Cork folk are encouraged to walk, bike, and bus it into town this Saturday when Cork City will host its first Car Free Day.
On Saturday, September 23rd from 12 noon until 6.30pm, a number of city streets will close to traffic to allow for a number of interesting events, including public information stands on cycling and sustainable transport.
An interactive performance devised by performer and architect Carolina Erika Santos and facilitated by artist Claudia Renzi will also see the people of Cork invited to “pin their dreams of a city full of nature rather than traffic to a line between the two rivers to Fish for Dreams.”
The quays will be open to traffic as normal and street closures will be applied to the following streets:
- Patrick Street
- North Main Street
- Cornmarket Street
- Castle Street
- Adelaide Street
Buses and taxis will be able to access Patrick Street as normal.
The event comes following research, commissioned by Cork City Council’s Climate Action Unit, that revealed 29 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in Cork City are caused by road transport.
A further study, published this week revealed that 64 percent of Cork people strongly agree that ‘Cork must transform into a more sustainable place to live and work that is climate neutral and resilient’ and that 86 percent of Cork people want more pedestrianised streets.
” Streets were always social spaces for the people of the city to enjoy, to meet and greet their neighbours, until so much space was given over to traffic,” said Darren McAdam O’Connell from Cork Transport & Mobility Forum.
“I look forward to seeing my friends and neighbors out enjoying all the activities for the day in peace and quiet with space to stroll once again.”
