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Cyclists arrested on European Car Free Day
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By Mary Minihan
(The
Irish Times)
Five cyclists were arrested during European Car Free Day in Dublin on
Saturday.They were later released but may face court appearances at a
later date, according to gardaí.Custom House Quay, outside the
Department of the Environment headquarters, was closed from 7 a.m. to
7 p.m, while traffic was not allowed on Merrion Square West between 9
a.m and 5 p.m.The Critical Mass Campaign, a network of cyclists that campaigns
for better cycling facilities in Dublin, took to the streets to do a lap
of the city in the afternoon. They were protesting against the approach
Dublin City Council had adopted to the event this year, which allowed
motorists to drive relatively unhindered around the city.Around 150 cyclists
took part in the lap and they were joined by additional supporters when
they stopped on O'Connell Street, according to Mr William Campbell, of
the Critical Mass Campaign.Mr Campbell said the cyclists began to play
football and volleyball with inflatable balls at the junction of O'Connell
Street and Abbey Street at around 3.30 p.m. Gardaí arrived after
around half an hour."They started grabbing people. A couple of them
were handcuffed," he said.Mr Campbell described the Garda response
as "inappropriate"."The people involved thought it was
ironic that they sent in the forces of law and order to make sure the
streets were reserved for cars and not people on Car Free Day," he
said. "It was very aggressive compared to the good-humoured nature
of the event."Green Party city councillor Mr Ciaran Cuffe said it
was "upsetting" to see cyclists being arrested on Car Free Day.
"I was appalled at the heavy-handed tactics that the gardaí
used in dragging cyclists off the street," he said.Mr Cuffe added
that Dublin City Council and the Environment Minister, Mr Dempsey, had
not done enough to promote Car Free Day."There was an insufficient
response to an event that's celebrated in 22 European countries, where
large areas of cities are closed off to cars," he said. He hoped
next year would see a high-profile event."We need a real Car Free
Day rather than a token gesture."Gardaí said the cyclists
arrested at the weekend had breached the Public Order Act."There
was no problem with the protest but some of them sat down in the street
and then you're into problems. They were obstructing cars," a Garda
spokesman said.He said gardaí at the scene had adopted a "low-key
approach" and denied the protesters' accusations that heavy-handed
tactics were used.Elsewhere, the event passed off more smoothly. Also
participating iwere Galway, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Saggart, Portlaoise,
Clonmel, Greystones and Sligo.Street entertainments were organised to
make the day fun for families.