Mô tả
Outside the Hilton Hotel, Kilmainham, buses and taxis routinely block the contra flow cycle lane. A space was allocated for them on South Circular road when this development was planned but there does not appear to be any enforcement.
Outside the Hilton Hotel, Kilmainham, buses and taxis routinely block the contra flow cycle lane. A space was allocated for them on South Circular road when this development was planned but there does not appear to be any enforcement.
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Oisin (Khách)
Oisin (Khách)
Oisin (Khách)
Adam (Khách)
As a resident in Kilmainham Square, I can confirm that this is not just an issue for the bus and cycle lane, but also the entrance to the Kilmainham Square underground car park is often blocked or dangerously obscured.
The one-way system at the junction of the SCR and Inchicore Rd. is already confusing for unfamiliar motorists due to the one-way system and contra-flow cycle lane. I frequently observe cars (perhaps once a week) either driving the wrong way down Inchicore Rd. or turing right onto Inchicore Rd. on the wrong side of the island from the SCR. The bus and taxi congestion outside the Hilton compounds these problems.
It should also be noted that this area has a large number of tourist pedestrians and drivers, particularly in peak season, who are unfamiliar with the roads and cycle lanes.
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
I have contacted the Gradai on a few occasions, but they have been busy with other calls and the buses and taxis have been moved by the time they arrive. Kilmainham station say the approach is to contact them on 6669700 to deal with incidents rather than using traffic watch, which can take 2-3 days to process.
I also e-mailed the Traffic Corps HQ traffic_DS@garda.ie to see what their advice was, but nothing received yet.
I will also be contacting the operations manager of the hotel, as I am sure that they would prefer if the official hotel loading bay, which is in fact closer to the door was used.
I even spoke to one of the bus drivers. She hardly even allowed me start speaking and accused me of breaking traffic lights and making other road users swerve all the time. Her colleague went by muttering under her breath. Needless to say, I won't be recommending Eirebus to anyone for anything.
Oisin (Khách)
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Oisin (Khách)
Oisin2 (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Oisin (Khách)
Another bus parked there this evening. reported it to Kilmainham Gardaí on 6669700.
Hope it is not going to be like this for the Summer.
Oisin (Khách)
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Contacted the hotel today. They saw nothing wrong with the arrangement that buses park on contra-flow cycle lane. Gave a link to rules of the road page (see bottom of page 40) : http://www.transport.ie/upload/general/8342-0.pdf
Might add full transcript of discussion here if no improvement.
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Reply from the Garda Traffoc Corps:
I wish to acknowledge receipt of your email.
I have forwarded same to the Divisional Traffic Inspector with responsibility for the DMR South Central Division, for his information and attention as deemed necessary.
Yours sincerely,
Oisin (Khách)
Our Ref: SR 9878
Dear Mr. Ó hAlmhain,
Thank you for your email to the Roads & Traffic Department. Please note I have forwarded your request to the Traffic Engineer. I will write to you further when I have his report to hand.
------
From: oisin@real-dublin.ie [oisin@real-dublin.ie]
Sent: 10 December 2013 08:28
To: traffic@dublincity.ie
Subject: Contra-Flow Cycle Lane at Kilmainham Hilton
Dear Dublin Traffic,
I cycle daily from Inchicore towards the city along the excellent
contra-flow cycle lane on the Inchicore Road. I find it a safer
alternative than the faster moving Con Colbert Road Dual Carriageway,
and also a more pleasant way to get in to the city, via the Royal
Hospital or Kilmainham Lane.
However, frequently taxi drivers and private coach operators have been
using the small section of the lane in front of the Hilton Hotel as a
waiting point. This has been happening more frequently lately, and has
resulted in some private motorists also stopping there, despite the
provision of on street parking on the opposite side of the road, and
some recessed spaces in front of the Amazon offices.
Bus drivers when asked tell me that they have been instructed to park
there by the hotel management.
I have reported this issue both to the Garda Traffic national hotline,
to Kilmainham Garda station and to Gardaí on the beat. While
occasionally motorists have been moved on, no consistent approach has
been taken, and individual members of the Garda have shown some
reluctance to act.
Looking at the planning applications for the original developments, a
few of them mention some stipulations made by the Roads & Traffic
Department of the City Council. I would presume that this would refer
to the completion and use of the layby on the South Circular Road side
of the hotel. Would you be able to confirm that?
