Hm. Call me sceptical, but . . . A report by Harry McGee in today's Irish Times, reveals that the Department of Energy is working on a hi-tech 'smart' system to cut commuting times and make journey times more reliable, and to enable more people to work from home, the ultimate aim being to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
All well and good, but the 'workflow' system, unveiled by Minister Eamon Ryan at a meeting in Korea last week, will incorporate broadband, GPS and sensors, and hot links between workstations at home and in the office, among other things.
Can't help thinking this is taking a very heavy technology hammer to crack a small transport nut. If the minister really wants to make commuting more reliable and cut journey times and emissions, then a simpler, cheaper and quicker option is to enforce moderate speed limits.
In a trial on England’s M42 motorway in 2007, journey times improved by over 25% when the rush hour speed limit was cut to 50 mph and the hard shoulder was opened to traffic. Calmer speeds meant fewer accidents, hold-ups and diversions, shorter more reliable journey times and much lower emissions.
At the very least, it must be worth trialling two proposals already long talked about for Dublin: a 30 kph limit in the Dublin city zone, and opening bus lanes to cars carrying at least two people?
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