Dublin City Council BETA
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dccbeta.bsky.social
Dublin City Council BETA
@dccbeta.bsky.social
1.1K followers 430 following 300 posts
A @dubcitycouncil.bsky.social initiative to imagine, trial and establish solutions that improve living in the city. www.dccbeta.ie

See the status of the various BETA Projects here https://trello.com/b/8jXnfMIO/beta-project-pipeline
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dccbeta.bsky.social
Thanks!

There's actually also a specific "play street" sign in addition to that regular blue woonerf sign. Here... maps.app.goo.gl/Fba1vN9GroXm...

@bicycledutch.bsky.social @cathytuttle.bsky.social @cianginty.bsky.social Anyone know any more about whether this is a regular initiative in the NL?
Photo of a sign which reads "kinder straat!" and gives dates and times below. Translates as "Children Street! 24 June. 15 July. 16 September. From 13:00 - 17:00"
November 13, 2025 at 2:38 PM
dccbeta.bsky.social
Hi, is this the play sign that you're referring to?

Which NL town/city are you in? Google maps lists multiple Eendrachtstraat's. 😅
Screen grab from the video. Showing a blurred sign and "Eendrachtstraat" street sign under.
November 13, 2025 at 9:59 AM
dccbeta.bsky.social
The #CooktopBETA trial will be removed from Herbert Park next month in November. If you would like to check it out before it's removed, now's the time!

We will then begin the assessment and decide next steps. If you have any feedback or suggestions, please let us know! Here or beta@dublincity.ie
Photo of a park setting. It's a sunny day with some trees and people blurred in the background. In the foreground is a cooking appliance with a hood. Around it is a ring of stencil leaf markings.
October 8, 2025 at 11:58 AM
dccbeta.bsky.social
New BETA Project: #StreetMixBETA

Could we design a better process for residents to decide the kerbside uses on 'their' street and balance with public needs?

More information dccbeta.ie/project/arti...

Looking for volunteer streets, so please spread the word! 🙏
A grid of cars, trees, plants and bicycles. Blue and orange icons on a white background.
October 1, 2025 at 10:47 AM
dccbeta.bsky.social
14 water sensors along the River Liffey providing information on water level, temperature and velocity.
liffey.udlive.io

You can read more about this @smartdublin.bsky.social project here.
smartdocklands.ie/projects/riv...
A map of Dublin showing the locations of ring buoys and sensors along the River Liffey. Extract from website - graph showing water temperature, which rises and falls reflecting the tides.
October 1, 2025 at 10:33 AM
dccbeta.bsky.social
To expand the learnings for #CargobikeSharingBETA, there is now a public, electric, cargobike in #Stoneybatter.

@bleeperactive.bsky.social have registration info here bleeperactive.com/pages/shared...

We would love to hear your feedback and suggestions if you use it, and please spread the word! 🙏
Photo with large gable wall of a house. Three people walk past on footpath. There are 4 bike stands, 2 are low for cargo bikes, 2 are for regular bicycles. A branded cargo is locked to one of the stands. A photo showing the cargo box of the cargobike. It contains straps which enables two small people to be transported.
September 22, 2025 at 9:39 PM
dccbeta.bsky.social
Dublin today held 25 play streets, opening up those streets to local children and their parents for 3 hours (to mark 25 years of #CarFreeDay).

Managing to visit 11 of the 25 within the 3 hours, it was useful to see how each space was used and gather various learnings for upcoming #PlayStreetsBETA.
A photo of a street lined with dramatically shaped, very tall trees silhouetted against the sky. The view is down the street. Cars park left and right, with some gaps. Some colourful bunting is stretched across the street and in the centre of the roadway, at the far end of the street, some parents and children play.
September 21, 2025 at 9:57 PM
dccbeta.bsky.social
Getting to see @dublincanvas.bsky.social boxes before they are finished is always amazing! 💗

Artwork (and this photo) by https://www.instagram.com/emberillustrations?igsh=bmoyeWZuNGFhbjM3