I was wondering if any engineering solutions could be applied? Perhaps
a small kerb could be installed outside of the cycle lane along the last
10metre stretch? Alternatively, flexible lane dividers, such as those
previously used for the bus lane on Stephen's Green East could be
considered. Additionally, perhaps the hotel should extend the loading
bay?
What is the process for a community requesting this sort of road
improvement?
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
This mornings (07:30) and last nights (6pm) lane blockers reported to Kilmainham Gardaí on 01-6669700
Included taxis, a Barton's Coach, a security courier and a private car.
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Oisin O hAlmhain (Khách)
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Waider (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Waider (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Francis (Khách)
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Waider (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Oisin,
have you had any further response from the other communications you posted (e.g. roads & traffic, above)?
Cheers,
Waider.
Waider (Khách)
Taxi parked here earlier, roof sign noted but withheld. I asked if he was aware he was in a bike lane. Conversation follows, paraphrased:
"I'm allowed stop to pick up fares" (note, he was parkied, not flagged down or making a request pickup)
"You're forcing cyclists into oncoming traffic. "
"I'm not forcing anyone, you're going the wrong way. "
"It's a contra flow lane. You're parked under the sign. "
"I'm allowed stop to pick up fares. "
As he was quite insistent that PSV law allows him to stop regardless of danger to others, I left it at that and called kilmainham gardai who said they'd send someone over.
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
No reply yet from the Garda Traffic bureau! Dublin City Council Traffic Department on these issues.
This morning there was a truck parked outside the lime tree cafe and as I was passing a skip carrying truck from Thornton's recycling was just about to pull up in front of the hotel. I tried to wave him away, but he just went around me and then reversed in. No regard for safety. About to send an e-mail to Thorntons.
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Ron Hahn (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Waider (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
sueg (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
I spoke to the local garda who waits for cars to illegally turn right coming out of town along Old Kilmainham, illegally turning right onto the South Circular Road.
I was walking so I stopped to ask him about the taxis parked illegally in the cycle lane outside the Hilton.
I explained there are two issues as I see it:
1. They routinely block the entrance to the car park for Kilmainham Square, which is dangerous and causes problems on Inchicore Road.
2. They block the cycle lane, which means cyclists have to go around them and is very dangerous with cars going into the carpark, especially when a row of parked taxis reduces visibility.
He said there was nothing he could do about it, which I was confused about. He then said technically they shouldn't and he specifically said he and the station were not going to stop them. He said that was their policy on it. They weren't concerned about these issues.
He told me if a very specific dangerous incident occurs to call the station, but their general policy is to allow taxis to wait and park there as there is no where else.
I explained about the bay on South Circular Road. He dismissed this, so I just left it at that stage.
It doesn't sound like the issue will be resolved as long as this is the policy from the local station.
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
That's disappointing to hear. I regularly contact the Gardaí to report infringements. Only Thursday night at about 20:30 two Gardaí who were on foot patrol spoke to taxi men at my request.
I think I will seek a meeting with the superintendent.
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Waider (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
sueg (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
It seems there is no acknowledgement from the gardai that the taxis are causing a problem. Perhaps if they understood and appreciated the problem, then they would see a need for enforcement and a solution.
The plans for the road do see to show that there will be no taxi space so that's good. It also looks like those plans will stop the cars that think it's a two way street causing problems every day.
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Waider (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Waider (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Of course, no sooner do I say that than I walk past two cars parked in the lane, and noticed at lunchtime that there were several parked across from Kilmainham with their "for hire" signs on (i.e. not making pickups or setdowns). Oisin, are you following up with Kilmainham Gardai on this, by any chance? I'll be moving from the area in the not too distant future so I won't see the state of it quite as often.
(Also, it occurs to me that a very easy solution to at least the Hilton end of things would be to put a hard kerb on the bike lane, since it's supposed to be a segregated lane anyway.)
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Waider (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Waider (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Waider (Khách)
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
info@oconnorcoaches.com
Hi
Two of your buses stopped blocking the contra flow cycle lane in front of the Hilton Hotel on Inchicore Road Kilmainham. I spoke to one driver, but he wouldn't move his bus, so I informed Kilmainham Garda Station.
As I left another cyclist was talking to your drivers.
A loading bay for the hotel is provided around the corner on South Circular Road. There is also some coach parking outside Kilmainham jail on the opposite side of the road.
Can you ensure your drivers use these and not put members of the public in danger?
