Irish towns to observe Car Free Day tomorrow

International Car Free Day is being observed across Europe tomorrow and will be marked by events in a number of cities around Ireland.

Towns and cities participating in Ireland include Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Saggart, Galway, Portlaoise, Clonmel, Greystones and Sligo.

They have all pledged to stage events to attract people in to the car-free spaces.

Dublin Corporation is limiting the capital's participation to the closure of Merrion Square West and Customs House Quay between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to stage children’s activities and concerts.

City Hall is hosting a free exhibition and the entrance fee to the Francis Bacon exhibition at the Hugh Lane Gallery will be waived for the day. There will also be art exhibitions in St Stephen’s Green and historical walking tours beginning from Trinity College and the International Bar.

Dublin Bus will be charging a flat rate of 60p for adults and 40p for children on all routes, regardless of distance, for five hours to mark the day.

Bus Éireann is offering free bus travel in the cities of Cork, Waterford, Galway, Limerick and Sligo.

Iarnród Éireann are offering half-price Family Day Rambler Tickets for DART and Dublin suburban rail services.

A total of 6,000 vouchers for the discount are being given away at Pearse Street station today.

"If even 100 people make a decision to switch to using public transport after the positive and pleasant experience of Car Free day, then the whole exercise is well worth it," said Mr Christy Dorman of Dublin Bus.

Fine Gael’s local government spokeswoman, Ms Olivia Mitchell TD warned today, however, that the Government must make an effort to make it a "meaningful" occasion, "unlike the damp squibs of previous years".

"Driving, particularly in Dublin, is so stressful, frustrating, unpredictable and time-consuming that all of us are now keen on any realistic alternatives," she said. "We use the car not because we find it pleasurable, but simply because there are no alternatives."

Road safety issues are also being addressed tomorrow by Kildare Ambulance service, who plan to hold a "Courtesy Stop" along the N4 at Killeighter Cross during the afternoon.

Members of the Eastern Region Ambulance Service, (Kildare and West Wicklow Area) and members of the Kildare County Fire Service plan to hand out road safety leaflets and point out any safety tips to drivers, like unrestrained children in their cars or lack of seatbelts.

A Garda spokesman told ireland.comhe did not anticipate any major delays due to the event.