Overall, the number of people travelling into the core of the capital at peak morning times in 2025 increased, with the heavy lifting done by public transport, while the number of cars entering Dublin City Centre is in a long-term trend of decline. The changes came at a time when the number of commuters crossing the canals and the circular roads increased by 3.2%, or just under 6,300 people, during the morning rush hours. The total number of commuters recorded was 192,543, 13% lower than the pre-Covid peak in 2019.The data was contained in a presentation given to Dublin City Councils mobility committee meeting as a preview of the annual Canal Corden Count report, which is to be published soon. Public transport overall accounts for just shy of 60% of commuters, with buses carrying 34%, Irish Rail carrying 17.5%, and Luas carrying 7.7%.sThe count includes an average traffic count recorded across the two days, and separate public transport counts taken in November each year. The survey counts pedestrians, cyclists, cars, taxis, buses, goods vehicles, and motorbikes during the three-hour AM peak period, 07:00-10:00.As a percentage of people crossing the canals, car users dropped from 25.1% to 24.5% year-on-year compared to 2024 and 2025. Except for a two-year bounce-back after the free-fall in commuting due to Covid, the number of cars driven into Dublin City has been in slow decline since 2008. But, while the use of public transport use was up, walking and cycling were down, with the pedestrian modal share decreasing from 9.6% to 8.8% and cycling from 5.5% to 4.9%The data does not include trips starting and ending within canals, where pedestrian and cycling trips account for a much higher share of trips. ALSO READ: Major improvements for cycling at only 6% of entry points into Dublin City Centre in 10 years The National Transport Authority and Dublin City Council compile the Canal Cordon Reporteach year. The data is from traffic and public transport counts undertaken over two days along the cordon. The cordon comprises 33 entry-point locations along the canals and the western part of the South Circular Road and the North Circular Road from Phibsborough to the Phoenix Park.A number of committee members questioned the continued use of the data without, at the same time, considering broader data sources, including counts taken within the canals. MORE TO FOLLOWSLIDES: