Overall the Liffey Valley Core Bus Corridor (CBC) is good-quality in places but there are issues. The route starts at Liffey Valley shopping centre, along Ballyfermot Road, through Inchicore, down Thomas Street to Christchurch. We need your help to build a cycle route suitable for people of all ages and abilities.

The proposals would:

• Deliver 6.1km of good quality cycle track from Liffey Valley through Ballyfermot to Sarsfield Road. Where it connects to the proposed cycle tracks that are part of CBC6: Lucan
• Remove three slip lanes. Slip lanes encourage motorists to take corners at speed, which is exactly the place where they should be slowing down
• Add 17 new pedestrian crossings

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

Around Liffey Valley shopping centre there are a number of roundabouts and large junctions that are difficult or slow for cyclists to navigate safely. Better designs need to be found.

Along Ballyfermot Road there are 2m wide segregated cycle tracks but almost no bus stop bypasses for cyclists. This forces buses and cyclists to mix.

At Ballyfermot village the NTA is proposing to divert through-traffic via Le Fanu Road and Kylemore Road. Without these traffic diversion there would not be enough road space for segregated cycle tracks. It is possible to reduce these traffic restrictions in order to allow greater local access to the retail in Ballyfermot village and maintain bus priority and cycle tracks. More details in our submission below.

There is another bus and cycle only traffic restriction on Mount Brown near James’ Hospital. It ensures buses won’t get stuck in traffic and makes the road safer for cyclists by reducing traffic volumes.

The cycle tracks on James’ Street and Thomas Street appear and disappear. There are few improvements here over the current arrangement. This is disappointing as the space exists for segregated cycle tracks.

Little has been done to improve the junction at Christchurch, which has to be the worst junction for pedestrians and cyclists in Dublin.

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. People need to show their support if they want to see these cycling improvements built. A submission is a short piece on how the NTA should change their proposals.

Some advice for writing a useful submission:

• Be generally supportive
• Keep it short and personal
• Tell the NTA why this Core Bus Corridor affects you. Do you live nearby or cycle this route often? Mention that.
• Include some of the Dublin Cycling Campaign’s key issues

Our key issues:

• The roundabouts and large junctions need better designs to make them safer for cyclists
• Be supportive of traffic restrictions around Ballyfermot village as that free up space for segregated cycle tracks
• The space exists for continuous cycle tracks on James’ Street and Thomas Street
• The Christchurch junction should be improved for pedestrians and cyclists
• All bus stops should have cycle bypasses
• A buffer zone (grass verge) between the cycle track and the road should be added in high traffic and high speed zone

MAKE A SUBMISSION

We need many voices demanding better cycling facilities or BusConnects will never deliver any improvements. You can do two more things:

• Spread the word to your friends and family. Encourage them to make a submission too
• Contact your local councillors and TDs telling them you want to see these improvements

The NTA are holding a public information event on this route that might be of interest:

• Dublin City Council, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8 - 12th March 3pm - 8pm

If you want to be kept up-to-date subscribe to our BusConnects email newsletter. We’ll email you updates on the corridors your interested in.

This is only one of 16 Core Bus Corridors. Learn about the others here.