‘Continental feel' as Dublin's Parliament Street is pedestrianised permanently

Irish Independent

8 hours ago

While a busker's notes of Dreams by Fleetwood Mac rung out on the street, businesses and pedestrians alike enjoyed the newly pedestrianised street.
The street is now permanently reallocated as a walking and cycling space, with the road between Essex Quay and Essex Gate a no-go for cars.
The section of Parliament Street between Essex Gate and Lord Edward Street will be traffic-free with deliveries allowed between 6am and 11am daily.
Two pedestrians who happened upon the street, just learning of its pedestrianisation, were Rachel Coffey and Donal Milton from Terenure.
Ms Coffey said: 'It's lovely, less traffic, you can meander the street now. It has quite a continental feel.
'I think it will make the city a lot safer. The amount of pedestrians around versus taxis, it's definitely a benefit.'
With bunting set up and stalls selling arts and crafts and jewellery, both locals and tourists wandered around taking pictures and enjoying the atmosphere.
Francis Leavy, artist and owner of Fab Cow on Exchange Street, just parallel to Parliament Street, anticipates the move giving a boost to business.
He said: "I hope this will bring more people to the centre of town. I hope over time there will be more streets to follow suit, especially if more public transport infrastructure is put in place.
'The pedestrianisation will add time on to journeys for sure, it's a main thoroughfare. Although hopefully, over time, that will work itself out.'
Another happy businessman is Martin Hart, CEO of the Temple Bar Company. He has worked in partnership with Dublin City Council to organise the market as well as the Summer in Dublin Festival series, which will take place every weekend in July on Parliament Street.
"It's lovely to stand in the middle of Parliament Street in front of City Hall on a Friday afternoon in July and take in the city, we're very happy', he said.
Another pedestrian enjoying the street was Donal Ewj Robinson-Ryan who is based in the city centre.
He said: 'Hopefully this will be good for businesses.
'Currently, I go down to Capel Street very warily, I hope this street will mean more police will be on duty.
'Hopefully, the city planners will have managed the traffic correctly too. People need access to get in and to shop, or else the people in the city will lose out to the centres outside of the city like Blanchardstown and Kildare. They've lost a lot of business because people don't have access, they can't get in.'
There is concern from taxi drivers that the newly pedestrianised street will limit access to the city centre from the south side and add to traffic.
A taxi driver who wished to remain anonymous said that it will 'definitely add to congestion in the city'.
"It will be fine at the moment with all the schools closed, but the minute schools open on the 28th of August, cars won't be able to move in the city centre.'
Dublin City Council senior executive engineer Claire French said there are a number of existing routes in place which will manage the traffic flow.
She said: 'We trialled this back in 2021, and we did Capel Street in 2022, and then businesses and residents wanted to see it here. We had a number of things to work through traffic management-wise - we had to remove the bus route that was on the street, and now that's all fallen into place, its the right time.
'The volume of traffic had drastically reduced after we pedestrianised Capel Street anyway, so now we're not allowing traffic through at all during the day.
"There are alternative routes around the quays, Fishamble Street and back around, and local access is maintained throughout, so it shouldn't be a big change for motorists', she added.
From 7 July, works will begin to add seating and plants and to resurface the road.
Also, two-way cycling will now be permitted on Parliament Street, and a new two-way cycling link will be created on the east side of Grattan Bridge.
The traffic lanes will be reduced to one right turn lane only on the bridge.
A two-way cycling link will also be created on the east side of Capel St between the quays and Strand Street Little.
Northbound cycling will also be permitted on Capel Street to complete a full two-way cycling link between Dame Street and Bolton Street.
Meanwhile, the current west-to-east traffic flow between Essex Gate and Essex Street East will remain open for all vehicles at all times.
In a survey by Dublin City Council in May 90pc of respondents were in favour of the plan and the option for two-way cycling.
The South East Area committee reported positive engagement from businesses and residents, with the majority in support of fewer cars and more space for pedestrians.