Dublin bus driver here, ask questions.

Wishbone Ash · 12-10-2012 9:53pm

My pet hate when driving buses (manuals - not cushy autos) was the "driver's friend" - those annoying men who think they are doing a service by standing beside you and talking shite. :rolleyes:

Scortho · 12-10-2012 9:56pm

Why does Dublin bus have 3 66x's passing through Leixlip around 8am and only one through Celbridge?
Rarely able to get on the 8am bus at the bridge in Celbridge but can get on a half empty 66x at the roundabout before the N4 in Leixlip
And if you don't know the answer, who can I complain too?

Other than that its a great service and the student tickets make it really cheap for me!;)
Best bus has to be the later ones home after 10 as the driver finally discovers where his accelerator is.....

haro124 · 12-10-2012 9:58pm

Do you think its stupid when the coin machine isnt working and they let people on 4 free ????
Do you think ther should be buses all night ???

bobby23 · 12-10-2012 10:02pm

Stheno wrote: »

Recurrent theme in your posts is "Don't really give a ****, will do anything for an easy life"

It's a really sad endorsement of the opinion a lot of people have of people in the likes of CIE, that they really couldn't be bothered to do anything over and above the minimum asked of them in their job.

Put it this way. Every driver out of the training school does everything by the book.
We all start off enforcing the rules, but when someone complains about a driver the management will always take the side of the complainer and reprimand the driver.
Eg. Passenger had a invalid ticket.
Told him it was invalid, and he would have to pay. Passenger blew a fuse.
Eventually passenger payed and on we went.
1 week later boss wanted to see me, had a complaint letter. The passenger who i made buy a ticket wrote in to say "he had never evaded paying for a fare in his life", and was made to pay for a ticket by me. He was offended that i would not let him travel for free!!!!
And as a regular customer of dublin bus he demanded i be sacked!! (for doing my job).
anyway boss was not happy with me" I should be sensitive to the mental state of our customers and not upset them".
i Was given a verbal warning not to upset customers.
Every driver can give you a similar story.
So what would you do? How would you behave?

bobby23 · 12-10-2012 10:04pm

Losty Dublin wrote: »

If you had your way, what bus would you choose as the one and only for Dublin Bus, past and present?

New buses are like driving a car, much better than old

kodoherty93 · 12-10-2012 10:05pm

Do bus inspectors exist anymore? I have gotten the bus for years without them.

Also my friends have said they have given fake addresses and gotten away with it. Do they actually check the address while they are on the bus? Can you bluff your way out of a ticket.

bobby23 · 12-10-2012 10:06pm

meoklmrk91 wrote: »

Whats your opinion of people thanking you when they get off the bus? Is it annoying to have 20 people getting off at once saying it, do you say it back?

Just give them a little wave, say bye.
Cost nothing to be nice

Julius Seizure · 12-10-2012 10:08pm

I like the question about destination vs. fare. When I was using cash I'd throw in and say how much, but leap makes that different and slower Also, regularly have an issue with the bus machine charging from say stage 29 to town instead of 28

bobby23 · 12-10-2012 10:08pm

squod wrote: »

Can I ask if you're a cyclist yourself? Do/did you commute daily to work on a bike for example?

dont bike to work too far.
But i do have a bike, no problem with them.
the bike lanes in dublin are a joke, rob peter to pay paul, only a line painted on a narrow road.

LXFlyer · 12-10-2012 10:09pm

countrymouse89 wrote: »

Hi Bobby,
Just wondering if you could tell me what is the student discount on the monthly tickets? Can't find any information on the website on the reduction.
I get the bus around 40 times a month and am trying to figure out the cheapest way to travel.
Thanks

Try here:

Adult Tickets
http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/Fares--Tickets/Tickets/2-Journey-Daily-Weekly/

Student Tickets
http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/Fares--Tickets/Tickets/Student-Tickets/

bobby23 · 12-10-2012 10:10pm

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

My pet hate when driving buses (manuals - not cushy autos) was the "driver's friend" - those annoying men who think they are doing a service by standing beside you and talking shite. :rolleyes:

Do your head in.
How do you get rid of them without offending?

LXFlyer · 12-10-2012 10:11pm

bobby23 wrote: »

Honestly have no idea,
As far as i know they are not operated by dublin bus.
Believe its the NTA. More jobs for the boys.

One explanation is that they disappear briefly from the AVLC/RTPI when there is a driver change as they rely on the driver's module being in the ticket machine and signed on.

Stheno · 12-10-2012 10:12pm

bobby23 wrote: »

Put it this way. Every driver out of the training school does everything by the book.
We all start off enforcing the rules, but when someone complains about a driver the management will always take the side of the complainer and reprimand the driver.
Eg. Passenger had a invalid ticket.
Told him it was invalid, and he would have to pay. Passenger blew a fuse.
Eventually passenger payed and on we went.
1 week later boss wanted to see me, had a complaint letter. The passenger who i made buy a ticket wrote in to say "he had never evaded paying for a fare in his life", and was made to pay for a ticket by me. He was offended that i would not let him travel for free!!!!
And as a regular customer of dublin bus he demanded i be sacked!! (for doing my job).
anyway boss was not happy with me" I should be sensitive to the mental state of our customers and not upset them".
i Was given a verbal warning not to upset customers.
Every driver can give you a similar story.
So what would you do? How would you behave?

Well so far you've admitted you don't check that people are owed change, advocated fare evasion and constantly suggested it's the fault of cyclists anytime they are cut up by busses.
Says an awful lot about your attitude.

What route do you cover so I can avoid it?

bobby23 · 12-10-2012 10:15pm

Scortho wrote: »

Why does Dublin bus have 3 66x's passing through Leixlip around 8am and only one through Celbridge?
Rarely able to get on the 8am bus at the bridge in Celbridge but can get on a half empty 66x at the roundabout before the N4 in Leixlip
And if you don't know the answer, who can I complain too?

Other than that its a great service and the student tickets make it really cheap for me!;)
Best bus has to be the later ones home after 10 as the driver finally discovers where his accelerator is.....

Have no answer.
Ring The depot , and make a nuisance of your self.

ledgebag1 · 12-10-2012 10:16pm

Good work bobby thanks coming on and being honest it's great to get the other side of the coin. On the topic of cyclists. I get the 66x home every evening and there is a guy on a bike holding up all the buses from beyond the inchi core turn off its amazing because it is the same guy every time and for a passenger it is the most frustrating thing to watch so I can only imagine how the driver feels
In response to the guy complaining about the buses through leixlip I would imagine it has the do with the fact in leixlip there are almost 20,000 people and combine that with the population of maynooth it probably justifies the extra buses

bobby23 · 12-10-2012 10:17pm

haro124 wrote: »

Do you think its stupid when the coin machine isnt working and they let people on 4 free ????
Do you think ther should be buses all night ???

Either let them on for free or dont carry them?

Out side of the main bus corridors, the service after 9 carries only a handfull of people. No need for all night bus service

12-10-2012 10:18pm

Dubhaltach wrote: »

I like the question about destination vs. fare. When I was using cash I'd throw in and say how much, but leap makes that different and slower Also, regularly have an issue with the bus machine charging from say stage 29 to town instead of 28

I always just say the destination with the Leap card as I honestly don't know how to work out the fares due to the stage system being so messy. If I recall correctly, Dublin Bus themselves say to specify the destination rather than the amount.

meoklmrk91 · 12-10-2012 10:18pm

bobby23 wrote: »

Just give them a little wave, say bye.
Cost nothing to be nice

Thanks just wanted ask as there was a thread in AH not so long ago talking about saying thanks to the bus driver and some posters wondered if it was in fact annoying to the driver.

countrymouse89 · 12-10-2012 10:20pm

lxflyer wrote: »

Try here:

Adult Tickets
http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/Fares--Tickets/Tickets/2-Journey-Daily-Weekly/

Student Tickets
http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/Fares--Tickets/Tickets/Student-Tickets/

Thanks... somehow managed to miss that page in all my confusion!

bobby23 · 12-10-2012 10:20pm

kodoherty93 wrote: »

Do bus inspectors exist anymore? I have gotten the bus for years without them.

Also my friends have said they have given fake addresses and gotten away with it. Do they actually check the address while they are on the bus? Can you bluff your way out of a ticket.

Yes they exist, they usually Blitz a route for a few day then move on to another route.

bobby23 · 12-10-2012 10:21pm

Dubhaltach wrote: »

I like the question about destination vs. fare. When I was using cash I'd throw in and say how much, but leap makes that different and slower Also, regularly have an issue with the bus machine charging from say stage 29 to town instead of 28

driver forgot to update stages, it happens.
will be automatic soon.

Scortho · 12-10-2012 10:22pm

bobby23 wrote: »

Put it this way. Every driver out of the training school does everything by the book.
We all start off enforcing the rules, but when someone complains about a driver the management will always take the side of the complainer and reprimand the driver.
Eg. Passenger had a invalid ticket.
Told him it was invalid, and he would have to pay. Passenger blew a fuse.
Eventually passenger payed and on we went.
1 week later boss wanted to see me, had a complaint letter. The passenger who i made buy a ticket wrote in to say "he had never evaded paying for a fare in his life", and was made to pay for a ticket by me. He was offended that i would not let him travel for free!!!!
And as a regular customer of dublin bus he demanded i be sacked!! (for doing my job).
anyway boss was not happy with me" I should be sensitive to the mental state of our customers and not upset them".
i Was given a verbal warning not to upset customers.
Every driver can give you a similar story.
So what would you do? How would you behave?

