How we have driven ourselves into a major problem

Seán McCárthaigh says Ireland’s love affair with the car may be costing us more than we realise

"ON yer bike!" A much-loved salutation will take on a slightly different resonance on Monday when cities and towns across the country join 1,500 urban centres across the continent for the fourth annual European Car Free Day.

In Ireland, the event is a timely, if slightly unnecessary, reminder that traffic congestion has become a regular daily feature with the potential to impact seriously on the economy as well as the quality of life.