Car Free Day, Motorists asked to leave their cars at home
Motorists in 750 towns and cities across Europe have been responding, with varying degrees of enthusiasm, to "Car Free Day". The initiative was organised to raise awareness of pollution and congestion levels. This evening the Green Party said that it was delighted with the success of the day which had greatly strengthened the case for greater investment in public transport.
In Dublin today, few streets were completely closed, yet it appears many people stayed away from the city centre. The Dublin City Centre Traders' Association claimed that business was down by between 20 to 40%. Many streets, like College Green were closed to cars but open to buses, taxis and all commercial vehicles. So while traffic levels were reduced, it was a far cry from a traffic-free zone. All bus and rail services in the city were free between 10.00am and 4.00pm.
Although Cork City's main thoroughfare, Patrick Street was not closed to all traffic, is was quieter than usual even with the endless streams of buses and taxis carrying passengers to and from the centre. Three corporation officials got into the swing of things and rode an enormous tricycle around the city centre streets to bring home today's no-car message. Many commuters availed of parking on the main island, keeping traffic wardens busy! And there were more motorcycles on the streets than usual. But, disappointedly, few cyclists availed of the 120 free secure parking units provided by Cork Corporation but perhaps this was because, as one taxi driver put it, there was little or no signage around the streets to let people know, what was what. Earlier this evening, Cork Corporation officials said that they were pleased with the amount of people who did make the effort, and are looking forward to going again next year.
The centre of Limerick City was pedestrianised for the day. A section of O'Connell Street was closed to traffic, and there were parking restrictions on the adjoining streets. Limerick Corporation also set up a noise monitoring unit in the city centre, to compare yesterday's city centre traffic levels with those today when the street was car free. Pedestrians remarked on how quiet the city centre was with the car ban.
The Corporation is hoping the noise data will help them to highlight the adverse effects of the growing numbers of cars on city life, and how pleasant the city centre can be with reduced levels of noise and pollution. They also hope to use the data when the Corporation comes to decide whether to pedestrianise Limerick's O'Connell Street permanently. Portlaoise town plans to remain 'exhaust free' until midnight tonight, with entertainment in all car free areas.
In Galway, Mayor Martin Quinn and civic officials launched the day by testing out a range of electric bikes at an almost traffic free Eyre Square. The Corporation created a car exclusion zone in the city centre, allowing only buses and commercial vehicles into the area bounded by Wolfe Tone Bridge and Eyre Street. The Mayor said that he hoped that the experiment would be repeated on a regular basis and added that he would be buying one of the £700 electric bicycles which are tax free and capable of speeds up to 15 mph. A free 'park and ride' service was operating from the car park beside the Galway Atlantaquaria, Toft Park, since 8.00am. A shuttle bus will run every 15 minutes into the city centre from the car park until 6.00pm. Bus fares into and around the city were significantly reduced.
Motorists said that they were happy to co-operate with the experiment which was given an enthusiastic welcome by the city cyclists and by taxi drivers. Shane Foran of the Galway Cycle Campaign said that the day was proving to be a "brilliant success" and he hoped people would realise the huge health benefits there would be to keeping cars out of our city centres.
