Kevin Baker
@kevinwbaker.bsky.social
Interested in transport, mobility and liveable cities. Software Engineer @HubSpot. He/him 🇮🇪🏳️🌈
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
The binary viewpoint that judicial reviews (JR) of planning decisions are purely good or bad is deeply problematic.
JRs can and do serve the public good. They can also be weaponised to delay vital infrastructure. Each JR should be judged on its own merits.
The binary viewpoint that judicial reviews (JR) of planning decisions are purely good or bad is deeply problematic.
JRs can and do serve the public good. They can also be weaponised to delay vital infrastructure. Each JR should be judged on its own merits.
Judicial reviews serve the common good
Rather than castigating public-spirited ordinary people concerned by planning problems, the Government should focus on properly resourcing the planning and legal systems
www.irishexaminer.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:59 AM
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
The binary viewpoint that judicial reviews (JR) of planning decisions are purely good or bad is deeply problematic.
JRs can and do serve the public good. They can also be weaponised to delay vital infrastructure. Each JR should be judged on its own merits.
The binary viewpoint that judicial reviews (JR) of planning decisions are purely good or bad is deeply problematic.
JRs can and do serve the public good. They can also be weaponised to delay vital infrastructure. Each JR should be judged on its own merits.
Reposted by Kevin Baker
With the completion of the Butterfield Ave/Firhouse Road section of the Dodder Greenway it is now possible to cycle ~13km from Ely's Arch to the Bohernabreena Reservoir Park (almost) entirely off road.
October 26, 2025 at 2:44 PM
With the completion of the Butterfield Ave/Firhouse Road section of the Dodder Greenway it is now possible to cycle ~13km from Ely's Arch to the Bohernabreena Reservoir Park (almost) entirely off road.
Oh dear @news.rte.ie, 0.25% does not mean a quarter. 0.25% is a quarter of 1%. The article has been up for 4 hours unfixed.
0.25% suggests our hundreds of wind turbines are negligible when, in combination with solar and inter-connectors meant August 2025 had one of the lowest CO2g/kwh ever.
0.25% suggests our hundreds of wind turbines are negligible when, in combination with solar and inter-connectors meant August 2025 had one of the lowest CO2g/kwh ever.
September 9, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Oh dear @news.rte.ie, 0.25% does not mean a quarter. 0.25% is a quarter of 1%. The article has been up for 4 hours unfixed.
0.25% suggests our hundreds of wind turbines are negligible when, in combination with solar and inter-connectors meant August 2025 had one of the lowest CO2g/kwh ever.
0.25% suggests our hundreds of wind turbines are negligible when, in combination with solar and inter-connectors meant August 2025 had one of the lowest CO2g/kwh ever.
Reposted by Kevin Baker
I delivered the 700 page business case and cost benefit analysis for MetroLink to Michael O'Leary's office yesterday.
O'Leary said on RTÉ Radio that there’s been no cost-benefit analysis done on Metrolink which was then repeated on multiple news outlets.
O'Leary said on RTÉ Radio that there’s been no cost-benefit analysis done on Metrolink which was then repeated on multiple news outlets.
August 15, 2025 at 11:38 AM
I delivered the 700 page business case and cost benefit analysis for MetroLink to Michael O'Leary's office yesterday.
O'Leary said on RTÉ Radio that there’s been no cost-benefit analysis done on Metrolink which was then repeated on multiple news outlets.
O'Leary said on RTÉ Radio that there’s been no cost-benefit analysis done on Metrolink which was then repeated on multiple news outlets.
Reposted by Kevin Baker
Department will not confirm why replacment of 41-year-old trains is subject to new review
-- Replacement of original Dart trains is just 0.8% of the transport capital budget up to 2030.-- The Government is accused of gambling with the reliability of the rail network.-- If the order isn't made…
-- Replacement of original Dart trains is just 0.8% of the transport capital budget up to 2030.-- The Government is accused of gambling with the reliability of the rail network.-- If the order isn't made…
Department will not confirm why replacment of 41-year-old trains is subject to new review
-- Replacement of original Dart trains is just 0.8% of the transport capital budget up to 2030.-- The Government is accused of gambling with the reliability of the rail network.-- If the order isn't made soon, delays could be prolonged as the production line stops. The Department of Transport is remaining tight-lipped as to why a straightforward order for the replacement of the original Dart trains -- which are breaking down at an increased frequency -- has been bundled into the Government's National Development Plan review.