Had a look at the Dublin Bus Facebook page a while ago! some of the complaints about drivers are ridiculous.

bobby23 · 12-10-2012 10:22pm

lxflyer wrote: »

One explanation is that they disappear briefly from the AVLC/RTPI when there is a driver change as they rely on the driver's module being in the ticket machine and signed on.

Drivers dont have a module any more.
you just type in your ID and shift details.

LXFlyer · 12-10-2012 10:26pm

bobby23 wrote: »

Drivers dont have a module any more.
you just type in your ID and shift details.

Fair point - but the real point answering the question is that when you sign off the bus does temporarily vanish from AVLC/RTPI until the next driver signs on.

The system relies on the driver being signed on to work - hence buses can vanish and reappear.

bobby23 · 12-10-2012 10:26pm

Stheno wrote: »

Well so far you've admitted you don't check that people are owed change, advocated fare evasion and constantly suggested it's the fault of cyclists anytime they are cut up by busses.
Says an awful lot about your attitude.

What route do you cover so I can avoid it?

Would have to be Rain man to check change in slot.
Fare evasion is rampant, what i think dont mean a thing.
Do cyclist have to pass any type of test to get on the road?
i am in the best of health, not a worry in the world, how many people can say that?

Wishbone Ash · 12-10-2012 10:26pm

Bobby - have DB drivers been made aware that the requirement of cyclists to use cycle lanes where provided is due to be revoked soon by Minister Varadkar?

pm1977x · 12-10-2012 10:29pm

Is there always a bus stop at every stage? I thought so but am now convinced there's a 'phantom' stage straight after Heuston before Con Colbert Road, maybe a throwback to an old long since removed stop - or can there be a stage without a bus stop?

deelite · 12-10-2012 10:30pm

Have you ever considered playing music on the buses at certain times of the day eg 7.30am on Monday Boontown Rats - I don't like Mondays, or the Bangles Manic Monday and for Friday evenings at 5.00 ish something upbeat

bobby23 · 12-10-2012 10:30pm

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Bobby - have DB drivers been made aware that the requirement of cyclists to use cycle lanes where provided is due to be revoked soon by Minister Varadkar?

news to me

pm1977x · 12-10-2012 10:31pm

lxflyer wrote: »

Fair point - but the real point answering the question is that when you sign off the bus does temporarily vanish from AVLC/RTPI until the next driver signs on.

The system relies on the driver being signed on to work - hence buses can vanish and reappear.

Interesting, thanks Lxflyer

Stheno · 12-10-2012 10:32pm

bobby23 wrote: »

Would have to be Rain man to check change in slot.
Fare evasion is rampant, what i thing dont mean a thing.
Do cyclist have to pass any type of test to get on the road?
i am in the best of heath, no a worry in the world, how many people can say that?

So basically you are unable to do one element of your job checking fares?

All of your posts basically support shutting down Dublin Bus and privatising it.
Getting rid of people who are overpaid for not carrying out basic elements of their job (such as you), and encourage fare evasion would be a start.

Scortho · 12-10-2012 10:32pm

bobby23 wrote: »

Have no answer.
Ring The depot , and make a nuisance of your self.

ledgebag1 wrote: »

Good work bobby thanks coming on and being honest it's great to get the other side of the coin. On the topic of cyclists. I get the 66x home every evening and there is a guy on a bike holding up all the buses from beyond the inchi core turn off its amazing because it is the same guy every time and for a passenger it is the most frustrating thing to watch so I can only imagine how the driver feels
In response to the guy complaining about the buses through leixlip I would imagine it has the do with the fact in leixlip there are almost 20,000 people and combine that with the population of maynooth it probably justifies the extra buses

Im not trying to be a nuisance.
Apparently Celbridge has a population of 19,537 compared to Leixlips population of 15,452.....if Wikipedia is to be believed!:rolleyes:

My point was basically that every morning at that stop before joining the N4 any 66x will have a lot of empty seats, while on most days the 67x will be full before the bridge in Celbridge and drives by people at the stops all along the Dublin Road. Even the drivers moan about it at this stage as they know people now have to wait for a half an hour for the next bus!

