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Dublin Bus Mythbuster

  • 21-10-2014 11:45am
    #1
    s8080
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 102 ✭✭


    You will be delighted to know this forum has developed a bit of a cult following in the dublin bus canteen.
    The hate for dublin bus drivers that jumps off the screen is palatable, along with the complete ignorance of how things work, some really don’t have the foggiest idea how real world is.

    So i see two discussions here today, the first one about smelly food on the bus, people complain about it and in the same post admit that they bring on smell food as well. Why complain when you do it as well?

    second one is about a passenger wanting to travel for free on the bus, the driver would not let them. passenger was offended that they did not get to travel for free. Please tell us where you do your grocery shopping, so we can fill our trolly up and walk out of the shop without paying.
    The same posters who believe the passenger should have been let on for free will be on here complaining about fare increases .Well what do you want, if people travel for free ,someone has to pay for it.

    When a passenger trys to get on without out paying they usually go on a rant about how” rude the driver is , you so aggressive, i feel scared.”
    here is how it really went down, passenger has no money on leap card,
    Driver- there is no money on the card
    Passenger- i just put 20 on it in the shop
    D- well it on on it now
    P- this is ridiculous i put the money on it 10 minutes ago in the shop
    D- well don’t be angry with me , go back to the shop and sort it out there
    P- your so rude, no need to be so aggressive ,(if a woman) your scaring me with your anger)
    D-well there is no money on the card, you will have to buy a ticket
    P- (Oscar worthy display on righteous indignation). no need to be so aggressive
    D-(thinking to themselves , here we go the big oscar worthy scene is coming,they will make a scene, try embarrass the driver and they will let me on for free.)

    When the driver don’t let them on for free they usually blow a fuse call the driver names, and possible come here to spout lies.

    Not once in the whole event will the driver have done anything wrong, no anger, no aggression, just a familiar weariness of how this will play out.
    Thats the truth of the matter, you know it as well, if you are a passenger you have most likely seen it play out exactly like this dozens of times.

    So put up more uninformed lies and i shall shoot them down.


«1345678

Comments

  • #2
    LuckyLloyd
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 36,403 ✭✭✭✭LuckyLloyd


    Bear in mind that some regulars on the forum such as myself generally post positively about Dublin Bus services. I personally think a good and ever improving service is offered and feel that many of the criticisms recycled on here are often incorrect.

    Just in the interests of balance - we aren't all wielding pitchforks! :)


  • #3
    Tiger Mcilroy
    Registered Users Posts: 1,562 ✭✭✭Tiger Mcilroy


    This is a perfect example of the attitude from drivers that put people off using the bus.


  • #4
    pclive
    Registered Users Posts: 453 ✭✭pclive


    s8080 whats your take on operating the rear doors?


  • #5
    s8080
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 102 ✭✭s8080


    Tiger Mcilroy wrote: »
    This is a perfect example of the attitude from drivers that put people off using the bus.
    these type of post are why a drivers have a good laugh at some of the post here.

    What was wrong with the drivers attitude?
    He would not let a passenger travel for free, do you think those passengers who already payed or those in the queue waiting to buy a ticket will be happy he traveled for free while they paid?
    Driver done nothing wrong , yet some wont accept it.

    A perfect example of the double standards on display here,
    "i should be able to eat smelly food, i should be able to travel for free" but no one else


  • #6
    JustAddWater
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,990 ✭✭✭JustAddWater


    s8080 wrote: »
    these type of post are why a drivers have a good laugh at some of the post here.

    What was wrong with the drivers attitude?
    He would not let a passenger travel for free, do you think those passengers who already payed or those in the queue waiting to buy a ticket will be happy he traveled for free while they paid?
    Driver done nothing wrong , yet some wont accept it.

    A perfect example of the double standards on display here,
    "i should be able to eat smelly food, i should be able to travel for free" but no one else

    It's not what you say but how you say it


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  • #7
    messrs
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭messrs


    Going on personal experience of using Dublin Bus, id say its 90% good 10% bad, your always going to get some drivers who are rude ect but for the most part they are fine. The amount of abuse drivers have to put up with from passengers is unreal, the '13' would be the bus I use the most and there have been times where I don't know how the driver kept calm and didn't abuse the passenger, at the end of the day bus drivers are just doing their job. They can have bad days 2, just like the rest of us, but if they take that out on anyone then then they are considered rude/abusive ect


  • #8
    Tiger Mcilroy
    Registered Users Posts: 1,562 ✭✭✭Tiger Mcilroy


    s8080 wrote: »
    these type of post are why a drivers have a good laugh at some of the post here.

    What was wrong with the drivers attitude?
    He would not let a passenger travel for free, do you think those passengers who already payed or those in the queue waiting to buy a ticket will be happy he traveled for free while they paid?
    Driver done nothing wrong , yet some wont accept it.

