{"id":503,"date":"2023-12-08T21:21:11","date_gmt":"2023-12-08T21:21:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ssrc.ie\/blog\/?p=503"},"modified":"2023-12-08T21:22:32","modified_gmt":"2023-12-08T21:22:32","slug":"draft-dublin-city-centre-transport-plan-dcctp-submission-on-behalf-of-the-sociology-association-of-ireland-sai-environment-society-study-group","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ssrc.ie\/blog\/2023\/12\/08\/draft-dublin-city-centre-transport-plan-dcctp-submission-on-behalf-of-the-sociology-association-of-ireland-sai-environment-society-study-group\/","title":{"rendered":"Draft Dublin City Centre Transport Plan (DCCTP) – Submission on behalf of the Sociology Association of Ireland (SAI) Environment & Society Study Group"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dublin City Council City Centre Projects<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are strongly supportive of the measures to reduce the accessibility provided by driving in the city centre and simultaneously expand the accessibility and directness of cycling, walking and public transport. This helps inner Dublin to move closer toward the aspirational road user hierarchy in the most densely developed area of Ireland, which is no less than essential amidst failing efforts to decarbonise the transport sector. We commend Dublin City Council on making this proposal, which could – if successfully implemented – provide a model for major cities and towns across Ireland. Along with the accessibility and mobility implications of this proposal, we welcome the emphasis on re-establishing and prioritising the place function of various locations within the plan, such as College Green, Lincoln Place, and Custom House Quay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our research group draws from a variety of theories in sociology, particularly \u2018social practice theory\u2019 which focuses on the question of how people are recruited to, and sustain, everyday practices (such as driving for shopping, child-chauffeuring, and commuting), and how major transitions in everyday unsustainable practices might be achieved (e.g. the \u2018avoid\u2019 and \u2018shift\u2019 arms of the National Sustainable Mobility Policy \u2013 how people might reduce their mobility and still meet everyday needs, and change their mobility practices). Social practice theory contends that practices are always in competition. In the case of everyday mobility, more sustainable modes compete with driving. Through how your plan proposes to reconfigure the materials and rules of public spaces for inner Dublin in such a way that favours active travel and public transport \u2013 at the expense of driving<\/em> \u2013 we consider this proposal theoretically sound from a social practice theory perspective on modal shift and how it might be achieved. However, we would also like to emphasise that the more these sustainable modes can be synergistically interconnected with one another the greater the potential for modal shift. On these grounds, we encourage more consideration of linking modes together, particularly cycling and rail through guarded indoor cycle parking for longer-term parking as is standard across European high-cycling contexts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have two recommendations for the plan:<\/p>\n\n\n\n