Sandy Dismount

at

This morning/afternoon.

Dublin Commuter Coalition’s Chairperson, Kevin Carter, said:

“This judgement has the potential to make delivery of cycling projects even more time consuming and difficult in the future. It’s imperative that we urgently reduce our dependence on cars if we are to meet the target of halving our emissions by 2030. Local authorities and state agencies are in the process of rapidly expanding cycling infrastructure using the €360m/year of funding allocated to walking and cycling projects by the government. We call on Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan TD, to introduce legislative amendments to empower local authorities to use the funding urgently and efficiently as originally intended.”

Meanwhile…

Kristin Hadfield, a resident of Strand Road and member of Dublin Commuter Coalition said:

“I was looking forward to cycling to work, around Sandymount, to shops, etc., but simply do not feel comfortable to do so on non-segregated lanes, and I know many people in the area who feel the same. This is such a shame for Sandymount residents and, really, for active travel across Ireland.”

Meanwhile…

Kevin Baker, chairperson of Dublin Cycling Campaign said:

“We’re bitterly disappointed by this outcome. It is a lost opportunity to trial an amenity which would have enabled people of all ages and abilities to safely and comfortably cycle along the seafront on Strand Road.”

“We’ve seen a similar amenity in neighbouring Dún Laoghaire, the Coastal Mobility Route, become an overwhelming success over the past year. It has enabled more people to cycle and it has reinvigorated the coastal communities through which it passes, including Blackrock, Dún Laoghaire and Sandycove.”

“Strand Road is a vital missing link in a coastal cycle route around Dublin Bay. Dublin Cycling Campaign will continue to engage constructively with all stakeholders to find a safe and attractive cycling solution on Strand Road, which remains a hostile environment for anyone who wishes to cycle there.”

Meanwhile…

Dublin City Councillor Catherine Stocker, of the Social Democrats, said:

“The Social Democrats are strongly of the view that Dublin City Council needs to stay the course and appeal this decision. Strand Road is predicted to be below sea level by 2050. Opposition to measures that reduce carbon emissions is misguided and does a disservice to the local community.

“Moreover, this kind of safe, segregated infrastructure is vital to ensuring increased cycling uptake from women and children. The proportion of women who cycle in our city compared to men is only 27pc, according to the last census, and the numbers of children cycling to secondary school is now at only 2pc, according to information provided in recent months to the Oireachtas Climate Action Committee. Blocking the Strand Road cycle lane is a regressive move which ill serves our city.”

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39 thoughts on “Sandy Dismount

          1. Ghost of Yep

            Brilliant. Tell us all about how you day dream of people who are unvaccinated dying on ventilators. Classic :)

      1. Ghost of Yep

        It was a lil joke as it’s obviously far easier to cycle around in Australian weather. In fairness, formerly’s comment has as much substance as mine.

        1. millie bobby brownie

          Ah, I missed the joke. Whoosh ;)

          As far as my own comment goes, I didn’t intend for it to sound snippy. I was genuinely asking; What alternative do you suggest?

          For myself I think a push towards bikes is a way forward. I think the e-bike rentals, in particular, are a great idea – but only to a point. It really only Dublin at present because there is sufficient public transport to support the use of it. But even then, public transport in Dublin is held together with string, and cannot currently support the population, nor is it terribly cohesive.

          There’s an over-dependence on busses to supplement the fact that a metro/subway system should have been built years ago (a result of under-investment, but that’s across the board) – but, aside from this, the public transport infrastructure across the country is so hugely underdeveloped and undersupplied that it leads to heavy reliance on cars, making it less safe for cyclists, but also just the fact that the public transport which would be so essential in supporting schemes like the e-bike rentals is just wholly inadequate and unfit for purpose.

          And its a real pity because cycling is definitely a viable option in this country. We’re a small enough nation that it would easily work (though I do take your point about weather) but there are just so many roadblocks to making it really work, not just in Dublin, that it seems a mammoth task and tbh I don’t see the current government having the stones to pull it off without it becoming another children’s hospital money drain.

        2. George

          It is isn’t obviously far easier to cycle around in 30+ degrees heat, it is in fact much harder. You’ve clearly never tried it and don’t have a clue about cycling. Cycling numbers in Australia are poor. The weather in the Netherlands and Copenhagen is much closer to ours and cycling numbers are very high there.

          1. SB

            The mandatory helmet law in Australia didn’t help, it decimated the number of people cycling

          2. Nigel

            Went for my cycle during the heat wave last week, the roads were melting into puddles of sticky black goo being ripped apart by heavy farm machinery roaring up and down, it was like cycling with the wheels covered in glue, to say nothing of the skin-crawling horror of dry heat where the sweat just sort of clings to you without cooling yik. So I suspended cycling till the raods solidified back to at least the consistency of jelly. Cycling in Ireland is generally lovely, once you’ve got over the intital bit of getting used to it, most days are mild through most of the year, just check in with Met Eireann for the exceptions.

          3. Ghost of Yep

            @ Miliie

            I was far more snippy with you months ago millie and still feel bad about it so no problem at all.

            I agree with the vast majority of what you say. The only real way to up the numbers of people to move to cycling is to provide them with the services and infrastructure. The improvements in the latter recently are a step in the right direction and the success is clear by the number on the roads. However, some of the recently proposed routes don’t take into account the disruption to people who live in some these areas.

            Personally, I’d like to see a continued maintenance for the older paths in the city. Like a lot in Dublin it can tend to be built then forgotten about. A real problem i see is theft. Sure you can buy something that’s not worth stealing but if you want to make cycling your main form of transportation you should be able to spend the money without the worry.

            I can’t see a Japanese style garage or bike patrol anytime soon but maybe if a cycling culture develops like in Amsterdam it would become less of a problem.

          4. Ghost of Yep

            @ George

            Off-hand joke on a rainy day in Dublin precious. I could have never cycled since i was 5 with the stabilisers on and i can clearly see the success of cycling in the Netherlands and Copenhagen compared to here has very little to do with the weather.

            “You’ve clearly never tried it and don’t have a clue about cycling”

            Please. Regale us with your tales of time trials and trochanteric bursitis. I just know you can’t wait to tell all.

          5. George

            “Please. Regale us with your tales of time trials and trochanteric bursitis. I just know you can’t wait to tell all.”

            Again showing you know nothing. I’m talking about transport not sport.

  1. Jason

    It’s also predicted to NOT be under sea water by 2050.
    I don’t get why cyclists don’t just cycle in the primary position everywhere. You don’t need cycle lanes then

  2. Zaccone

    Comparing it to the coast road in DunL is a bit ridiculous. The Strand Road is unfortunately a far more important commuter road, with no easy to use alternatives.

    We realistically need some sort of tunnel/overpass/bridge developed to reroute the road traffic from some point between the Maxol in Irishtown to the other side of the Merrion Gates. Theres been talk of that for decades to overcome the traffic disaster that is the Merrion Gates during rush hours, but nothing ever seems to get done. Then the strand road could become all cycle.

    1. George

      The cycle lane would have enabled commuters to cycle from Dun Laoghaire to town. No point of the commute is any more important than any other when safety is the issue.

      1. Zaccone

        People aren’t going to cycle the Strand Road to get to jobs in town From Dun Laoghaire – its way out of the way for that. The Rock Road getting a better cycle lane would be far more important if you want to achieve that.

        People also aren’t going to cycle from Dun Laoghaire (or further afield) to the Northside/Dublin airport/Dublin port, which is the primary use of the Strand Road for commuter road traffic. Its used for far longer trips than the coastal road stretch in Dun Laoghaire.

        1. George

          You’re just wrong. It takes the same time to cycle to Grand Canal Dock via strand road to and if there was a safe cycle route people would absolutely cycle on it. To go to Stephen’s green via strand road only adds 5 minutes.

          It’s a moot point anyway as you’re wrong about people only using strand road to go to the Northside buy yes people will cycle to the Northside from Dun Laoghaire, Why do you think they wouldn’t? I’ve cycled to Dun Laoghaire from the Northside many times. Sounds like you haven’t much of an idea about what is a long distance to travel on a bike.

          When you say it’s used for “far longer trips” I’ll ignore the fact that you’ve no evidence for this and your lack of understand of what a long trip on a bike is and will just say you can’t judge the future use of a cycle lane which doesn’t exist based on the current use of an unsafe road.

          1. Brughahaha

            Errr , the East Link and Port Tunnel are supposed to divert traffic from the city centre and clogged up Northside suburbs (clogged up with Port Traffic)…and to reach these you have to drive down Strand Road if approaching from the Southern system of motorways.

            The problem with much of the proposed cycling infrastructure is that its to be done on the cheap, and is always an adaption of current infrastructure , rather than new infrastructure , so rarely leads to increased capacity or mobility across ALL society

          2. George

            Eh, Port traffic would be mostly 5 axle trucks which aren’t allowed on Strand Road.

            It is not correct that you need to use Strand road to get to the east link bridge or the port tunnel and trucks shouldn’t be doing it.

  3. Blob

    ah look, im no fan of the council, or Ryan or the Gov. in general for that matter. But in fairness, half the city has been turned into bike lanes. Can’t force them all. Lots of people simply can’t cycle. I know myself my knees are gone, and many people would be the same. Cyclists can’t have it all their own way. They’ve gotten loads over the last year and still crying

    1. George

      Cycling doesn’t impact badly on the knees at all unless you’re planning to enter the Tour de France. I’ve had trouble with my knee and cycling is easier than walking. My doctor even reccomended it. Most people can cycle, nobody is trying to force them but they need to be given the option. There are more people who can’t drive than can’t cycle.

      Until we have a safe network of cycle lanes people who cycle will continue to call for them to be built. You’re idea of “loads” is strange. If cars were facilitated to the very limited extent bikes are nobody would call that loads.

      You say “half the city” has turned to into bike lanes as though that’s a mad idea. Its obviously not true but every road should be made safe for cycling. The reality is that about 75% of the city is space for cars which is mad.

      1. Blob

        ive tendonitis in my knees, one very bad. and cycling flares it up. anyway, im not pro-car, or anti-bikes. and I do think theres far too much driving in the city. but the sense of being wronged by cyclists when ONE track application doesnt get granted is a bit much. In general cyclists need to cop on. They need to follow the rules of the road, when they were told they have to or face fines a few years back they were aghast and appalled. I couldn’t get over the reaction. you’d see them around the city, throwing their hands up and shaking their heads when a pig stopped them for breaking a red light. the only reason ya have to check both ways crossing a one-way road is coz of cyclists.

        1. George

          No going to bother with a load of anti-cycling nonsense from someone who claims they’re not anti-cycling.

          1. Blob

            not nonsense.. literally happened. Go outside and walk around anywhere in the city and within a minute you’ll see a cyclist break road law.

        1. George

          What are you on about? My knee had nothing to do with cycling and if you were better at reading you’d see I said that cycling doesn’t affect the knees.

    2. Nigel

      Cycling is a low-impact exercise and done gently it’ll build up leg muscles that support the knees, but even the primary purpose of cycling is getting from a to b, not exercise, so there are electric bikes for people who want to take it easy or have disabilities, or there are trikes.

  4. Mr T

    Sure half of Ireland has been “predicted” to be under water by 2030/40/50/60 etc
    Nonsense predictions that dont hold any weight – madness that flimsiest of predictions is allowed to be used in a high court judgement

  5. SB

    @Blob: Cycle lanes probably form about 0.01% of all roads in Dublin. And not everyone can drive either.

  6. Andrew

    Under water in 30 years? Presumably all the houses on Strand Road are worthless then? No bank would give a mortgage I assume?

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