Some drivers are finding Dublin’s new traffic plan “absolutely ridiculous” – claiming they are being forced to drive through side streets to avoid the quays.
Commuters can now no longer been able to drive along the quays on either side of the Liffey.
The restriction was introduced as part of the Dublin City Centre Traffic Plan, which aims to get more people out of their cars and discourage drivers from travelling through the city centre.
Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie drove into town from the city’s Southside and told The Pat Kenny Show he had found it “much, much slower than last week”.
“I took the same route again from Rathfarnham to Clontarf - just over a week in - to see if things have changed,” he said.
“I left the southside and came in by Harold’s Cross through Dublin 8, down by Christchurch.”
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
Josh said much of the difference could be due to the reopening of schools for the new academic year.
“The lollypop staff, they’re out in full force,” he said.
“It’s also mid-week, so more people are back in the office compared to on a Monday.
“Getting from the suburbs took 40 minutes - double what it took last week.”
This 👇 https://t.co/WsqOmZWZJY
— Dublin Commuters (@DublinCommuters) September 3, 2024
Speaking to other drivers, Josh found many were struggling with the new system.
“It’s absolutely ridiculous,” one man told him.
“Today, I’m meant to be going straight down the quays and it’s impossible.
“I was meant to collect Martha there from Connolly Station and it just so happened Coldplay were in town as well.
“But I couldn’t get down to Connolly Station - you can literally see Connolly Station but you can’t drive to it.”
One young mother said the journey added an extra 15 minutes onto her journey but she felt hesitant to take her baby onto public transport.
“I’ve a young child with me, so it’s probably just more convenient to take the car,” he said.
Not everyone felt negatively about the change, with one driver keen to see more people use public transport if possible.
“I think it’s brilliant - get more cars out of the city,” he said.
“Even though I’m sitting in my car, I think we should green up as much as we can… I think the more public transport through the city centre the better.”
As part of its Climate Action Plan 2021, the Government set a target of an additional 500,000 daily trips made by public transport or active travel.
Main image: The quays. Photo: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie
