The Green Party has published a bold plan aimed at making Dublin “Europe’s premier walking, cycling and eMobility city.”

The party has set out a range of measures aimed at reducing traffic congestion, reducing the city’s carbon footprint and encouraging healthier modes of transport.

Announcing the plan, the party’s European Election Candidate for Dublin, Cllr Ciarán Cuffe, said the plan will require political support and hard work at local, national and European levels.

"I want Dublin to be renowned for its cycling infrastructure, for being Europe's most walkable city. For being a place where people get around using low carbon options such as eScooters,” he said.

“There is no reason that this vision cannot become a reality, all that is currently missing is the political will.”

He said that, if elected to the European Parliament, he will work to deliver a range of measures aimed at making Dublin a cleaner, greener city.

• A car-free city centre and pedestrianised plaza for College Green.
• Flagship projects including the Liffey Cycle Route and the Bray to Balbriggan Coastal Route (including Sutton to Sandycove).
• Royal and Grand Canal Greenways.
• Wider footpaths and more pedestrianisation in Dublin City and town centres.
• European support for walking and cycling projects.
• A network of quality walking and cycling routes in Dublin City and County.
• Integration of walking and cycling into European Union funded transport projects.
• Joined-up thinking on eMobility from DG MOVE – the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport.

Cllr Cuffe said Dublin must learn from other European cities that are already making the transformation to “liveability, walkability and bikeability.”

He said the Green Party will work to introduce a dedicated unit within the National Transport Authority (NTA) aimed coordinating action on sustainable transport across the four local authorities.

The plan would appoint someone to oversee a Cycling Unit that “has the staff and the cash to roll out new walking and cycling routes in Greater Dublin”

Green Party European election Candidate Cllr Ciarán Cuffe (L) with Cllr Clare Byrne and Cllr Patrick Costello (R)

The plan is contained in a wide-ranging Walking and Cycling Policy Paper the party has published this evening.

It includes plans to give pedestrians more time to cross the road at designated crossings and make sure they are waiting less time for the man to turn green.

It also calls for wider footpaths around the city with major improvements to walkways village and town centres.

The party’s plan for the City centre would see the use of cars in the core area between Abbey Street and Dame Street significantly reduced, in a bid to make the city “more attractive for pedestrians, shoppers and residents.”

Cyclists in Rathmines. Image: Dublin Cycling Campaign

The party councillors Clare Byrne and Patrick Costello have also backed the plan.

Cllr Byrne called for “more safe and segregated cycling infrastructure” in the city to “get more people out of their cars and onto their bikes.”

Cllr Costello said it is essential that proper regulations are put in place for eScooters.

“We are beginning to see more and more eScooters on our streets and we need to make sure these are included in any transport policies for the city,” he said.