The “busgate” controversy.
by John
So, last night Dublin City Council voted by 35 to 11 to temporarily lift the ban on private cars passing through College Green at peak hours. Good for them. Although some argue that this is merely a “one-off” suspension, it is more likely that the lifting of the ban will become an annual, or perhaps even more regular event.
This ban has no place in the city in any case. Proponents of the ban ultimately see Busgate as a precursor to a car-free city, something which at the end of the day has more to do with validating the fantasy that forcing people from their cars in Dublin will save the planet than it has to do with a sound commercial policy for the city. As a driver, I haven’t been particularly inconvenienced by the ban, given that I tend to avoid the city centre at peak hours anyway, but for many workers who take the car into the city centre, it has been just another example of how Government tends to make their lives more awkward.
At a time when the national economy is struggling, it simply doesn’t make sense to inconvenience people who are trying to reach the city’s retail and business hub. I can appreciate the arguments about aesthetics, and have some sympathy with those who imagine a quiet, pedestrianised College Green, but ultimately this is a basic question about the freedom to do business in our city. The Council got it right, for once.
Comments
It was an interesting topic. Mostly because many of the people I have seen protesting for the retention of the traffic management were also those who oppose my views on Europe. While it was perfectly acceptable to have an publicly elected body making decisions for the public (as long as those decisions were in line with their own viewpoint) we not see them blast the City Council for doing the same thing. Apparently, vested interests are at play (namely, luxury retailers and the “car park lobby”). The irony is too delicious if not a little childish, oh well…
The second issue, and once again I was castigated for suggesting it, is those who oppose the retention of the traffic management measures and those who called for it.
You have what are essentially student and political party youth groups doing what they do, protesting and getting themselves in the paper, i.e. the same groups doing the same thing on the same issue.
While, you have the villsins of the piece, the aforementioned uxury retailers and the “car park lobby” (rolls eyes) who are opposing the measures for economic reasons (albeit it with little by way of evidence) not simply to get their names in the paper… which I’m sure they would much rather do while promoting their respective businesses and not over this issue.
For a number of reasons, not least of these the recession, there are less cars and less people in the city centre. I think it’s hugely short sighted to deprive these businesses (one of which has been part of this city for around 140 years) of footfall at a time like this when many businesses are hanging in the balance.
Today is indeed a good one for common sense.
The car-based city is also a fantasy, and one that reduces the quality of life for all involved.
I have had to drive and park in the city centre on a number of occasions. I had no choice. My car was packed full. It was inconvenient but I had to accept that. Motorists in cities cause inconvenience for all other city traffic.
On all other occasions I cycle into the city centre. The public transport options are very unattractive for me. I pass many hundreds of stationary cars on my way in. These cars are for the most part containing just one driver, perhaps a briefcase and a blazer – nothing that could not be brought on the bus.
The idea of the busgate was to improve the public transport situation in a cost effective way. Dublin has a very poor public transport infrastructure. Any measures to improve this situation are surely in the interest of the majority of the people doing business in the city centre, rather than the minority who choose to drive in.