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THE OFFICE OF Public Works is seeking the public’s view on the future of parking in the Phoenix Park.
The public consultation process opened today and will run for five weeks, ending on 22 May.
More than 5,000 submissions were received from the public and key stakeholders in the first phase of consultation, which has fed into the Draft Parking Strategy.
This first phase of consultation, which took place over June and July of last year, found that over half of respondents had travelled on foot for their most recent journey to the Phoenix Park.
Almost a third had cycled for their most recent visit, while two thirds aid the could be persuaded to drive less or use another mode of transport to access the Park.
New bus services and improved cycling routes both to the Park and within it were cited as measures that could encourage people to leave the car when travelling to Phoenix Park.
However, 53% of respondents said they “usually, or sometimes” travel to Phoenix Park by car.
It is Government policy to reduce transport-related carbon emissions by 50% by 2030.
There are currently over 2,200 car parking spaces within the Phoenix Park and Farmleigh.
A range of cycle parking provision at key locations has been prioritised in the draft parking strategy.
A new 40-space carpark is also proposed close to Castleknock Gate to prioritise parking for those with mobility issues.
Upgrades to the Knockmaroon carp park is also proposed in order to improve the surface to make it more accessible for those with mobility issues.
Announcing the latest round of public consultation, Minister of State for the Office of Public Works Patrick O’Donovan, TD said: “The Draft Parking Strategy seeks to protect and conserve the Phoenix Park, while enabling appropriate access and use by Dubliners and visitors from further away.
“I would encourage all interested parties, both from the local community and those further afield, to read the Draft Parking Strategy and respond to the public consultation survey over the next five weeks.”
O’Donovan added that he was pleased to see that over 60% percent of respondents to the first round of consultation said they could be persuaded to drive less or use another mode of travel to access the Phoenix Park.
He added that the draft parking strategy “considers both cycle and vehicular parking in the Phoenix Park, as well as potential impacts on the immediate surrounding area”.
“It also addresses the needs and parking requirements of those with mobility issues,” said O’Donovan.
He continued: “Five percent of parking provision will be suitable for those with disabilities and a further five percent will be designated for the active aged.
“However, the Draft Parking Strategy also recognises that, to make the Park inclusive for all visitors, some visitors will need parking provision.
“Overall, the draft Strategy proposes to improve access for those with mobility challenges through maintaining the current car parking availability.”
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You would want to have fallen off your high horse not to know what the OPW agenda is here. Surely the park is big enough to allow cars access . People outside the area should have the opportunity to travel and enjoy the amenities.
@Pat Man: I’m not from the area and I’ve been to Phoenix park many times and have never driven there. We can’t just keep jamming the city with cars, something has to give eventually.
@eoin fitzpatrick: Well done, a fit and healty but for all the people who are not. What about them?
Older people, like the man whose grandaughter drove him up to the park for his steps and he walked around by the Aras often bunping into Michael D walking his dogs. He cannot now.
One case in thousands of people who cannot access the park.
But it does not matter as you can.
It’s fine the way it is now.Stop trying to fix problems that don’t exist.
@Roger Bond: No it is not. I know plenty of people who aren’t driving and can’t cycle that far. There used to be a bus service within the Park for a nominal fare, so that people arriving by public transport didn’t have so far to walk. That went and now they ask why people get lifts across the Park.
Why does Dublin Bikes not extend into the Phoenix Park already? (and to all of the South Circular Road as well as beyond the canals for that matter).
I think a lot of people are apprehensive about using bikes on busy city centre roads but may well be encouraged to try them where there are calmer roads and better segregated cycle lanes.
@Kevin Collins: there’s a station very near the entrance on Parkgate St.. about 250m away. There’s also a bike rental place just inside the gate, plus Bleeper bike option amongst other options.
There are a lot more segregated lanes in the city now – well while lazy G****ess delivery truck drivers aren’t ploughing them down to park nearer pubs.
https://road.cc/content/news/guinness-truck-driver-smashes-down-cycle-lane-wands-300491
@UK Hurling Bloke: There are multiple DB stands nearby at Heuston too. But none in the park itself, thus you either need to return to Parkgate St within 30 mins or pay a usage fee for the bike rental. This is not good enough and could easily be fixed by sticking a few more stands inside the park, for example at all entrances and near key locations such as the zoo, farmleigh, Wellington monument etc.
