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ROAD TRAFFIC IS recovering from a Covid-19 slump faster than public transport, according to the latest figures from the CSO.
The figures are similar in both Dublin and other areas around the country but traffic in the capital appears to be returning at a slower rate.
The analysis is based on the volume of cars that were recorded at selected sites on the first week in August.
Vehicles are counted when they pass over loops embedded in the road surface. Using this technology, the CSO has estimated that car traffic in Dublin is now down by 16.3% compared to the same time last year, while other regional sites are just 12.6% down.
At the peak of Covid-19 restrictions in April, traffic was down by about 78% based on the previous year.
Despite car traffic being down, HGV traffic in Dublin is currently up by about 3.5% compared to last year.
But while car traffic may be on a gradual recovery, public transport numbers are still way down compared to 2019.
The data shows that the combined number of journeys taken on bus and rail journeys in the week of 12 April was more than 10 times lower than those taken in the first week of March.
On the Luas, passenger traffic was down by 95% on 12 April compared to the previous year but it is still down by 60%.
“The number of passenger journeys on public transport has dropped dramatically since the start of the Covid-19 crisis with journeys by rail most severely hit,” CSO statistician Olive Loughnane said of the figures.
Public transport volumes are recovering at a much slower rate than road traffic. Data from Irish airports shows that air transport continues to be heavily impacted by restrictions.
In terms of air traffic, the number of passengers travelling through Ireland’s airports last month plunged by almost 90% because of the ongoing travel restrictions.
Figures show that during the month of July, usually the peak of the holiday season, the total number of air passengers travelling through Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports fell from 3,911,133 to 416,436.
This represents a drop of 89.4% when compared with the same period last year.
The number of passengers travelling through these airports in the first seven months of 2020 is 70.3% lower than the same period last year.
- With reporting by PA
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Dublin city centre complete mess with cycle lanes being used by tiny numbers.
@Canyon: So grab a bike yourself, make use of those almost empty cycle lanes.
@Tommy Roche: I pay a fortune for road tax, insurance etc and I start work at 6am for a 12 hr shift ..living 20km from city centre…public transport no good for my start time and distance too long for bike…no thanks.
@Canyon: You don’t pay road tax, you pay a tax based on your cars emissions. Also my 8yr olds cycled to bull island and back at the weekend, 20km round trip.
@Canyon: Same here, they seem incapable of understanding that the hundreds of thousands of us who work shift hours actually need to get to work as well? No public transport available for the hours we work.
@Dan: does your 8 yr old work a 12 hr shift ?
@Dan: the rate is calculated based on emisdions…but it’s called motor tax and the disc you get is called a road fund licence.
@Canyon: 20k each way, you’ll be able to knock that out after a few weeks, and doing it every other day will have your legs looking like you could roundhouse kick anyone who disagrees with you!
@Canyon: I used to commute via Dublin city centre and there were loads of cyclists.
@Canyon: I get the feeling you are calling for more cycle lanes in suburban areas, otherwise it’s a bit nonsensical as your working hours at 5 in the morning until midnight or whatever are times when the roads are empty. Also, you are the exception – the reduction in through car capacity shows exceptions, but should make it safer for the equal amount of workers who are not taking up 90% of the transport network. At least you car share?
@Canyon: I pay tax and insurance for my car but cycle when possible, I also pay cycling insurance, why do so many car drivers object to sharing the road with cyclists
@Canyon: My commute was 23km each way. Cycled 4 days and drove 1. Traffic was so bad on some of the days I drove, I wish I had cycled.
@Canyon: @Canyon: “I pay road tax” blah blah blah. You don’t pay road tax, you pay motor tax. I pay motor tax also and probably more than you (2 cars & a motorcycle) and I cycle.
But it’s not motor tax that pays for the upkeep of the road, it comes through general taxation. So even if I didn’t pay motor tax, I’d still be entitled to use the road.
@Canyon: 20k is very doable on a bicycle!
@Canyon: 20k is doable on a bike
@Alan Kelly: not for everyone.
