Lack of transport in rural areas

SIR – I am writing to you to express my disappointment in Ireland’s rural transport system (apart from school transport), which is basically non-existent.

This lack of transport services in rural areas massively effects many children / teens who live unwalkable distances from facilities and social events. I myself live nearly five miles from the nearest village and am rendered completely dependent on cars.

This constant commute to social events, sports, shops and facilities is very significant in the contribution to global warming. Even for those who do live walkable distances from towns or villages are limited by a lack of sidewalks and road space.

These factors render roads unsuitable for safe walking and cycling. Over 60% of people in Ireland live rurally, which means many hundreds of thousands of teenagers/children are affected by this growing problem.

I believe that my views have to be taken into consideration with too many of us saying these days: ‘I can’t because I have no lift’. The cost of these improvements to road quality and rural transport systems, such as buses, will have a short-term financial effect on our economy, but a long-term positive effect for the whole world.

Also, this increased use of buses, bicycles and people walking in the future will have a huge positive effect on Ireland’s shocking carbon footprint, which is now 8.8 metric tonnes of CO2 per person, which is shocking compared to a Cambodian’s annual emission being 0.1 metric tonnes.

Yours faithfully,

Aleesha Wiegandt (14),

Ballybane,

Ballydehob,

Co. Cork.