Is Dublin’s City Centre Transport Plan being Diluted?

The intervention of Minister of State for Business and Enterprise, Emer O Higgins, to attempt to delay the implementation of the agreed Dublin City Centre Transport Plan, supported by the NTA and Dublin City Council, has raised the ire of sustainable transport campaigners, and local democracy activists alike. Dublin Cycling Campaign has actively supported this radical plan to reduce the level of through traffic in the City, and to make the city safer and more people friendly. Our submission to the Council on the plan proposals last year can be read here - https://www.dublincycling.com/cycling/dublin-cycling-campaign-submission…

In turn Dublin Cycling Campaign has joined with other environment and active health organisations to actively seek a meeting with Dublin City’s CEO, Richard Shakespeare to address the apparent rowback on critical elements of the proposals, as reported on IrishCycle.com - https://irishcycle.com/2024/07/04/groups-supporting-dublin-traffic-plan-…

Dublin Cycling campaign has also written separately to Richard Shakespeare, condemning the outside political interference, and the proposed changes and delays. See the text of our letter below

Dear Mr Shakespeare,

I am writing to you on behalf of the Dublin Cycling Campaign in response to media reports that the Minister of State responsible for Business, Employment and Retail will request a delay in implementation of the Dublin City Centre Transport Plan, citing negative impacts on Dublin City’s retail sector (per https://www.rte.ie/news/2024/0630/1457335-dublin-traffic-plan/).

For the last 30 years, the Dublin Cycling Campaign has advocated on behalf of Dubliners who cycle for commuting, leisure and general mobility. Over those three decades we have seen major improvements in safe, segregated cycle infrastructure, which keeps today’s cyclists safe and encourages tomorrow’s cyclists to use sustainable, healthy, carbon-neutral transport options. We are excited for the rollout of the Dublin City Centre Transport Plan and would like to thank Dublin City Council for its excellent work progressing the plan to this point.

On behalf of its 1,000+ members, Dublin Cycling Campaign calls for the implementation of the Dublin City Centre Transport Plan without delay. As you know, the plan has the support of the majority of members on Dublin City Council and has been approved following an open & transparent process. The Campaign are calling upon the Dublin City Council executive to respect this process and see to it that the plan is implemented promptly and in full.

It is disappointing to see special interest groups attempt to subvert local democracy by lobbying the Minister in private. While they are entitled to advocate for their economic interests, these interests do not exist in a vacuum and need to be balanced against local democratic rights and the right of all Dubliners to go about their business safely, regardless of whether they drive, walk, cycle, or use public transport.

Yours sincerely,

Karl Stanley Secretary Dublin Cycling Campaign https://www.dublincycling.com/