COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

QUESTION NO. 13

QUESTION: Councillor P. Gogarty

"To ask the Chief Executive, following reports from cyclists about lack of signage and difficulties seeing bollards at night, if signposting of the Lucan-Palmerstown-Chapelizod cycleway can be improved in the near future and whether the bollards and poles and guard rails (at locations indicated) in Palmerstown can be painted with reflective paint or fitted with protective strips; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Background info as per resident email:

"1. Signposting. There isn't any!! If one cycles from town there are no signposts showing the way to Chapelizod - West County Hotel - Cycleway - Palmerstown Village - N4 @ Liffey Valley. If you stand by the N4 at the Kennelsfort Road junction you will see lots of cyclists heading west out the N4 past Liffey Valley. I've cycled this and it is so dangerous I believe there will be a serious accident where the M50 slip road comes onto the N4 - a cyclist has to contend with traffic crossing his path from both directions - those entering the N4 from the M50 and those leaving the N4 to Liffey Valley.

"2/ Signposting - again... coming from the west there are no signs directing cyclists to the pedestrian/cyclist bridge across the M50 and into Palmerstown village. Because of this cyclists using the city bound cycle lane have to cross the top of the slip road leading into Liffey Valley. Again - an accident waiting to happen...

"3/ Protective bollards. These are situated just past the beginning of the slip road from the N4 to Chapelizod. As one cycles towards the West County Hotel there are 2 bollards, silver in colour and very difficult to see in bad weather or in the dark (they have a small reflective strip which is only partially effective and only when hit by a light). If one manages to cycle between them there is then another one directly in front which came as a complete surprise to me the first time I used the cycle path! Very bad design!!

"4/ Protective guard rails. These are the ones situated at the entrance to the cycle/pedestrian bridge over the M50 at the top of Palmerstown village. They are grey in colour and are very hard to see in any sort of dull weather as they blend in with the road surface behind them. They're almost impossible to see in the dark!

"The solutions to these problems are easy - proper signposts starting at the quays beside Guinness's with others at the Kilmainham junction followed by others at each junction out to Palmerstown - no more than a dozen to include those coming in from the west.

"Some bright reflective paint on the guard rails and bollards (and maybe remove the erroneous bollard?)

 "The cycle path is excellent but these small changes will make a big difference and possibly save lives re: M50/N4 junction. Have a look for yourself or cycle out the N4 for a first hand look. In the grand scheme of things these are small problems but they are very important for those of us who use the roads, whether in our cars or on our bicycles."

REPLY:

The implementation of the N4 to City Centre is being carried out in phases.  The recently completed section in Palmerstown was phase 1. We still have consultants working on the remainder of the scheme between the end of phase 1 and the Celbridge Junction as part of phase 2 and all queries in relation to phase 2 will be passed on for consideration to the Consultants.  The queries concerning the completed phase 1 will be brought to the attention of the Consultant and we await their response. Please note that the South Dublin County Council scheme commences in Palmerstown and terminates at Celbridge Junction and any queries raised outside of this location will be referred to Dublin City Council.