This comes as ESRI behavioural research shows that while public levels of worry over contracting Covid-19 are decreasing, people consider public transport as a"high risk" activity when it comes to catching the virus.
"In Limerick on the M7 they are up 85%. In Waterford on the M9, they are up 76%. In Cork on the N40 car traffic volumes are up 60% on the N40." The amount of car traffic on commuting corridors leaving the M50 and feeding into the city centre is 10% less than before the pandemic.Mr O'Neill said this represents a complicated picture of changed commuting patterns and shows 10% of workers have not yet returned to the office.
"Passenger numbers in many of the regional city and towns across Ireland are now back almost at pre-pandemic levels and in some cases they are exceeding those," said Mr Gaston. Some individual transport operators say there are gradual increases in the numbers using their services. Luas had 92,000 passengers last Friday. Its daily figure before the pandemic was 120,000
"Our activity measure shows slightly sharper rise in use of private vehicles than public transport as social activity increases; any declines in transport use we’ve seen tend to be driven by declines in public transport," Dr Shane Timmons, a research officer with the ESRI’s behavioral research unit said.
What public transport ? How many public buses in Clonmel/ Cashel / Cahir
People unnecessarily paranoid about catching the bug
FergalBowers Why ? It’s smelly - stuffy - wet in winter - doesn’t bring you where you want to end up - a Covid cesspool - violent !
We wasted 2 years to end up back at square one, or worse.
FergalBowers Guess why? It’s always a great idea in a pandemic to sit in a crowed tense area where masks are worn casually .
So all these cycle lanes haven’t reduced car usage at all. Interesting isn’t it?
FergalBowers The still low level of travel on public transport confirms the general impression I have that there is no euphoria around. People are quietly glad that we seem to be getting back to normal but there is still some caution too.
FergalBowers That’s because public transport is abysmal, nothing to do with covid.
FergalBowers Wonder why?
Because public transport & its infrastructure here is truly awful.
But yet eamonn Ryan’s core focus is on cycling lanes in Dublin
Its silly money on the bus and train , 25 euro return to Mayo 25 euro to Cork return , and Drogheda to Dublin can be close to 20 so when you say folks dont use the service they cant afford to
Green issues conveniently forgotten by Government when their wealthy mates need their office blocks paid for by commuters to the city.
On Friday, travelling from Castlebar by train, half the people in my sight were maskless. One twenty-something guy across the aisle from me didn't even pretend and the young family in the four-seat in front of him though eating, therefore maskless, made that last for over an hour
Green issues conveniently forgotten by Government when their wealthy mates need their office blocks for by commuters to the city.
But if you live outside Dublin and need to get to work Is public transport going to get you there and how long does it take
Public transport down the country. If it is increased and more route specific people will utilise more. You need transport to get around that is more free flowing.🚌
We all lose when this happens