Reduction in car usage among Ashbourne pupils

A survey carried out after the introduction of a Green Schools plan has shown that 45 per cent of the 950 students at Ashbourne Community School are now walking or cycling to class each day, Meath County Council was told this week. And in 650 schools participating in the programme throughout the State, there has been a 27 per cent reduction in car usage, a 31 per cent increase in walking, and a 25 per cent increase in cycling. The statistics were given by the National Transport Authority, which this week launched an extensive public consultation on its Draft Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area that includes County Meath. Public comments and feedback are welcomed until the closing date of 11th April. The NTA held a public information session in Meath County Hall on Monday where members of the public were invited to study the consultation documents and put their queries to members of the authority's strategy team. This draft transport strategy follows three years of consultation with members of the public and with business and community and public representatives. The draft will be finalised for presentation to the Minister for Transport in May/June following this last round of public consultation. "Everyone living and working in the Greater Dublin region is ambitious now for a good quality of life, for an economically competitive region, where work, facilities and friends are within easy reach. "And when our economy grows, we need to be ready for the additional journeys and traffic that this will bring. Long-term transport planning plays a fundamental part in preparing for this future," said Gerry Murphy, CEO of the National Transport Authority. The authority's strategy is not simply a list of transport infrastructure measures, such as a new road or a train line upgrade. "It also proposes changes in the management and operation of the existing transport network in order to make best use of what we already have available to us. In addition, it sets out policies to integrate land use planning and transportation service delivery, and it highlights the importance of personal travel management in ensuring that the region fulfils its true potential." Cllr Shane Cassells said there was a huge negative impact on motorists through charging them for road usage. The focus needed to be on improving road transport. However, one of the biggest problems was a lack of an integrated approach by the various transport authorities. "We have been fighting with Bus Eireann for the last 10 years about transport in this town (Navan)," he said. He did not want to take away from the improvements already made, such as improved transport to the airport, and extra buses on the routes, and said he would welcome improvements in integrated ticketing and real time information for passengers. However, he feared that these policies would be introduced only in Dublin and the the policies would not be seen in operation outside the city. Cllr Bill Carey said he would like to see the introduction of more park-and-ride facilities. "If you don't provide that you are going to force people onto the roads and onto the tolls," he said. "There was also an outstanding need for more bus shelters. "There is nothing worse than seeing people trying to shelter from the rain with their backs to it like animals," he added. Cllr Eugene Cassidy asked: "If we can't get an integrated fares system together, how are we going to get an integrated transport system? In modern society, that shouldn't be a complicated thing." He also called for a decision to be made on the final route for the Leinster Orbital Route. "We have three proposed corridors at the moment. People can't do anything with that land once it is frozen," he said.