2/10/03 Business people encouraged to participate in Car Free Day

Media Information                            EMBARGOED: 21st Sept. 2003

Business people encouraged to participate in Car Free Day

Sustainable Energy Ireland, with the support of Dublin Chamber of Commerce, is encouraging business people to walk to meetings, where possible, on Car Free Day, September 22nd 2003.

As the event is taking place on a Monday throughout Ireland, the focus of this year's campaign is on the commuter and the promotion of alternative worker mobility initiatives such as walking to work and to meetings, car sharing, cycling and public transport.

Seventeen Irish cities and towns are confirmed to take part in Car Free Day including: Athlone, Balbriggan, Clonakilty, Dublin, Galway, Greystones, Tralee, Listowel, Killarney, Kilkenny, Limerick, Newcastlewest, Monaghan, Sligo, Waterford, Westport and Wicklow. Ten cities and towns took part in 2002.

Commenting on the initiative, Tom Halpin of Sustainable Energy Ireland said; “There are many ways in which business people can play a key role in Car Free Day, including walking to meetings, where it's reasonable to do so. With Car Free Day, we are not suggesting that there is no place for cars in our cities and towns, rather that there needs to be a balance that recognises the rights of those using all other forms of transport and for those who wish to have a city less choked by pollution".

Mr. Halpin continued, "Driving to and from work is one of the key areas of car usage in Ireland. In the longer-term, I would encourage businesses to get involved by trialling different aspects of employee mobility.  A number of large companies and business parks in Ireland have already moved towards introducing a mobility plan for their employees. These plans are based around encouraging employees to adopt alternative methods of getting to and from work".

Gina Quinn, Chief Executive, Dublin Chamber of Commerce said, "We are particularly asking business people to avoid using their cars to go to meetings in the city during business hours. We know that it is not possible for all people to leave their car at home and get to work, but they can support Car Free Day in a very positive way by walking to meetings and appointments, where possible. This would be a tremendous help in alleviating the congestion which normally builds up in the city during the day"

As part of European Car Free Day 2003, Dublin Bus, Bus Eireann and DART are all supporting the initiative.

Sustainable Energy Ireland was established on May 1st, 2002, as a statutory authority charged with promoting and assisting the development of sustainable energy and is funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 with programmes part financed by the European Union.

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For further information please contact:
Diarmuid O’Neill
Edelman
01-6789333 / 087-6699933