Greens dismiss Government efforts on car-free day

The Government failed to take advantage of European Car Free Day to promote alternative environmentally-friendly options, it was claimed today.

Ciaran Cuffe, a Green Party TD, said there was a lack of official participation in Dublin as 1,278 cities across the world, including London, Glasgow, Paris and Berlin opt for pedestrianised areas, cycling and public transport.

The party’s environment spokesman said it was outrageous that Dublin is not taking part in today’s Car Free Day this year.

“Dublin’s token participation in European Mobility Week seems to be limited to a few walking tours,” Mr Cuffe said.

“It is symptomatic of the Irish authorities’ failure to embrace this important initiative that one of the few events taking place is a walking tour of St. Mary’s graveyard in Donnybrook.

“Car Free Day has been cancelled because we do not have a public transport alternative to the car. That is a profound indictment of this Government’s woeful approach to transport planning.”

Mr Cuffe said Nitrogen Oxide (NOX) levels in Dublin and other urban areas were close to breaching air quality standards.

The aim of European Mobility Week is to encourage cities and towns to close one or several areas to vehicles during an entire day – with September 22 chosen as the designated day.

Eamon Ryan, the party’s spokesman on transport, said the Government had failed in the development of the public transport system.

“They cannot agree on what type of bus service to give us and, as a result, bus patronage is actually dropping,” he said. “They have built a port tunnel but trucks will still be allowed pass through the city centre. They built two Luas lines but never joined them together!”

The party highlighted three projects which should be undertaken to improve the transport system in the city centre, including a traffic calming scheme with 30kmph speed limits and greater pedestrian areas.

Mr Ryan said a strategic reorganisation of all bus routes should take place and a Luas link should be built connecting St Stephen’s Green with O’Connell Street.