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Downtown Dublin Is Getting Rid Of Cars

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A city known for some of the world's worst traffic jams is getting a radical pedestrian makeover. by Adele Peters staff writer at Co.Exist who focuses on sustainable design.  Dublin ranks just under Los Angeles for having some of the worst traffic jams in the world. The problem is predicted to get worse as the city quickly grows—somehow, it will have to squeeze in 20% more commuters over the next decade. That's why the city is now deciding to make a radical shift: It wants to ban cars from several major downtown streets. Right now, pedestrians don’t have it easy. "Dublin has a compact city center, but we don't give enough priority to pedestrians or cyclists," says CiarĂ¡n Cuffe, chair of the city council's transport committee. "All too often those who walk are left waiting at crossings while cars whizz past for minutes on end." In the proposed plan, the city wants to route cars around the city center, and turn major streets into car-free plazas