Extinction Rebellion Galway, and other groups across the city, will hold an "informational protest" against the proposed construction of the N6 Galway City Ring Road during rush hour today.
The protest, called 'Get Galway Grooving!' will feature protesters from Extinction Rebellion Galway, Galway Cycling Campaign, Galway Cycle Bus, An Mheitheall Rothar, Galway Environmental Network, and Extinction Rebellion Kinvara. They will skateboard, march, or simply walk on footpaths along the Quincentennial Bridge from 5.30pm and hand out informational leaflets to drivers explaining why they believe the proposed bypass is not the answer to Galway's traffic problems.
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"Galway needs and deserves a transportation system that works," said a spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion Galway, "but the facts do not support the construction of a costly, carbon-producing, ring road."
'Data suggests only three per cent of Galway traffic would actually make full use of a bypass'
The group points out that numerous international studies on roads and traffic volume show that building more roads only results in more cars using them, and Extinction Rebellion highlights the extra lanes added to the M50 and Newbridge at the Red Cow junction, as examples. It also noted that a survey conducted last month found that nearly 50 per cent of drivers questioned either strongly or somewhat agreed that lack of reliable public transport had left them reliant on a car to get to work.
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It also noted that most traffic congestion in Galway is caused by parents driving their children to school and workers driving into the city. "A bypass won't solve that," said the spokesperson. "In fact, data suggests only three per cent of Galway traffic would actually make full use of a bypass. Plus, if our current roads had cycle lanes, making it safer for children to cycle to school, school traffic could be greatly reduced."
The group also warned that the ring road would "lock us into increasing CO2 emissions by an estimated 37 per cent, causing "unknown damage to the environment which is already facing dramatic and costly weather events linked to CO2 buildup".
The bypass plan is estimated to cost at least €700 million, which Extinction Rebellion said would be better invested in a full light rail system and free public transport.
