Cycleway realignment
- 1. 1 To the Chairperson and Members of the North Central Area Committee Review of Clontarf Seafront Footpath and Cycle Track Alignment from Alfie Byrne Road to Conquer Hill Road. The Environment and Transportation Dept., Roads and Traffic Planning Section has been requested by the North Central Area Office to carry out a review of existing footpath and cycle track alignment along the Clontarf seafront from Alfie Byrne Road to Conquer Hill Road. The purpose of the review is to examine a number of conflict points between pedestrians and cyclists identified along the route with regard to safety concerns for all users. An inspection of the route from Alfie Byrne Road to Conquer Hill Road (Dublin Bus Depot) was carried out in March 2015. Conflict points were noted in several areas along the route. Issues are briefly discussed with accompanying recommendations/solutions. Enclosed aerial views 1, 2 and 3 illustrate proposed alignments. Alfie Byrne Road /Clontarf Road (Aerial View 1, Area 1) Issue: The segregated two-way cycle track and footpath on the south-east side of this junction merges into an undefined shared area. The footpath continues northwards on the opposite side of the cycle track. The cycle track continues eastwards along the seafront. There is no footpath in the immediate area for pedestrians wishing to continue eastwards along the seafront. Pedestrians are therefore obliged to cross the cycle track if they wish to continue northwards to the junction or walk along the cycle track if they wish to continue along the seafront, resulting in conflict with cyclists. Recommendation: A raised defined crossing point is recommended for pedestrians wishing to continue northwards to the junction (orange shaded area in aerial view). This crossing point should be clearly marked. Signage should be provided to warn cyclists to yield to pedestrians. A new footpath is also recommended (purple line) parallel to the existing two-way cycle track for pedestrians wishing to continue walking along the seafront. This footpath should be clearly defined and raised to deter cyclists encroaching onto it and should extend eastwards past the Alfie Byrne Memorial to the existing shared two-way cycle track/footpath (south of Strandville Avenue.) This footpath will also provide access to the Alfie Byrne Memorial. Alfie Byrne Road / Clontarf Road (Aerial View 1, Area 2) Issue: Immediately west of the Alfie Byrne Memorial (Area 2), there is a two-way cycle track in this area but no footpath. The cycle track also veers to the north to the existing pedestrian crossing on Clontarf Road. Pedestrians are using the cycle track as a footpath and are in obvious conflict with cyclists. Recommendation: As indicated above, a new footpath is recommended in this area (purple line), parallel to the existing two-way cycle track and also northwards to the junction. Clearly defined crossing points for pedestrians should be provided (orange shaded area) as well as warning signage to cyclists to yield to pedestrians at the raised crossing point. A toucan crossing should be provided at the existing pedestrian crossing on the east side of Alfie Byrne Road /Clontarf Road. Alfie Byrne Road / Clontarf Road (Aerial View 1, Area 3) Issue: At Area 3, the existing combined two-way cycle track/footpath diverges, where the footpath veers to the south, continuing along the seafront, and the two-way cycle track continues westwards. Pedestrians wishing to continue west, walk along the two-way cycle track, causing conflict with cyclists. Additional conflict is caused by both cyclists and pedestrians leaving the path at this point to travel north, over a wide concrete paved area, where a section of boundary wall has been broken out to access Clontarf Road at Strandville Avenue East. Recommendation:
- 2. 2 The proposed footpath indicated for Areas 1 and 2 should end at Area 3, providing a facility for pedestrians to continue west. It is proposed to close off access to the wide concrete paved area, and repair the boundary wall, as access would be available from the footpath and cycle track to Clontarf Road at Alfie Byrne Road. Clontarf Road / Hollybrook Road Car Park (Aerial View 2) Issue: The proximity of the existing cycle track (green line) to the car park is a hazard to motorists as they leave their vehicles and cross the cycle track to access the park area. Motorists who are unfamiliar with the seafront may be unaware that they are stepping onto a cycle track as they leave their vehicles, resulting in a hazard to both pedestrians and cyclists alike. Recommendation: A realignment of the existing two-way cycle track (red line) is recommended as shown on Aerial View 2 where the existing combined cycle track/footpath diverges. The existing alignment (green line) should be removed. This will remove the conflict at the car park and provide an opportunity for pedestrians to take care as they cross the cycle track to access the footpath along the seafront. Clontarf Road /Belgrove Road /Vernon Avenue Car Park (Aerial View 3) Issue: This issue is similar to Hollybrook Road car