Car-Free Sundays

Consonata

Brussels: https://www.brussels.be/artdet.cfm?id=4843&agendaid=750
Singapore: http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/mass-events-to-kick-off-first-car-free-sunday-in-heart-of-city
Vancouver: http://www.carfreevancouver.org/

These seem like great events to make people more open to not using their cars in the cities and using Public transport/cycling. Why doesn't Dublin do something like this, like closing off private transport inside the north and south circular roads for a Sunday.

Mancomb Seepgood

Consonata wrote: »

Brussels: https://www.brussels.be/artdet.cfm?id=4843&agendaid=750
Singapore: http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/mass-events-to-kick-off-first-car-free-sunday-in-heart-of-city
Vancouver: http://www.carfreevancouver.org/

These seem like great events to make people more open to not using their cars in the cities and using Public transport/cycling. Why doesn't Dublin do something like this, like closing off private transport inside the north and south circular roads for a Sunday.

I've a vested interest as Sunday is the only day that I ever drive into the city and it's also a day when traffic isn't an issue unless a major event is on.That said,if public transport ran more frequently (at least on a Saturday timetable),it sounds like a good idea.

Consonata

Mancomb Seepgood wrote: »

I've a vested interest as Sunday is the only day that I ever drive into the city and it's also a day when traffic isn't an issue unless a major event is on.That said,if public transport ran more frequently (at least on a Saturday timetable),it sounds like a good idea.

On those days you could ramp up PT capacity due to less cars, plus there would be more cyclists too.

boobycharlton

Car parks wouldn't like it. They must be appeased at all costs for some reason.

yoke

what's the point of this?

If it's to reduce emissions, then instead of making a big deal about what looks like one day a year of encouraging public transport (from your brussels link), surely the government should be giving incentives to companies for allowing things like working from home for jobs which could be done remotely?

This would have a much greater impact, as it would reduce the peak-time traffic levels and people sitting in cars or buses producing smog in the city centre while jammed in traffic.

It's 2017 and most non-manual jobs can be done remotely using the internet to a decent level.

the_syco

People who travel by PT will not be affected. People who drive just won't go into the city, as there are no massive safe carparks outside the city for them to park in.

Chris_5339762

yoke wrote: »

It's 2017 and most non-manual jobs can be done remotely using the internet to a decent level.

This is always put forward as a solution, or at least a partial one. I would love to work from home a few days a week. Its do-able.

My colleagues would hate it, they tell me.
IT would have to invest a little and there would be a general refusal to fund payment for this.
Management wouldn't have any of it. They want you onsite.

devnull

Something took place last year:
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/car-free-day-set-for-dublin-cork-and-dundalk-1.494137

Wasn't a Sunday or as big as it could have been however.

newacc2015

the_syco wrote: »

People who travel by PT will not be affected. People who drive just won't go into the city, as there are no massive safe carparks outside the city for them to park in.

I dont bother going into the city unless I am driving. What is point of taking the bus when it is every 30 mins on a Sunday? It is a nightmare to slip into the city for a single thing and have to wait 30 mins for a Bus when it comes every 10 mins midweek

In Germany, trams are generally as frequent on a Sunday as during the week and they dont even have shops open on Sunday!

yoke

This is exactly why we need government incentives to companies that allow work-from-home.
Management should suddenly be interested when they realise it makes a net saving - ie. if 90% of the work was done reliably at only 80% of the cost, that's a net saving. Also helps reduce employee turnover due to higher employee satisfaction, which keeps recruitment and training costs down.
I've worked from home full-time the past 4 years and I love it - no getting up early to sit in traffic or other sh*te in the morning. I don't really understand why anyone would volunteer to sit in traffic for an extra 2 hours a day for a job that allows it, just to sit in an office with other people. It's not like they're going to do your work for you... What's there to "hate" about work-from-home? Are your colleagues having parties at work or something?
Chris_5339762;102779951
[...]
My colleagues would hate it, they tell me.
IT would have to invest a little and there would be a general refusal to fund payment for this.
Management wouldn't have any of it. They want you onsite.