irishcycle.com
August 14, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Department will not confirm why replacment of 41-year-old trains is subject to new review
-- Replacement of original Dart trains is just 0.8% of the transport capital budget up to 2030.-- The Government is accused of gambling with the reliability of the rail network.-- If the order isn't made…
-- Replacement of original Dart trains is just 0.8% of the transport capital budget up to 2030.-- The Government is accused of gambling with the reliability of the rail network.-- If the order isn't made…
Reposted by Kevin Baker
DLR Connector: How well will it connect? Better than most projects, but not all if it doesn’t get the support it needs
-- Connector project will bring a jump in safety, accessibility and enable activity. Comment & Analysis: This article takes an in-depth look at the details of the 8km DLR…
-- Connector project will bring a jump in safety, accessibility and enable activity. Comment & Analysis: This article takes an in-depth look at the details of the 8km DLR…
DLR Connector: How well will it connect? Better than most projects, but not all if it doesn’t get the support it needs
-- Connector project will bring a jump in safety, accessibility and enable activity. Comment & Analysis: This article takes an in-depth look at the details of the 8km DLR Connector project. But if you support safer streets for people outside of cars in Dublin, you should act today and respond to the public consultation now. The non-statutory public consultation ends today, and regardless of any of the details outlined in this article, …
irishcycle.com
July 15, 2025 at 5:21 AM
DLR Connector: How well will it connect? Better than most projects, but not all if it doesn’t get the support it needs
-- Connector project will bring a jump in safety, accessibility and enable activity. Comment & Analysis: This article takes an in-depth look at the details of the 8km DLR…
-- Connector project will bring a jump in safety, accessibility and enable activity. Comment & Analysis: This article takes an in-depth look at the details of the 8km DLR…
Reposted by Kevin Baker
We've just had two record-breaking days in a row for Irish solar:
- on Wednesday, solar farms produced 8.1GWh, a new one-day record
- on Thursday, solar farm output reached 861MW, a new high
On these strong days, solar farms are fulfilling about 7% of electricity demand with peaks of about 20% ☀️🔎
- on Wednesday, solar farms produced 8.1GWh, a new one-day record
- on Thursday, solar farm output reached 861MW, a new high
On these strong days, solar farms are fulfilling about 7% of electricity demand with peaks of about 20% ☀️🔎
June 20, 2025 at 8:52 AM
We've just had two record-breaking days in a row for Irish solar:
- on Wednesday, solar farms produced 8.1GWh, a new one-day record
- on Thursday, solar farm output reached 861MW, a new high
On these strong days, solar farms are fulfilling about 7% of electricity demand with peaks of about 20% ☀️🔎
- on Wednesday, solar farms produced 8.1GWh, a new one-day record
- on Thursday, solar farm output reached 861MW, a new high
On these strong days, solar farms are fulfilling about 7% of electricity demand with peaks of about 20% ☀️🔎
Reposted by Kevin Baker
Next phase of the Dublin City Centre Transport Plan kicked off this morning with no left turn for cars from Westland Row to Pearse Street.
A welcome boost for bus reliability, and pedestrian priority. Now for some segregated cycle paths, and a few more trees.
A welcome boost for bus reliability, and pedestrian priority. Now for some segregated cycle paths, and a few more trees.
May 25, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Next phase of the Dublin City Centre Transport Plan kicked off this morning with no left turn for cars from Westland Row to Pearse Street.
A welcome boost for bus reliability, and pedestrian priority. Now for some segregated cycle paths, and a few more trees.
A welcome boost for bus reliability, and pedestrian priority. Now for some segregated cycle paths, and a few more trees.
The NTA are undermining years of public consultation on the BusConnects bus and cycle lanes. They are compromising in private dealings with objectors.
Tell them no! We want the approved bus lanes, traffic calming, and playgrounds. Not more car parking and cars!
www.change.org/p/stop-the-r...
Tell them no! We want the approved bus lanes, traffic calming, and playgrounds. Not more car parking and cars!
www.change.org/p/stop-the-r...
Sign the Petition
🛑 Stop the Rollback: Move Forward with Making Ballyer Roads Safer for All
www.change.org
May 1, 2025 at 10:54 AM
The NTA are undermining years of public consultation on the BusConnects bus and cycle lanes. They are compromising in private dealings with objectors.
Tell them no! We want the approved bus lanes, traffic calming, and playgrounds. Not more car parking and cars!
www.change.org/p/stop-the-r...
Tell them no! We want the approved bus lanes, traffic calming, and playgrounds. Not more car parking and cars!
www.change.org/p/stop-the-r...
'How the Hoover Dam Works' is a work of art by one of the most talented youtubers out there. Utterly enthralling. I didn't notice the time fly by. The donations from commenters is like nothing I've ever seen before. www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EdM...
How Hoover Dam Works
YouTube video by Animagraffs
www.youtube.com
April 23, 2025 at 9:26 PM
'How the Hoover Dam Works' is a work of art by one of the most talented youtubers out there. Utterly enthralling. I didn't notice the time fly by. The donations from commenters is like nothing I've ever seen before. www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EdM...
