And earlier

Different bus, same company

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.

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.

And a different bus company on Friday evening. A UK registered bus from this company was also there at 7 this morning

This is still happening. Perhaps the Hilton Hotel need to take action. Maybe there should be a taxi rank, and the hotel loading bay could be made bigger...

Spoke to a much more polite and reasonable bus driver this morning. It seems that the hotel won't bring residents luggage out the side door from the basement floor from buses. It is all brought out the front door and down the ramp. Bad planning by the applicant for the hotel planning permission which, if sorted by the council was not acted on. I will be writing to the operating manager of the hotel.

Thought this was improving, but on Thursday at 6pm I had to hone the Gardaí as there were 4/5 taxis and a minibus parked on the cycle lane.

I e-mailed the traffic corps of the Gardaí about this on 20th August 2012, but they don't appear to have replied to the address traffic_ds@garda.ie

On Tuesday the City Bins Lorry was blocking the cycle lane forcing cyclists out into the path of oncoming traffic. They also left a few wheelie bins upturned in front of the amazon offices, forcing cyclists out on the road again.

Two French buses parked outside the Hilton were able to find the correct spaces to park in without blocking the cycle lane. Wonder why the local providers and taxis can't?

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.

And a bus there this morning as well. Gardaí informed.

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.

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,

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?

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.

Contacted yesterday morning's bus company and got a polite reply. Garda did move bus and driver will be asked not to park there again.

I have put Kilmainham Garda station on speed dial on the phone, and simply ring them when anyone is there. They have been pretty good at sweeping by, as far as I am aware.

This morning Citybin were blocking the lane with their truck, outside Amazon, during morning rush hour at 07:30. It was pitch dark and icy and with the full headlights on the truck there was a high risk of something happening to a cyclist. Perhaps the truck could park in the empty coach loading bay opposite, as tourists would not be visiting Kilmainham jail at that time.

I e-mailed Citybin and they will ask their driver to use the other side if the road.

This morning, roughly 9:25, taxi parked in the bike lane and no sign of the driver.

I've noticed at least two repeat offenders among the taxis - a silver mercedes and a blue metalic Renault Kangoo or similar. Don't have the roof signs to hand - I'd previously noted them down. I asked the driver of the latter if he was aware that he'd parked in a bike lane and he said that yes, he was aware, and would I ever stop bothering him.

Thanks Oisin for staying on the case, I cycled that way daily up to 6 months ago and was always frightened moving out of the cycle lane to pass the parked taxis and buses. Thanks again.

Spoke to the driver of a large luxury car this morning (06-D-) and he told me he was entitled to park there as he was picking up a customer. He just started shouting so I was not able to tell him about the loading bay provided on SCR for him.

Oisin,

have you had any further response from the other communications you posted (e.g. roads & traffic, above)?

Cheers,
Waider.

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.

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.

Actually, this morning there was a red taxi responsibly parked in a proper parking bay. Credit where credit is due, but hopefully competing taxis won't penalise him/her by creating their unofficial illegal rank.

Drove by here last night and saw two (count em) taxis parked in the cycle lane. Garda on foot patrol walking down the other side of the road seemed uninterested.

Two taxis this evening, both drivers sitting in one car. Roof signs noted and kilmainham gardai notified, said they'd get someone up there. Shame I can't hang around to see.

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.

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.

This should change things, although I hope there's a public consultation: http://www.dublincityarchitects.ie/?p=952#more-952

Curiously, a pair of traffic cones has materialised here in the last few days. New policy?

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.

Good to see a Garda watching this junction today with one of those beacon things. Nobody blocking the cycle lane and the added bonus of no cars encroaching on the box junction or the pedestrian crossing either. Has been much better of late. Thanks to the Gardaí

Agreed; I walk or cycle past here at least twice a day and I've noticed a general reduction in the number of times a taxi is present.

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.)

This morning this guy just said he wasn't loading so he didn't need to be in the loading bay. I think he may also be the driver of 06-D-18805, a dark coloured luxury car who said a few weeks ago that he was entitled to park there. Reg numbers reported to the Garda Traffic number.

And today there are actual Garda "no parking" traffic cones, against which two taxis were parked as I approached. Roof signs 21721 & 46471.

