Pedestrians and street performers will outnumber motorists on Dublin streets

Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway will tomorrow shut off traffic from many areas in their city centres by participating for the first time in European Car-Free Day. It is part of an EU campaign to reduce air pollution and increase public transport usage.

But the Irish car-free day is being interpreted differently by local authorities and transport companies taking part in the initiative. In Dublin, restrictions will apply mostly to cars on selected streets during off-peak hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

In Cork the exclusion of cars from the city centre begins at 6 a.m. and continues to 9 p.m. In Limerick, streets will be closed from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and in Galway the restrictions will be in place between 9 p.m. and 5 p.m. Traffic will also be restricted in Portlaoise.

In Dublin the car-free day "would probably be better next year, when the public transport services are improved - with new buses, DART carriages and Arrow trains", Dublin Corporation's director of traffic, Mr Owen Keegan, conceded. But, he said, "a start must be made to show how the city could be with fewer cars".

Restrictions will reserve roads in the city centre for pedestrians, motorcyclists, public transport, commercial vehicles making deliveries and cars displaying disabled persons' parking permits.

There will be a number of events designed to lighten the day. These include salsa dancing at Custom House Quay, a ceili on Dawson Street outside the Mansion House, an opera at the Civic Offices and the Garda Band playing at Merrion Square West. There will be a choir and street theatre in O'Connell Street, street theatre in Westmoreland Street, guided walks from Trinity College and displays of alternative vehicle technologies such as hybrid cars, electric bikes and new types of bus.

"Green man" times at pedestrian crossings will be doubled to allow for the increase in pedestrian traffic and a display of public transport options will take place outside the civic offices.

To encourage participation, all bus and rail services in the city will be free between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. While Dublin Bus wishes to attract new passengers to the service during the free travel period, the company is aware that some regular passengers may have bought weekly or monthly tickets in advance and potentially might not benefit from the free fares. Because of this, holders of weekly and monthly tickets will receive £1 discount off the cost of their next ticket.

While business interests have given the day a lukewarm welcome, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Alderman Maurice Ahern, said it would "give us all an opportunity to focus on the negative impact of car travel and consider the available alternatives".

The corporation said one of the objectives of the day was to highlight the benefits of alternative forms of transport, reduced congestion, improved safety, reduced air pollution and noise as well as the health benefits of walking or cycling. Dublin City Centre Business Association (DCCBA) said it hoped adequate public transport will be available.

Following discussions between DCCBA and the Corporation, there will be access to public carparks in the city centre during business hours. Diversions on some streets will not prevent access to public car-parks.