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Translink film argues cars are 'waste of space' on Belfast's roads

Drone footage captured on Oxford Street, Belfast showing the space required to transport 105 people by car (90 cars in total - during commuter times the average persons per car is 1.2 people).
Drone footage captured on Oxford Street, Belfast showing the space required to transport 105 people by car (90 cars in total - during commuter times the average persons per car is 1.2 people). Drone footage captured on Oxford Street, Belfast showing the space required to transport 105 people by car (90 cars in total - during commuter times the average persons per car is 1.2 people).

ROAD chiefs have come together to show how Belfast city centre congestion could be drastically reduced by using sustainable means of transport.

Organised by Translink, The Department for Infrastructure, Belfast City Council and The Institution of Civil Engineers, 105 volunteers gathered to show how better used by bus, walking and cycling can combat the problems of ever-decreasing road space.

They have produced a short film 'Road Share' which shows how the space taken up by 90 cars (transporting an average of 1.2 people) can be condensed down into one of the new Glider buses which to be unveiled in September as part of the new Belfast Rapid Transit system.

The film ‘Road Share’ made yesterday involved the closure of one of Belfast's most congested roads – Oxford Street. Images of how traffic would be reduced by using other means of transport were captured on drone.

Speaking about the exercise, Chief Executive of the Translink Group, Chris Conway, said: “The Road Share exercise in Belfast very clearly demonstrates how moving large numbers of people by car around cities is not efficient, particularly during commuting times.”

This short film marks the beginning of the third year of Translink’s Bus and Train Week. It aims to encourage people to leave their cars at home, and to use public transport instead.

Moira Doherty, Director of Public Transport at the DfI, said she wanted to encourage as many people as possible to use public transport.

“If we all start to think about how we might shift some of our journeys from the car to public transport, walking or cycling we can help to drive economic growth and create healthier towns and cities for now and the future.”

Outgoing Belfast lord mayor Nuala McAllister said: “I hope that the images and video generated by yesterday’s exercise will highlight the role each and every one of us has in the development of Belfast as a truly accessible and healthy city of the future.”