January 30th, 2020
Dublin
has been ranked as the most congested city in Western Europe and as one of the
most congested cities globally, according to an international survey of traffic
data.
The ninth
edition of the annual Traffic Index report form the technology company TomTom provides
detailed insights on live and historic road congestion levels in cities around
the world.
Dublin is
listed as the 17th most congested city globally out of 416 cities analysed across
57 countries, with trips during peak hours estimated to take 48 per cent more
time to complete than during uncongested conditions.
According
to the analysis, drivers in the capital are adding up to an extra hour to their
commute during rush hour traffic in the morning and evening. This adds on to almost
nine days lost annually sitting in gridlock.
Overall,
traffic congestion in Dublin jumped up three per cent from 2018. Globally, the
analysis points to an increase in congestion over the last decade that is
estimated to cost economies billions.
The
other Irish cities analysed were Cork and Limerick, with both Munster counties found
to experience above-average levels of congestion for a European city.
Overall, Bengaluru in southern Indian takes the top spot, followed by Manila, Bogota, and Mumbai and Pune in India, giving the country three of the top five worst congested cities in the world.
Vision for a new transport model
The
report was released yesterday as both the Green Party and People Before Profit (PBP)
laid out their vision for a radical rebalancing of priorities toward a new low-carbon,
public and active-led transport model for Ireland ahead of next week’s general
election.
Both parties
want to see ramped up spending on public transport, walking, and cycling infrastructure
in both urban and rural environments, including proposals from PBP to 500 new
electric buses to the fleet annually until 2030 at an estimated annual spend of
€350 over the next decade. The party also wants to heavily invest in improving
and electrifying the rail network.
PBP want
to bring in free public transport for all that would cost around €570m annually
based on current fare rates and travel frequency. The party has outlined the proposal
in its previous two costed alternative budgets proposals.
The
Greens want to see free transport for student and a capped fare system for
other users until the public transport infrastructure is upgraded to meet
demand before contemplating scrapping fares for all. The party also wants to put 10 per cent of the
capital transport budget aside for pedestrians, and 10 per cent for cycling,
with the remainder budget split 2:1 in favour of public transport over road
building and maintenance.
Both
parties want far better support for cyclists and also want to see taxation brought
in on aviation fuel, with PBP specifically calling for a 33 cent per litre levy
on airline fuel in conjunction with legislation to ban companies from passing the
cost on to consumers.
Some of those taking flights would not be left off the hook for flight emissions, however, as the party want to add on a 20 per cent charge to the costs of business tickets for anyone flying more than four times a year.
Air pollution
The vast majority of urban
dwellers across Europe are exposed to unsafe levels of particle pollution, with
chronic exposure linked to
cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, including lung cancer. The EPA
estimates that there are around 1,200 premature deaths due to air pollution.
Ireland’s air quality is
relatively good by European standards, but it does not fare so well when
measured against more stringent WHO guidelines, according to the EPA.
The country has exceeded WHO
guideline values for PM10 and PM2.5 – very fine particulates smaller than 10
micrometres that can enter the lungs and cause significant health problems.
Earlier
this week, the Asthma Society of Ireland launched #AsthmaMatters manifesto setting out its
priority election issues including the prioritisation of investment in public
transport, cycling and walking infrastructure over major road infrastructure.
Sarah
O’Connor, CEO of the Asthma Society, said: “We receive calls to our Adviceline
from people who cannot leave their home at particular times of the day or year
because of air pollution. Worryingly, new evidence is emerging that identifies
traffic pollution as a cause of asthma in children.”
Recent tests
carried out on two of Europe’s top-selling diesel vehicles shows that particle
emissions from new diesel cars can peak at 1,000 times their
normal rate as they clean their filters.
The tests also show that spikes can occur in urban areas and last as long as 15km as emissions of particle pollution can surge to over 1,000 times their normal rate.
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