COMMENT & ANALYSIS: Should Dublin trial a protected cycle network for 8-12 months and see if people want to go back afterwards? This isn’t an easy thing to do but it can be done quickly and for a relatively small amount of money.
Last week on Twitter I suggested a that Dublin City Council needs to up its game on cycling by trialing such a fast-build bicycle network. Before writing about this further, I’m posting the Twitter thread here for reference as well as for the benefit of those who did not see the Twitter thread:
After nearly 8 years of pre-planning for #liffeycycle route an idea I’ve been thinking about is why not trial it? And why not trial a wider protected network for 8-12 months and see if people want to go back afterwards? #GreenTheQuays #GreenDublinStreets
— IrishCycle.com (@IrishCycle) July 31, 2019
Key to this would be (1) using cheap measures such as flexible bollards, planters and movable traffic lights (ie in concrete above the ground), (2) getting broad support from different groups wider than just cycling and (3) facing opposition. #GreenTheQuays #GreenDublinStreets
— IrishCycle.com (@IrishCycle) July 31, 2019
This whole thread might sound daft, but what’s the alternative? Years more of delays? Years more of inaction on road safety, pollution, climate emissions? Decades more of giving into fear-mongering? #GreenTheQuays #GreenDublinStreets
— IrishCycle.com (@IrishCycle) July 31, 2019
My suggest centres on #GreenTheQuays and that would be the hardest part to trial but it can be done. But you need a basic protected network to really have impact — at least one north-south route. #GreenDublinStreets
— IrishCycle.com (@IrishCycle) July 31, 2019
My suggest centres on #GreenTheQuays and that would be the hardest part to trial but it can be done. But you need a basic protected network to really have impact — at least one north-south route. #GreenDublinStreets
— IrishCycle.com (@IrishCycle) July 31, 2019
I have streets in mind, but first: where in central Dublin or beyond can you see a mix of protected cycle paths and low-traffic streets fit in with temporary measures to form a quickly built network? #GreenDublinStreets
— IrishCycle.com (@IrishCycle) July 31, 2019
If we’re serious about this, the loss of car lanes and/or parking is a must. Loss of bus lanes should be avoided and loss of pedestrian space generally a no. #GreenDublinStreets
— IrishCycle.com (@IrishCycle) July 31, 2019
If we’re serious about this, the loss of car lanes and/or parking is a must. Loss of bus lanes should be avoided and loss of pedestrian space generally a no. #GreenDublinStreets
— IrishCycle.com (@IrishCycle) July 31, 2019
It’s worth repeating: In 1997 nearly 90,000 people in cars were crossing the canals into the centre of Dublin. In 2018, it’s just 48,820. In percentage terms, from 50% to down to 28% of commuters, yet, cars still get the vast bulk of central space.
— IrishCycle.com (@IrishCycle) July 31, 2019
Yes Yes Yes.All the best salesmen will go out of their way to let their prospective customer experience the product sure in the knowledge that when you see it in action you wont want to go back.So many projects that could make the city a better place to live are killed off using whatever argument is necessary to defeat it even when the reasons stated have nothing to do with the real reason it is being opposed.Let us make plans for a city designed for the good of its citizens and stop providing priority for the storage of private property on public spaces i.e parking.If when everyone sees the project in action they still reject it then we must accept it may need to be changed or abandoned but projects which prove popular with the people should get maximum support and priority.
Business exists to serve the people.If people suffer so business can thrive it is time to change the business.
Yes.
Yes, a trial run is a great way to get a feel for a new concept. Could the Council run something under the Beta project template?