Clean Air/Congestion Charging set to be introduced by 2030

“Heavy traffic makes public transport less reliable, often discouraging people from using it, and makes the environment for vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists, less safe, again leading people away from using active travel, particularly for shorter journeys,” the strategy says.

How is anyone supposed to take a report seriously with language like that in it? 😂

Mr Ryan said the approach of the strategy was “not about adding additional costs on motorists”.

It’s about adding additional costs on motorists so.

I'd rather be sitting in my car in comfort, with the heat/aircon as I want it, music or radio I want to listen to, with the flexibility of taking a different route to get to my ultimate destination if needed, and be guaranteed a seat every time.

Compare that to being squashed on a packed bus with standing room only, listening to whatever noise someone is playing on their phone speaker, and being either sweating or freezing for most of the trip - ie : your average peak time bus journey when this congestion occurs.

That's assuming that the bus shows up in the first place or that you'll be able to get on when it does. Dublin Bus and Go Ahead both can't get enough drivers.

No thank you. I put up with bus journeys for the best part of 30 years and the car (even with traffic) wins every time!

But if they're serious about trying to reduce traffic generally what they should be doing is things like incentivising WFH (and I don't mean the useless legislation that they brought in which only allows people to ask - as they always could!) or encouraging businesses that don't NEED to be in the city centres to relocate outside it (but that would mean they'd simultaneously have to stop repurposing every vacant commercial unit for IPA accommodation of course!)

As I said above, this is just another tax on the motorist who already pays a fortune to run a car.

On the flip side. Imagine being able to breath clean air and actually hold a conversation above the constant roar of traffic

Those eco maniacs....

As more and more vehicles move to ev, the connection between heavy traffic and dirty air becomes less.

The Greens, just as their last time in Government, are propping up this increasingly unpopular and unrepresentative arrangement.

Just as they messed around with the motor tax rates last time - massively incentivising diesels and devaluing otherwise perfectly good cars overnight in the process - they are hugely anti-car and their position in Government (but remember that only 7% of those who actually voted, supported them) gives them the platform and ability to push their agenda through. Because the other 2 need them or face an election , they go along with it.

Speaking of the Greens, Ryan on Newstalk now... More dramatics in the first 30 seconds - "our world is burning!"... Please!!

It'll never happen, but what I wouldn't give to see investment in cutting edge/modern traffic management systems. Yes there's too many cars in the cities for what our roads are designed for, yes of course we do need to push for more sustainable transportation models for people....but our antiquated incompetent approach to traffic control is no innocent party here. You see it everywhere now around built up cities in Ireland, traffic lights plonked down without a second thought....traffic lights not linked together causing significant disruption/delays, traffic lights depending on road sensor inputs that pick up cars on the other side of the road, traffic light timers with predetermined cycles regardless of if there's people even at them or not, entire junctions stopping on all sides because there's pedestrian lights green for one of four points on the junction, a more recent bananas trend of putting traffic lights right at roundabout exits (there's no buffer for traffic to flow into, so the minute a pedestrian wishes to rightfully cross the road, the entire roundabout on entries grinds to a halt.) This has all contributed to a growing "I've had enough" approach that many motorists have with traffic lights, and you'll see people pushing their luck in ever reckless ways now going through red lights.

I'm not laying any blame on pedestrians, cyclists, or any other non-motorist groups here either...we're ALL entitled to be where we need to be on the roads/pathways....but I'd love to see it highlighted how badly our traffic management is, and how it too is a contributor to the mess in cities today. I know it's impractical, but I find myself thinking more often than not looking at green lights for empty roads (while a row of cars is stopped at a red), that a Raspberry Pi, some software, and a few webcams could just do a far better job.

The Green Party are a small player in the government, totally ridiculous for people to blame them for everything when they don't have a majoirty and can't pass anything without the other parties agreeing.

In terms of a congestion charge, is anyone actually surprised this has been on the cards for years and was always going to be put in place at some stage.

Who are you lot going to blame when the Green Party are out of government and these plans continue?

You're right there, this will happen even if the Greens only have 2 T.D's in the next Government.

If there is a congestion charge it should be either based on emissions or vehicle weight, isn't fair that 2.5tonne EV's can still clog up the roads without paying. And that all funds from the charge should go to the local councils for road improvements, Bus Gates and cycle lanes, wider paths for pedestrians..

People see the Greens for who they are now. They have given up on persuading the public of the merits of their policies, choosing instead to ram their policies in through legislation, put up with the resultant shYtshow and hope that solutions follow after.

I don't understand the cosy relationship between media and government and why they continually give them an easy ride during interviews. Okay maybe somewhat explainable for RTE as they need money, but for the others it makes no sense.

I can do all that in the privacy of my own car.

This is what people are struggling with, the Greens got votes to implement measures like this. The people that don't vote the Green Party moan about it. But sure they moan about it anyway.

Like we had a poster on here moaning about no greenway in his area, yet they had never voted for the Green Party and it was the Green Party fault they had no greenway

Now if you can work that one out you are better than me

What exactly is the 2.5tonne EV not paying for that a 2.5 combustion car is?

You what?

You posted "If there is a congestion charge it should be either based on emissions or vehicle weight, isn't fair that 2.5tonne EV's can still clog up the roads without paying."

So what is a 2.5 EV not paying for? compared to a 2.5 tonne combustion?

I know what I posted thanks. I'm sure you're well able to answer that one for yourself.

Won't be updating anything. Large/Heavy electric vehicles can't be exempted from a congestion charge as they still contribute to congestion and produce particulate matter pollution from tyres/brakes.

In London who have Ulez/Congestion charges; "from 25 December 2025, the Cleaner Vehicle discount will end. After this date, all electric vehicles – including pure battery electric vehicles–will no longer be exempt, and EV drivers will have to pay the congestion charge"

Thanks for the Geography lesson Pal.

Not a fan of the greens but this is awful misinformation. The actual proposal is to stop insurers from doing away with your no claims bonus if you have a gap of insurance (and car ownership). If you are off the road or sell the car for a while, you shouldn't be punished by insurers and lose your NCB. This is a good thing, one less thing for insurance companies to shaft us with.

How anyone can be against this specifically is mind boggling

In that context I would absolutely agree that that change is overdue and welcome - but that's not how the article put it at all. The piece I quoted is what they said, but it's also completely different to the reality then as you outline it.

How would that happen?

How will insurers know if you drive your own car alone to work?

There are loads of articles out on it over the last few days, it's mentioned in one, I'll try and find.

The idea they'll just further load car insurance is nonsense. They will push for EVs, but not push for less vehicles as the govt needs tax income from car sales too. They will already have a huge whole in finances from move away from petrol/diesel. They will add more tolls or higher motor tax, they will not instruct insurers to increase insurance just for the sake of it.

The Irish insurance industry badly needs sorted out also, only way it's in any way reasonable is if you have a big NCB. That you lose it if you have a year or more of no insurance, because you are abroad or without a car etc.. daylight robbery

Plastic bags levy was by definition an extra cost!

Light bulbs? Not sure what light bulbs have been made mandatory, but at this stage if you aren't buying LEDs you are pissing away your own money