There was little evidence in the Republic today that commuters heeded pleas to leave their cars at home to mark European car-free day.
A spokeswoman for AA Roadwatch said it was "a normal busy Thursday morning" around the State. Although Dublin City Council had refused to officially take part, but said it would encourage commuters to leave their cars at home, a reduction in traffic volumes did not materialise. Cork and Dundalk were the only urban centres to declare they were officially taking part in car-free day.
The Republic is one of 34 countries hosting an "In Town Without My Car" Day. Events are taking place as part of European Mobility Week and form part of a continent-wide campaign to encourage debate about the necessity for changing the way transport is addressed in the region. However, rush-hour commuters appeared unimpressed by the initiative.
"We didn't notice that anybody didn't take the car or took the bike instead," the AA Roadwatch spokeswoman added. "There wasn't any real difference. We didn't notice it being any lighter or any busier."
Fine Gael transport spokeswoman Olivia Mitchell said efforts to promote the event in the capital were "farcical" because so many areas of the city do not have an adequate public transport network.
"The whole purpose of car-free day is to encourage people to use public transport, but commuters in many parts of the city do not have this choice", she said.
She said the Department of Transport had promised additional Luas lines, a Dublin metro, new bus services and new bus lane but none had materialised.
"So it's ridiculous to see Ivor Callely encouraging people to use a public transport system which in so many cases doesn't even exist."
Although Cork and Dundalk were the sole official participants in the initiative, Bus Éireann services in Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford are free of charge between 10am and 4pm and town services in Sligo, Dundalk and Drogheda will be free all day.
Cork City Council has closed off much of the city centre to all but emergency and public service traffic from 11am to 5pm, while it will also be offering free park and ride facilities to commuters to mark the day.
In Dundalk, as well as the free bus services, bicycle lock-up facilities are being provided in the town centre.
Dublin Cycling Campaign spokesman David Maher
Minister of State at the Department of Transport Ivor Callely hit out at Dublin City Council this week for not participating, but he encouraged motorists to take part anyway.
A travel advice centre on South King Street in Dublin is open from 8am to 6pm today and is staffed by representatives from the Department of Transport, the Dublin Transportation Office, Dublin City Council, Dublin Bus, Bus Eireann, LUAS, Iarnrod Eireann and the Coach, Transport and Tourism Council.
The Dublin Cycling Campaign (DCC) is using car-free day to celebrate the what it describes as the State's speeding and congestion culture by launching a new event in Dublin's sporting calendar "Formula One Gridlock".
The DCC intend to erect a finish line on the quays and wave chequered flags as the traffic goes past.
"The key to making the event a success is to pack as many single-occupant cars, oversized SUVs and overloaded lorries on to the quays for one massive free for all, as drivers accelerate like lunatics, rushing from one traffic jam to the next," said DCC spokesman David Maher.
"It is what makes Dublin so special - the complete absence of any type of traffic planning or traffic law enforcement. Look around at the gridlock, the hostile environment, what incentive is there for people to walk, cycle or use public transport when the authorities have simply abandoned the streets to chaotic car culture," Mr Maher said.
