Sir, – Eamon O'Flaherty (April 21st) takes me to task for failing to explain how bus routes would operate should College Green be partially closed to them, as per Dublin City Council's proposals.
In fact, I referred in my letter to the council’s comprehensive public consultation document, which explains in detail how these routes will operate.
This alternative strategy looks to my mind inherently reasonable.
Given that a working alternative to these routes has been proposed, I suggest that there is no “price to be paid” should the plan proceed, but rather a price to be paid, in lost tourism potential, should we fail to present our city’s architectural treasures in anything less than their best possible light. – Yours, etc,
STEPHEN WALL,
Dublin 2.
Sir, – We would all like to be able to enjoy our streetscapes and our architecture without traffic. Much is made of College Green being an assembly point. That was the case when all Dubliners lived within walking distance of the city centre. However, College Green has been a public transport hub since the horse trams started in 1872, following the start of population movement to the suburbs. We don’t all live in Dublin 2 nowadays!
The economic development of the city and the social mobility of its citizens require that we make adequate provision for transport in the use of our streets. Even with the ambitious plans to treble the number of cyclists, buses will still carry more commuters and shoppers to the city centre than all other sustainable on street modes combined – Luas, cycling and walking.
Our bus network is essential for our city economy and mobility. If we were to consider this proposal purely on its architectural and civic aspects, then of course we would all be in favour.
But there are significant transport implications, and the consultation document does not address these in any detail.
It is not at all clear that the alternative routes and stopping places will have the capacity to meet transport needs of Dublin’s citizens in a reliable and cost-effective way. We need much more information. I believe that the concerns raised by Síle Uí Laighin (April 18th) are well justified.– Yours, etc,
BOB LAIRD,
Skerries,
Co Dublin.