#DublinCanvas
A traffic light control box on a Dublin street is being painted as part of the Dublin Canvas project. The box has a sketched outline of a running figure with arms stretched forward, ready to be filled with colour. A printed reference design, showing an abstract multicoloured version of the artwork, is taped to the box. Beside it are painting supplies including a tool box, step stool, and a high-vis jacket. In the background is Gresham House, a brown brick building with a blue entrance sign and a large golden clock on the wall. Two pedestrians, an adult and a child, walk past on the pavement. White text on the image reads: “Day 1 of this years @dublincanvas box! @dlrcoco.ie”.
September 13, 2025 at 8:16 PM
dccbeta.bsky.social
Thanks to a recent user of the Gather Grill in Herbert Park for their feedback.

More information on this trial here and we'd love to hear from you if you use it, including any suggestions for improvements. dccbeta.ie/project/arti...

#CooktopBETA
"Hi, just wanted to give feedback! Really lovely set-up, had about 20 guests and lots of them loved the idea of the public grill. Would be really cool to see in more places though as we're from all over Dublin, Kildare, Meath and Laois. Best of luck with other projects, you're doing great work! "
August 12, 2025 at 11:05 PM
dccbeta.bsky.social
Hi Panti, yes as Niels says citizenhub.dublincity.ie/en/service/T...

No need for an account, but if do it can facilitate a later update.
Screenshot of the webpage, which says Traffic Request You can use this form to report: • Bollards • Bus lanes and bus stops • Cycle lanes and cycle parking • Line marking • Parking bays, restrictions, and Pay & Display • Pedestrian crossings • School wardens • Traffic calming measures • Traffic mirrors, signals, and signs Additional information to read: Transport service request form FAQs Privacy Notice, Transport Advisory Group Administration Section (GDPR) - transport related service requests
August 6, 2025 at 6:15 PM
dccbeta.bsky.social
How might we better enable "doorstep play" in Dublin City, opening up streets so that children can comfortably play near their home?

For more information or to suggest a street, see dccbeta.ie/project/arti...

#PlayStreetsBETA
Black and white photo of children playing, jumping over a rope, on Henrietta Street in Dublin.
August 3, 2025 at 3:41 PM
dccbeta.bsky.social
You can also follow Dublin City Council BETA on instagram, with the same @dccbeta handle.

www.instagram.com/dccbeta/
Photo of a planning application site notice on a wall, with existing colourful mural. Underneath is the text "the 1st planning application of its kind in Ireland. #StreetArtBETA"
July 29, 2025 at 11:35 AM
dccbeta.bsky.social
If you'd like to suggest other 'canvas' locations, please submit them to @thewallsproject.bsky.social using the below link!

wallsproject.ie/dublin-walls/

#StreetArtBETA
Close-up of an eye, from a mural painted by https://artbyeoin.com/ - as part of a previous BETA Project
July 25, 2025 at 7:57 PM
dccbeta.bsky.social
The 1st planning application was submitted by @thewallsproject.bsky.social for #StreetArtBETA.

It's a regular planning application with site notice, open to public observations, etc. planning.agileapplications.ie/dublincity/a...

However it's for the 'blank canvas', not any particular art content.
Photo. In the foreground is a high, but single-storey boundary wall. Left and right are two portions of flat wall, in-between there's a gate. A man walks past the gate. In the background is an apartment block. The two flat portions of wall have a scribble overlaid on each portion. There's also an arrow pointing to a planning site notice.
July 25, 2025 at 2:26 PM
dccbeta.bsky.social
Today we removed the hangar within which the two @bleeperactive.bsky.social cargo bikes for #CargobikeSharingBETA were based.

We will now iterate on this trial, switching to an onstreet approach, with the cargobikes locked to (low) bike stands at this same location - to learn about that approach.
Photo before removal. BikeBunker in place, and someone cycling by. Photo during removal. A crane with red grabbers waits to lift the BikeBunker. Staff are preparing straps on the BikeBunker itself. Following removal. The BikeBunker has been removed.
July 23, 2025 at 9:22 PM
dccbeta.bsky.social
Look at this amazing spread being cooked up by a group of Taiwanese students, who took a trip to #CooktopBETA after their last class of the day!

