The Dublin City Transport Plan begins tomorrow – but a motoring expert has argued banning cars right before school starts isn’t the best idea. 

From tomorrow, private cars will be banned after Bachelors Walk on the north quays and from Burgh Quay towards Aston Quay on the south quays. 

The ban is only in place from 7am to 7pm every day following a decision by Dublin City Council executives to weaken restrictions. 

Sunday Independent motoring journalist Geraldine Herbert told The Anton Savage Show drivers will still be able to drive from Heuston Station to O’Connell Bridge. 

“It's when you get to O'Connell Bridge, whether you're coming from either side, where the changes are,” she said. 

“When you get to Bachelors Walk, only buses and cyclists and taxis can actually cross O'Connell Bridge - all other general traffic will have to turn left. 

“If you flip that and go to the other side, you have the same issue - you can't go across O'Connell Bridge, so you can either go down left on D’Olier Street or right onto O'Connell Bridge.” 

General traffic will also now be able to turn right on O'Connell Bridge onto Eden Quay, previously only allowed for taxis and buses. 

The Dublin City Transport Plan starts this Sunday 25th of August 2024. @LordMayorDublin James Geoghegan has urged motorists to make themselves aware of the changes.
Starting from 7am to 7pm this Sunday 25th of August, general traffic will not be able to go straight from… pic.twitter.com/Tu7LzlHHqq

— Dublin City Council (@DubCityCouncil) August 23, 2024

The new transport plan means it might take longer to get to certain destinations. 

If you were driving to the Port Tunnel, for example, you can no longer go straight down the quays and must drive up O’Connell Street. 

Ms Herbert said people should take time now to figure out alternative driving routes. 

“You're not going to be stopped, but you are going to be inconvenienced,” she said. 

“The argument is that it's actually to relieve chaos - the point of this is to give people options, because obviously if there are fewer cars on the road, the buses will move faster. 

“I think it will definitely make people just think, ‘You know what, I'm going to leave the car at home, it's quicker’.” 

Timing for Dublin Transport Plan

Ms Herbert pointed out, however, the timing of the plan might not be the smartest. 

“I wonder about the plan in terms of implementing it at this stage and why they didn't do it at the beginning of August when it was quieter,” she said. 

“It [would] give people time to get used to it - because next week we have the schools back. 

“I think it would have been better to introduce this at the beginning of August when it's holiday time and there's a distinct lack of traffic in the city.” 

The main goal of the Dublin City Transport Plan is to reduce the amount of “through traffic” in the city centre. 

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