It was business as usual on Dublin's roads yesterday as World Car-Free Day passed off virtually unnoticed by most commuters.
Car-free day, part of European Mobility Week, encouraged people in 1,278 cities across the world to abandon their cars for the day in favour of walking, cycling or using public transport to go to work.
Traffic in Dublin was as busy as ever and the Green Party highlighted what they said was the Government's neglect of pedestrians, cyclists and those using public transport by "reclaiming the streets" at College Green yesterday.
"College Green should be one of Europe's great civic plazas," said Green Party environment spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe.
"Instead, we have four lanes choked with traffic. Air pollution is rising and you can't hear yourself speak on most city streets due to traffic noise.
"Car-free day has been cancelled because we do not have a public transport alternative to the car," Mr Cuffe continued. "That is a profound indictment of this Government's woeful approach to transport planning."
Conor Faughnan, of AA Roadwatch, said that Dublin was taking a "sensible approach" to European Mobility Week. He said that the notion of having a car-free day in Dublin, where streets would be closed, was fanciful, as it would not be viable given the "public transport deficit" in the city.
"Principally, what we have is a public transport problem," he said. "We don't have excessive car ownership. The reason so many people are stuck in cars is that they don't have a choice."
The Dublin Cycling Campaign (DCC) marked the day by unveiling a signpost at the Spire showing how much quicker it is to travel by bicycle than by car in the city-centre. A study by the group showed that it takes 5-7 minutes to travel by bicycle from the Spire to areas such as the Point, St Stephen's Green and Heuston Station, while it takes over 20 minutes in a car.
"I think the name 'In town without your car' is probably a better term [for car-free day]," said Robert Fitzsimons, who carried out the research for the DCC.
Critical-mass bicycle rides were planned in as many as 500 cities worldwide yesterday to celebrate "alternatives to the automobile".