If you'd like to plan a visit to this trial, there's more info at dccbeta.ie/project/arti... or just let us know if you've any questions or suggestions.
Photo of CooktopBETA trial. The appliance is essentially like a large square frying pan. The hood over it is open and on the cooking surface are three trays with various marinated meats, potatoes and also king prawns on skewers. To the left is a cup of fresh orange juice with ice (the chef's drink) and in the background is a picnic table filled with more food for cooking, sauces, drinks, etc.
July 15, 2025 at 1:11 PM
dccbeta.bsky.social
Here's how to use the #CooktopBETA trial in Herbert Park.

Please let us know if you use it this weekend and any suggestions that you have to improve it!! ☀️

Or do you have any questions?

Here, or DMs open, or beta@dublincity.ie
Close-up image of someone cooking on the #CooktopBETA trial in Herbert Park. The overlaid text reads: 1. Clean 2. Press button to turn on (It now heats and sterilises the surface) 3. Cook! 4. Clean up after yourself 5. Spread the word! Free to use. No booking required.
June 21, 2025 at 10:54 AM
dccbeta.bsky.social
Some of the comments about #CooktopBETA at https://dccbeta.ie/project/article/CooktopBETA
Andrea, posted on 2024.06.25 Hello there I was soo pleased seeing this idea in the park,we have been tested it Sunday,it was great.We are a big family living in apartment so for us to fo a bbq is very hard, bow that is allowed anywhere anymore. This is a perfect place to do birthday parties,l am soo happy that something like have been in Dublin.Please put in more locations. Thank you Derek Bullock, posted on 2024.07.17 I think this is a great idea, adds value to public spaces. Well done for proposing this. Sylvia Power, posted on 2024.07.17 This is a fantastic idea and should be rolled out elsewhere. It will hopefully stop illegal BBQ fires, and as long as there are plenty of bins, there should be no trace left behind. Bunting Park in Walkinstown would be an excellent place to next trial this. Andrei Visinoae, posted on 2025.05.23 I want to commend Dublin City Council on the CooktopBETA initiative. This is a beautiful example of public service that goes beyond infrastructure—it touches on dignity, equity, and belonging. For many, the lack of private outdoor space can be isolating. Offering a free, clean, and safe way to cook outdoors invites those people back into public life. It says, "You belong here too." There's also a deep environmental ethic in the use of electric cooktops, reducing smoke and fire risk in our parks. But even more, this project helps reconnect people, fostering community in a gentle, natural way. This is the kind of civic innovation that makes a city feel like home. Let's support it and encourage expansion. Leo, posted on 2025.05.27 I fully support the idea of encouraging outdoor BBQ culture in Dublin's parks... but replacing charcoal BBQs with electric models feels like a short-sighted and overly cautious move... especially in a city that should be fostering real community interaction, not managing it like a liability... A permanent, well-designed charcoal BBQ—built from brick or stone, with proper ash disposal and signage— can actually be safer and more cost-effective long-term than electrical appliances which are prone to weather damage, misuse, and higher maintenance costs... Look at Singapore or Vancouver where designated charcoal BBQ stations in public spaces are common and abundant ... even in urban and residential areas with high fire risk... It works because local councils trust the public, provide clear safety protocols, and design spaces that invite responsibility rather than assume recklessness... What's missing here is balance... instead of banning open flame entirely, why not set up responsible BBQ zones with proper infrastructure, waste disposal, and maintenance? Isn't that a better model than trialing electric devices that people neither asked for nor truly enjoy using? The DCC's heavy-handedness with public space has been building for years-closing off natural usage, fencing off joy, micromanaging people's behavior instead of enabling shared culture... What people want isn't rebellion, it's reliability... to know they can show up to a park in summer with friends, find a BBQ place, cook in the open air, and feel like they're home in their own city... We need to stop treating citizens like hazards and start trusting them like stakeholders... That means investing in permanent, low-maintenance, communal infrastructure that enhances life, not just manages risk... Dublin deserves public spaces that are built to last... not managed like temporary liabilities... Please reconsider. love Dublin
May 29, 2025 at 3:34 PM
dccbeta.bsky.social
Hi Ruth, creating a relaxing space for people indeed tends to be required before people enjoy hanging around somewhere.

