| One small step makes a big difference to traffic |
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| Wednesday, 24 September 2008 | |
 There’s so escaping the fact that congestion in Dublin is set to get worse. But a new initiative has offered a way out. Niall Bourke reports…According to the latest research if every motorist in Dublin left their car behind just once a week there would be 200,000 fewer car journeys every day in the city. This is just one startling fact that has emerged from the Dublin Transport Office (DTO) launch of ‘One Small Step 2008’, a major campaign to challenge motorists in the greater Dublin area to leave the car at home for at least some journeys every week. The DTO has warned that congestion will continue to increase unless Dubliners start using public transport or begin walking or cycling. One of the innovative aspects of the initiative is a walking challenge, involving 1,500 employees from 15 of Ireland’s largest companies. Another is that in partnership with the Irish Heart Foundation over 3,000 employees, from 15 One Small Step partner organisations, will be walking to some of the world’s highest peaks, including Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Everest - without leaving their offices. Footstep Known as ‘The One Step Pedometer Challenge’ and running until Monday, October 9, teams of employees from some of Ireland’s biggest firms will be recording their daily footstep counts. Each week teams will aim to ‘climb’ one of the world’s highest four mountains. For example, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania will take 80,000 steps, or 20,000 steps from each member on a four-person team. Groups from AIB, IIB Bank, RTE, Dublin City Council, the Department of Transport, the Department of the Environment, Dublin Airport Authority, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Fingal County Council, Irish Life and Permanent, Servisair, South Dublin County Council, SR Technics and Vodafone are all taking part. John Henry, chief executive of the DTO, said he would like to wish all of the pedometer challengers the best of luck over the coming month. “I am thrilled to see such high levels of enthusiasm among employees for walking,” he said. “Let us not forget that trips to work are one of the major causes of congestion on the road network in the greater Dublin area.” The ‘One Small Step Travel Cost Calculator’ works out the fuel and carbon costs of any journey by any make of car. People can also see how many calories they could burn by choosing to walk or cycle instead. Mr Henry added: “Our figures show that based on petrol prices alone, the average Dublin car driver could save an average of e250 each year by choosing an alternative, such as walking, cycling or public transport for only one day a week. “With our new travel calculator, people can see for themselves the cost of any car journey. The calculator shows the fuel and carbon costs and as well as calories that could be burned by choosing to walk or cycle.” Mr Henry acknowledged that not everyone was in a position to leave their car at home, as research shows that 48 per cent of people can’t reduce their car use. Consideration “However, 52 per cent of those living in the greater Dublin area say they have an opportunity to reduce their use of the car,” he pointed out. “If everyone left their car behind for just one trip each week, there would be less traffic and less pollution. “We are urging all car users to give this their serious consideration in their own and everyone else’s interests.” Meanwhile, Dublin Car Free Day which took place on Monday (September 22) as part of European Mobility Week aimed to encourage the citizens of Dublin to use public transport and get active by making use of what their city has to offer. |
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Developed by Kevin Flynn