park, where the cycle track is aligned along the rear of the car park. Motorists leaving their vehicles are immediately confronted with cyclists on this cycle track. Recommendation: A realignment of the cycle track is recommended as shown (red line). The new alignment would run parallel to the existing cycle track. The existing cycle track would become a new footpath for car park users (purple line). The footpath and cycle track would be separated with low hedge planting, with designated crossing points across the cycle track for pedestrians (yellow areas). Signage would be provided for cyclists at designated crossing points to yield to pedestrians. Pedestrian facilities would be maintained to connect the existing seafront footpath with Vernon Avenue junction by realigning the footpath as shown (purple line). The existing footpath behind the ESB sub-station would become a new two-way cycle track as this footpath is not popular with pedestrians (red line). Clontarf Road / Vernon Avenue (Aerial View 3) Issue: The volume and speed of cyclists using this shared area is a hazard to pedestrians. Recommendation: As mentioned above, the existing footpath running behind the ESB sub-station would become a new cycle track (red line), diverting commuter cyclists away from the current shared pedestrian/cyclist area at Vernon Avenue. The existing cycle track /footpath shared area at Vernon Avenue would remain to provide cycling facilities for Vernon Avenue cyclists access the cycle track (as the new cycle track behind the ESB sub-station would join the existing track further east of Vernon Avenue).The choice of cycle tracks in this area would enable commuter (high speed) cyclists use the more direct track behind the ESB sub-station, thus reducing cycling volume and speed at the shared area at Vernon Avenue. Clontarf Yacht Club Issue: Removal of a barrier has opened the area for free parking for a small number of vehicles at the Yacht Club slipway. Vehicles entering and exiting this area constitute a hazard for cyclists as they cross the entrance to the slipway. Recommendation: The area is unsuitable for parking and the entrance/exit is substandard in terms of sight lines. Replacement of the barrier is recommended to close off the area for parking. Management of the barrier can be undertaken by Clontarf Yacht Club in agreement with DCC NCA Office. DCC Car Park at Conquer Hill Road Issue:
- 3. 3 Motorists exiting the car park are unable to see cyclists due to poor visibility caused by dense shrubs growing in the area. This issue is exacerbated by the high speed of some cyclists along the route. Recommendation: Visibility for motorists can be improved by the removal of dense shrub planting in the immediate area of the exit. Warning signage for cyclists to yield to traffic reviewed further and improved. Dublin Bus Car Park at Conquer Hill Road Issue: A similar situation to the DCC car park exists here where motorists exiting the car park are unable to see cyclists due to poor visibility caused by dense shrubs growing in the area. Recommendation: Visibility for motorists can be improved by the removal of dense shrub planting in the immediate area of the exit. Warning signage for cyclists to yield to traffic reviewed further and improved. Line marking of the two-way cycle track / footpath - Alfie Byrne Road to Conquer Hill Road. Issue: Line marking along the combined two-way cycle track / footpath has become faded and is no longer legible, causing confusion for cyclists and pedestrians regarding which side of the paved area they should use. In some areas, it is not clear if the path is a footpath or cycle track. Recommendation: Re-lining of the entire route from Alfie Byrne Road to Conquer Hill Road is recommended in accordance with the National Cycle Manual including pedestrian and cycle logos at 20.0m intervals. Implementation Proposals for Aerial View 1 at Alfie Byrne Road / Clontarf Road will be included in the Clontarf to Amiens Street Cycle Route Scheme, due for construction in 2016. Funding is approved by the NTA for this scheme. An application for funding for the completion of proposals in Aerial Views 2 and 3 will be submitted to the NTA under their Sustainable Transport Measures Grant Programme, one of which is the Cycling/Walking programme, supporting measures to improve the walking and cycling environment. The application will also include a re-lining of the entire route from Alfie Byrne Road to Conquer Hill Road. It is recommended that the North Central Area Office replace the barrier at the Clontarf Yacht Club, to prevent free parking in the area. This will remove the hazard for cyclists. Arrangements should be made with the Yacht Club to manage the operation of the barrier. DCC Parks Dept. will be requested to cut back dense growing shrubs at the entrance to both DCC and Dublin Bus car parks at Conquer Hill Road to improve visibility. DCC Traffic will review signage in this area on the cycle track to warn cyclists of vehicles entering/exiting the car park. Tony McGee Executive Engineer
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