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22nd
September 2004
PRESS
RELEASE
Govt.'s
indifference to Car Free Day is symbolic of its road building emphasis
As
Green TDs take to bikes highlighting need to join up Luas lines
The
6 Green Party TDs led by Leader Trevor Sargent arrived by bicycle today at the
Luas terminus, St. Stephen's Green where they distributed postcards and
information to the public, highlighting the Green Party's 'Join the Dots'
campaign to link the two Luas lines in the centre of Dublin.
Planning
spokesperson, Ciarán Cuffe TD, said today, "We are distributing postcards
today addressed to the Minister for Transport urging him to 'join the dots' and
connect the two LUAS light rail lines in the centre of Dublin as part of our Car
Free Day campaign. We need a public transport system that is joined and
integrated. What is the point of going to all this expense and disruption if you
are not prepared to join the lines and offer Dubliners a proper integrated
transport system "
The
Green Party accused the Government of indifference for its poor response to car
free day and said that under a Fianna Fáil Government people using public
transport, bikes or walking would always come off second best to the car.
Green
Party Transport spokesperson, Eamon Ryan TD, said that the reality for commuters
is that, under this Fianna Fáil/PD Government people using public transport,
bikes or walking to work will always come off second best to the car."
"Critics
will say that Car Free day is only a symbolic exercise. The problem however is
that the indifference by the authorities to the day is symbolic of their lack of
concern about the social, economic and environmental disaster we are creating
under current transport policies. Many people simply do not have a reliable
public transport choice. The €16 billion Roads Programme and the decision to
widen the M50 in advance of any new public transport projects will only add to
the already severe congestion."
"The
Government and City Council could do a lot more to highlight Car Free Day. For
instance, in Amsterdam, the centre of the city becomes a car-free zone for a
day. No cars are allowed within the A10 ring road that encircles the city.
Events, from pop concerts to skating, are held throughout the day and the city
council organises activities to raise awareness about pollution and saving
energy
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