Mind our own business
Concerns at Dublin city centre car ban
BUSINESSES in the capital have raised concerns it could become “less accessible” if concerns about a new “car ban” are not addressed.
On Wednesday Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said cars will be prevented from travelling through Dublin city from August.
Dublin City Council published its plan to reduce traffic levels by up to 60% by stopping people driving “through” instead of “to” the city.
Parts of the north and south quays will be restricted to public transport and a series of civic plazas. Restrictions on where traffic can turn are also planned. It is expected that access to car parks will be retained.
Dublin Town CEO Richard Guiney, right, said businesses are concerned about the proposals and the impact it will have on deliveries, waste collection and potential anti-social behaviour in areas with little or no vehicular traffic.
The group, which has 2,500 members, argued there is a need to address concerns the city would become less accessible and lead to a drop in custom if the plan goes ahead. He continued: “Moving
traffic out of the city centre will prove pointless if it is merely relocated to suburban retail parks and shopping centres with limited public transport.
“Market research commissioned by Dublin Town on the plan shows there is the potential to lose a proportion of city shoppers who will instead use suburban retail parks and out-of-town shopping centres, and will most likely drive there.
This would actually increase emissions. There is much more work to do around consultation.
“Only by fine-tuning these proposals with businesses, can we create a city fit for the 21st century.”
Mr Guiney said there must be a campaign to encourage people to use public transport for those going to the city both in the daytime and nighttime.
Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, Minister Ryan argued that the plan will help “bring life back into our city”.
“It runs from roughly Stephen’s Green to Mountjoy Square and from Smithfield to Custom House. That is the area where about 60% of traffic is through traffic.
“It is not going to anywhere in the city centre, it is just passing through.
When it was put to Minister Ryan that public transport is not good enough to deter people from using a car, he said that “the main problem” for the bus system is that it is “stuck in traffic”.