Let's get on board the new Bus Rapid Transit System

Issued : Monday 17 February, 2014

Speaking at the Labour Party National Conference Saturday February 15, 2014

Delegates - in the last few weeks we’ve seen the devastating impact of flooding in the towns and cities around our country. In Dublin two weeks ago, we had the highest tide ever on record and we were very lucky that night there was no rain and that the flood waters were able to escape through our shores.

Unfortunately this is just a taste of things to come – climate change is now a reality and I think this a terrible legacy to leave behind for our children. And they will have to deal with not just climate chaos, but with the inevitable political turmoil that will follow. We need sustainable actions now and that means sustainable transport – that’s why I’m so proud of the success of Dublin Bikes. Since Dublin Bikes was introduced, cycling has doubled in the city of Dublin. In fact there are more people cycling every day in Dublin than there are using the Luas. The Dublin Bike scheme has been so successful we haven’t been able to advertise, because were stretched to the limits. But thanks to Minister Alan Kelly we are tripling the number of bikes in Dublin and we are introducing bike schemes in Cork, Limerick and Galway.

Finally in Dublin, we have the capacity to advertise ourselves. You may have seen the new posters around the city, and you may have seen the tagline – ‘Join The Revolution’. Delegates – let there be no mistake, that’s not a Green Party revolution, that’s a Labour Party revolution.

But we must do more for public transport. As chair of Dublin City Council’s Transport Committee, for the last few years I’ve been working with National Transport Authority and Alan Kelly to introduce a new transport system for Dublin called Bus Rapid Transit. What is Bus Rapid Transit? Basically it’s Luas on rubber wheels without the rail tracks. And because there are no tracks it’s affordable, so we can develop three Bus Rapid Transit routes for the price of one Luas route. And the first route is going to public consultation this Monday. For the last 15 years, Fianna Fáil have promised a lot for public transport but delivered little. At local, national and European level, the Labour Party is promoting practical transport solutions that will make a real difference in people’s lives. They will help to provide a more sustainable future for our children.

Delegates, let’s get on board with this new Bus Rapid Transit system, lets join the new Labour revolution.