The original question was about what people might look for when trying to identify such *potential* places.

Pedestrianisation also suggests 'sound' as an important criterion.
To make or improve a 'place' - Create addition space - Calm/reduce/remove traffic - Encourage dwell time (eg seating, play, music)
May 26, 2025 at 12:29 PM
dccbeta.bsky.social
If you were to think about potential 'places' in your neighbourhood or in the city, what sort of characteristics would you think about?

Ie locations that seem like natural places where people might like to stay for a while. Some examples below.

Are there any characteristics missing from the list?
What creates a potential placemaking place Space widens / a break in the general street line Natural features such as existing large trees or a river Interesting buildings / landmark building Nearby food/drink businesses Buildings that cause people to gather (eg public or community building, school, religious building, tourist attraction) Reasons that cause people to gather (eg a swimming spot) Feels like a natural 'node' in an area/ neighbourhood Catches the sun Feeling of shelter / enclosure Photo of the South Wall at the point of the Half Moon Club. Two white buildings - either side of the causeway - and blue sky, make it feel like Greece. Howth Head is and a ferry leaving port are distant left. Christchurch, at the junction between Fishamble, Werburgh, Lord Edward streets. Mature trees and interesting or landmark buildings form backdrop. Killester suburban location at a point where a triangular green filled with trees abounds a row of shops and pub.
May 26, 2025 at 10:29 AM
dccbeta.bsky.social
@mplscargobikelibrary.com Hi, if you haven't seen this #CargobikeSharingBETA project, it might interest. https://dccbeta.ie/project/article/cargobike-sharing
Two cargobikes parked outside a metal bicycle hangar, to the side of a road. Both are two-wheeler cycles. One is blue with a basket at the front and a large cargo/seat area at the back with footrests and bars around. The other is green with a large box at the front. The door-lid for the bike hangar is open. The hangar itself has a subtle cargobike image on the side. Behind is the Grand Canal and there are lots of mature trees. A person walks by in the background.
May 16, 2025 at 6:28 PM
dccbeta.bsky.social
You can see what others have said at neighbourhoods.civictech.ie/explore
May 8, 2025 at 10:32 AM
dccbeta.bsky.social
19 seconds of sound in Paris - #LondonParisBETA
April 28, 2025 at 10:08 AM
dccbeta.bsky.social
People visiting cycling friendly cities will regularly comment on the impact that is has on the soundscape.

This aspect tends to be difficult to convey elsewhere in reports and presentations and is best experienced in person.

39 seconds of sound in Paris - #LondonParisBETA.
April 28, 2025 at 10:08 AM
dccbeta.bsky.social
To gain some early feedback on the proposal behind #StreetArtBETA, @thewallsproject.bsky.social interviewed 9 street artists / muralists.