With regards
Oisín Ó hAlmhain
---------
http://about.me/OisinOhAlmhain
Sent from my iPad
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
On 3 Apr 2014, at 21:21, O'Connor Coaches wrote:
Oisin
Parked illegally yes but dangerous I think not, the Hilton can never clear the loading bay on the side no matter how many times I email and the one outside the jail is normally full , on another note we had some elderly passengers on board and they can't walk the best so we had their interest at heart
Regards
Jonathan
O Connor Coaches
Ph: +353 1 8321711
Fax: +353 1 8321722
e-mail: info@oconnorcoaches.com
Web: www.oconnorcoaches.com
Member:
European Tour Operators Association
Member:
Coach Tourism & Transport Council
International Road Passenger Operator Licence No: 3686
Bord Failte Approved Coach Operator
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Adam (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Re Jonathan Coaches - reasons this is dangerous:
1) Elderly people alighting onto the middle of a road (left hand side of the bus) at a busy junction with a non-standard layout with cars coming in blind from the junction (southbound on SCR turning right onto Inchicore Rd.) around the corner
2) Blocking cyclists from using the contraflow cycle lane forcing them to use the footpath or cycle head-on into oncoming traffic
3) Cars coming around the corner into the Hilton car park cannot see passengers alighting, or pedestrians crossing in front of the bus or across the driveway entrance to the car park or cyclists who have had to avoid the bus in either direction
4) Any driving hesitation from drivers coming off SCR is compounded by the fact there is a pedestrian crossing there and there is a merge from a main road (cars turning onto Inchicore rd from (i) southbound on SCR + (ii) northbound on SCR) causing a potentially hazardous situation for drivers and/or backing up dangerously onto the SCR.
5) Many of the pedestrians and some of the motorists involved are tourists or business travellers and are unfamiliar with what is already a non-standard and confusing layout, for example frequently causing drivers to drive the wrong way on Inchicore Rd.
And that's just off the top of my head!
Adam, Kilmainham Square resident
Adam (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Re Jonathan Coaches - reasons this might be dangerous:
1) Elderly people alighting onto the middle of a busy junction with a non-standard layout and cars coming in blind from the junction (southbound on SCR turning right onto Inchicore Rd.) around the corner
2) Blocking cyclists from using the contraflow cycle lane forcing them to use the footpath or cycle head-on into oncoming traffic
3) Cars coming around the corner into the Hilton car park cannot see passengers alighting, or pedestrians crossing in front of the bus or across the driveway entrance to the car park or cyclists that have had to avoid the bus, coming in either direction.
4) Any driving hesitation from drivers coming off SCR is compounded by the fact there is a pedestrian crossing there and a merge from a main road (from cars turning onto Inchicore rd from (i) southbound on SCR and (ii) northbound on SCR causing a potentially hazardous situation for drivers.
5) Many of the pedestrians and some of the motorists involved are tourists or business travellers and are unfamiliar with what is already a non-standard and confusing layout, for example frequently causing drivers to drive the wrong way on Inchicore Rd.
And that's just off the top of my head! And much of the same complaint applies to taxis, including the additional complaint that they frequently park across the entrance to the car park causing a back up when either dropping off or picking up.
Adam, Kilmainham Square resident
Waider (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
So here's the thing: the taxi regulator maintains a database of drivers & demerits against them. However, if I call the Kilmainham station and report a driver, the usual response I get is "we'll send a car over". By the time the car is sent over, the driver is gone. There are, as I'd previously noted, several drivers who are blocking this lane regularly, and because they're not being identified and reported to the regulator by an actual Garda, they've no incentive to change their behaviour.
I don't know what the solution is. Perhaps reporting in person, rather than over the phone. Perhaps reporting directly to the taxi regulator, if that's possible (the Drivercheck app allows you to submit feedback but there's no indication of what actually happens with that).
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
The taxi regulator ap sounds interesting, but the regulators website clearly states that they don't take reports of breaches of road traffic. It reads:
Before continuing, please be advised that only matters that fall within the jurisdiction of the National Transport Authority can be investigated. If you were not a passenger in the SPSV, it may not be possible to investigate your complaint.
Section 51 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 sets out the categories of complaint that can be dealt with by the Authority. These include complaints relating to; the condition and cleanliness of the vehicle, the conduct or behaviour of an SPSV operator or driver, overcharging and other matters relating to fares and the hiring of the SPSV.
If the matter to which your complaint relates is of a criminal nature or you have witnessed a road traffic offence, you should contact An Garda Síochána. In an emergency ring 112 or 999.