Reposted by Kevin Baker
Inspired by this illuminating chart, I made one based on Irish data as well. The correlation (and let's be real, causation) between gas prices and electricity prices cannot be clearer.
March 21, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Inspired by this illuminating chart, I made one based on Irish data as well. The correlation (and let's be real, causation) between gas prices and electricity prices cannot be clearer.
Reposted by Kevin Baker
Look, I know gas networks have to do their job. I am just continuously disappointed in major publications in Ireland being lazy by syndicating press releases (this applies to both fossil fuels and clean energy lobbyists) without doing any additional reporting.
February had the lowest ever share for fossil fuels on the Irish grid: domestic gas generation was equivalent to 35.3% of electricity demand. So naturally 1st Monday of March comes, the Independent chooses to syndicate a Gas Networks press release about gas demand hitting record highs in January. 🫠
Gas demand hit new record during January’s snow days
Ireland saw a record high demand for gas on January 8 this year, as temperatures plunged as low as -8C and much of the country was blanketed in snow.
www.independent.ie
March 3, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Look, I know gas networks have to do their job. I am just continuously disappointed in major publications in Ireland being lazy by syndicating press releases (this applies to both fossil fuels and clean energy lobbyists) without doing any additional reporting.
Reposted by Kevin Baker
Seen or experienced a collision or near miss!? 😳🚨
Don’t forget you can log it on CollisionTracker.ie ✅
It takes only a few mins but it’s really good at showing up high risk locations, in the absence of official action.
Awesome work by @dublininquirer.com and @irishcycle.com
Don’t forget you can log it on CollisionTracker.ie ✅
It takes only a few mins but it’s really good at showing up high risk locations, in the absence of official action.
Awesome work by @dublininquirer.com and @irishcycle.com
Active Travel Collision Tracker
CollisionTracker.ie
February 28, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Seen or experienced a collision or near miss!? 😳🚨
Don’t forget you can log it on CollisionTracker.ie ✅
It takes only a few mins but it’s really good at showing up high risk locations, in the absence of official action.
Awesome work by @dublininquirer.com and @irishcycle.com
Don’t forget you can log it on CollisionTracker.ie ✅
It takes only a few mins but it’s really good at showing up high risk locations, in the absence of official action.
Awesome work by @dublininquirer.com and @irishcycle.com
Reposted by Kevin Baker
What’s the problem here? Irish companies do not have the significant capital or expertise to deliver these projects.
Labelling EDF, the French multinational energy company, as a fossil fuel company is hilarious sweeping statement. They run 50+ nuclear reactors and invest billions in solar/wind.
Labelling EDF, the French multinational energy company, as a fossil fuel company is hilarious sweeping statement. They run 50+ nuclear reactors and invest billions in solar/wind.
One of Ireland’s most lucrative natural resources is being sold to a range of foreign investors looking to make a profit.
Just two Irish companies are involved in Ireland's offshore wind projects and neither are the lead developer.
Read more: http://jrnl.ie/6627898t
Just two Irish companies are involved in Ireland's offshore wind projects and neither are the lead developer.
Read more: http://jrnl.ie/6627898t
Who controls Ireland's offshore wind? Spoiler: Not Irish companies
Big oil, governments and one of Europe’s largest polluters are among the developers of planned projects off our coast.
jrnl.ie
February 21, 2025 at 11:53 AM
What’s the problem here? Irish companies do not have the significant capital or expertise to deliver these projects.
Labelling EDF, the French multinational energy company, as a fossil fuel company is hilarious sweeping statement. They run 50+ nuclear reactors and invest billions in solar/wind.
Labelling EDF, the French multinational energy company, as a fossil fuel company is hilarious sweeping statement. They run 50+ nuclear reactors and invest billions in solar/wind.
[Thread] For while I've been wondering what cycle route would make it from (roughly) the M50 ring to the centre of the city first. After the completion of this section of cycle lane we have a winner!
bsky.app/profile/dubl...
bsky.app/profile/dubl...
Awesome to see George’s Quay to O’Connell Bridge protected two-way lanes OPEN this morning! 😍🌟
Fair play to the @dublincitycouncil.bsky.social Active Travel team and @nationaltransportauthority
Another step forward for the City Centre
Fair play to the @dublincitycouncil.bsky.social Active Travel team and @nationaltransportauthority
Another step forward for the City Centre
February 19, 2025 at 2:03 PM
[Thread] For while I've been wondering what cycle route would make it from (roughly) the M50 ring to the centre of the city first. After the completion of this section of cycle lane we have a winner!
bsky.app/profile/dubl...
bsky.app/profile/dubl...
