The initial steps of the Dublin City Centre Transport Plan, aimed at limiting the number of motorists who drive through the city rather than to it, will be implemented in August, as confirmed by Brendan O’Brien, head of Dublin City Council’s traffic division. This plan encompasses creating bus-only lanes on Bachelors Walk and Aston Quay along the Liffey, restricting their use to public transport, as well as prohibiting private vehicles from making a left turn from Westland Row on to Pearse Street.
These bus lanes will effectively end the use of the quays as a traffic thoroughfare, said O’Brien, and will significantly reduce private vehicular use in the city centre. The plan received over 80 percent support during a consultation process late last year, with its goal to decrease the reliance on cars and repurpose road space for buses, cyclists and foot traffic receiving broad approval.
Despite this, objections have been raised by some businesses and vehicle owners, including those with disabilities. However, O’Brien dismissed these concerns, explaining that these changes were merely a series of minor traffic control strategies that would be necessary to implement projects like BusConnects and the Metro.
He emphasised that these measures weren’t meant to prevent access to the city centre, but were simply targeted steps to significantly cut down the amount of through traffic. All bridges would remain open and all vehicles, including delivery vans and private cars, would still be able to enter the city.
Some councillors highlighted that they had been contacted by disabled parking permit holders who wished to continue driving through Bachelors Walk and Aston Quay. In response, O’Brien reiterated that the current traffic laws, like the Roads Acts, did not allow exceptions to traffic rules. He cited pedestrianised streets such as Grafton Street, where no vehicular traffic is permitted, and asserted that giving every disabled permit holder access to all streets in Dublin was neither practical nor legally permissible.
Diageo, the company behind Guinness, had requested the local council not to restrict its traditional “historic” route to Dublin Port by restricting its lorries on the north and south docks. Mr. O’Brien mentioned that the dialogue with Diageo and other firms continues regarding potential alternate paths they could adopt. City council’s chief executive, Richard Shakespeare, who took office last December, expressed in recent discussions that the bus gates are “essentially positive”, and this strategy is critical for meeting climate objectives. He asserted, if making it slightly more challenging for drivers can help facilitate this, then that’s precisely what he will undertake.