Zebra3

Consonata wrote: »

Brussels: https://www.brussels.be/artdet.cfm?id=4843&agendaid=750
Singapore: http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/mass-events-to-kick-off-first-car-free-sunday-in-heart-of-city
Vancouver: http://www.carfreevancouver.org/

These seem like great events to make people more open to not using their cars in the cities and using Public transport/cycling. Why doesn't Dublin do something like this, like closing off private transport inside the north and south circular roads for a Sunday.

I drive into the city centre each Sunday to buy a fridge, an oven and record player in Brown Thomas. If we have car-free Sundays the businesses will suffer.

Also the AA will also give out about it on radio stations that they have large commercial deals with and which happen to give them loads of air time to spout their nonsense as some sort of responsible unbiased representitives of motorists which is no way an abuse of media power.

Consonata

Zebra3 wrote: »

I drive into the city centre each Sunday to buy a fridge, an oven and record player in Brown Thomas.

Surely you have to accept not everyone is buying half the units new of their Kitchen every Sunday? :rolleyes:

hytrogen

Consonata wrote:

These seem like great events to make people more open to not using their cars in the cities and using Public transport/cycling. Why doesn't Dublin do something like this, like closing off private transport inside the north and south circular roads for a Sunday.

I recommend a Saturday and between the canals, it's a good natural boundary that's easier to monitor and less impacting the greater Dublin area.

Zebra3 wrote:

I drive into the city centre each Sunday to buy a fridge, an oven and record player in Brown Thomas. If we have car-free Sundays the businesses will suffer.

Sure there's always Deliveroo and many other direct delivery options business can capitalise with from their showrooms that customers would probably prefer to use instead of hauling appliances, etc. home in the back of their car.. and if it comes with free installation and free collection, as most appliance sales must, it's a win win for the consumer, environment and seller.

Isambard

totally impractical. I find Sunday a busy day with all the people returning home/to work/to college after the weekend.

magicbastarder

hytrogen wrote: »

Sure there's always Deliveroo

unfortunately.

magicbastarder

Isambard wrote: »

totally impractical. I find Sunday a busy day with all the people returning home/to work/to college after the weekend.

in the city centre?

Del2005

hytrogen wrote: »

Sure there's always Deliveroo and many other direct delivery options business can capitalise with from their showrooms that customers would probably prefer to use instead of hauling appliances, etc. home in the back of their car.. and if it comes with free installation and free collection, as most appliance sales must, it's a win win for the consumer, environment and seller.

Deliveroo only do food and there's very few free delivery options, despite the low pay they still need to pay the drivers and helpers. Then there's the hassle of having to take time off work to wait in for the delivery which usually has a several hour window and no idea of when it'll arrive, which is usually just as you sit down on the jacks! If I haul something home in my car it's ready to go straight away, if I order something it could be several days before it's delivered and that's not much good if it's something essential that's gone kaput.

hytrogen

Del2005 wrote:

Deliveroo only do food and there's very few free delivery options, despite the low pay they still need to pay the drivers and helpers. Then there's the hassle of having to take time off work to wait in for the delivery which usually has a several hour window and no idea of when it'll arrive, which is usually just as you sit down on the jacks! If I haul something home in my car it's ready to go straight away, if I order something it could be several days before it's delivered and that's not much good if it's something essential that's gone kaput.

I'm sure there's a launderette nearby for those few days your washingmachine goes tech, and the dishes oh well, who skips on arms day in the gym these days..
I've never had anything large or significant delivered without the driver calling to check I'm home after his last drop off and if you schedule something they're usually good at arriving in that time.

hytrogen

I'm all for this concept of a no-car day trial. Personally I think parking spaces have become too narrow across the city overall, not everyone owns or wants to own a fiat500. If you live between the canals there really is no point in owning a car for commuting, doing your daily shop etc. as the area are well serviced by public transport, close enough to walk and has a brilliant world leading bike scheme, ok the bike lanes surfaces need a good look at, but from visiting other major cities recently which have a severe problem of smog, as Dublin did once not so long ago, with green areas in short supply any bit to reduce the emissions and pollutants around densely populated areas is a good thing.

jimmycrackcorm

Consonata wrote: »

These seem like great events to make people more open to not using their cars in the cities and using Public transport/cycling. Why doesn't Dublin do something like this, like closing off private transport inside the north and south circular roads for a Sunday.

