Cork County Council hint at new Active Travel route between Douglas and Carrigaline

 

Green - Existing or planned Greenways, Pink - New Active Travel Route?

Cork County Council issued a press release today (18-10-2022) outlining how work was about to begin from Carrs Hill to Rochestown preparing the route for the new M28 motorway.

"Work is due to begin shortly on clearing trees and invasive gorse from Carrs Hill to the Rochestown Slip Road at the Bloomfield interchange. This clearance and fencing work is needed to finalise the detailed design of the motorway, its interchanges and associated works."

The M28 motorway is scheduled to be completed by 2030. The motorway will be a key part of the road infrastructure in Cork, improving connectivity with key urban areas such as Carrigaline, while providing vital access to the Port of Cork facilities in Ringaskiddy. "

What was very interesting is that they also included the following... "Active Travel forms a strong feature of the new M28 scheme. Chief Executive of Cork County Council Tim Lucey added, "

At present, work is ongoing on extending the Ballybrack active travel travel route up to the existing N28 on Carr's Hill. The proposal is then to link that across to the Maryborough Hill which will be a significant shortcut for cyclists.

A new 'Active Travel' route if realised between Ballybrack and Carrigaline would make a huge difference for pedestrians, cyclists & other users. The distance between Douglas and Carrigaline is only about 8kms but it is very dangerous at present with the level of traffic on the roads.

As for the route??? Alongside the new N28? Reduce the width of the existing N28 as it will no longer be the main route? The planned and existing Greenway routes are shown on the map in Green. Will it link up with those? Will it follow the new N28 down to the new Shannonpark interchange and then onto Carrigaline? Will it link up with the planned Greenway from Carrigaline to Passage West?

We'll have to see what they come up with.

They made no mention of removing the hill! 😜

By the time the project is completed in 2030, eBikes should be a lot more popular than they are now so that may not be an issue.

Wouldn't it be great to cycle from Cork City to Crosshaven for a day out without having to worry about sharing the road with cars, trucks and buses.

New road in Little Island opens up new cycling routes

 

This week, a major part of the Dunkettle Interchange project was completed with the opening of a western route into Little Island. This is shown in the map above going from B to C and is about 1km in length.

This is important from a cycling point of view because it opens up new routes for cyclists to take in Little Island as part of a cycle.

If we go back just a few years, there was no easy way to get to these roads without having to negotiate the old Dunkettle Interchange or take the longer hilly diversion via Glanmire.

Now, someone in say Glanmire can cycle safely on the flat down to the Dunkettle Roundabout... along the 'new' Greenway (A to B) to get to Bury's Bridge near the Gaelscoil... and now across the new western road into the Little Island and a new network of roads.

The photo below is an aerial view of point 'B' on the map near Bury's Bridge. 

You can see the new Greenway heading East towards Glounthaune under construction. 

'Structure 16' is the new pedestrian bridge over the railway line.

The image above is an aerial view looking south from point 'B' on the map... pretty much over the railway pedestrian bridge.

It shows the new walkway and cycle lane, the 'Northern Roundabout' and 'Structure 01' which is the new bridge over the N25.

At the top right, you can see part of the 'Southern Roundabout' and the road heading south into Little Island.

See some photos of the route I took below. 

The photos are in sequence from 1 to 7. They start at the most southerly point which is the small roundabout at the western part of Little Island and then proceed north.

Photo 1: The photo above is the shared footpath and cycling path at the small roundabout in Little Island. This is the view looking west and the new link road is at the top right.

Photo 2: The photo above is the view approaching what is termed the 'southern roundabout'. The walkway on the right has a smooth tarmac surface and is about 3-metres in width.

Photo 3: The photo above is is the view of the path at the 'southern roundabout'. There is a gap where there will be a future slip road for cars exiting the N25 below.

Photo 4: The photo above is the view of the bridge linking the southern and northern roundabouts. The key thing here is that they have kept the path nice and wide so that there's plenty of space.

Photo 5: The photo above is the view of the path at the northern roundabout. The traffic cones where there is a gap in the path for a future slip road to go down onto the N25 below. The bypass continues south at the far left of the photo.

Photo 6: The photo above shows the view of the path as it heads away from the northern roundabout and towards the northern end of this new link road. Again, there is a nice wide 3-metre shared path for pedestrians, runners and cyclists.

Photo 7: The photo above is the view of the pedestrian bridge over the railway line.

Photo 8: And the final photo above is of the zebra crossing allowing pedestrians and cyclists to cross over to the Greenway path on the other side. That is part the new Greenway path which will go from Dunkettle Roundabout to Glounthaune / Carrigtwohill & Midleton.

In conclusion: The most immediate impact is that this new road opens up safe cycling options for many of the people that work or live in Little Island. For the recreational cyclist, it opens up the quieter roads of Little Island to explore are part of a cycle.

Government increases support for Cargo Bikes to €3000 under the Bike to Work scheme

Press release from the Department of Transport - 20th Oct 2022

Minister for Transport welcomes increase in support for Cargo Bikes under the Bike to Work Scheme

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan has welcomed the decision to include a new higher limit for Cargo Bikes in the revised Bike to Work Scheme announced today as part of the Finance Bill.

The substantial new increase to a €3,000 limit was sought by the Department of Transport to encourage greater use of cargo bikes. Cargo bikes cost substantially more than regular bikes or e-bikes, both of which saw increases in the limits applicable for the Bike to Work scheme in 2020.

Previously anyone looking to purchase a Cargo Bike could only avail of the limits which were available for bicycles (€1,250) and electric assist bicycles (€1,500). However, today’s announcement sees the limit for Cargo Bikes double to €3,000, whether electrically assisted or regular cargo bikes.

The Bike to Work Scheme aims to encourage the public to cycle to and from work. The initiative allows employees to give part of their salary for a bicycle and/or safety equipment, which should be used primarily for journeying to and from work. The purchase is not taxable benefit-in-kind and can be made in any shop.

Notes

The Bike to Work scheme was introduced in 2009. It was first amended in July 2020 when the original €1,000 limit was increased to €1,250 for bicycles and €1,500 for electric assist bicycles. Those limits could also be used for Cargo Bikes, today’s proposed change increases the limit for Cargo Bikes only to €3,000 whether electrically assisted or regular.

Following today’s announcement, there are now 3 limits, depending on the type of bicycle purchased, under the Bike to Work Scheme:

for cargo bikes and safety equipment, the limit is €3,000

for pedelecs or ebikes and related safety equipment the limit is €1,500

for other bicycles and related safety equipment the limit is now €1,250

Guest Post: Moving Forward in a Sensible Way ...by Robert O'Riordan

Thanks to Robbie who gave permission for his post on Instagram to be shared here...

robbie_irish_bikesmith (Robert O'Riordan)

As a person who has all their life been in the cycle trade and repaired so many bikes and seen many new innovations, the ebike option is really a game changer but along with bike improvements we need a cycle lane network.

Really hoping that the cycle lane network expands in the city and people can see the future that cars aren't the only solution as more safe space for us all is a game changer.

With ebikes, young and old and people of all fitness levels get access to a more affordable and healthier transport not just a select few. While cars are for a select licenced group and at a certain age bracket, cycling is for small kids getting to school and adults getting to work and shopping and retired people to explore greenways.

I hear this from customers who buy e-bikes and regular bikes who just come back with a smile after using their bikes.

I myself have had a new lease of life since I got my cargo bike with health benefits clearly working. I'm a type 2 diabetic and have been losing weight the past few years at a steady pace and getting improvements due to my decision to make the change to bike. 

My cargo bike allows me go the extra miles and up hills where I would have struggled before, carrying all sorts of loads and shopping , passing traffic I used to sit in and just makes you happy no matter what the weather is.

Please let's move forward in a sensible fair way for our next generations be the pioneers to making cycle space for all #love your bike 

#irishbikesmith #comutingcorkcity #cargobikelife #corkcyclelanes @corkcitycouncil @corkcyclingcampaign

Notice: Fort 2 Fort Charity Cycle - Sat 29th Oct 2022

This year’s Fort 2 Fort Charity Cycle takes place on Saturday, October 29th 2022 and will raise funds for the Mercy University Hospital Foundation, four Cork City and County Lions Clubs, and Camden Fort Meagher Restoration.

Registration for this event is €55 and is now open.

More info on the Mercy Hospital Foundation website... https://www.mercyhospitalfoundation.ie/event/fort2fort-2022/

There is a choice of four routes from the event HQ at Camden in Crosshaven...

Couch to 40KM route - Crosshaven to Monkstown and return.

65KM route - Crosshaven to Carrigtwohill and return

85KM route - Crosshaven to Midleton and return

120KM route - Crosshaven to Whitegate (Nr Fort David / Fort Carisle) and return.

Change in the EuroVelo1 route at the Scilly Walk in Kinsale - Oct 2022

On a cycle back on the 15th of August 2022, I noticed that some of the signs for the EuroVelo1 route were blanked out near the Scilly walk in Kinsale in Co. Cork. There seems to have been some issue with walkers and cyclists sharing the narrow Scilly Walk path.

The image above shows the sign at the eastern entrance to the Scilly Walk up on High Road. 

During a cycle on the 2nd of October 2022, the EuroVelo sign was clearly missing. It seems to have been moved to the nearly junction by Summercove National School which now directs cyclists along High Road into Kinsale and avoiding the Scilly Walk.

The map above shows the difference between the new and old route. The old route went down to the Scilly Walk by the waterfront. The new route to the west is on the High Road and is a higher public road into Kinsale.

The above photo at the National School junction taken on the 2nd of Oct 2022 clearly shows the new sign directing cyclists west towards Kinsale. There was no change to the EuroVelo sign showing the route east.

In the photo, the entrance to the Scilly walk is about 100m down the road and to the right.

I'm not sure if the change in route makes much difference to any potential EuroVelo cyclists but it's a change all the same.