@Dan: Good for them. Now could they cycle that 20km, put in a minimum eight hour shift, dashing out the equivalent of four kilometres between three buildings, multitasking, taking calls, solving and organising lots of tasks and projects. Then cycling 20km home, taking care of all household duties and responsibilities, plus a second job to cover the shortfall that the first job doesn’t match, for five out of seven days a week? Your humblebrag about your kidddies achievements on a random day out hardly compare.
@Dan: it’s a road Tax, that’s what it says. Do cyclists pay any No no no.!
I need my car to go to the office with Lap Top, child in child seat ! & buggy in the Boot. Partner in the passenger seat Golf Cubs & trolly in the Boot for later, ! How can i do that on a bike. The roads should be for everyone….
Better planning etc would sort this out. & get rid of car less ,,,( & careless) Keegan
@Mos: Hate to break it to you but It’s Motor Tax…..the clue is the website you go to in order to renew it. Motor Tax doesn’t apply to bicycles as they don’t have a motor. 80% of cyclists (like me) own a car and pay Motor Tax on that car. Roads are for everyone. Some motorits don’t think so as they believe cyclists should not be on the road as they don’t pay Road Tax. …a tax that does not actually exist.
@Belebop: No, because they are eight and don’t have a job. It was a response to the comment about the distance travelled to work, not every time consuming aspect of someone’s life.
@Mos: It’s not road tax, it is motor tax. Cyclists, along with all tax payers, contribute to the upkeep of roads through general taxation.
@Canyon: not for you, maybe. But all those “empty” bike lanes are not empty…they simple prove that cycling 20k in the city is quicker/easier than driving the same distance….you do know that eBikes and scooters can use bike lanes right? Evenn you could do a 12 hour shift and cycle to/from work (if you wanted to, but just because you don’t want to doesn’t mean it’s not possible, easier and cheaper than driving)
Surely car traffic is on the rise because people don’t want to use public transport. With low car traffic, more people can take their cars and not sit a traffic jam for over an hour.
And with public transport and people who refused to social distance and/or wear masks, it might have put vulnerable people off using the public transport networks (especially with reduced capacity).
Of course more take to the roads in their vehicles. It makes sense that car traffic is on the rise, as more people get back to work.
Problem will be when the workforce is restored, and public transport capacity diminished, then the traffic will be worse than ever, especially when schools/colleges return – as this will mean more parents will drive their kids to school to avoid public transport for their kids/teens/adult kids etc.
The traffic will be messed up once colleges/schools are back.
@Euge80: and it’s the usual egg and egg argument as kids can’t cycle 1km as every road near schools have to support canyon and the other “road tax” guys owning the road, making it unsafe. End result is all kids need to get driven around the corner, raising another generation of car addicted type 2s.
Dublin City Council, if you’re reading this then please change the timing of the lights back to normal again. Some intersections you’re getting 5 seconds before the lights change and it’s driving people crazy. One car gets away from the lights and everyone gets caught again!!!!!!! It’s ridiculous at this stage.
@Ciaran Farrelly: agree, it’s a joke,! & I don’t like bikes, I’m a car person and intend to stay like that. What a mess, Owen Keegan and the greens are destroying out city.
@Ciaran Farrelly: can we get rid of pedestrian crossings altogether? If all these plebs need to get across roads I pay tax on, then can use a car like everyone else, and not delay me in getting to the back of another queue!
@Brynþór Patrekursson: I agree. Also while we’re at it we should encourage more people to ‘work from car’ to help make sure they’re not exposed to any potentially harmful walking or public transport.
@Ciaran Farrelly: Doyle’s Corner in Phibsboro is a nightmare. Traffic is regularly backed down to Dorset St.
It would be interesting to see consumer petrol/diesel sales – it would be a good insight in to road usage. I know myself I have only filled the tank a few times since this all started.
But my car insurance has gone UP AGAIN
Well if buses are still only allowed carry 50% passenger load the numbers are obviously going to be down. So saying that passenger numbers are down only gives a vague if not a somewhat predictable picture
What public transport it’s gone the green bus and jj kavanaghs are a thing of the past we can’t get to work with no buses going
have your say