Car-free streets a traffic shock for drivers
Traffic chaos reigned in the city during the ‘non-peak’ 11am to 4pm period yesterday with serious snarl-ups in the Eyre Square, Bohermore and Lough Atalia areas . . . and it was all self-inflicted.
‘Celebrations across Europe’ for an ‘in-town without my car day’ led to the City Council closing off Eglinton Street, Williamsgate Street and Forster Street to ‘normal traffic’ for the five-hour non-peak period.
Buses, taxis and emergency services – as well as cyclists and pedestrians – were being allowed through by City Council staff who manned the ‘block-off’ points at the entrances to Williamsgate St, Eglinton St and Forster St.
However, buses and taxis found themselves being swallowed up in the build-up to some of the pinch points as traffic clogged up between the Square and Prospect Hill, down through Bothar Uí hEithir and from the Forster St. junction down to Lough Atalia.
City councillor and former Mayor of the City, Padráig Conneely, described the decision to close the streets as “badly planned, poorly publicised and appallingly lacking in any semblance of common sense”.
“This was never discussed at a City Council meeting – I only got notification of this on Thursday morning – and really we can do without these kinds of own goals.
“Many businesses have taken a real hit on Thursday due to the traffic chaos with some delivery trucks and vans unable to make their calls.
“These kind of decisions really need to be well thought out in advance, discussed in public and not sprung on people at the shortest of notice. I didn’t meet one motorist today who knew that this was going to happen,” said Cllr Conneely.
For more on this story, see this week’s Galway City Tribune