need to promote cycling in the same way that cars are advertised on those J.C. Decaux advertising signs. It's an easy gig really - arrive on time, keep fit, meet your friends, save the planet, there's no shortage of reasons for cycling. Think about what some budding Mad Men (or Women) could do with the cycling brand.
8. Gradually reduce car parking. Apparently the City of Copenhagen reduced the amount of car parking over the last thirty years in a 'soft stick' approach to favouring the bike. Naturally this was done in tandem with improving cycling facilities. Currently over 35% of journeys to work in that city are by bike, starting from a low base back in the 1970s, and that's in a city where the cycle lanes require a lot of snowplowing in the winter months.
9. Let the public decide on budgets for cycling. I suspect if people knew that cycling only get the crumbs of the transport cake when it comes to budgets than they'd ensure that cycling get its fair share. Personally I'd dedicate at least 20% of the City Council's transport staff time as well as capital and current transport budget to cycling initiatives. The reduced traffic congestion and improvement in public health should cover the cost.
10. Re-educate the professionals - Engineers, the Road Safety Authority and the Gardaí. OK, maybe we should call it Continuous Professional Development, but there is an information deficit, and in some cases resistance in certain professional quarters to recognising and promoting cycling. If the Gardaí put more effort into stopping cars speeding than deterring jay-walking the streets of Dublin would be much safer. The Road Safety Authority could concentrate more on ensuring that car drivers think about cyclists more often. For instance on the Continent some countries teach car drivers to open the driver's door with their 'gear stick' hand so that they instinctively check behind for cyclists before opening the door. Having cycled into car doors on more than one occasion it would be nice to think that more car drivers would look behind them before opening the door. I'd also like to see more Engineering schools offering CPD or Diplomas in cycle planning.
They were my thoughts on the issues. Others discussed providing for the needs of children on the road; increasing the amount of women cyclists, and reducing traffic speeds to limit deaths and injuries. We also touched on Shared Space issues and the work of Dutch Engineer Hans Monderman
The work that the Fifth Province is undertaking will hopefully lead to a safer more vibrant capital city, and I'm looking forward to the results of their research.
Finally, best wishes to Ciaran Fallon as he heads off to pastures new from his position as Dublin Cycling Officer over the last few years . Let's ensure that the position is filled soon, not watered down and that his successor achieves as much success in the post as he did.
Ciaran, "Go n-éirí an bóthar leat, agus go raibh an ghaoth go brách ag do chúl!"
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Thanks Ciarán from the D5P team for sharing your cycling ideas with our audience. You can read Ciarán Cuffe's original blog entry here on his blog. Check in with us next week for the new consultation on Cycling in Dublin.
I do not agree with the majority of what Ciaran Cuffe claims. I do respect his opinion and the way in which he and the Green Party promote cycling and he is very well intended.
My big issue is with Traffic Calming and speeding. From time to time, you do notice cars speeding up. I.e. the Kildare st example as given by Ciaran. However this is mainly due to cars seeing a green light ahead, forcing them to speed up to catch the lights.
The idea of tightening corners or curves is a pet hate of mine and I feel venerable as a cyclist as cars and bikes seem to be squeezed up against one another and particularly at a Stop/Yield junctions.
Instead of traffic calming schemes, how about resurfacing roads. Rathmines and Rathgar roads have huge numbers of cyclists each morning; however the road surfaces are in terrible condition. You have a limited amount of space and you appear to spend time looking on the ground as opposed to the surrounding traffic. Also, the Bus Lane in Rathmines needs to be examined. Consideration should be given to redesigning Bus Lane at Grove Road, Portobello end. Ban Left hand turn on to Grove Road and continue Bus Lane to Stop line. This stops a single car which is turning Left forcing all bus lane traffic merging into general traffic lane (which would improve both Bus efficiency and cycle safety).
Stephens Green is another issue. A large number of cycles illegally (incl me) cycle from Harcourt St to Dawson St via Stephens Green West against the flow of traffic. This issue was over looked during the Luas construction.
Richard Sheehan (not verified)
on 03/05/12
Since the introduction of Dublin Bikes and the general promotion of bikes I have 2 issues I would like to highlight.
1. The number of cyclists using the pavements has increased especially where there are one way streets. i.e. Talbot St and Capel St.. Cyclists are unable to go towards Connolly Station on Talbot Street and therefore use the pavement. It is quiet dangerous to the pedestrians and to customers leaving shops.
2. Cyclists are not heeding traffic lights. They seem to think these coloured lights are only for motorists. On Parnell Square East most cyclists fly down the hill between buses past the red lights when the green man is on. I can testify to 2 torn trousers and 4 or 5 black marks on my arms and legs as a result of this practice. If Dublin cyclists want to get the respect of drivers and pedestrians please, please obey the rules of the road.
