More people than ever are using the bus, train or Luas to make their way into the capital every morning, a new report published by the Dublin City Council and the National Transport Authority states.
The Canal Cordon Report, conducted in November last year, found that 107,160 commuters used public transport to make their way into City Centre. This is the largest number seen since the Cordon count first began in 1980.
This spells good news for the sustainably-minded. As well, 12,447 commuters cycled into Dublin, which is the highest number to date. This means that 5.9 percent of people peddle into town in the mornings.
25,000 people walk in for their commute, the report noted, making up 11.8 percent of inbound trips. That means that 70 percent of trips into City Centre are made via a sustainable mode - public transport, walking, taxi, or cycling.
The percentage of people using sustainable modes of transport for their commute has grown every year since 2010. In fact, over the last 11 years, that share of sustainable modes has increased by 9 percentage points.
The number of commuters driving into town in a private car has decreased from 65,000 in 2016, to 61,694 in 2017. For the first time, the percentage of people using cars to make their way into Dublin has dropped to under 30 percent (29.2 percent).
Dublin City Council CEO Owen Keegan says these numbers are impressive in the context of the Luas Cross City construction:
“Considering that this was achieved against a background of Luas Cross City construction, it shows the commitment of DCC and the NTA to multi-modal travel and particularly the incredible value of the additional bus priority measures in the City Centre implemented on the north and South Quays and the resultant reduction in journey times for bus users.”
Anne Graham, CEO of the National Transport Authority, has praised this growth in commuters using public transport and other sustainable modes.
She thanked the Dublin City Council for putting in traffic management measures 'which have no doubt facilitated this most welcome shift to sustainable modes'.
“Public transport reduces the amount of greenhouse gases and other emissions that are being generated so is better for the environment and helps us meet our national greenhouse gas reduction targets," she noted.
“I have every confidence that we can all continue to build on this success.”