What I've resorted to doing is hopping on a normal 67 and hopping off before the N4 and onto a 66x.
Drivers of the 67 always give me a puzzled look!

12-10-2012 10:37pm

Stheno wrote: »

So basically you are unable to do one element of your job checking fares?

All of your posts basically support shutting down Dublin Bus and privatising it.
Getting rid of people who are overpaid for not carrying out basic elements of their job (such as you), and encourage fare evasion would be a start.

It's a catch 22, from what he said, if he enforces the rules then some moany passenger will drag him over the coals to his boss. Which is wrong, completely. Why teach a driver the rules if they'll later be grilled for enforcing them?

Kurooi · 12-10-2012 10:38pm

Do bus drivers ever notice that someone is smoking on the bus?
Do they care?
Can they do anything about it?

I often see people do it, together with alcohol and illegal drugs even and only once in a while does the bus driver actually spam the "smoking is illegal..." message, which actually works like a charm but still I would love to once in a while see Garda getting hold of the more out right bad passengers.

Scortho · 12-10-2012 10:39pm

bobby23 wrote: »

Would have to be Rain man to check change in slot.
Fare evasion is rampant, what i thing dont mean a thing.
Do cyclist have to pass any type of test to get on the road?
i am in the best of heath, no a worry in the world, how many people can say that?

Is there no actual coin counting machine?
SO I could just throw in a fistful of 10c and be on my merry way without having paid the full fair?

Stheno · 12-10-2012 10:40pm

Karsini wrote: »

It's a catch 22, from what he said, if he enforces the rules then some moany passenger will drag him over the coals to his boss. Which is wrong, completely. Why teach a driver the rules if they'll later be grilled for enforcing them?

Why come on a public forum, endorse fare evasion, admit you can't count which is required as part of your job, don't give people refunds they are entitled to, ignore or blame other road users for issues, and then blame management for everything to do with customers?

Seriously I think his attitude is pathetic, and given how strong the CIE unions are, it's probably part of what fosters this "management will get me/doesn't matter how I behave on fare evasion" attitude.

12-10-2012 10:42pm

Kurooi wrote: »

Do bus drivers ever notice that someone is smoking on the bus?
Do they care?
Can they do anything about it?

I often see people do it, together with alcohol and illegal drugs even and only once in a while does the bus driver actually spam the "smoking is illegal..." message, which actually works like a charm but still I would love to once in a while see Garda getting hold of the more out right bad passengers.

My personal experience is that I've only seen it once, on a 78A several years back, the driver stopped the bus in Inchicore, went upstairs and told off some lads upstairs at the back. Me personally, I'd be afraid they'd knife me if I tried...

I was also on a bus a few years ago where a passenger tried to board, refused to show his travel pass, then got aggressive when the driver refused him entry, Had to wait about 5 minutes for the Gardai from Ballyfermot to come and take him away.

12-10-2012 10:45pm

Stheno wrote: »

Why come on a public forum, endorse fare evasion, admit you can't count which is required as part of your job, don't give people refunds they are entitled to, ignore or blame other road users for issues, and then blame management for everything to do with customers?

Seriously I think his attitude is pathetic, and given how strong the CIE unions are, it's probably part of what fosters this "management will get me/doesn't matter how I behave on fare evasion" attitude.

I'm not saying it's right, just that I can see where he's coming from. I don't agree with the travel pass remark though.

bobby23 · 12-10-2012 10:45pm

pm1977x wrote: »

Is there always a bus stop at every stage? I thought so but am now convinced there's a 'phantom' stage straight after Heuston before Con Colbert Road, maybe a throwback to an old long since removed stop - or can there be a stage without a bus stop?

Stages are a mystery even to drivers.

ledgebag1 · 12-10-2012 10:46pm

Scortho wrote: »

Im not trying to be a nuisance.
Apparently Celbridge has a population of 19,537 compared to Leixlips population of 15,452.....if Wikipedia is to be believed!:rolleyes:

My point was basically that every morning at that stop before joining the N4 any 66x will have a lot of empty seats, while on most days the 67x will be full before the bridge in Celbridge and drives by people at the stops all along the Dublin Road. Even the drivers moan about it at this stage as they know people now have to wait for a half an hour for the next bus!

What I've resorted to doing is hopping on a normal 67 and hopping off before the N4 and onto a 66x.
Drivers of the 67 always give me a puzzled look!

Wikipedia is wrong unfortunately far more in leixlip and as mentioned the maynooth customers combined full up the seats. I get the 740 x and it is almost full in leixlip village. I think this is due to reduced carriages on the trains

Kurooi · 12-10-2012 10:46pm

Yeah that's the problem I don't really expect the drivers to do much since yes most likely they would get killed but that is just lawless! I mean how easy would it be to once a week get a bus pulled over by the gardai and get the people there tickets or jail. I am sure they would not dare fight against a few officers.

