Galway Chamber of Commerce

School Transport Initiative
Launched by
Galway Chamber Traffic and Transportation Forum

BUS IT, BIKE IT, WALK IT…GIVE THE CAR A BREAK

Galway Chamber Traffic and Transportation Forum launches an initiative to reduce the dependency on cars for transporting children to school.

Entitled “Bus it, Bike it, Walk it- Give the car a break”, the initiative will be launched with a photo opportunity in Eyre Square, Galway on Monday August 31^st at 5 p.m.

The initiative will include a media awareness and poster campaign aimed at encouraging school children and their parents to chose alternative modes of transport to the car when the schools return this week.

Local media and school authorities are being asked to help create awareness among school going children and their parents, particularly first years who will carry the change of attitude through for the next five years.

Chairman of Galway Chamber Traffic and Transportation Forum, Dr. Chris Coughlan is hopeful that the initiative will reduce the impact of the schools opening on the traffic situation in the City.

“A recent survey carried out by the Education Committee of the Galway Chamber Traffic and Transportation Forum revealed that over 64% of children in Galway schools travel to school by car. Transporting children to school by car has a significant impact on the flow of traffic in the city and most commuters are aware of the shorter journey times to work in the summer months when the schools are on holidays,” said Dr. Coughlan.

“Galway Chamber Traffic and Transportation Forum would like to see school going children, teenagers and their parents consider alternative means of transport such as the bus, cycling or walking where possible. In addition to reducing traffic congestion at peak commuting times, this will also reduce our carbon footprints and have added health benefits for our young people,” he concluded.

Instigated by Galway Chamber, The Galway Chamber Traffic and Transportation Forum was set up in 2008 to engage with stakeholders and interest groups to implement a vision for the future.

This Education initiative will be followed by a similar initiative from the Industrial committee of the Forum which will encourage workers to ‘Bus it, Bike it, Walk it – Give the Car a Break’.

Galway Chamber’s Traffic and Transport Forum under the Chairmanship of Dr Chris Coughlan, met for the second full forum meeting in the Boardroom, GMIT on Thursday 4th December.

Attending the meeting were representatives of Galway Chamber, GLUAS, Garda Siochana, Galway City Council Executive, Iarnrod Eireann, NUIGalway, GMIT, Galway Cycling, An Taisce, Galway Trades Council, Rural Taxi Alliance and City Direct Bus.Speaking after the meeting Dr. Coughlan said that progress was again made and that the feedback sessions were invaluable to the members of the Forum:

‘Deputy Frank Fahey, Chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Traffic took time from his schedule to join us at the meeting and spoke and answered questions on areas as diverse as school transport and possibility of park and rides each side of the city on an ongoing basis.

‘Director of Services in Galway City Council Ciaran Hayes updated us on the workings of the Traffic and Transportation Unit, now up and running in City Council and he outlined how some of the ‘achievable’ wishes of the forum are coming to fruition, ie smart traffic lights, automated messaging boards for parking spaces, permanent park and rides, bicycle parks and bus shelters.

‘We had a presentation from the GLUAS group and an update on their plans and progress.

‘We had a report from our Education Sub Committee on a survey carried out re: the specific issue of traffic as a result of school journeys and to ascertain students attitude to school bus transport. This gave us a very real insight into some ways to move forward on this, which is a real problem when it comes to traffic in the city.

‘Galway Chamber updated the Forum on plans for a major conference with a national focus on the whole area of traffic and transportation for Spring.

“Finally I would like to say that now, due to the confusion and the delay of the outer city bypass, the work of the Forum is even of greater importance to the City in bringing together the work of all interested bodies in the single goal of achieving a practical and working integrated traffic and transportation solutions in the short

medium and long term. The 2nd Forum has brought us a little bit further in realizing this’, Dr. Coughlan concluded.

The work of the Forum before its next gathering in the Spring will include the setting up of an Industrial Sub Committee to look at the transportation of large numbers of employees and the traffic issues involved.

Please find below link to the powerpoint presentations from the first meeting of the Galway Chamber Traffic & Transportation Forum

GLUAS - Lighty Rail for Galway Part 1 Part 2
Brendan Holland & Jerry McSweeney, GLUAS

Towards a sustainable and cycle-friendly Galway Part 1 Part 2
Simon Comer, PRO, Galway Cycling Camapign

A sustainable and Integrated Transport Policy for Galway City Part 1
Brendan Smith, Galway City Community Forum

Mobility Management v. Parking
Keith Warnock, Vice-President for Physical Resources, NUIG
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Chairman Dr. Chris Coughlan: ‘Forum will bring together all stakeholders and interest groups to deal with immediate traffic problems and to implement a vision for the future’.

The Galway Chamber Traffic and Transportation was set up to bring together all the stakeholders and interest groups to deal with immediate traffic problems and to implement a vision for the future
The group meets for the first time in GMIT on Tuesday May 20 to present to each other and to discuss areas of commonality and difference regarding Galway’s traffic and transportation needs, both immediate and into the future.
Chairman of the Forum, Dr. Chris Coughlan, has

I have now had meetings with all of the stakeholders individually and the next step is to gather all of these stakeholders together to share an interactive session so that we understand each others plans and aspirations.

To this end I invite you and one other representative from your group or organization to attend and give a short presentation (limited to ten minutes, powerpoint available) to the Forum on your organisation’s issues around traffic and transportation.

This will take place in The Boardroom, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Galway on Tuesday May 20 2008 at 5.30 pm until approx. 7 p.m.

Please contact Maeve Joyce at Galway Chamber on 091 535023 to indicate your attendance.

The Traffic and Transportation Forum will work with all the stakeholders in Galway to do the following: