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Cut and paste this link into your browser to see a scanned image of the article
http://www.geocities.com/bishlit/figureOfeight.jpg
Thanks to Mark for that.
I hope this doesn’t diminish any plans for the interconnector. It will deliver, as Diaspora has pointed out, much needed capacity.
I do see lots of merit in all the major train stations being contacted by the circular Luas line but the Luas can never be a substitute to the metro/interconnector.
Capacity capacity capacity !!!
Another proposed option for buses that currently use Harcourt St is to re-route along Hatch St and then along a contra flow bus lane on Earlsford Terrace to St Stephens Green East. I think this is the best solution. Between the DCC and BAC the re-routing of buses can be successfully integrated into this plan with out pissing off bus users, which is of utmost importance, and with out the need for busses to use the north west corner of the Green.
After years of car centric policy it’s about time some street space is reclaimed for the weary pedestrians and cyclists of Dublin. The safety improvements speak for them selves but also the civic area it will create is what Dublin sorely lacks at the moment and will become a great public amenity, with shouts of why didn’t they do this before.
DDC may have had their hand forced on this but at least they are making the right decisions and putting the car last on their list of priority. I think the DCC are on the right track and with a few tweaks like changing the direction of traffic flow on Hume St and Ely Place this will work and all modes of transport, cars included, will benefit.
For those who haven’t seen the proposal here is a link to the Briefing Note on the DCC site http://www.dublincity.ie/traffic/green.htm
Between Thurderbirdesque seating and giant snow globes this thread is getting very weird/creative. Its great. :p
I was talking about the fountain but so what if there is a bit of maintenance! Water features add a lot to public spaces when done properly. Just look at how any other European country uses them. We just don’t do it properly here and I don’t agree with putting one outside the GPO but that’s no reason why we shouldn’t have one elsewhere in Dublin.
Dublin has never had a substantial well-sited water feature so we just don’t know how Dubliners would treat one if they got one. I’d give them the benefit of the doubt, after all the small one in St Stephens Green is treated well!
Originally posted by Paul Clerkin
…Dublin is better off without water features….On what do you base this on, the Anna Livia Fountain?
More like a rectangle but I see your point.
I just think it just looks empty at the moment and un-square like, almost like a deserted island despite the carriageways being of similar design. No one seems to use it even to get to somewhere else. Most squares have some sort of occasional activity, like a market, why not a semi permanent cafe? But if the cafes are planned to go along the sides then something else is needed.
I think the DCC is afraid of vagrants and skateboarders taking over any seating provided so instead of dealing with those two groups they just don’t provide any seating in the first place therefore avoiding the “problem”.
Look what happened on South Kings Street last year, the DCC removed the beautiful tomb like seating they provided because a few rate paying businesses complained about the clientele using them.
Those seats are now lying unused somewhere maybe they could be used in O’Connell St somewhere but then again they might look like an after thought. They defiantly should be taken out of storage they are very different looking and probably very expensive.
Dublin certainly could do with more water features, we fare very badly on this front compared with the continentals but I think the kiosk cafes should eventually use the space in front of the GPO. It would be a great place to stop for a coffee and I’m sure they kiosks can be moved when the space is need for an event.
Yeah from their website it looks like the discussion will be on “design in public spaces in Bilbao and Dublin”
Originally posted by blue
…. Another no no is sitting in the outside lane on a dual carriageway ….In a car that is! 😀
Yes, I’ve witnessed that also. Another no no is sitting in the outside lane on a dual carriageway (as it should be) but they’d rarely undertake you to get by like they would here. They’d patiently flash their lights until you pull over.
The English are very good at standing in line, obeying the rules. Its one of their good traits. Compared to the Irish who see rules as quidence and unless there are severe consequences they don’t obey them.
Thats why zebra crossings work in the UK.
Only a gross gerenalisation not ment to cause offence. 😉
Interesting points vinnyfitz, I think these will be the so-called “tweaks”.
I don’t follow what your point on Harcourt St. Is Harcourt St becoming bus only? Surely not!
Sue, yes the silence on this one is deafening.
Originally posted by Diaspora
So the pedestrian will gain Glovers alley to Dawson St, that will provide a great civic space.Exactly.
I see your point notjim but I think it will work well here however I fear it might become a bus gate, as you suggest, and this would waste a great opportunity to vastly improve this area. Look at the new semi pedestrian O’Connell St, traffic is still rattling along it as if nothing has changed. It’s much improved but still a pretty unfriendly crossing for a pedestrian. I say get rid of the traffic altogether when you have the chance.
Imagine how quiet it would be, imagine strolling aimlessly from Grafton St into the Green with out having to negotiate the traffic. I hope DCC have the balls to follow through with this and face up to Dublin Bus and reclaim this for the weary Dublin pedestrian and cyclists.
Originally posted by Diaspora
….. Firstly what of the existing car parks both public such as Stephens Green and private such as the Stokes Place complex? ….After resurfacing traffic will be allowed back on to St Stephens Green west as far as Glovers Alley which will allow traffic into the car parks there. As for Stokes Place, it should be unaffected.
I haven’t read the report like Sue and vinnyfitz but the general jist I get is that the project is two phased and in the first phase there will be no access to St Stephens Green west at all while they resurface the road from the Harcourt St junction up to the alley beside Surgeons.
The second phase is to resurface the road from that alley around the corner to near Dawson St. However if the new traffic system that was in operation during phase one worked well then they will make it permanent and abandon the resurfacing planned and instead predestrianize this area. Creating a large public space including the Luas stop, entrance to the green, top of Grafton St and around to Dawson St which would be magnificent.
IMHO what could also happen is that this area may become semi pedestrianized allowing only buses and taxis to use it, which would be a shame.
I wonder why they don’t reverse traffic flow on Ely place and Hume St from the start? This would cut out out having to do “Dawson St, right onto Molesworth St, right onto Kildare St, left onto Stephen’s Green North, and straight onto Merrion Row”.
Who’s going to use Ely place/Hume St now anyway because you’ll have to turn right at the top and virutally back onto yourself?
