Overall the Blanchardstown Core Bus Corridor (CBC) is mixed. There are sections that see huge improvements but in other places the cycling facilities are utterly dangerous. There are also a few gaps in the cycling facilities so this route fails to deliver an end-to-end cycle route.

The route goes from Blanchardstown shopping centre where there are some improvements for cyclists. There is a gap in the proposals from the shopping centre through Blanchardstown village to the M50 underpass. Inside the M50 the route provides a good quality two-way cycle track down the Navan Road and Old Cabra Road. The main cycle route heads off through the Grangegorman campus. Manor Street in Stoneybatter is messy. There is a proposed two-way cycle track down Queen Street to the Liffey.

If the current proposals were built today it would be a large improvement on what exists today. However, it falls short of the standards in the NTA’s own National Cycle Manual. We need your help to create a cycle route suitable for people of all ages and abilities.

The positives first. The proposals would:

• There is a grass verge between the cycle track and the road, which makes things much safer. This does not exist on many of the other Core Bus Corridors
• Delivers sections of cycle track like along the Navan Road and Old Cabra Road

However, the Dublin Cycling Campaign has identified serious issues along the route.

There are gaps in the proposed cycle route. No route is provided for cyclists to get from Blanchardstown shopping centre to the M50 cycle underpass. In Stonneybatter there is gap between the Grangegorman campus cycle route and the two-way cycle track on Queen Street to the Liffey.

In Blanchardstown near the N3 there are what Belgian cycle campaigner’s call “murderstrips” painted cycle lanes with fast moving traffic on both sides. These orphaned cycle lanes offer no protection to cyclist and leave them overexposed to traffic crossing the painted cycle lane at speed. This are worst the streaming lanes seen on other Core Bus Corridors. They are also a complete breach of the NTA’s National Cycle Manual.

There are almost no cycle bypasses of bus stops proposed along the route. These are a must given that this route will host a high-frequency bus route. Some bus stops should be minorly repositioned in order to provide a cycle bypass of the bus stop.

The Dublin Cycling Campaign has identified many other issues, which are included in our draft submission linked at the end.

We need you to make a submission to the NTA. Otherwise these proposed concept designs could quickly become the final design. A submission is a short piece on how the NTA should change their proposals.

Some advice for writing a useful submission:

• Keep it short and personal
• Tell the NTA why this Core Bus Corridor affect you. Do you live nearby or cycle this route often? Mention that.
• Tell the NTA why you want to see changes
• Describe some of the cycle trips you take along this route
• Include some of the Dublin Cycling Campaign’s key issues

Our key issues:

• Enabling cycling for all ages and all abilities should be the goal
• The junctions and streaming cycle lanes in Blanchardstown and Stoneybatter must be redesigned to be safe
• The gaps in the cycle route should be filled in
• This cycle route should integrate with future planned routes from Ashtown and Pelletstown
• All bus stops should have cycle bypasses
• Manor Street needs real cycle infrastructure

Make a Submission

Now that you’ve made your submission please spread the word to your friends and family. Without many voices demanding better cycle facilities the NTA will build the current proposals.

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