Mayor puts weight behind car-free day

Dublin's Lord Mayor, Mr Maurice Ahern, yesterday defended plans for a car-free day in the city, saying: "We are becoming a nation of overweight children and obese adults".

Announcing details of , which takes place on Friday, September 22nd, the Lord Mayor said motorists who arrived in the city before 10 a.m. and who left after 4 p.m. would miss the traffic restrictions.

The restrictions will reserve roads in the city centre for pedestrians, motorcyclists, public transport, commercial vehicles making deliveries and cars displaying disabled persons' parking permits.

However, for commuters still in their cars after 10 a.m., and diverted by the restrictions, there will a number of events designed to lighten the day.

These include salsa dancing at Custom House Quay, a ceili on Dawson Street outside the Mansion House, an opera at the Civic Offices and the Garda Band playing at Merrion Square West.

Also during the day there will be a choir and street theatre in O'Connell Street, street theatre in Westmoreland Street, guided walks from Trinity College and displays of alternative vehicle technologies such as hybrid cars, electric bikes, and new types of buses.

Mr Ahern said that while his involvement in the motor trade meant he could not denounce the car, the car-free day would, nevertheless, "be a good opportunity to focus on the negative aspects of car travel".

These included the tendency of people to drive small distances to shops and churches. We have drive-in shops, so would drive-in church services be next, he wondered.

He said he was a great believer in fitness and health and would the Walk To School Day on September 11th.

He would not be using the mayoral car to travel to functions on September 22nd, "so I won't be caught out".

To encourage participation - as opposed to forcing people to stay at home on the day - all bus and rail services in the city will be free between 10 a.m. and 4.p.m. Air pollution and noise levels are expected to be reduced significantly and, according to Mr Owen Keegan, Dublin Corporation's director of traffic, the "people will be able to see what an attractive city Dublin can be".

This would probably be better next year when the public transport services are improved - with new buses, Dart carriages and Arrow trains - conceded Mr Keegan.

"But," he said, "a start must be made to show how the city could be with fewer cars."