2011-2017 development plan

I have some ideas that would look more convincing if put into diagrams, than explained in lengthy blocks of text, no matter how well worded. Simple ideas, but worth putting out there. I will draw them up, hopefully, when I get a bit of space in my schedule. But as a general comment, it did strike me today whilst walking around the Rathgar area, a nice residential, heavily landscaped road, and remembering a chat I had about electric vehicles – why don’t we try and do something with electric buses? I mean, the trouble with electric lorries, which have been tried as I understand it, is they might unexpectedly run out of juice. But with buses, surely, within certain parameters, you do know what you needs for power would be, and you could organise for charging stations to be available at either end of the route. The reason I say that, is when I walked along the nice tree lined avenue in Rathgar, a bus passed me out. It was like smoking a pack of cigarettes. I said to myself, you are surely going to be a thing of the past shortly.

Then I walked a long a bit further, and found a sight even more objectionable to me. Maybe other people can deal with this, people who are avid motorists, smokers and mobile phone users. But a lady was driving along in a new BMW, holding a mobile to her ear, and a cigarette in the other hand! I have no idea what was driving the car, it must have been artificial intelligence, like Knight Rider or something. But, I am beginning to think the environmental problem in Ireland is largely psychological, as Sean O’Laoire and others have expressed. As Irish people we are very attached to this notion of the automobile, as your own personal space, for getting from A to B. I understand now, why passionate urbanists in particular, view car occupants as hostile towards urbanism and the joyous experiences it might have to offer. Even when surrounded by tree lined architectural and urban planning grace and beauty, we tend to show a side of ourselves, which is less than savory.

Anyone in doubt, aught to sit down shortly a read Mike Davis’s book, Planet of Slums, which describes heavily inhabited places on earth which don’t even have sanitation. It is important to have yard sticks like this, to compare with what we do enjoy, and are very priveleged to have here in cities such as Dublin. But in terms of car usage, I suspect, we use the notion of climate and its un-predictability here in Ireland too much. Last week it was snowing, now it is like springtime. That’s Irish weather for you. You never know what to wear. But perhaps, if we weren’t so concerned our designer high heel shoes are likely to get wet, soiled, or worn out. Maybe we would not need to have that BMW under our bums (with a cigarette and a phone). And lived/dressed in a manner which enabled us to move about – and adjusted our attitudes towards a more eco-dress style or something, less formal. Given our unpredictable climate, a more practical attitude towards dress might be worth considering, as part of the development plan. I am fighting a losing battle, but what do other people think? Would we all end up looking too under-dressed? It is a genuine question, and one I don’t think the Green movement have accounted for. There is no point in trying to save a good pair of trousers, from the things that happen to it while cycling. (I will leave your own imagination to work on that)

Brian O’ Hanlon

@garethace wrote:

I have some ideas that would look more convincing if put into diagrams, than explained in lengthy blocks of text […] I will draw them up

Why break the habit of a lifetime? 😉

Electric vans have been around for a very long time. At one stage Ballsbridge seemed to be dominated by them with large fleets from the Swastika laundry and Johnston Mooney and O’Brien Bakery (situated a couple of hundred yards apart) buzzing around the streets. I don’t recall ever seeing one broken down. There were also numerous milk floats, as there still are in Britain, so technically I don’t thinks its a problem. In some parts of the US golf carts are allowed on public roads. I enquired about the liklihood of that being allowed here and am informed that it could happen soon.

That is what I am afraid of. Rickshaw drivers around Grafton St, are really only opportunist hiding behind a mask of carbon friendliness. While they manage to clog up crucial busy bus routes in places such as Dawson St. That is why I am suggesting we lump all our efforts into something substantial, like electric buses, rather than into half-measures, and PR-friendly imagineering, such as the ‘green’ richshaw invention.

Even green taxis, within the city centre area, which would shuttle people to and forth to public transport nodes, would make some sense. You are up against a vested interest there again though, in motorised taxi vehicles drivers, who are unlikely to sacrifice multi-functionality of car taxis, to sit inside some Ice-cream lorry sort of contraption. Talk about a step down in the world.

Brian O’ Hanlon