Stheno · 12-10-2012 10:47pm

Karsini wrote: »

I'm not saying it's right, just that I can see where he's coming from. I don't agree with the travel pass remark though.

I can somewhat see where he is coming from, but as far as I'm concerned, he's basically painting Dublin Bus in a very bad light both from his posts as to his attitude and the whole "management" side of it.

Makes a good case for winding it up and privatising it, amazingly the drivers on the Swords Express manage to count change accurately on a daily basis. The service is on time, busses are clean, drivers are polite etc.

pistonsvox · 12-10-2012 10:47pm

Is there any reason for a driver not to stop for passengers at a bus stop?

I was heading home from work one night waiting for the last bus and there was a group of people beside me drinking cans, he just took one look at them and then just kept on driving leaving me to get an expensive cab home!

Kurooi · 12-10-2012 10:47pm

Karsini wrote: »

My personal experience is that I've only seen it once, on a 78A several years back, the driver stopped the bus in Inchicore, went upstairs and told off some lads upstairs at the back. Me personally, I'd be afraid they'd knife me if I tried...

I was also on a bus a few years ago where a passenger tried to board, refused to show his travel pass, then got aggressive when the driver refused him entry, Had to wait about 5 minutes for the Gardai from Ballyfermot to come and take him away.

Yeah that's the problem I don't really expect the drivers to do much since yes most likely they would get killed but that is just lawless! I mean how easy would it be to once a week get a bus pulled over by the gardai and get the people there tickets or jail. I am sure they would not dare fight against a few officers.

Stheno · 12-10-2012 10:48pm

bobby23 wrote: »

Stages are a mystery even to drivers.

Ah jesus, so now despite being on a route for a year, you can't count coins, and don't even understand stages?

Mycroft H · 12-10-2012 10:48pm

Scortho wrote: »

bobby23 wrote: »

Would have to be Rain man to check change in slot.
Fare evasion is rampant, what i thing dont mean a thing.
Do cyclist have to pass any type of test to get on the road?
i am in the best of heath, no a worry in the world, how many people can say that?

Is there no actual coin counting machine?
SO I could just throw in a fistful of 10c and be on my merry way without having paid the full fair?

Yep! I used to throw a load of coppers and 10,20 cents when I was short change in college

12-10-2012 10:49pm

Stheno wrote: »

Makes a good case for winding it up and privatising it, amazingly the drivers on the Swords Express manage to count change accurately on a daily basis. The service is on time, busses are clean, drivers are polite etc.

After the whole Eircom fiasco I'm vehemently against any privatisation of state assets. Reform it (properly, not the Croke Park Agreement style of "reform") but don't sell it off. Anyway, I'm veering off topic here.

bobby23 · 12-10-2012 10:49pm

deelite wrote: »

Have you ever considered playing music on the buses at certain times of the day eg 7.30am on Monday Boontown Rats - I don't like Mondays, or the Bangles Manic Monday and for Friday evenings at 5.00 ish something upbeat

Plenty of people with walkmans turned up full volume

Posy · 12-10-2012 10:49pm

Stheno wrote: »

So basically you are unable to do one element of your job checking fares?

All of your posts basically support shutting down Dublin Bus and privatising it.
Getting rid of people who are overpaid for not carrying out basic elements of their job (such as you), and encourage fare evasion would be a start.

To be fair though, if I pay a €1.90 fare with eleven 10c, 2 20c, six 5c, three 2c and four 1c coins it would take a good half minute to try and locate and tot up all those coins, slowing down the whole process.

Cyclists don't have to use cycle lanes anymore?
(so that's cycle lanes and traffic lights they can disregard so!) :pac:

Are Dublin Bus ever going to do away with the crazy stage system?

Stheno · 12-10-2012 10:53pm

Karsini wrote: »

After the whole Eircom fiasco I'm vehemently against any privatisation of state assets. Reform it (properly, not the Croke Park Agreement style of "reform") but don't sell it off. Anyway, I'm veering off topic here.

Reform is as good as privatisation if it's done right, I'd be happy with that.

Posy wrote: »

To be fair though, if I pay a €1.90 fare with eleven 10c, 2 20c, six 5c, three 2c and four 1c coins it would take a good half minute to try and locate and tot up all those coins, slowing down the whole process.

Didn't realise they take coppers, that madness.

I suppose given that the drivers can't count, they could replace the machines used now with counting machines that will ping when the relevant amount is in.

Dublin bus driver here, ask questions.

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