Sir, - Dublin traffic authorities hope to encourage companies to walk business executives to work in an effort to reduce morning traffic congestion. Companies are being asked to organise "walking buses", which will involve two nominated senior executives walking up to 20 middle managers from their area to the office. Business premises will have safety zones created around their offices where renegade executives will be prohibited from parking their BMWs and Mercs. According to a Dublin Corporation spokesman, the initiative is being taken because lone business people driving to work account for approximately 75 per cent of morning rush-hour traffic.
Business people along a road or estate will be picked up at a specific time. They will put their briefcases and laptops in a large trolley and walk to the office. It is hoped that Fergal Quinn or Maurice Pratt will donate surplus trolleys for the venture. Executives will be obliged to keep their mobile phones in their briefcases until arrival at the office to encourage socialisation.
"The concept is meant to be fun. The executives will put on little pinstripe jackets - orange and brown to denote Celtic tigers on the prowl. They will be given stickers which they can exchange for a capuccino and a copy of The Irish Times when they reach the office. Many of the business executives will enjoy the regimentation of the arrangement and even stricter discipline can be imposed in future depending on demand," says a spokesman for the DTO.
Of course, the main beneficiaries from this new initiative will be school-going children, who will now be able to be driven to their schools in relative safety while admiring the example set for them as they gaze in wonder at the captains of industry and business striding manfully through the inclement but bracing Irish weather. - Yours, etc.,
Diarmuid Kavanagh and Bernie Melia, Mountain Bay, Arklow, Co Wicklow.