Is it time to ban kissing gates and other obstructive barriers which block legitimate cycle route and greenway users? Vote in our twitter poll or leave a comment below…
We started the poll after reading a post about kissing gates on the Maynooth Cycling Campaign’s website, it said:
“Whatever the origin of the name, kissing gates are not in accordance with Rural Cycleway Design, the Irish design standard [nor are they compliant with urban standards or general access standards]. They prevent or make passage difficult for many cyclists with non-standard bikes such as tag-alongs, trishaws, cargo bikes and bikes with panniers from accessing greenways and parks. However, this has not prevented local authorities or Waterways Ireland from approving their use.
In the post-Corona world, they are a cause for concern as kissing gates cannot be used without moving the gate by hand. As a result, one infected person could spread the virus to several hundred. It is regrettable that in the past local authorities including Kildare County Council installed such features. It is even worse that in recent days South Dublin County Council has installed one at the entrance to the Dodder Greenway in Tallaght. It gave the excuse that there was a need to stop scrambler motor bikes and that the decision was taken earlier in the year. You would think that someone in local authorities would assess the risk from kissing gates, kiss them goodbye and install bollards in their place.”
— Maynooth Cycling Campaign post
Is it time to ban kissing gates and other obstructive barriers which block legitimate cycle route and greenway users? See link and image of new kissing gate in next tweet…
— IrishCycle.com (@IrishCycle) June 4, 2020
We’re posting this here as the response on twitter has been surprisingly strong, with many pointing out the barriers also block access for people with disabilities:
Kissing gates along with cycling, also hinder walking and disabled access to our school through Greenhills and Tymon Park. Survey and image below, take part to help towards getting this addressed https://t.co/IutnFpzz4j
— D12 Bike Bus Network (@D12BikeBus) June 5, 2020
One comment highlighted how the new South Dublin County Council barrier on the Dodder Greenway even blocks normal bicycles:
I cycled that route yesterday, the new gates are too shallow for a regular bike, unless it’s lifted up on to 1 wheel. I find that hard to do. Why not the wider ones that were length of the bike or even better just bollards. This route is effectively blocked for bikes now.
— Fiona Sweeney (@FiSwy) June 4, 2020
Some people replied to the poll saying that the barriers stops scrambles or horses, but just as many contradicted this:
Have encountered plenty of antisocial behaviour on the other side of these, including scramblers. They always find a way in.
— Dan Higgins (@DanHigginsIRL) June 4, 2020
The only people this stops is people like me who can't get my bike through with my son in his seat on the back. pic.twitter.com/YMXvmbe3qh
Weren’t these kissing gates the exact reason how Yaman Umuroğlu @maltanar was trapped by a gang of skangers in Inchicore back in Nov 2019? They battered him black and blue with bars and stole his bike, precisely because these gates slowed him right down
They are nothing else than a nuisance and need to go.
Passed something the other day that works much better: https://goo.gl/maps/bHVoE2ewUPbyTfmDA
Not sure if cargo bikes can get though but that would only be a matter of making the gate shorter.
This was on the other side of that path: https://goo.gl/maps/R31DnmaNNLAA1kg88
Also a good solution
These gates discriminate against the handicapped and users of many types of bicycle, many used by disabled cyclists. The range of cyclists excluded include those using the following.
Tricycles
Recumbents
Tandems
Cargo bikes
Bikes with child seats
Bikes with panniers
Any bike longer than standard.
Bikes with stabilizers
And as mentioned above they are a source of great danger to solitary cyclists who risk serious injury or death as it leaves them very vulnerable while trying to get through.
If you think they stop horses accessing the greenway get a shovel and a wheelbarrow and see how much dung you can collect for your roses along the route.
Its long past time to kiss them goodbye.
Are the gates near the ESB on Jamestown Rd/Kylemore Way Inchicore gone?. They were an awful nuisance for anyone with a heavy electric bike.They don’t seem to be on Google maps now.