car and driving town bans

padma

Is this a war on driving?

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/drivers-facing-car-ban-in-major-towns-under-new-transport-plan-2560153.html

MOTORISTS could face a ban on driving through major towns and having to pay congestion charges as part of plans to encourage the use of public transport.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) is planning to introduce a ban on cars travelling through towns in Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow and Meath under a wide-ranging transport strategy for the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) published yesterday.
A 30kmh across-the-board speed limit in city centres and in residential areas is also proposed to encourage walking and cycling in urban centres. Restrictions on the use of certain streets for drivers who choose to use their car instead of public transport are also mooted.
The NTA's Transport Strategy 2011-2030, which went for public consultation yesterday, also sets out a range of different congestion charges that could be introduced.
The authority said investment in bus and rail infrastructure would improve the accessibilty of the capital and other town centres in the GDA, and that "people movement" should take priority over vehicles.
Ways to achieve this include banning traffic from certain streets or zones, restricting access to public transport only or pedestrianising streets.
"The NTA will seek restrictions on general motorised traffic travelling through the heart of Dublin city centre and other town centres by diverting through traffic on to alternative routes," it said. "The authority will seek reductions in traffic speeds in town centres and the application of a 30kmh speed limit in the commercial and retail core of Dublin and other town and village centres."
The NTA has also proposed that congestion charges be introduced before 2020, warning that unless the measures are implemented traffic will grind to a halt in the GDA by 2020.
Certain key roads could be closed to private cars at peak times, restricting on-street car parking, and the introduction of a congestion charge -- like London -- should be considered, it says.
The Government's Smarter Travel plan aims to reduce car commuting by half by 2020, and the only way to achieve this is to reduce demand "over a large geographical area".
"Road-use charging is the most appropriate means of achieving this," the NTA said. "Charging provides the most effective mechanism for targeting specific users and seeking to alter travel behaviour."
The NTA admits that introducing a congestion charge would be "challenging" on a number of levels, not least politically.

Resistance
The outgoing government said charges would not be introduced until public transport services improved, but the NTA said one way to overcome public resistance could be to reduce public transport fares to make bus and rail more attractive than the car.
The NTA added that only a "limited" amount of new roads would be built over the next two decades, and that, despite investment in rail and buses, the forecast growth in population and employment would "considerably worsen" congestion.
The strategy also suggests banning daytime delivery of goods to shops, with all deliveries to be made between 7pm and 7am, and the HGV ban should be extended to four-axle vehicles.
It also sets out a number of public transport projects which should be delivered, including the DART Underground and Metro North, and details planning policies to make best use of existing transport infrastructure.
The document is available at www.2030vision.ie, and public comments are welcomed until April 11.
- Paul Melia
Irish Independent

Eoin

padma wrote: »

The outgoing government said charges would not be introduced until public transport services improved

Well, improving public transport as the first step is at least somewhat positive. This might not be a popular opinion, but getting the traffic out of city/town centres seems relatively sensible, but once the alternatives are there first - NOT purely by punishing motorists.

padma wrote: »

but the NTA said one way to overcome public resistance could be to reduce public transport fares to make bus and rail more attractive than the car.

Is the cost of public transport really that much of a factor though? Parking alone would cost me more than a return trip to town on the bus - but driving is just far more convenient at the moment.

Eric Cartman

itll probably be enforced by ANPR, yet another reason to go buy this http://www.strangenewproducts.com/2007/11/plate-flipper-license-plate-message.html

Seasoft

It amazes me, but I remember all the protests when the Dublin city planners demolished historical buildings to build dual carriageways through Dublin (Patrick St, Parnell St) to make it easier for traffic to get into the city. And now! They are devising ways to keep traffic out.
As for public transport: until the city has a decent integrated ticket system, covering all forms of public transport, at a reasonable price, drivers won't switch. For example, in Rome a single ticket cost €1, and lasts 75 minutes from first use. So you can take a metro for part of your trip, hop on a bus, even use a city train or tram, do your business, and maybe even complete the return journey.
Or a single day ticket costs €4 covering all forms of public transport. By comparison a one-day multi-trip ticket for Dublin Bus costs €6 and is restricted to buses. No trains, no Luas, no Dart.
No wonder us motorists will continue driving.

Alkers

Integrated ticketing is also mentioned in the new plan so hopefully we see that soon.
They can't impose all these extra charges and speed limits untill the infrastructure is in place or else parts of the suburbs which have public transport are just going to end up full of cars.

Stark

We should blame the Greens for this. Oh wait...

johnos1984

I work in Wicklow as a teacher so could they please explain how the hell I'm supposed to get to work as I have to drive in from the sticks......and there is never any bloody traffic on the routes I take

Stupid idea

Treora

Seasoft wrote: »

It amazes me, but I remember all the protests when the Dublin city planners demolished historical buildings to build dual carriageways through Dublin (Patrick St, Parnell St) to make it easier for traffic to get into the city. And now! They are devising ways to keep traffic out.
As for public transport: until the city has a decent integrated ticket system, covering all forms of public transport, at a reasonable price, drivers won't switch. For example, in Rome a single ticket cost €1, and lasts 75 minutes from first use. So you can take a metro for part of your trip, hop on a bus, even use a city train or tram, do your business, and maybe even complete the return journey.
Or a single day ticket costs €4 covering all forms of public transport. By comparison a one-day multi-trip ticket for Dublin Bus costs €6 and is restricted to buses. No trains, no Luas, no Dart.
No wonder us motorists will continue driving.

+1

billyboy01

LOL, what congestion due to population explosion and where the billions going to come from to build this fantasy super duper public transport infrastructure! As the guy in the DAA spoof advert says: Im getting the fook out of here!:rolleyes:

No future for a decent lifestyle here, with these gombeen proposals!:mad:

I see the Green Tax Party still have powers to interfere in Irish peoples lives!

Conor_M1990

I understand doing it in Dublin (again public transport needs to be improved) but out in the sticks is it really nessacary

Satanta

Seen an add for a new public transport system on TV last night, where you can "beam" yourself anywhere, like in star trek. The guys in the add beamed themselves to McDonalds. Looks class.

This other crap will probably come in around the same time

Kashkai

It costs me more to pay for a weekly train ticket (€40) and parking at the station (€8) than it does to drive into Dublin (€35 petrol). Driving takes an hour, while driving to the station, waiting for the inevitably late train, the train journey and walking from the station to work takes an hour and 40 minutes. Seeing as how I have to pay car tax and insurance whether I use the car or not, where is the economic argument for leaving the car at home?

And as a minor positive side of the recession, the numbers driving into Dublin are well down, i.e. there is a lot less traffic nowadays.

Another brilliant idea from our overlords:rolleyes:

billyboy01

Prosperous Dave wrote: »

It costs me more to pay for a weekly train ticket (€40) and parking at the station (€8) than it does to drive into Dublin (€35 petrol). Driving takes an hour, while driving to the station, waiting for the inevitably late train, the train journey and walking from the station to work takes an hour and 40 minutes. Seeing as how I have to pay car tax and insurance whether I use the car or not, where is the economic argument for leaving the car at home?

And as a minor positive side of the recession, the numbers driving into Dublin are well down, i.e. there is a lot less traffic nowadays.

Another brilliant idea from our overlords:rolleyes:

Well after our Feudal Landlords in the Dail, load the car with more tax rises, usage and fuel levies and increase the cost of bus and train tickets to boot. The only public transport most will be using will be the Ferry or the plane to escape!:rolleyes:

superflyninja

This is Ireland. They are just going to introduce the new charges and say the improvements to public transport will come "shortly".