This strikes me as an absolutely stupid idea. I cycle my commute every day through clogged car streets and the only time I could have the convenience of actually going into the city centre for any reason by car is on a relatively low traffic day such as a Sunday.

Surely the logical answer is to penalize private car use at the times of maximum usage?

Del2005

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

Surely the logical answer is to penalize private car use at the times of maximum usage?

Too many public sector employees, with free parking between the canals, for that to be implemented.

The logical answer is to improve public transport options first and then start hitting private transport, because at times of maximum car usage I don't see much spare capacity on public transport.

magicbastarder

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

This strikes me as an absolutely stupid idea. I cycle my commute every day through clogged car streets and the only time I could have the convenience of actually going into the city centre for any reason by car is on a relatively low traffic day such as a Sunday.

heh. so you want the day which would be easiest to try this idea excluded from it specifically because it *is* the easiest day to try it?

two of the three cities in the OP are only doing it on one sunday. i'm not sure if the OP was suggesting that we should do it every sunday, but that is not going to happen.

hytrogen

Del2005 wrote:

Too many public sector employees, with free parking between the canals, for that to be implemented.

Go on stab public servants, ya had to get it in early didn't you.
Needless to say there are more private businesses with secure complimentary parking for their staff across the county and country so don't go blaming the public servants for your lackadaisical attitude.

magicbastarder

i keep hearing both these claims made - who actually tracks this?

Dyr

Consonata wrote: »

Brussels: https://www.brussels.be/artdet.cfm?id=4843&agendaid=750
Singapore: http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/mass-events-to-kick-off-first-car-free-sunday-in-heart-of-city
Vancouver: http://www.carfreevancouver.org/

These seem like great events to make people more open to not using their cars in the cities and using Public transport/cycling. Why doesn't Dublin do something like this, like closing off private transport inside the north and south circular roads for a Sunday.

Because public transport in Ireland is brutal on Sundays

Isambard

magicbastarder wrote: »

in the city centre?

sure.... people live and work there

magicbastarder

you'd clearly have to make allowances for people who live within whatever boundaries would be defined for such an event.
i would be curious about how much private car traffic on a sunday within the canal cordon would be people returning home or to college after the weekend. i suspect it'd be a small proportion.

thomasj

I wouldn't mind some car-free weekdays so we could stand a chance of getting into work in a reasonable time.

Too many clowns on our roads that haven't a clue what they should be doing .

Roadhawk

Come on...you could never pass on a typical Sunday Drive. Its always lovely to just go for a drive on a Sunday.

magicbastarder

how many people go for their sunday drive around the city centre?

Roadhawk

magicbastarder wrote: »

how many people go for their sunday drive around the city centre?

Im not sure of numbers but I would often bring the kids to a museum or a park then for food/icecream and they would fall asleep in the car on the way home. Its a lovely day out for any family and very relaxing.

Tenzor07

magicbastarder wrote: »

how many people go for their sunday drive around the city centre?

Bus and taxi drivers! :-D

I'm sure Ireland could at least manage 1 car free Sunday, give the city streets back to the people and clean the air...

Dravokivich

magicbastarder wrote: »

how many people go for their sunday drive around the city centre?

You are forgetting that this is quite a wide net. And there'll potentially be people intent on fleeing the city on a Sunday. Not all the through traffic is inbound for the City itself.

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Bus and taxi drivers! :-D

I'm sure Ireland could at least manage 1 car free Sunday, give the city streets back to the people and clean the air...

We did for that triathalon. Loads of complaints on boards over it.

magicbastarder

sure wasn't that only for about 60 or 90 minutes?

Dravokivich

magicbastarder wrote: »

sure wasn't that only for about 60 or 90 minutes?

It was for half the day.

magicbastarder

i remember the notification mentioning a window of maybe 4 hours, but that was the period in which the closures could take place, but that the closures were not expected to take 4 hours.

Dravokivich

It was through the county, not just the city.

Consonata

Even if it were to happen on sunny days during the summer it would be a start. Any attempt at reducing private car usage would be good.

sheepy01

About time