Response to car-free day comes under attack

Ireland’s contribution today to the Europe-wide Car Free Day was criticised by environmentalists for its lack of enthusiasm.

Ten Irish towns and cities were taking part in the event but in Dublin only parts of three streets - including a section outside the Environment Department headquarters - were being barred to vehicle traffic for varying periods.

In Galway, there were plans to open barriers to motorists who insisted on getting through.

Environmental campaigers claimed the day only served to demonstrate Ireland’s failure to implement real alternatives to motor traffic and said it was only a token gesture.

The Green Party's Trevor Sargent said the whole affair amounted to ‘‘a publicity stunt’’.

He claimed the road closures in Dublin added up to Environment Minister Noel Dempsey ‘‘just closing his front garden’’.

Mr Sargent said other European countries had adopted ‘‘a much more radical approach’’ to the EU’s Car Free Day, with road closures in Paris covering 2,800 hectares and in Belgium the day being extended to a week-long period of ‘‘sustained mobility’’.

Fine Gael directed criticism at Mr Dempsey for slapping tax and insurance obligations on electronic bicycles, charges they said did not exist in other states.

Spokeswoman Olivia Mitchell said: ‘‘If the minister wants to show anything other than lip service to the environment, he must use this opportunity to encourage cycling and maximise usage of the cycle lane network.

‘‘Driving, particularly in Dublin, is so stressful, frustrating, unpredictable and time-consuming that all of us are now keen on any realistic alternatives.

‘‘We use the car simply because there are no alternatives.’’

Fine Gael claimed the Government had shown no interest in making the Car Free Day a success.