Passed by today and someone had taken the Garda 'no parking' cones off the road. Rang the station and was given the go ahead to put them back out.

I notice one of the cones getting pushed aside regularly (also, there were 5, now there are 3). Also, I have seen more than one taxi basically parking up against the traffic cones. Disappointing to see the Gardai talking about all the traffic offences they're picking up elsewhere in the city (today they made mention of people parking on the pavement and cycling offences) yet here we can't even get a consistent response out of the local Garda station.

Talked to a Garda on duty outside Hilton today. He recommended having a chat with Garda Paul Geraghty (hope I spelled that correctly) at kilmainham as he's the local community liaison officer.

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

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

Today I saw the cycle lane being used by two motorists as a waiting space before seeming to tailgate other cars into the Hilton car park? 131-d-20842 was one

Citybins still using the lane

And FedEx seem to think it is ok to break the law when delivering or collecting from Amazon Dublin

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

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

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).

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.

6 vehicles here this morning including FedEx and another delivery to Amazon. 2 private vehicles, a taxi and a contractor outside the Hilton in a van that was pointing contra flow.

No answer from Kilmainham Gardaí this morning - 6 vehicles including FedEx, another courier and a few taxis parked. On van parked contra flow. All reported to Garda traffic watch.

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

There is was Globus coach there at 0725 this morning. I have reported it on the contact us section of their website, but hard to find who the Irish operator is.

I just saw a guard writing a ticket for a taxi parked in the cycle lane

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?

*I mean turning right into the car park, not left.

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)

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

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.

Good that you've gone to those people. Better if they engaged and did something - an email sent 2 years ago doesn't reassure me - do you even know if they read it? I've worked in the area with a view of the bike lane for the last several years and I can assure you that it continues to be an ad-hoc set-down/pick-up point for buses and taxis throughout the day, and is further blocked by bin trucks, couriers, deliveries, and people who are stopping to get a coffee from Lime Tree. I've seen zero improvement since I stumbled on this discussion thread, with the exception of the couple of weeks that the Gardai put the traffic cones in, and even then both buses and taxis were parking more-or-less on top of those.

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.

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.

For info, the UK 14 registered Globus was there yesterday at about 5:55pm. I was cycling around it and was hit by a motorist. Wasn't injured but bus driver laughed it off. Garda took details and also were some reports from witnesses.

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.

Latest picture. Indicators left on while they ran in somewhere.

And another taxi driver who then pulled in again on the lane as I was on the phone to Kilmainham Garda station.
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.

After a good period of clear mornings the taxis are starting to use the lane again in the morning. The last 3 mornings at 07:30 there were 1-2 taxis there. This morning was a silver Toyota with reg number 11-d-1332

After a period of improvement and a few more conversations with the Gardaí, this is getting worse again. Predominantly it is the Eirebus/Globus company.

It seems to have improved. There was a properly parked bus in the loading bay this Evening. Perhaps however it is just that the tourist season catered for by Eirebus has quiet ended down for the winter.

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.

The plans for the overall work on the plaza are here http://dublincity.ie/sites/default/files/content/YourCouncil/LocalAreaServices/SouthCentralArea/SouthCentralAreaAnnouncements/Documents/ReportforNovember2014.pdf (scroll to bottom for map)
I think we might be nearly ready to close this issue!

The Improvement work seems to have finished. The cycle lane seems to be more clearly marked now, with the exception of the pinch point directly in front of the Hilton. Here cyclists are directed onto the footpath directly in front of the hotel & pedestrian crossing. This is very worrying as there are no markings at all and nothing to let unsuspecting pedestrians know that the space is shared. It's a mess! This morning the cyclist in front of me simply took the safe option and cycled contra-flow down the last part of the road.

Thanks Oisin for the update. The shared pavement outside the Hilton is poor. Hopefully most cyclists will slow down when on the pavement, but I can't believe had badly the council thought though the traffic, pedestrian and cycle ways. Taxis have started parking in the disabled parking bays opposite the hotel. Saw a Garda trying to run one last week. The driver wasn't planning on budging even for the Garda.

This specific issue can now be closed. Although the solution is not perfect, there are more engineering solutions in place. Gardaí are still not great at enforcing the traffic laws and the council have promised a better solution for cyclists at the junction, which has yet to be developed.