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DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL has extended its pedestrianisation trials in the Grafton Street area of Dublin until the end of the month.
The council said the decision was made in response to the ”extremely positive feedback” it has received in the last three weeks.
The trials, which see a number of streets opened up for pedestrian use as traffic-free areas, were to originally run for just four weekends this summer.
The council also announced today that 7-day permissions for outdoor tables and chairs will be granted at a number of locations in an effort to support the economic recovery of the city.
The locations for the trials are:
Each of the locations will be closed to vehicular traffic between 11am and 7pm on both weekend days.
Access for emergency vehicles will be maintained at all times, as will access to carparks in the area.
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“These measures are being taken to support the economic recovery of the city by providing more space for pedestrians during weekends to encourage people to return for shopping and to make use of the many cafes and restaurants in the area and so enjoy the city centre,” a council spokesperson said.
“Dublin City Council would like to remind people that access to carparks in the area will continue to be maintained at all times, that all car parks are open, and that everyone is of course welcome to enjoy the city-centre including motorists.”
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All very well for latte sales, but come the colder weather and with the forced restriction of capacity on public transport for the foreseeable future, unless the City Centre can attract cars carrying family groups and with space to bring home lots of retail goodies, cheaply, conveniently and safely, then the problems of the first 6 months of Covid era will look like a picnic on William Street.
@Rochey77: are families unable to use public transport?
@Theportobello: or a carpark
@Theportobello: read what he wrote : “enforced restrictions”. Not much fun if only half a family are allowed on the bus because it’s reached it’s Covid capacity.
@Rochey77: I totally agree. There’s this assumption that everyone visiting the city centre is either young enough or fit enough to cycle there or don’t need to carry anything; be it equipment for work or shopping to bring home. As for public transport, reliability is hit and miss at the best of times. Then there’s the Luas. Travelling at night on the Red Line can be akin to a Love / Hate episode but with fewer Gardaí.
@Rochey77: Tell me, who in gods name does their cargo shoping in dublin city centre anymore with all the retail parks and shoping centres in the suburbs.
@Ben: whats cargo shopping?
@Rochey77: bulky home wares and the likes!
@Rochey77: Is this Rory Cowan? Sure does sound like him. Car parks aren’t affected by this, maybe read up on it
Aren’t the Irish winters the elephant in the room here? Grand to be out walking around now but give it another couple of months in the dark cold windy mornings and most of the people will be hopping into their cars – understandably so. I’m off to harvest some lettuce from my window box now.
@Johnny Rotten: Car parks aren’t affected by this. Does anyone read up on anything before throwing their 2 cents in the hat
I didn’t expect, given those in charge and their views on us older motorists, that there would be any ‘feedback’ other than overwhelmingly positive…
@Raymond McGee: You can still park in the car parks around Grafton st
@Raymond McGee: its so true Raymond. – they said the same thing a few years ago when they introduced. 30km on the quays – oh we have had very positive feedback – while 99% of people in reality just ignored the. limits altogether – they are a bunch of pretenders
@Bennett blaster: doubt all the displaced motorists will be able to park in them. I use them and they’re very busy now, let alone going forward
This will be like the USC, temporarily permanent.
@John Hagin Meade: hopefully!
@IrishSportives.ie: Pedestrianised means no vehicles allowed including those with 2 wheels.
Not that anybody seemed to care when I was there last week
I’m not a fan of this at all
@Andrew Dunne: You shop in retail parks
Before DCC implement any pilot project they have their minds already made up. It’s a way to introduce closures with the appearance of consultation and transparency……….
@Sean Higgins: it’s like the consultation taking place over turning Beach Road in Sandymount into an as yet undecided one way road
have your say