Light-rail systems and the use of sea transport to bring goods to small ports were among alternative suggestions for Cork transport discussed at a conference hosted by the Cork Environmental Forum last night.
Proposals were invited on how to halve energy expenditure on goods transportation in the county within 10 years.
The forum invited submissions on sustainable transport for the Cork City Development Plan and the Cork County Development Plan, which are both under review.
Forum chairwoman Phoebe Bright said the meeting was a timely opportunity for people to voice their views and concerns on transport issues in Cork and to join planners in improving efficiency and reduce the impact on the environment of transport in the region.
"Cork faces some unique challenges in terms of transport planning with increasing population growth and low-density development in the county and the inherent constraints of narrow city streets within growing urban regeneration," said Ms Bright.
She said the forum had spent much of this year focusing on energy issues and would be advocating among its proposals the development of a light-rail transport system in Cork city as well as possibly car-pooling using electric cars.
"Car-pooling is working well in many European cities and using electric cars for city journeys, where you would hire an electric car for the journey you want to make, would actually help reduce energy costs by 50 per cent - it is achievable."
Other suggestions included a light-rail system for west Cork and greater use of shipping to transport goods into smaller harbours around the county. "At current oil prices, it might not be economically viable to run a light-rail service to west Cork, but with the numbers of car journeys to and from there and the fact that oil prices are only going one way, we have to start thinking ahead - it could become viable quite quickly."
