The Corridors Of Freedom

at

Core blimey.

This morning.

National Transport Authority CEO Anne Graham (top) launching a discussion document on the BusConnects Dublin – Core Bus Corridors Project to “improve bus journey times and cycling priority along 16 radial core bus corridors”.

The proposals include

230kms of continuous bus priority over 16 radial core bus corridors;

200kms of cycle tracks and cycle lanes provided on the corridors segregated from the bus lanes and general traffic lanes “as far as is practicable”;

Journey time savings of up to 40%-50% across the 16 radial core bus corridors

“On each of the Core Bus corridors, we will provide high-quality cycling facilities, segregated from the bus lanes and general traffic lanes as far as is practicable.”

A full public consultation on the 16 identified corridors will be undertaken in October, which will have all the detailed impacts of the project on a road-by-road basis.

FIGHT!

BusConnects Dublin – Core Bus Corridors Project

Leah Farrell/RollingNews

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28 thoughts on “The Corridors Of Freedom

  1. missred

    Heard it on the radio this morning that thousands of houses will have their gardens cut off and out of use while these works get completed

  2. Liam Deliverance

    “as far as is practicable” – This line would make me sceptical.

    My two cents – start setting up business centres with transport, shops, pubs/restaurant etc outside of Dublin city centre – no matter how many bus/cycle lanes it will never keep up with demand if they keep building large office spaces in the CC, especially when they don’t build accommodation to match.

    Assuming Dublin does eventually grind to a halt it will be very difficult to undo after years of focusing business there to such a small area on such small roads.

    As for bus lanes, great in theory, they do take up half the available road space though and when there are no bus’ in them its not great use of available space. Also in places it’s a given that non bus traffic completely ignores the restriction so pointless.

    For cyclists consider some dedicated cycle corridors to get cyclists in and out efficiently where they are the only road user.

    1. Cian

      “as far as is practicable” – This line would make me sceptical. yes, but it is not practical to have a cycle lane, a bus lane and a car lane in all of these 16 routes. They are talking about removing cars from some of the routes – making them bus only. In Shankill they are proposing a separate cycle lane (not along the main road).

      My two cents – start setting up business centres with transport, shops, pubs/restaurant etc outside of Dublin city centre They have. Have you not been outside of Dublin city centre? The ‘choke’ points are all outside the city centre.

      As for bus lanes, great in theory, they do take up half the available road space I don’t think you understand the concept of a bus lane if you are writing this…

      For cyclists consider some dedicated cycle corridors to get cyclists in and out efficiently where they are the only road user. This times 100. Perhaps we need to look at separating cycle lanes from the roads… although the lack of space is going to be an issue

      1. Liam Deliverance

        And how do those in cars, get out of/into Shankill if one of their routes is given solely to Dublin bus, you are still going to take motor tax from them yes? Should they just get up another half hour early?

        Where I wrote “start”, change that to increase development outside of the city and decrease in the CC. Yeah Cian I have been outside the cc, no need for the tone, and I don’t think “all” the choke points are outside the cc as you say. If folk are not travelling into the cc in the first place the choke points are eased and at least outside the city there is room for road improvements, widening, adding roads etc, an option not available in the cc.

        Understand the concept of a bus lane just fine, my point was that creating a bus lane and using half the available road space and then not putting enough buses down it or then letting cars use it anyway is a bit pointless, should be one or the other. Bus lanes are great but should be maximized, some are under utilized.

        Glad you liked my last point and you had no dismissive comment for that one.

        1. BobbyJ

          FCPN cameras on all bus lanes with revenue collected ring fenced for sustainable transport projects should deter illegal use of bus lanes and be of benefit to society

        2. scottser

          Shankill has a dart station. Just be thankfull you don’t live somewhere with fupp all public transport

  3. Fact Checker

    Excellent initiative. Long overdue.

    Needs BIG changes in Dublin Bus work practices to be worth it though: free the middle doors!

      1. Fact Checker

        Greater revenue protection should be part of the plan.

        Generally works for the Luas.

    1. Pip

      Middle doors by no means universal – I think newer buses don’t have them at all.
      Wasn’t there some sort of standoff with management over their use?
      Money may have been part of it.

  4. Zaccone

    Great news. About time the cycling and public transport infrastructure got some much needed upgrades. Hopefully the plane doesn’t get drowned in NIMBYism.

    1. scottser

      Yeh, but you just know theyll put cycle lanes on footpaths, in front of bus shelters and other stupid places.

  5. tycho

    1. Does the traffic become infinitely more free flowing when the schools traffic is taken out of the equation?
    YES
    2. Would implementing a citywide school bus system create employment, economic activity, take cars off the road, reduce carbon emmissions, clear traffic?
    YES
    3. Why isn’t this implemented?

    1. Fact Checker

      A few reasons I can think of:
      -child protection
      -catchment policies meaning that kids aren’t obliged to attend local schools
      -lack of dedicated bus parking at schools

      1. tycho

        Child protection not an issue, other countries can so why can’t we?
        Catchment policies, a tiny proportion.
        Buses can stop at already there bus stops closest to the school.
        Employ wardens to ward them to the school gates.

    2. Sheik Yahbouti

      Couldn’t agree more, tycho. The ease with which one can travel during school holidays is truly remarkable. At other times the number of Armoured Personnel Carriers with one snotty sprog as a passenger is equally remarkable.

  6. Paul

    Meanwhile in Cork, ancient falling apart buses and pot holed roads are all we have to look forward to. Dublin seems to be lavished with all sorts of major public transport plans.

    1. Zaccone

      Cork is getting exactly as much funding on a per capita basis as Dublin with the new bus plans – approx 1/5th of what Dublin is getting.

      1. Paul

        Well in all fairness have you been to cork recently? In terms of public transport it’s like Dublin in the 1970’s. no trams, no plans for metro, barely functioning bus services, which are vastly more expensive than Dublin’s buses.

    2. Ruffi

      Well the people of Cork did go nuts when they tried to improve the bus lanes on Pana a few months ago – prohibiting parking three hours a day was considered outrageous. The hysteria around it was laughable.

  7. Junkface

    I thought the whole objection to digging tunnels for an underground rail network years ago was that it would involve disrupting too many residential areas? Now what is more disruptive to home owners than removing their gardens to replace them with wider roads and bike lanes!?? Honest to God Irish planning gets dumber every year. Build proper undergrounds like a normal city!! Problem solved for good.

    What they are planning sounds like a Clusterf***

    1. Topsy

      Why not also take the sitting rooms while your at it. Not many people use them either.
      Taking people’s front gardens will not happen – pie in the sky nonsense.

  8. Anon

    Any chance the trees could be replanted everywhere? Every route will see the removal of some (much needed!) trees.

    Setting it up as a 1-for-1 would be amazing!

    Is there a parks programme to help the communities that will lose some of their garden’s to this expansion?
    Could (re)plant trees there if so.

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