urbanisto

And the same could be done to the eastern side of the street where again a wider pavement could be provided and much of the clutter (such as the ridiculously placed telephone kiosk) could be removed. I fancy the DCC have as much in mind for the future redevelopment of the Bridge, they’re just waiting for the final decision on the Luas rerouting.

Personally, sending Luas down O’Connell Street will just add to all these problems and destroy much of the good work already done there. Marlborogh Street is a much better option.

where has the cycle lane gone?

It was along side the central median, but it seems to have been erased. Neither I (the cyclist) nor the bus driver knew who was right and who was wrong in our last tandem manouver up O’Connell street.

Pedestrians and cyclists ‘unsafe’ on O’Connell Street
By Áine Kerr

The €40 million redevelopment of O’Connell Street in Dublin has failed to protect the safety of cyclists and pedestrians in the absence of continuous cycle tracks and effective pedestrian crossing points, according to the Green Party.

The party’s transport spokesman, Eamon Ryan, accused Dublin City Council yesterday of failing to prioritise the safety of “vulnerable road users”. He described conditions on O’Connell Street as “positively dangerous”.

In response to Mr Ryan’s comments, a spokeswoman for Dublin City Council said the council was conducting a safety audit through its traffic department. The results will be available over the next few weeks.

Original plans to incorporate cycle paths and a 30kph (19mph) speed limit were previously abandoned as this would have necessitated redesignating O’Connell Street as a non-national road and making substantial changes to the road’s €10 million new signage by the National Roads Authority (NRA), according to Mr Ryan.

“The new design of O’Connell Street may be attractive to the eye but in road safety terms it is a disaster,” he said.

“In creating a new civic space, the safety of vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians should have been the top priority.”

Mr Ryan noted that in the past three years six cyclists had been killed and hundreds injured on city centre streets.

The difficulties faced by cyclists in the city was exemplified by Mr Ryan in the cycle route from Parnell Street to O’Connell Bridge, where cyclists start off in a shared bus corridor before having to weave out to a central median cycle lane used by every other form of traffic.

He described the pedestrian crossing points at O’Connell Bridge as a “disgrace”, as hundreds of pedestrians are forced to crowd on to a narrow pavement within inches of heavy goods vehicles.

Mr Ryan concluded: “If we cannot make our prime national street safe for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists having spent €40 million upgrading it, is there any wonder why we have such carnage on our roads?”

© The Irish Times

Exactly…what happened to that cyclelane?

Yes I would also agree that the redevelopment of the Quays should consider the whole length. Its important in terms of enhancing the city west of the Four Courts and complementsing areas like Smithfield and Collins Baracks and Soho. Its also necessary to improve the impression people get as they enter the city centre.

I think the benefits of the Port Tunnel have been oversold in this regard though. As mentioned most of the traffic on the quays is cars. But at least removing the trucks allows for greater use of the footpaths whcih are generally unpleasant spaces at the moment as trucks and buses create so much dirt. As the residents of the Bookend Building how they will feel about ahving windows they can see through.

It would be interesting to have some idea of Dick Gleeson’s thoughts for the Liffey.

Its good to see this lighting scheme finally installed. It has been on the cards for a number of years now. A managment plan was drawn up for the Clontarf Promenade and I think other elements such as improved planting are also planned. The lighting scheme is the same as that installed at Sandymount, no? They are quite attractive lights although I can see your point Devin about the contrast between the lamps design and the shelters. Some attention to the pockmarked wall would be welcome as well. This must have had a railings along its length at some stage,

And you can actually cycle on a dedicated cycle path here…al

Is it the Hotel above Hogans on SGSt?

Is “A” Broadstone Station

@The Denouncer wrote:

What the hell are they restricted or something?

In their imaginations perhaps…or mabe AutoCad was acting up the day it was designed.

STW really are the bland face of the Celtic Tiger; lazy architecture and yet they are so prolific. They’re responsible for more highrise dross at Point Village. Another landmark beacon blah blah….

I also find it interesting that a company like Gary Rhodes Restuarants could commit to a project that hasnt even been granted permission yet!. Surely it would make a lot more sense for him to locate closer to the Leibskind Theatre.

Interestingly there have been a number of planning applications in the ACA area which have been modified by the planners as incompatible with an ACA , shopfronts and the like. However this just goes to show how toothless the Planning Enforcement Dept is. Even when it is taken down Burger King will have recieved maximum publicity with no pain.

D is the floating thingies beside Sean O’Casey Bridge…..with a full-to-the-brim seagull eyeing the balustrade of the Boardwalk.

Hmmm C is on Dame Street I think, or is it in Trinity College

You can usually keep up to date on the application through the LAs website. You should also consult the An Bord Pleanala website to find the details of making an appeal. You have 4 weeks from the date of grant by the LA to appeal to ABP and as mentioned you (or your group) must have been originally involved in the application. You should be advised in writing of the LAs decision if you have lodged and appeal (but dont depend on it). Keep all correspondance.

Regarding your grounds for objection to the scheme, these will still be valid even after Additional Information has been requested and provided and must still be considered by the planning authority.

Finally, regardng court action mentioned here, it is important that you realise that the decision of An Bord Pleanala is final. You may only approach the courts on points of law, things like ‘has due process been followed’ etc.