Reposted by Kevin Baker
Awesome to see George’s Quay to O’Connell Bridge protected two-way lanes OPEN this morning! 😍🌟
Fair play to the @dublincitycouncil.bsky.social Active Travel team and @nationaltransportauthority
Another step forward for the City Centre
Fair play to the @dublincitycouncil.bsky.social Active Travel team and @nationaltransportauthority
Another step forward for the City Centre
February 19, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Awesome to see George’s Quay to O’Connell Bridge protected two-way lanes OPEN this morning! 😍🌟
Fair play to the @dublincitycouncil.bsky.social Active Travel team and @nationaltransportauthority
Another step forward for the City Centre
Fair play to the @dublincitycouncil.bsky.social Active Travel team and @nationaltransportauthority
Another step forward for the City Centre
Love this visualisation. Probably one of the more interesting ones I’ve see for demonstrating what areas are permeable for people walking
Was poking around Albuquerque and spotted this really cool map by @humantransit.bsky.social’s team analyzing the connectivity of the city’s street network. Because most transit riders are not crows, street design matters to accessing transit and everything else.
February 14, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Love this visualisation. Probably one of the more interesting ones I’ve see for demonstrating what areas are permeable for people walking
Reposted by Kevin Baker
This looks good, but I think the Irish have been struggling to get their protected junctions to work efficiently? Separate stages for each mode?
The BusConnects team have put this nice video of the Liffey Valley route on YouTube…
Check out the 13km of mostly separated bike lanes they’ve planned 🥳🚲 (and the acres of space retained for cars 🤨)
For showing to any BusConnects-sceptical friends! 😂
youtu.be/XFPZXUt1CHE?...
Check out the 13km of mostly separated bike lanes they’ve planned 🥳🚲 (and the acres of space retained for cars 🤨)
For showing to any BusConnects-sceptical friends! 😂
youtu.be/XFPZXUt1CHE?...
BusConnects Dublin - Liffey Valley to City Centre Scheme
YouTube video by Transport for Ireland
youtu.be
February 10, 2025 at 9:18 AM
This looks good, but I think the Irish have been struggling to get their protected junctions to work efficiently? Separate stages for each mode?
Reposted by Kevin Baker
“Dublin won’t work without” MetroLink and Dart+, but Eamon Ryan says there’s a risk other areas will only get roads
-- "Both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael got in the way" of progressing sustainable transport, Miniter Ryan says, they were "very nervous about the likes of the rural independents." VERY…
-- "Both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael got in the way" of progressing sustainable transport, Miniter Ryan says, they were "very nervous about the likes of the rural independents." VERY…
“Dublin won’t work without” MetroLink and Dart+, but Eamon Ryan says there’s a risk other areas will only get roads
-- "Both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael got in the way" of progressing sustainable transport, Miniter Ryan says, they were "very nervous about the likes of the rural independents." VERY LONG READ: In December, IrishCycle.com interviewed outgoing Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan as he leaves office after not running in the last election, and he says he cannot see himself running for election again in the future.
irishcycle.com
January 22, 2025 at 12:00 AM
“Dublin won’t work without” MetroLink and Dart+, but Eamon Ryan says there’s a risk other areas will only get roads
-- "Both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael got in the way" of progressing sustainable transport, Miniter Ryan says, they were "very nervous about the likes of the rural independents." VERY…
-- "Both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael got in the way" of progressing sustainable transport, Miniter Ryan says, they were "very nervous about the likes of the rural independents." VERY…
Reposted by Kevin Baker
Global average temperatures for 2024 were around 1.6C above those of the pre-industrial period…
… in the style of Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures
www.bbc.com/news/article...
… in the style of Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures
www.bbc.com/news/article...
January 11, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Global average temperatures for 2024 were around 1.6C above those of the pre-industrial period…
… in the style of Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures
www.bbc.com/news/article...
… in the style of Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Kevin Baker
We've been working on our website. It looks better on more devices, and makes it easier to sign up for our newsletter.
We also added a real-time chart: it shows wind, biomass, hydro, pumped storage - and solar. Want to know how green the grid is *right now*? Bookmark us! 📊
www.greencollective.io
We also added a real-time chart: it shows wind, biomass, hydro, pumped storage - and solar. Want to know how green the grid is *right now*? Bookmark us! 📊
www.greencollective.io
Green Collective | Irish grid data and analysis
www.greencollective.io
December 2, 2024 at 11:07 AM
We've been working on our website. It looks better on more devices, and makes it easier to sign up for our newsletter.
We also added a real-time chart: it shows wind, biomass, hydro, pumped storage - and solar. Want to know how green the grid is *right now*? Bookmark us! 📊
www.greencollective.io
We also added a real-time chart: it shows wind, biomass, hydro, pumped storage - and solar. Want to know how green the grid is *right now*? Bookmark us! 📊
www.greencollective.io