Commuter parking - Breaking the car habit

Reducing car usage is one of the mantras of the day and the essential project seems sometimes to suffer from a lack of joined-up thinking.

There does not seem to be much point in opening new commuter routes on rail or road if those who might use them are charged parking fees at feeder stations. In so many instances this is a tipping point issue for commuters and the new services do not realise their potential.

In that context the move by Iarnród Éireann to drop parking fees at three stations for three months is very welcome. After all, people might more readily cut their car usage if they could save money or stress by so doing. Dropping parking charges at feeder stations is a step in the right direction.