2/10/03 Ireland gears up for Car Free Day on Monday
Media Information 19th Sept. 2003
Ireland gears up for Car Free Day on Monday
Everyone urged to participate
Seventeen cities and towns in Ireland are gearing up to participate in European Car Free Day on Monday next, September 22nd. That is according to Mr. Tom Halpin, Head of Consumer Awareness, Sustainable Energy Ireland, who today encouraged everyone in Ireland to participate in the initiative.
The Irish cities and towns confirmed to take part this year are: Athlone, Balbriggan, Clonakilty, Dublin, Galway, Greystones, Tralee, Listowel, Killarney, Kilkenny, Limerick city, Limerick County, Monaghan, Sligo, Waterford, Westport and Wicklow. Ten cities and towns took part in 2002.
The date for Car Free Day is fixed across Europe, and the initiative will take place simultaneously throughout all participating European countries, with over 1500 cities and towns taking part this year. In Ireland, each Local Authority has prepared for Car Free Day, with the support of Sustainable Energy Ireland, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Department of Transport.
Speaking in Dublin, Mr. Halpin said, “We can all play our part on next Monday’s Car Free Day. Whether it is by taking public transport, car pooling through sharing the journey to work or the school run, walking or cycling, we can all make the choice of leaving the car at home for one day. I would urge everyone to see Car Free Day as a trigger to think about how the everyday journeys they make and consider if there isn’t a healthier, less stressful way of doing it “.
Dublin Bus, Bus Eireann, DART and the RPA (Railway Procurement Agency) are all supporting Car Free Day this year. Bus Eireann will provide free city bus services between 10am and 4pm in Athlone, Balbriggan, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Sligo and Waterford. A free service to the train station in Balbriggan will also be provided from 6.50am to 7pm on the day. In Dublin, Dublin Bus will be providing free travel for all passengers between 10am and 1pm. Dart will be distributing free tickets at shopping centres around Dublin.
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 Public Relations
01-6789333 / 087-6699933
Editors Notes:
Independent research on attitudes towards European Car Free Day in Ireland in 2002, found that 82% of residents in participating Irish cities and towns would be in favour of the initiative being repeated again. The research was commissioned by Sustainable Energy Ireland and carried out by Lansdowne Market Research. Key findings of the research also included:
- 90% of residents in participating towns and cities think the current patterns of car use in towns are a problem.
- 83% of residents surveyed said that car use must be limited to improve the freedom of movement in cities and towns.
Summary of participating town plans for Car Free Day 2003
| City / Town | Car Free Zones & Times | Public Transport | Other Transport Initiatives | Events Taking Place | Schools Activities |
| Athlone | Lloyds Lane
Church Street Dublin Gate St
10am-4pm | Free Bus Eireann Service from 10am to 4pm | Car pooling Free parking for cars with two or more adults | Music Bands | Schools competitions
|
| Balbriggan | | Free bus service to train station | Encourage drivers to park in periphery town car park and walk | | “Safe Route to School” safety education |
| Clonakilty | Main Street Pearse Street 12pm-6pm | | Encourage taxi pooling Supervised cycle parking Most unusual Sustainable Transport competition | Street music, games & theatre Stores discount.
| Visiting Schools |
| Dublin Central | 3 areas closed on Sunday | | Businesses & council staff to leave car at home Encouraging 200 community groups to participate | Street Parties | Walk to School Road Safety competition
|
| Dublin North Central | North Bull Island Dollymount Strand 8am-10pm
| | Local business & Council transport audit Email shopping & home deliveries survey Study & provision of cycle parking facilities Car v Public Transport information to commuters | | Schools mobility Questionnaire Schools competitions
|
| Dublin North West | | | Businesses & council staff to leave car at home | | Schools asked to participate |
| Dublin South | | | New Slí Na Slainte route Bicycles available for staff Encourage business community to participate | Street Theatre Car pollution information displayed at Council Office
| Schools poster competition Schools car survey carried out by transition year |
| Galway | Eyre Square 50% pedestrianised | Free Bus Eireann Service from 10am to 4pm | Council staff to leave cars at home Car pooling Main routes vehicle survey for Park n’ Ride | New development opinion survey Information stands at City & County Hall.
| Walk to school (involving 4 schools)
|
| Kilkenny | High Street 10am-6pm | | Walk or cycle to work | Car Free Day Information stalls Shop window competition 12-2pm Street Entertainment Music Bands | School car pooling Primary schools poster competition |
| Killarney | | Subsidised private bus service | | Street painting competition Bouncy castle Face painting Road caster Jazz band | Painting competition |
| Limerick City | Bedford Row Thomas Street Little William Street Augustinian Lane 10am-4pm | Free Bus Eireann Service from 10am to 4pm | Businesses being asked to participate | Street entertainment. | Involvement activities for National Schools |
| Limerick County | | | Promote bus routes & timetables to Council staff, businesses & schools No cars in Town Hall car park | | All schools being asked to participate |
| Listowel | | Subsidised private bus service | | Street painting competition Bouncy castle Face painting Road caster Jazz band | Painting competition |
| Monaghan | | | LA Staff transport audit LA Staff leave car at home Bike racks in town & LA | | School car pooling |
| Sligo | | Free Bus Eireann Service from 10am to 4pm | | Business car pooling, cycling, walking Industrial Park included on bus route Single-occupancy car survey Promote existing and proposed cycle lanes City hall staff transport audit. Diagrams of proposed pedestrian areas displayed in City Hall. | Schools car pooling, cycling, walking. Walking School Bus |
| Tralee | The Mall Bridge Street The Square 10am-4pm | Subsidised private bus service | | Street painting competition Bouncy castle Face painting Road caster Jazz band | Painting competition |
| Waterford | 7 Streets 11am-5.30pm | Free Bus Eireann Service from 10am to 4pm Free City Centre Bus Service 10am-4pm | Factories’ car-pooling feasibility study Cycle racks Park n Ride
| Music bands Bouncy castle After-school park activities Street market | Schools pooling feasibility study |
| Westport | | Free Bus Eireann Service | Bike Racks Walking/cycling/carpooling promotion | Trader involvement | Schools awareness |
| Greystones | 1 area 10am-12pm | | Car pooling Walk to work Walking route Walking signs erected | Park activities Library display Shop display competition | Walk to school School activities |
| Wicklow | Market Square 10am-12pm | Free bus service | Car pooling Walk to work New cycle route Walking signs | Shop display competition Face painting Clowns Town Hall exhibition Vintage car display Library display | Walk to school Schools activities |
