The Road To A Greener Environment

You'll have to forgive me for a few of these next posts don't cover film at all but since I'm doing a media course, I will put them here regardless.

With the announcement that Oslo plans to ban the use of cars within the city centre by the year 2050, the time has come for countries to consider alternative, greener environment. Gone are the days of the Jeremy Clarkson idea that a zero emissions future was pure “science fiction.” However there are problems or obstacles which have been put in place which need to be considered.

First of all is the dependence in oil reserves. Oil runs the cars that people buy and our electricity is run by oil. With more and more innovations in technology in extracting oil, it would be nice to see this put to a more environmentally friendly use. This has begun with the advent of electric powered cars, hybrid cars, there is a progress of sorts. However, there are will always be those who will deny that these things are of much good with the argument that these cars are substituting one form of pollution for another. After all is the electricity used a greener form or not?

Closer to home in Dublin, there has been similar work done to make Dublin’s city centre a more environmentally friendly place. A new Luas line is being put in place and the target that Dublin’s city centre will be similarly car-free and possibly more bicycle-friendly in future has been met with mixed reviews. While it has been welcomed by some, one comment in the Irish Times put it that “this is the government’s continued persecution of motorists.” But such feelings are misplaced. Surely if there is to be a better city, it should have a friendlier atmosphere. The surge in souped up revved up engines, the blaring of car horns and so on gives the city a more irate and hostile outlook than what is intended.

It is true however that better cycling facilities should be made a priority as the current provision made by successive governments remains somewhat incomplete. The Lower Kimmage Road for example has its cycle lane blotted with parked cars which makes it a dangerous inconvenience for both cyclists and motorists alike when a bike is forced to swerve out of the cycling lane and into traffic.

The city centre as it stands is no place for a cyclist. Even with cycling lanes as they are now, there is the odd occasion where they will see a car cut in marginally onto the cycling lane and impede the cyclists’ route causing a minor diversion. At present however, cycling is fraught with certain dangers. In a recent poll in The Irish Times, 80% of motorists and 74% of cyclists agree that cycling is dangerous. So there is room for improvements.

There needn’t be an outcry of victimisation from either side. A greener environment is a possibility. It might not appease everyone but some tough decisions lie ahead if this government and also future governments is to aim for with this target of achieving a zero emissions future.