Ten Irish cities and towns will take part in European Car Free Day later this month, it was announced today.
Dublin, Galway, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Sligo, Portlaoise, Greystones, Dublin South and Clonmel will restrict access to cars on the day.
Bus Éireann will provide free city bus services in Cork, Galway Limerick, Waterford and Sligo on the day. Dublin Bus will cut its fares in the capital between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 60p for adults and 40p for children.
Iarnród Éireann will distribute vouchers offering 50 per cent off family-day tickets for all DART and suburban rail services.
Announcing the details, Minister of State at the Department of Environment Mr Dan Wallace said the day was "an opportunity to explore alternatives to the single-occupancy private car as a mode of transport and to showcase the benfits of public transport".
Director of the Irish Energy Centre Mr David Taylor said: "We are not suggesting that there is no place for cars in a modern city, rather that there needs to be a balance that recognises the rights of those using all other forms of transport and for those who wish to have a city less choked by pollution".
European Car Free Day 2001 was launched in Madrid in March. Up to 1,000 cities across Europe will take part in the event on September 22nd.
