Groups to 'repaint streets' of Dublin for Car Free Day

Car Free Day in Dublin will not - officially at least - involve streets being closed to traffic today, a factor which has encouraged the groups Critical Mass and Reclaim The Streets to organise a protest in the city centre this afternoon.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the city council's promotional efforts - which focus on community and school campaigns and information displays - Reclaim The Streets is advertising a mass gathering at the Spire on O'Connell Street to coincide with the evening rush hour at 5 p.m.

Organised in conjunction with the group Critical Mass, the event is called "repaint the streets" and participants are encouraged, according to the organisers' website, to "bring brushes and paint creatively".

According to the website, the event will involve carrying out "much-needed improvements", including the instant provision of more bike lanes, zebra crossings, warning signs "and creative decorations to try to make our drab, dirty and traffic-crowded city streets into a safer, more human and brighter space for us all".

Given the likely traffic disruption, the organisers urge commuters to leave their cars at home for the day.

The website claims: "It is not our intention to lay the blame for our dysfunctional transport system at the feet of commuters who use cars; we realise that for many people, there are few alternatives. However, on this one day, we strongly advise people to use alternative forms of transport to get to work, since we know how frustrating it is to be stuck in traffic and prevented from getting home from work."

It appeals to everybody taking part not to damage the property of Dubliners. "This event will, as always, be peaceful and celebratory," it adds.

Meanwhile Dublin Bus is encouraging non-bus users to try public transport, with free travel between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The company will also give away 20,000 pre-paid tickets at busy traffic junctions and bus stops around the city. Instead of road closures Dublin City Council has decided this year to promote the day through a number of communities across Dublin. Activities are being organised locally in an effort to raise residents' awareness of how traffic affects their quality of life.

Bull Island beach will be closed to traffic. There will be an awards ceremony in the Northside Civic Centre for the 26 schools which participated in a traffic survey and questionnaire.

Council area staff are either car-pooling, using public transport, walking or cycling to work on the day.

The council's area committee has also circulated 80 residents' associations on setting up "walking buses" for bringing children to school. A school competition - including a € 1,000 prize for the best long-term initiative in regard to sustainable transport - has also been introduced.

Useful websites are: wwwdublincity.ie, www.dublintraffic.ie and http://www.freewebs.com/rts-dublin/index.html