In advance of World Cities Day on October 31, Dublin Bus is calling on people to ‘Get The Bus’ and help create a thriving sustainable capital.
Every full bus replaces the equivalent of 80 cars on our roads and frees up 300 metres of roadway. Dublin Bus takes 182,000 cars off the road every day, contributing to a healthier and more sustainable city for all.
World Cities Day is an annual United Nations observance day which promotes co-operation among countries in addressing challenges of urbanisation and contributing to sustainable urban development. Dublin Bus’ ‘Evolving For Tomorrow’ strategy shows its plans to further invest in a new electric fleet and reduce its carbon footprint, reduce congestion, and support Dublin’s growth as a modern European capital.
By 2031, over 50% of the fleet will be made up of zero emission vehicles and Dublin Bus is committed to reaching a 100% zero emission fleet by 2050. Since 2017, Dublin Bus has reduced its overall fleet emissions by 53,000 tonnes. Its modern fleet of buses produce 92% less emissions per person than car users and the new electric fleet produces 99% less emissions than car users.
Its commitment to greener practices is shared by the Irish public. Dublin Bus recently undertook a survey to determine people’s attitudes towards sustainability. It found that reducing carbon emissions is important to almost three quarters (74%) of people across Ireland. Bringing reusable bags when grocery shopping is the one thing that most people do to try to be sustainable (28%), followed by using public transport/walking where possible (17%) and recycling materials such as wood and electrical equipment (17%).
Speaking in advance of World Cities Day, Billy Hann, Dublin Bus CEO said: “As we celebrate World Cities Day, I am heartened to see a growing number of people recognising the need to reduce emissions. We all have a role to play in making our city a greener and cleaner place to live, work, and enjoy. To achieve this, we must reimagine how Dublin moves, and this journey starts with rethinking our approach to traffic. We need fewer car spaces and more people places. This means encouraging people to leave their cars at home and embrace public transport and active travel options. By making these choices, we can help create a more sustainable and vibrant Dublin for generations to come.
As Ireland’s largest public service transport provider, carrying 146 million people in 2023 and on track to exceed that for 2024, Dublin Bus has a dual mandate of embedding sustainable practices throughout the business including fleet, buildings and operations but also in supporting the government’s modal shift policy to reduce reliance on the private car and improve urban mobility options.
