No ban on traffic as Dublin `pays lip service' to car-free day

You can take the car from the city but it seems you can't take the city from the car - at least not in Dublin, where it will be business as usual on European Car-Free Day next month.

Dublin Corporation has decided not to close any of the city's streets to traffic on the day, September 22nd, apart from a short stretch along the quays in front of the Custom House.

While over 800 other European cities liberate their city centre streets for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport for the day, Dublin is confining its celebrations to an exhibition of bicycles and street entertainment.

A corporation spokeswoman explained that the reason it was not closing streets was because the car-free day was being held this year on a Saturday. While the corporation was in favour of commuters using public transport during the week, it encouraged shoppers to use city-centre car-parks on Saturdays.

The decision has been greeted with dismay by the Dublin Cycling Campaign (DCC), which originally promoted the idea of one day in Irish cities during which cars were banned.

"They're only paying lip service to the idea of a cleaner, quiet city. It's a misnomer now, and they should cancel it," said Mr Eamon Ryan, a Green Party councillor and DCC member.

Dublin, Cork, Waterford and Limerick first participated in European Car-Free Day last year, when private vehicles were banned from some of the capital's main streets.

However, the number of streets closed was limited and the restrictions applied only between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., outside rush hour. The Automobile Association described the day as a "public relations gimmick".

A survey afterwards found the day (held on a Friday last year) was a big success, with significant reductions in traffic and air pollution. Ninety per cent of those responding said it should be repeated yearly.

"Last year, people were disappointed they didn't get the chance to walk around the streets in peace. The measure wasn't policed, and there were problems with speeding. Dublin has fantastic civic spaces, such as College Green and O'Connell Street, but we only seem to get to enjoy them on rare occasions, like the visit of a US president," said Mr Ryan. He blamed pressure from city-centre traders for the decision.

Nevertheless, the initiative is being extended this year to other Irish towns and cities, including Galway, Sligo, Castlebar, Greystones and Clonmel.

The Minister for State for the Environment, Mr Dan Wallace, said earlier this year it would "reaffirm Ireland's commitment to the development of a cleaner, healthier urban environment".

European Car-Free Day, which began in France in 1998, is credited with a dramatic change of attitude towards the use of cars in the city in other European countries.