Dublin will be one of the many cities and towns across Europe Moving in the Right Direction to celebrate European Mobility Week 2012 between 16th and 22nd September. European Mobility Week is a European wide initiative which invites local authorities, communities, schools and parents in to participate in a week of activities which promotes and contributes to a climate of sustainable urban transport.
Dublin City Council is supporting a number of events to embrace Mobility Week 2012’s theme of Moving in the Right Direction. These include:
PARK(ing) Day Dublin takes place on Friday 21st September from 12pm to 8pm at various locations around the city. Dublin City Council will provide free on street parking spaces to 27 different projects for the day. These spaces will be transformed into urban parks, giant games, animal farms and much much more. From Segway Tours at St. Stephens Green to Giant Scrabble on Sth. William Street, an Urban Jungle at Arbour Hill to a Jazz Club on Chatham Street this global event taking place in Dublin on Friday will have something for everyone. The event is organised by Dublin Institute of Technology and supported by Dublin City Council. A map detailing locations and themes is available at: http://www.dublincity.ie/Press/PressReleases/Documents/Parking_Day_Map.pdf
On Saturday, 22nd September, from 11.30am to 5pm IN TOWN WITHOUT MY CAR provides a range of activities based around family fun. Picnics and alfresco dining with games and entertainment will make this a day not to be missed. Face painting , balloon making, stilt walking and a historical talk with Pat Liddy, at 3pm, on Dame Court are just a few of the attractions awaiting you in Dublin on Saturday. This event takes place at Dame Court and Fade Street which will be pedestrianised on the day for the event.
“Dublin has made great progress in giving people more transport options in recent years. Improvements in areas like bus corridors and Luas mean that about half of people coming to work now choose public transport. Dublin City Council’s improvements in pedestrian and cycling facilities also mean more people have options other than private cars,” says Lord Mayor Naoise Ó Muirí.
This year saw the opening of the Canal Way Cycle Scheme which removed on-street parking and enhanced the environmental zone along sections of theGrand Canal. Since its opening cycle numbers have almost doubled along the canal to 4,500 per day. Palace Street at the gate of Dublin Castle has recently been made into a pedestrian plaza and the pedestrian area in Clarendon Street has been expanded. The council also plans to expand the dublinbikes Scheme to Heuston Station and the Docklands in 2013.