Sir, – As a retailer, I found the Front page picture of people supposedly commuting to work by bike (in a circus, no doubt) slightly depressing June 23rd). In these difficult times, I think Dublin City Council would better serve the city by spending its time and our money sponsoring positive initiatives to bring shoppers back into the city.
Unfortunately, its only identifiable response to falling numbers of cars coming in is to raise clamping fees to make up the shortfall in its income. If only retailers could do the same. Doesn’t it realise that as retailers shut down, its income will drop and it won’t always be able to sustain it at the stroke of a pen by raising rates. It will soon realise the folly of continuing to suck too much water from a depleted well.
So let’s hear some initiatives from the council that will bring the shoppers back into the city, like perhaps reduced parking fees, or free parking at weekends in its own and other public office car parks. What about shopping vouchers on the back of parking tickets, or free, pre-booked spaces on-street?
We’re up the creek – we’ve got to get creative or soon the only people with jobs in the city to commute to by bike will be city council staff and other public servants and, of course, circus folk. Send in the clowns. – Yours, etc,