Sir, - European Car Free Day in Dublin - what a joke! Between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. last Friday I cycled into the city centre and fought my way through cars in the Christchurch, Lord Edward Street and Dame Street areas. Weren't those areas supposed to be car-free? Pollution was as bad as ever and I saw some gardai directing cars through red lights! The car-owners of Dublin made it clear that they would not stay off designated car-free routes even for six hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.).
When I questioned a Garda at Christchurch about the traffic he said: "Well, we can't stop businesses making deliveries", and told me to get out of the way while he directed a few more cars up Lord Edward Street. I was going to ask him what exactly the cars were delivering - and then I realised what it was: pollution! - Yours, etc.,
Muriel Gowing, Dublin 6.