Pedestrianisation in Dublin

Capel Street is right around the corner from the ISI building on Meetinghouse Lane and this summer it’s going to look very different with a huge increase in outdoor seating and pedestrianised streets.

The theme of this summer is ‘outdoors’, and the Dublin corporation are taking it to heart with a greater level of pedestrianisation on our streets than ever before!

Pedestrianisation on the streets of Dublin

Previously, pedestrianisation in Dublin was largely confined to its main shopping districts, such as Grafton Street and Henry Street. This summer however, Dublin is following the European model and outdoor dining and drinking will become more prevalent. This is in keeping with current HSE guidelines, which state that the transmission of Covid 19 is significantly less in an outdoor setting. Therefore, outdoor activities pose a vastly lesser risk.

While the Irish weather can famously be changeable (with a tendency towards rain!), many businesses are tackling this by the installation of umbrellas and awnings outside their buildings, so as to provide protection for their customers in the event of a sudden downpour. Many marquees and tents have been seen popping up all over Dublin, to offer shelter to an even greater number of people in a safe setting, notably on Merrion Row.

Pavements in some cases have been widened, as well as cycle lanes. Parking spaces have also been moved into other places so as to facilitate outdoor dining and drinking in the space left behind, which will be much to the advantage of the cafes, restaurants and bars. For instance, two disabled parking spaces on East Essex Street have now been moved to Fishamble Street, making more room for diners and drinkers outside.

Pedestrianisation from Parliament Street to Capel Street

This increase in pedestrianisation has led to a substantial rethinking of the flow of traffic around certain areas, notably the straight-line across the bridge from Parliament Street to Capel Street. Normally this area sees very busy traffic but Dublin City Council will be starting a trial pedestrianisation period from 11th June to 18th July. In the case of Parliament Street and Capel Street, these areas will become entirely pedestrianised from 6:30pm to 11:30pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. A small segment at the top of Capel Street, furthermore, will see pedestrianisation on a 24 hour basis.

This move will help businesses provide service to an even greater number of customers at the time of the week that is usually their busiest.  It will be a huge boost to many of these businesses, not least the bars, some of which have been shut for over 400 days and have taken a disproportionately huge financial hit since the start of the pandemic. It will be of great service to the Irish economy, as well as to the mental health of the citizens, in allowing people a chance to socialise with each other as they would in normal times.

So there you go – if you’re a student at ISI who’s missed their friends during the pandemic, you now have the chance to reunite! Just do no more than head round the corner to Capel Street – and even if it’s raining, you’ll be sheltered. Have fun!