COMMENT & ANALYSIS: As the College Green Plaza and its segregated cycle path are held up in planning, Dublin City Council is in the process of implementing a temporary solution for southbound cycling. It is aimed to let people cycling southbound to avoid crossing the Luas tram tracks at awkward angles with buses, trams and taxis around them. Ciarán Ferrie takes a look at it:
I heard about changes to the cycle lane design on College Green so I went out to investigate. I think this is a new cycle lane on College St but it’s not clear how someone can access it on a bike without putting themselves in danger:
In any case it stops almost as soon as it starts and there is a no-left-turn sign which makes it illegal to access the new two-way lane along the Bank of Ireland College Green:
The new two-way path is quite good…. for about 80 metres:
…before it apparently comes to an abrupt end:
But wait! There is a left turn here (albeit blocked by cones at the moment) which means you have to cross oncoming eastbound traffic:
…before finally coming to an end just in time for you to cross oncoming *westbound* traffic to get to the inside lane on College Green:
None of this solves the problem of how to get from D’Olier St/Pearse St to the Nassau Street area and, arguably, makes it even more dangerous for people trying to cycle to Dame St.
You would like to hope that Dublin City Council at least consulted with Cyclist.ie / the Dublin Cycling Campaign or I Bike Dublin before investing in these changes – but that is clearly not the case.
And I know that this is probably a temporary situation pending completion of the College Green Plaza but we also know that it is going to be some considerable time before that project comes to fruition. And this makes me even more concerned about the council’s capacity to deliver good quality, safe cycling infrastructure as part of the College Green plaza project.
This is what cycling groups actually asked for:
- Remove ‘Cyclists Dismount’ signs – they’re pointless.
- Educate vehicle drivers – Give cyclists space, don’t tailgate.
- Fast-track alternative segregated cycling routes on parallel streets.
But the council doesn’t seem to hear.
Ciarán Ferrie is a member of I Bike Dublin. This article was adapted, with permission, from a Twitter thread.
It looks like it’s still being built? there are cones blocking it..
lets give them a chance to finish before critisizing
Julie, why don’t the council seek the advise of the cycling groups? When they go it alone, they design infrastructure nobody uses and just waste their time and money. If the new lanes are confusing, people will not use them and back to square one.
FYI to all: the latest article on this includes videos: http://irishcycle.com/2018/01/30/video-college-green-cycling-bypass-of-luas-tracks-now-open/
While it’s far from perfect, I’m sure many people will welcome it as an alternative to having to cross tracks in the middle of the road with trams and buses around.