Dublin Bus warned about insufficient space at bus stop

The bus stop: Dublin Bus was warned about safety at the Wellington Quay bus terminus as far back as October 2001, it has been claimed.

The issue was raised with management at the company by Leixlip Town Council's traffic and transport sub-committee, according to the chairwoman of the committee, Cllr Catherine Murphy (Ind).

The latest complaint was made just two weeks ago.

Dublin Bus said the city centre terminus was "no busier and no more congested" than others. Company spokeswoman Ms Grainne Mackin confirmed a number of concerns had been raised by the council.

However, she said these related to the added distance commuters were required to walk to the terminus from the city centre's main shopping areas since some routes were transferred from Middle Abbey Street to Wellington Quay to accommodate Luas works.

She said none of the concerns related to the possibility that an accident such as Saturday's might happen. The company could not relocate a terminus any time it saw fit, and needed agreement from the Garda and Dublin City Council.

Ms Murphy last night told The Irish Times concerns had been raised with the company under three headings.

These related to the distance of the terminus from city shops, issues of personal safety for those waiting on buses after dark, and fears that insufficient space on the footpath would lead to pedestrians being pushed into the path of an oncoming bus.

She said since three bus stops were relocated from Middle Abbey Street in 2001 around 10 services now operated from the same stretch of kerb on Wellington Quay.

"Space is so tight that people are forced to step onto the road to get around the crowds on the footpath; the company felt themselves that it wasn't ideal.

"There are variations of the 25 route served from the spot, the 66, 66A, B, C and X as well as the 67, 67A and 26. They all service a very busy QBC route into one of the fastest developing regions in Dublin and Kildare and there's generally a tight turnaround.

"In some cases the drivers of the buses were getting out to assist others getting in. The buses are often parked so closely together that you can't even walk between them."

Ms Murphy said Dublin Bus had always listened to the council's concerns, and was examining plans to relocate some services to Aston Quay to relieve congestion on Wellington Quay.

However, she understood the company was "between a rock and a hard place" as it had to have sanction from Dublin City Council and the Garda before any terminus could be relocated.

Dublin Bus confirmed the possible use of kerb space at Aston Quay was one option being explored by the company. However, it said it did not believe there were safety issues at its terminuses.

It has opened a book of condolence at its head office on O'Connell Street.