(From http://www.transportforireland.ie/taxi/taxi-compliments-complaints/#sthash.rJpa9Qui.dpuf )
Perhaps the answer is to contact Garda Traffic Watch with the registration number of the taxi, and ask for a pulse reference number for the complaint.
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Alan (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Looks like your call to the Gardai has resulted in the cones being replaced
These disappeared a week ago but weren't very affective anyway
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Judi (Khách)
sueg (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
A coach is parked blocking the cycle lanes this evening - looking like it's there for the night rather than in the coach parking spaces outside Kilmainham Gaol.
As a result, it was very dangerous trying to turn left into the carpark with bicycles whizzing up the inside of the bus. In a car turning left there is just no way that you can see the cyclists no matter how slow you go.
Is there a way this can be broached with the hotel or coach companies before there is another Summer where both cyclists and drivers are put in this dangerous position?
sueg (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Waider (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
I'm no longer in the area as of Monday, but I have to ask: has anyone affected by this issue talked to the community liaison Garda, or to their council representative? Posting here is a great means of venting and sharing frustration, but it won't change anything since none of the involved parties are following or affected by this website. Ask your council rep about putting a kerb on the bike lane to physically segregate it from the road. Ask the community liaison Garda about enforcing penalties on repeat offenders to discourage others. Bring the email from the bus company quoted above to the attention of the Garda - since the bus rep admits quite candidly that they are breaking the law - and to Board Fáilte, with whom they're a registered operator.
(If you've done any of the above, do update people here, but don't wait around for things to change based on posts to a website - it's clear that 50+ comments since *August 2012* has done nothing to improve the situation)
(and if this shows up as a repeat comment, it's because I posted a version anonymously - accidentally - and the website appears to have swallowed it)
Alan (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
The council are currently re-designing the whole area in front of Kilmainham jail and courthouse this is part of the 1916 centenary projects which also includes opening up the courthouse as part of the jail museum.
The standard of the current cycle path is not safe and current road design standards should help
I believe the plans are at an advanced stand so hopefully we will see them soon
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Waider
I have contacted the Gardaí and the traffic department of the council about this on numerous occasions. The 4 councillors representing the area would have received an e-mail about this in August 2012. I have spoken to the community Garda for the area and his seargent about this - the seargent started one of those "don't talk to me about cyclists" type responses.
I think the situation is much improved on what it was 2 years ago. The buses and taxis are not routinely stopping on the lane and I am finding the lane clearer at the two times I pass daily.
Also, as Alan said, the council are planning to redesign the street, so it is important to have this discussion visible here and to try and make sure as many people as possible feed in, comment and vote.
Waider (Khách)
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
They are obviously watching out for me then!
The way I see it there are 2 things that could happen to improve compliance with traffic laws and general safety:
(1) More enforcement by the Gardai
(2) Engineering changes to the road to prevent vehiches stopping on the lane.
Option (1) is unlikely, although preferrable.
Option (2) is coming with the planned reorganisation of the whole stretch of road. It is important that people engage here so that a strong case can be made to the council to put a kerb or bollards between cycle lane and main carriageway, to make it physically difficult.
In the meantime it is appropriate that people report individual traffic offences etc, to Garda Traffic or Kilmainham Garda station, and to the companies involved.
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
ps. follow up e-mails (And letters) have been in the past month or two, and some of them have been "legal"
Also, good to hear reports from other people of what has been happening on this stretch of road, and also their efforts and successes in having it dealt with. It would be good also if people could use social media to spread the word and get people to click on the "vote" button at the top and support the action.
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
sueg (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
That's terrible Oisín. Hope you're ok.
Walder: I have brought it up in person with the gardaí in Kilmainham who said there is nothing they can do about buses and taxis stopping there. They did admit it is not permissable to stop there, so I'm not sure why they can't enforce the law. They were unwilling to engage in it. I think they see it as a nuisance trying to enforce it.
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Just to note, a few weeks ago Garda a Traffic on twitter got a bit cross with me because I complained to them about dangerous loading at Amazon. Their view was that if I has movers in I would want them to break the law and put others in danger. I don't agree.
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
I have bee in contact with the city council regarding the current roadworks.
It seems that it was intended to have cyclists dismount to pass. A sign should also have been placed at memorial road to divert cyclists around by Con Colbert Road.
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
I think we might be nearly ready to close this issue!
Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)
Francis G (Khách)
Đã đóng Oisin O hAlmhain (Người dùng đã đăng ký)