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Dublin pedestrians[/caption]The Green Party has given a guarded welcome to new data showing an increase in sustainable travel in Dublin City. The party has welcomed the boost for numbers travelling by bus, bike and walking, but warned that investment was needed to make cycling and walking safer in the longer term. The figures are contained within the Canal Cordon Report 2017. Walking numbers are up 16%, cycling by 3%, public transport by 7% and those travelling by car across the canal have fallen by 5%. The chair of Dublin City Council's Transportation Committee Councillor Ciarán Cuffe said:"It is good to see an increase in the numbers travelling by public transport, walking and cycling but the Government needs to do much more. Bus passengers are packed in like sardines during the morning and evening travel peaks, and we have 10% less Dublin Buses and drivers than we did ten years ago (1048 in 2008, and 1020 buses in 2018). We need a bus network that serves the needs of its passengers to prevent over-crowding. We also need decent late-night and weekend services, and a fare system that doesn't penalise the customer for making a transfer. In addition we were promised DARTs every ten minutes three years ago but they have yet to arrive, while fire damage to signalling equipment at Bray last weekend is leading to a week of cancellations and disruptions."Investment in walking and cycling is also required. Half the cycling projects planned by Dublin City Council have been mothballed because Minister Shane Ross won't invest in sustainable transportation. Cyclists deserve safe routes to school and work, but Ross is failing to deliver. Grant-aid to cycling in Dublin is less than one third of what it was five years ago, and cyclists deserve better. I have challenged Minister Ross to cycle with me by bike through rush-hour traffic in Dublin and he has yet to respond. He needs to experience what it is like to travel on a bike and share the road with cars."ENDSNoteLink to full report here: http://bit.ly/CanalCordon2017