Generally it would suggest that the proposal is on the right track but it also highlighted some aspects for further consideration as we develop the initiative. 👌
Executive Summary This report contains key insights from interviews conducted with a range of Dublin-based or Dublin-experienced muralists and street artists in March / April 2025. The purpose was to gather artist perspectives that may help to inform the development of the Dublin Street Art Initiative. The findings indicate strong support for the initiative across the board, with all agreeing that they and artists in general would avail of a database of walls and paint at their own initiative / expense. Artists highlighted what they felt were critical challenges such as access to walls, the burdens of the current planning system, and a need for clear guidelines and fair opportunities. Artists welcomed the concept of a stock of legally-paintable walls, with a preference for spaces that are safe, diverse, and curated with transparency. There is a broad artist consensus around the value of street art as public expression, the necessity for a more supportive system, and the importance of avoiding the commodification of mural space by advertising. This report is based on interviews with nine street artists carried out in March and April 2025. The group represents a diverse cross-section of artistic disciplines and styles, ranging from large-scale muralists to graffiti and paste-up artists. The interviewees included artists at different stages of their careers and reflected a mix of genders, cultural backgrounds, and artistic approaches. The aim was to capture a broad and balanced perspective on the current street art landscape and the potential for future initiatives in Dublin. Summary of Findings Access to Walls: • A near-universal complaint among artists is the difficulty in sourcing walls. Currently, artists must often both secure permission from wall owners and navigate planning regulations themselves. • Locations like the Docklands, Liberty Lane, and Cabra Park were cited as current painting areas, though concerns about safety, accessibility, and conditions (e.g. sanitation, biohazards) were frequently mentioned. • Artists across experience levels expressed enthusiasm for a database or stock of legally-paintable walls available for use. Planning and Bureaucracy: • The planning process is widely viewed as unworkable. Artists find timelines of 6-7 months incompatible with the nature of street art. • Many called for a quicker, clearer, more artist-friendly alternative to existing processes. • Artists felt that planners or council officials often do not understand the creative process or its practical challenges. Curation, Quality Control, and Fairness: • There is a call for transparent and fair curation, potentially managed by a third party rather than the Council. • Some artists worry about low-quality or offensive work emerging if there are no standards, while others fear over-policing of content. • A code of conduct or clear, simple guidelines (e.g. no obscenity, hate speech) would be broadly welcomed • Several suggested artist agreement to terms, potentially via online form or video module (e.g. Amsterdam model). Safety and Inclusivity: • Safety was highlighted as a key issue, especially for minority and women artists. Artists want spaces that are physically and socially safe. • Locations should be diverse and not limited to marginalised or underdeveloped areas. "Go to the posh areas too." Funding, Promotion and Commercial Concerns: • There was widespread concern about mural spaces being taken over by advertising, as seen in London. • While many artists rely on commercial work to make a living, they want to keep non-commercial creative spaces protected. • A flexible model where a percentage of walls can host sponsored or ad-based work (to fund non-commercial art) was among the suggestions. • Several artists suggested the development of a Dublin Mural Festival as a potential means to fund larger-scale murals and to raise the profile of Irish street art on an international stage. Time Limits and Lifespan: • Artists generally support time limits for murals, with 2-6 months seen as a fair duration. • Lifespan management is important for freshness and fairness, but some flexibility is needed depending on location and wall. Territoriality and Etiquette: • Most artists did not feel strongly territorial but noted that some etiquette around overpainting can exist. • Respect for relationships with wall owners and between artists. Opportunities for Growth and Experimentation: • Many artists called for space to experiment and hone their craft, including practice walls and support for emerging artists. • Some artists worry the system could only serve polished, established artists if curation is too rigid. Additional Mediums and Innovation: • There is interest in supporting a variety of street art mediums (e.g. paste-ups, augmented reality). International Comparisons: • Examples cited include Barcelona (Wallspot app), London's Waterloo Tunnel, and Dundalk's Seek Festival. • Several artists mentioned the Waterford Walls model positively. Conclusions The Dublin Street Art Initiative is widely welcomed by the artist community. From their point-of-view, it should provide access, fairness, clarity, and speed. All artists interviewed agreed that, given this resource, artists in general would avail of it and paint freely at their own initiative and expense. Some feedback and suggestions include: • Develop a central database or app with legal wall locations. • Create clear, fair guidelines and a code of conduct. • Varied wall types and safe, accessible locations. • A fast-track approval system, avoiding long planning delays. • A curation model involving independent voices. • Protect mural space from advertising takeover, while allowing space for commercial funding. • Support emerging artists with practice walls and mentorship. Appendix: Suggested Areas for Further Research • Wallspot app (Barcelona) • Waterford Walls • Seek Festival Rabbithole Promotions / Subset Amsterdam video module (terms-of-use / conduct agreement) London advertising takeover NAMA-owned walls Road Works mural project with Dublin Contemporary • Stockholm Murals
April 11, 2025 at 1:49 PM