@Kevin Collins: yes I agree, it’s a bit of a joke, the expansion was proposed years ago, but never happened, not sure if it’s profitability, planning or what, would’ve thought they’d have at least extended beyond the park by now. Seems a bit of a farce to make us look good for the city centre tourists.
Just another way of shutting down the city to cars in favour of bikes. What next let us all work 15 minutes from our home where we can plant our seed in the window box and live off that. We need to make Ireland great agin
@Dan public: the horror of only having to travel 15 minutes to get to work. Real Irish patriots drive 2.5 hours in traffic from Edgeworthstown every day instead of that salad box woke nonsense.
@eoin fitzpatrick: I think you might have misread his comment @Dan is not saying he works 15 mins from home.
Why don’t they just take cycle lanes out and let cars back in. The park is green enough.
Another solution would be to charge motorists, say, €20 per hour to park there but treble that amount on days following a full Moon, then add a surcharge when the Moon is in the 7th house and Jupiter alines with Mars. Ah hell, let’s make it easy and just rip them off to the point where they couldn’t care less anymore.
Run a shuttle bus service throughout the park (didn’t there used to be one?) with stops at the zoo, visitor centre, papal cross, farmleigh etc. Remove free parking spaces on chesterfield avenue. If this can’t be done easily then charge at least €10 to park private cars. As for through traffic I’m not familiar with the area but can’t it be diverted around?
@Simon Eales: Yes, there was one, a great service and all they had to do was restore it so people have alternatives available as opposed to having to use a car.
@Simon Eales: No the traffic cannot be diverted. As regards the bike use in the park, they arre available.
Big shock cyclists. Not ewverybody wants to or can cycle!
I know it is a disgrace. They should not be allowed access the park. Oh wait that is what is being done.
Public transport is not the solution and it is a typical lazy excuse and a [pass the buck solution.
Maybe fix the issue with bikes being robbed after 2 minutes of being locked and we might all cycle more in the city.
Access to all park gates needs to be revised. Today, access from Ashtown roundabout (Halfway House) to Ashtown Gate is not safe: no traffic lights, very narrow and dangerous pedestrian footpath not suitable for buggies or kids of all ages. I stopped using the park because it’s not safe to walk there and now there is nowhere to park (the small carpark on grass inside Ashtown Gate is closed).
@Serguei Semikhatov: Yes, it is supposed to be a public amenity after all.
It sometimes floods in October so not an ideal place to park – but a shame not to be able to visit without a car.
The park serves as a mid way point for commuters that try to reduce traffic in the city , many park there and either walk to the city to use the luas and I’ve seen alot of people parking their cars to cycle through the city , unfortunately this keeps coming up and you have the same people talking about charging or taking away spaces , always Dublin centric as usual , unfortunately those outside the pale don’t have great access to reliable public transportation, to charge those who genuinely are trying to reduce where possible is ridiculous, as usual in this country don’t help those outside the pale just make there commute harder and harder.
I think it’s fair to say if there were zero cars in the Park, it would be much nicer. I think shuttle buses are the way to go for visitors with multiple stops in the park. These buses should service train stations and large shopping centers to collect visitors.
@Paulco: Agreed – I can’t see why those shuttle buses were stopped. There was a good service then.
Compromise. No traffic allowed on the weekends. 7am, Saturday to 10pm, Sunday. Shuttle bus services on weekend.
It is not practical for people living outside of Dublin to use public transport. For example,’ if a family, mother and three children want to go to the zoo, the struggle of getting three children on a bus,’with a double buggie, all the bags for picnic,’ clothing and toys. Getting a bus into the city then needing to get another bus, the extra long journey compared to driving in and being able to leave stuff in the car. The stress wouldn’t be worth the hassle. I was at dublin Zoo the other day, and I don’t see the issue. There is very little parking and no cars obstructing the cycle lanes. Just leave it as it is so people from outside of Dublin can enjoy it too. I plan on driving up with bikes to enjoy the park and it would not be possible if I couldn’t park in the visiting centre.
“… the Knockmaroon carp park..” – I wonder if I could chance bringing a salmon instead.
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