Sir, – The Government has decided, in its usual bolting the stable door wisdom, to force through either “congestion or clean-air zone charges” in cities and towns. The “force through” part comes in the guise of having council funding “tied” to “environmentally friendly measures” (“Motorists set to face congestion or clean-air zone charges under new traffic plan”, News, March 28th).
As usual, it’s all stick and not much carrot with the current Government. The panic will no doubt rise exponentially as we hurtle towards the target deadline, the dreaded “2030″, which appears to be moving nearer than anyone in Leinster House can think.
The “plan”, in Government terms, “is designed to lead to an incremental change in travel behaviour”.
It will lead to a change in behaviour, for sure.
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Those who need and use their car for the long, daily commute to work will be forced to change, perhaps skipping lunch, coffee, or meeting friends due to the “incremental” cost, not of doing business, but of doing anything. – Yours, etc,
PETER DECLAN O’HALLORAN,
Belturbet,
Co Cavan.
Sir, – Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan continues to refer to London and Paris but when is he going to realise he is comparing apples and oranges?
Our public transport is decades behind them.
What is possible in terms of removing cars from central London or Paris is just not possible in Dublin at present, and public transport is very poor by European capital standards.
You could argue for a long time there weren’t as many cars on the road and that we didn’t have the money: though with the exception of 2008-2014, for most of the last 30 years we have had money, yet other than two Luas lines, both on the southside, what additional public transport modes have been added?
Why is he not focusing on making sure Metro North finally goes through, and additional Luas lines built to the west, north and northwest. Looking at the train lines, could a second line be put in anywhere to have a Dart-type train which does not have to compete with mainline trains using the same space?
And we need more frequent bus services.
Perhaps when these changes are made, people might not rely on their cars so much. – Yours, etc,
NIAMH BYRNE,
Fairview,
Dublin 3.
Sir, – In “Could motorists be charged for driving through gridlocked cities and towns under new plan?” (Analysis, March 28th), I note that “57 organisations, Government departments and experts” have devised the strategy to reduce traffic congestion.
Is it any wonder nothing gets done in this country? – Yours, etc,
JOHN KENNEDY,
Ranelagh,
Dublin 6.