Dublin Bus - taking notes for group fares

That's how Dublin Bus operates. They do not take bank notes, only coins, smart cards and pre-paid tickets. There are restrictions placed on the driver by the ticket machine.

Moved to the Commuting & Transport forum, as that is where the most Dublin Bus knowledge will reside.

dudara

OP, I'm sorry about the inconvenience but what was the driver supposed to do? He can't take the note because his machine won't accept it and if he waved her and the kids on board, it means anyone could flash a tenner at the driver and get free travel.

GG21057 wrote: »

I had to leave work and organise cars to collect as kids were due sleep / feed etc.

Skid X wrote: »

Dublin Bus machines are set up to take coins only - blame the company not the employee.

Wouldn't even blame Dublin Bus or the driver this is the fault of your wife sir.

If I recall, and someone might correct me on this but bank notes are not used any more because of the temptation of robbery. (?? so long ago now my memory might be fading)

Realtine wrote: »

If I recall, and someone might correct me on this but bank notes are not used any more because of the temptation of robbery. (?? so long ago now my memory might be fading)

More likely because the technology to read notes involves sensitive scanners which are not suitable for mounting on a bus and all it would take is one passenger with a worn-out fiver to hold up the entire queue. Plus accepting notes means you have to give change and the machines are not designed to hold a 'float' for giving change.

The 66 bus operates every 30 minutes - could she not have got change somewhere in the time it took you to drive there??

For such eventualities, please note that an entire group can be put on one Leap Card, assuming there is a sufficient balance.

GG21057 wrote: »

Wow, good points all around - that's me back in my box. Wife had a baby that needed to be home so I did what had to be done - no expense but a pain in the area.
As we don't use buses, were ignorant of the no notes rule though wife did ask a driver she met on the way to the bus stop (parked opposite the Glen Royal) who advised what the fare was but never said anything about notes.
Wife suggested running into Londis fir change but the driver was having none of it.
I compare this to the Luas to Heuston which I unfortunately have experience of and can only presume if you have to be a zombied scripted to be exempt from paying.

If you & your wife do not use buses on a regular basis, that is perfectly understandable. But don't you think that it was her responsibility to do a little bit of homework in advance on the mode of transport that she was taking, especially as she was in charge of getting a bunch of kids from A to B on it?

As for the driver who only told her the fare, he answered the question that she asked him. What else was he supposed to tell her? The next days weather forecast, this weeks winning lottery numbers? He is not a mind reader. As others have said, Dublin Buses have been coin only since Moses was a boy. It probably didn't occur to him that your wife wouldn't know this. It certainly wouldn't occur to me if someone asked me what the fare was for a bus.

Not letting your wife run into the Londis for change was a bit mean though imo. I can understand why drivers can not do it on a regular basis, as they all have time tables to stick to. But seeing as she had that many kids with her, I think he could have chilled out there a bit.

Conductors were great, and even though they're gone DB should still handle all legal tender. Ok, maybe not €500 notes.

Driver wasn't really a dick, but he could have been a good Samaritan considering the circumstances, and checked if he had the break of a tenner in his own pocket. That'd be the difference between a good driver and a great driver.

Very unlikely it was. The stop she was getting on is very close to the start of the 66 route in Maynooth. He would have just come into service.

GG21057 wrote: »

My wife visited Maynooth today with 7 kids under 6. Due to the number of kids (visitors) she couldn't use our car. She arrived by train and due to timetable opted to return by bus. She got all kids on and tendered a 10 Euro note for the 8 euro fare. The driver told her that cash is not accepted and asked her and the kids to get off the bus.
I know he was technically right, but what an enormous dick! She was only going to Leixlip. I had to leave work and organise cars to collect as kids were due sleep / feed etc.
Rant only; still thing the driver is a dick. Thoughts?

GG,could you perhaps confirm the exact terminology which the Busdriver allegedly used to your wife ?

You say,that your wife said,the Busdriver said..."Cash is not accepted".

Perhaps an element of "Dúirt bean liom go ndúirt bean léi",at play ?

As The BAC back-office Cash Counting system is automated and utilises Coin Counting machines,any note arriving with the coinage requires a manual intervention to remove it if its not to be shredded by,or jam up, the counting machinery.

In the "old-days" such human resources were available,however the constant quest for efficiency has meant automated systems are just that....untouched by human hand.

As a Busdriver myself,I and my colleagues,deal constantly (Incredibly,given it's more expensive than the pre-paid/Leapcard alternative) in Cash.

We do not accept NOTES,which is quite a different scenario,which is why I place some importance in the clarity of EXACTLY what the Busdriver concerned said to your wife.

In addition,I note that your Wife says the Busdriver then asked,rather than told,her to leave the bus,it may appear semantic,but it does give a sense of what attitude our alleged "Dick" was displaying towards this Customer Group.

Telling a woman and 7 children to get off a Bus in this instance,is difficult to countenance,however advising her of the situation and having her make the decision to leave could be one alternative ?

As an aside,I have encountered this issue on many occasions,and my own response is usually to immediately make a P/A announcement to this effect....

"Are there any passengers in the Lower Saloon with change in coin of a €X Note for a passenger,as this may prevent further DELAY"

This usually has two results,either the Note Bearer suddenly remembers a forgotten stash of coin,or more commonly,a rush of IMF style bailers-outers keen for the journey to continue,will appear and settle the affair.

On the very rare occasion when the PA does not produce a result,I will advise the Note Bearer that if they wish to continue their journey it will be at risk of incurring a Standard Fare.

Then,as soon as I reach a location close to a shop I will ask the Note Bearer if they would try for change,whilst I wait for them...It is important however,to keep the other passengers informed as to the cause of the delay.

I am not calling shenannigans on the OP,but that "Driver told her that Cash is not accepted"quote just does'nt quite gel with me.

By far and away the best avenue to avoid this scenario is the carrying of a Credited LeapCard...always remembering that even Bus Atha Cliath averse Cardholders can still make comprehensive use of it on Luas/DART/Suburban Rail/Wexford Bus/Matthews Coach/Cork City Bus.

Anyway GG,I do hope your wife (and Kids !) has recovered from the experience,with perhaps a Call to Customer Comment @ 8734222 just to advise of this experience...who knows,you might get a brace of Family Ramblers in recompense ?

ProudDUB wrote: »

Not letting your wife run into the Londis for change was a bit mean though imo. I can understand why drivers can not do it on a regular basis, as they all have time tables to stick to. But seeing as she had that many kids with her, I think he could have chilled out there a bit.

Who would look after the 8 kids? It's not a bus drivers job to mind other peoples children.