Sir, – A significant cause of delays on the M50 has been the number of people transferring from public transport to cars because “active-travel measures” have slowed down buses, cars and even trains serving the outer suburbs.
Active travel prioritises walking and cycling, which are short-distance travel methods. These road-priority changes benefit inner suburbs but have lengthened bus journeys and made them less reliable.
On top of this, there needs to be proper recognition of the fact population expansion has taken place mostly on the periphery. From Greystones; the Dart journey time has increased by 15 per cent with reduced reliability. BusConnects cancelled the express bus service during the day and the future closing of College Green will make rush-hour services worse.
Naturally, people transferred to the car, which is the opposite of what should be achieved. – Yours, etc,
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DEREK MITCHELL,
Co Wicklow.
Sir, – In acknowledgment of the fuel shortage, Government should be prioritising ways for people to use less of it. This can be done in various ways, such as supporting work-from-home measures, providing more buses and introducing temporary bus lanes and bike lanes. – Yours, etc,
BEN AVELING,
Ranelagh,
Dublin.
Sir, – With the current turmoil in fuel markets around the world, perhaps now is the time for people to consider an electric vehicle (EV). There are difficulties in owning an EV and they are probably not best-suited to people who travel countrywide on a weekly basis, not least because of poor charging infrastructure.
But one fact alone trumps all of that in the latest crisis, if you’ll excuse the pun. In five years and 50,000km of journeys in my EV, and while availing of a Smart meter weekend plan, I have spent about €500 charging my car at public charge points. Maintenance is minimal and despite a slow degrading of battery capacity, I highly recommend making the change.
WALTER MEEHAN,
Killiney,
Dublin.
Sir, – When “improvements” to the M7/Naas dual carriageway made cycling to work too dangerous for me, I reluctantly moved to the car. This was okay for a while, until the queue for the M50 toll bridge started stretching back to Finglas.
Then I got back on two wheels again, but a motorcycle this time. With its ability to filter slowly through the (usually) stationary traffic on the M50, I saved both time and my sanity.
Another bonus was fuel-saving, going from about 35 miles per gallon (mpg) in the car to 77mpg with the 250cc motor-scooter. This mode of travel is also less damaging to the environment.
Mopeds with small engines, or even ones that are fully electric, are ideal commuter-vehicles for those who live within the city limits. They save time and money for the rider and can easily get around traffic jams caused by accidents. They are not dangerous, if ridden sensibly and with awareness.
The old Honda 50 was a great little machine, but with gears. Modern mopeds are automatic, which makes them a doddle to ride.
Why is the powered two-wheeler ignored by so many commuters and transport ministers as a partial solution to city traffic congestion? - Yours, etc,
DAVID DORAN,
Bagenalstown,
Co Carlow.