Tim Haier (not verified)
on 08/05/12
Columbusite - my general anwser there is that I take the lane at times when I feel I can best resolve a situation before it happens. That's why I take it when I'm near corners, near lots of cars parked, etc. Now, if it's a wide lane, and there's more room to maneuver, then no, you don't need to take the lane. There's plenty of room for you and a car. However, I draw the line at riding in the parking lane. That's for parking, not for driving OR riding. And you can get into trouble weaving in and out of parking lanes by not being predictable. Anonymous - I don't see this as a huge problem around OSU campus. If you travel with the assumption that cars get first priority, then yes, it might be a problem. But if you travel with the assumption that cars and bikes BOTH have equal rights to the road, then I think you'll see things different. I don't think bikes run red lights, etc. any more or less than cars do. And in my book, performing a rolling stop is the same as running a red light or stop sign.
Capucine (not verified)
on 18/05/12
Capucine, what and where is OSU Campus? If you read my comment (anonymous) again you will see I was implying all road users, pedestrians included, assume that their chosen method of transport should get priority. Also, I have been cycling through Dublin City Centre, a round trip of 30 miles every day for the past 4 years often taking different routes at my leisure. If I saw as many cars, buses, trucks etc, breaking lights and not obeying the rules of the road as I have seen bike users, then there would be carnage on the streets. This is the reason why I mentioned that there should be more education in schools about road use. Exe: How many of us know what it's like from the HGV/Bus drivers perspective to be aware of cyclists and pedestrians? How many HGV/Bus drivers know what it is like to be a cyclist in a busy city?Statistics show even briefly highlighting the dangers associated with any activity, be it professional or for leisure saves lives. If a brief module in either primary or secondary school on road use was introduced I firmly believe future generations will have a different and more conscientious approach to using the transport network around our city. Despite this, I think cyclists will always be more prone to flauting the rules of the road because the very nature of cycling appeals to those who want a quick and convenient method of transport through an oft congested urban environment. In other words; attracting those who want to take a shortcut. While a city's infrastructure shouldnt specifically tailor itself to the demands of one demographic, it is important that urban planning is elastic enough to realise demands on the transport network will rise and fall according to various factors.
F.Black (not verified)
on 22/05/12
I would agree with most of the opinions raised, as I think that any dialogue on this subject is very worthwhile.
Resurfacing of cycle lanes and the sides of roads, many of which are in a sorry state, to say the least, pose, in some cases significant hazard and is something that desperately needs attention. They are also a costly nuisance, causing punctures and buckled wheels.
While re-educating professionals is a noble thought, i think it would also be a good idea to educuate schoolchildren around the dangers (and values) of cycling and general road use. This, I feel, would bring about a change, not in the present but for future generations of road users.
Respecting the rules of the road is one of the foremost comments raised when discussing cycling. While this is a pertinent point, I think that there is a fundamental lack of respect between all types of road user, from the truck driver to the pedestrian. Again, this is something that would improve over time with propper education around the relevant issues.
Letting people decide how much is spent on cycling, I think, is a great idea but one that would never happen as it would be too costly to implement. However, I think that engaging the public in a more open forum is advantageous and would lead to an improvement within the city cycling network. How about a specifically tailored Dublin City Council Cylcing Forum? This would obviously need suitable administration and publicity to get it off the ground but it would be a good start in gauging public demands put upon and in relation to the routes they use and the general experience of cycling through this city.
Personally, one of my biggest pet-peeves as a cyclist is a lack of places to actually lock my bike.There are far too few secure places in the city and in the suburbs to park. Also, I think it would be a good idea to monitor areas of high density cycle parking with cctv to deter thieves.
Anonymous (not verified)
on 21/05/12
The mans right. I was thinking if they made a cycle lane to run agiatns the traffic to go straight up with the bleeding horse on your left so you can go straight to the rathmines bridge. all that would have to be done is a special bicycle traffic light next to the pedestrian one on the island out side of the bleeding horse similar to the one on the cutom house bridge on the south side that allows you to cross onto the road safley if you where coming to the end of the south side liffey bank cycle lane. Unfortunitly the liffey bank cycle lanes and the ring road cycle lane (on the canal) are aimed at tourist or lesure cyclists and not comuters that actualy have places to go As for the Green I feal a dose of nostalja from my currying days when I come flying around the corner from lower leesons street (the right witch leaves the park on your left) and am left stranded in the middle of the 3 lane road with two lanes of traffic to cross to get to the bicycle lane only to reach the next corner and have 2 dismount and cross the road as a pedestrian in order to join the trafic on merrion row, it's this or swing round the park and take the right down dawsons street fight to cross lanes and take the right onto nassau street fight across lanes again on to clair street and then your at merrion square(a regular visit for me). I think their the only two parks in the world where it quicker to walk slowy to each other than cycle.
Thusitha (not verified)
on 24/05/12
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