It is time to get on board with the idea that the days of cars driving pedestrians and cyclists off the streets are coming to an end, according to Shane Coleman.

The new Draft Transport Plan for Dublin city centre will see cars banned from a range of new areas in the city – with space given over to pedestrians, cyclists and public transport instead.

The plan, published yesterday, includes removing traffic from the College green area and pedestrianising Parliament Street.

Sections of quays on both sides of the river will also be given over the cyclists, pedestrians and public transport – with a new plaza proposed for Custom House Quay or Beresford Place.

Proposed pedestrian areas at Beresford Place (l) and Custom House Quay (r)

Dublin City Council and the National Transport Authority say the plan aims to make the city centre a low-traffic environment – taking out two in three cars that do not have a destination in the city.

“In other words, if you have a car, they don’t want you,” said Newstalk Breakfast presenter Jonathan Healy.

“If you don’t have a destination in the city centre, they don’t want you passing through.”

'The days of cars dominating are over...let the city breathe.' @NTBreakfast pic.twitter.com/AtQWGdURZy

— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) September 14, 2023

Proposed pedestrian area at Parliament Street.

Fellow presenter Shane Coleman said the plan makes total sense – and will put Dublin on the same path as cities right across Europe.

“I am sure, 40 years ago when cars were taken off Grafton Street, there was a huge number of people protesting saying, ‘this is outrageous,’” said Shane.

“Who would say now that Grafton Street should have cars on it or Henry Street should have cars on it?

“The days of cars dominating and driving pedestrians and cyclists and public transport off the streets – those days are coming to an end and we have to get our heads around it.”

Proposal for Gardiner Street.

He agreed that public transport has to improve in the city – but said it is “absolutely right and proper that we should give more space to pedestrians and bikes and public transport”.

“Dublin is 60th in the list of bicycle-friendly cities in the world,” he said.

“I think 20 years ago, it was actually as high as tenth – or certainly well up that list.

“There are too many cars in the city, it is too hostile an environment. Let the city breathe.

“Let us, as citizens, breath.

“In the city centre, why should pedestrians be penned into narrow little footwalks while cars hold sway? I don’t see the logic in it; the world is changing and I think we need to change with it.”

Proposal for College Green.

Jonathan said he agrees with the principal – but said the fact remains that there is still not enough public transport in the city.

“We have been talking about extra DARTs we have been talking about Metros, I mean look how long it took to join up the two Luas lines,” he said.

“Buses and bus corridors and all the challenges of Bus Connects.

“We do not have the public transport infrastructure for people to abandon their cars in their entirety.”

Proposal for Pearse Street.

Shane said it is a ‘chicken and egg’ situation.

“If the roads are clogged with cars, public transport cannot work effectively,” he said.

“I have never bought into the idea that one Metro line is going to change our public transport system. I think Bus Connects is far more important than one Metro line.

“It is not going to be easy but Bus Connects I hope will make a huge difference in the way public transport operators.

“This is the way all European cities are going. We don’t have a monopoly on wisdom in this country.”

The Dublin City Centre Transport Plan 2023 was published yesterday.

It is now open for public consultation until Friday, December 1st.