Dublin bans cars from driving in parts of city centre

Dublin is implementing a major change to the way people drive in the CBD as it battles traffic that has “ensnared the city”.

Congestion has become a huge problem in major European cities. Picture: iStock

Private cars and commercial vehicles will be blocked from driving “through” parts of Dublin’s CBD as the Irish capital attempts to reduce traffic.

Dublin City Council will instead prioritise travel into the city centre by rail, bus, cycling and walking, according to the draft Dublin City Centre Transport Plan 2023.

The restrictions will begin in August, according to Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan.

An artist's impression of Dublin after the changes are implemented. Picture: Supplied

Congestion has become a huge problem in major European cities. Picture: iStock

The council wants to replace the vehicle traffic by enhancing bike paths, building new bus corridors and starting work on a rail program as it facilitates the 195,000 people who work in Dublin’s city centre.

About two thirds of traffic in the city is from motorists driving “through” rather than “to” the CBD, and the council wants them gone. It aims to reduce traffic by about 60 per cent.

Research commissioned by the council shows people are increasingly walking, cycling and using public transport to enter the city, rather than using private cars.

Dublin’s council is trying to reduce traffic in the city. Picture: iStock

Cycling, walking and public transport will be promoted. Picture: iStock

Under the plan, private vehicles will be severely restricted from entering parts of city’s north and south.

This will be achieved through the installation of “bus gates” to the north and south of the O’Connell Bridge that stretches over the River Liffey to stop cars from crossing.

Streets will also be changed to restrict where drivers can turn, preventing them from travelling into the CBD and rerouting them back in the direction they came from, the Irish Times reports.

The city’s College Green area will also be transformed into a plaza for pedestrians.

Motorists will still be able to access the city centre under the plan, with car parks to be retained.

The government cited the incorporation of policies relating to climate change as one of the driving forces behind the change.

Minister Ryan said: “Our planet is deeply in peril. The global average temperatures, the sea temperature and air temperature has gone off the dial.”

The Green Party leader added: “There’s a real fear, we have to act on climate change, because if we don’t, you can go over a tipping point where it turns into runaway climate change.”

He said Dublin residents were increasingly engaging in “active travel” and would “switch to cycling” like their counterparts in Paris and London.

Cities across Europe including Oslo, Ghent and Milan have introduced policies to restrict cars from city centres, while Paris recently voted to triple the parking fees for large vehicles in the city centre.

Dublin has not yet introduced a congestion charge for the city, but Minister Ryan said he would not rule out doing so in the future.

Public submissions indicated about 80 per cent of residents support the planned removal of traffic that has “ensnared the city”.

Originally published as Dublin bans cars from driving in parts of city centre