Madam, – Fintan O’Toole’s column on cuts in Dublin Bus services (Opinion, March 24th) is the first fair and sensible comment I have seen on this topic. Although I am not living in Ireland any longer, I am shocked and sickened by the way the Government is treating the bus service.
Contrary to what many people maintain, I found Dublin Bus services in my area (Artane) had improved greatly in recent years. Buses were frequent and accessible, routes were direct, and one could get into the city centre reasonably promptly. It was certainly an attractive alternative to the car or the Dart.
Mr O’Toole’s characterisation of Government transport policy as “fur coat and no knickers” is spot on. There is an obsession with expensive schemes that will be accessible to very few and that will soon be heavily overcrowded – in other words, perpetuating the limitations of the Dart and Luas. And these are mostly only in the pipeline, so in the current financial climate, who knows when they will arrive? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Yesterday I was waiting to catch the 140 bus home from work, which at peak rates is supposed to come along every 10 minutes.
The bus did eventually arrive after I had waited 30 minutes. During that time no fewer than seven 46A buses came along, mostly in pairs. Surely this demonstrates a case for route reform.
It saddens me that Dublin Bus is cutting routes and services at a time when we need to be reducing traffic congestion. Surely it should be concentrating services in areas that are less well serviced by other forms of public transport. My bus yesterday was followed immediately by another 140 which drove effortlessly through the city centre to the northside without picking up passengers.
The service which covers my area is infrequent and not dependable so I mostly cycle to work or drive. Is it any wonder that passenger numbers are down?
Dublin Bus drivers need to face reality and be open to reform. – Yours, etc,