    A perfect example of the double standards on display here,
    "i should be able to eat smelly food, i should be able to travel for free" but no one else

    I have no issue with the driver your talking about and never said or posted that, its your attitude that stinks.


  • #9
    solomafioso
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,095 ✭✭✭solomafioso


    This thread is going to end in disaster. It's already starting off as a us vs them argument.

    Posting here will just feed any trolls who will want to derail this thread as a personal vendetta against Dublin Bus.


  • #10
    s8080
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 102 ✭✭s8080


    JustAddWater wrote: »
    It's not what you say but how you say it

    i not using fancy words that could not be misinterpret, just plain english, my answers donthave a hidden meaning or cannot be twisted to back up a agenda.
    I have nothing to hide, you know most of the storys here are exaggerated, totally ridiculous fantasy only in the head of the posters.


  • #11
    s8080
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 102 ✭✭s8080


    Tiger Mcilroy wrote: »
    I have no issue with the driver your talking about and never said or posted that, its your attitude that stinks.

    so you have a issue with the truth?
    no bad attitude from me, just want to give you the honest truth.


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  • #12
    s8080
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 102 ✭✭s8080


    pclive wrote: »
    s8080 whats your take on operating the rear doors?

    rear doors are great, if you can pull the bus in close to the kerb. Not possible at a lot of stops in city centre.


  • #13
    s8080
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 102 ✭✭s8080


    solomafioso wrote: »
    This thread is going to end in disaster. It's already starting off as a us vs them argument.

    Posting here will just feed any trolls who will want to derail this thread as a personal vendetta against Dublin Bus.

    i dont want this to be a us v them discussion, i just want to inform people here on what is really happening. i have no hidden agenda


  • #14
    biko
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81,220 ✭✭✭✭biko


    It seems to me many passengers have a general problem with rude drivers.
    The problem is (sometimes) that the driver may not be rude at all but the passenger feels hard done by for whatever reason and contributes this to "rudeness".

    And of course happy passengers won't log on to boards to share how they have travelled with the same bus for months with no complaints, whereas all you need is one angry passenger to do so.


  • #15
    Tiger Mcilroy
    Registered Users Posts: 1,562 ✭✭✭Tiger Mcilroy


    solomafioso wrote: »
    This thread is going to end in disaster. It's already starting off as a us vs them argument.

    Posting here will just feed any trolls who will want to derail this thread as a personal vendetta against Dublin Bus.

    This thread will end in disaster as the OP has come out on the offensive straight away and his stance is very clearly outlined in the quote below. If there is to be an open and respectful exchange of views then maybe the OP should start again.

    The hate for dublin bus drivers that jumps off the screen is palatable, along with the complete ignorance of how things work, some really don’t have the foggiest idea how real world is.


  • #16
    biko
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81,220 ✭✭✭✭biko


    Bold and underlined - easy there Tiger ;)


  • #17
    JustAddWater
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,990 ✭✭✭JustAddWater


    s8080 wrote: »
    i not using fancy words that could not be misinterpret, just plain english, my answers donthave a hidden meaning or cannot be twisted to back up a agenda.
    I have nothing to hide, you know most of the storys here are exaggerated, totally ridiculous fantasy only in the head of the posters.

    Not saying you, but have seen cases where the bus driver says, ain't my problem, basically, walk home and deal with it.
    Issues happen and some drivers seem to be lacking any sympathy to people with problems

    Driving a bus is on part of the job. Dealing with customers seems to be forgotten as another part of the job


  • #18
    messrs
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭messrs


    biko wrote: »
    It seems to me many passengers have a general problem with rude drivers.
    The problem is (sometimes) that the driver may not be rude at all but the passenger feels hard done by for whatever reason and contributes this to "rudeness".

    And of course happy passengers won't log on to boards to share how they have travelled with the same bus for months with no complaints, whereas all you need is one angry passenger to do so.


    I am a happy passenger & I commented above to say that, and that majority of drives are nice.


  • #19
    Tiger Mcilroy
    Registered Users Posts: 1,562 ✭✭✭Tiger Mcilroy


    biko wrote: »
    Bold and underlined - easy there Tiger ;)

    Well apparently anybody posting a negative experience about dublin bus or a driver is tantamount to hate and they are liars and not in the real world..:eek:


  • #20
    jimmii
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,810 ✭✭✭✭jimmii


    I use the 40/140 a fair bit and haven't got a bad word to say about any drivers over the last 2 years using that service often amazed how well they keep their cool with all the people who just try and quickly push on or those who think they can just put a euro in and go to Ikea and then when asked pretend oh thought it was a euro thats all I have. It would save drivers a lot of hassle to just let them all go so fair play to them for taking these people on when they are trying it.


  • #21
    Mikros
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 505 ✭✭✭Mikros


    Well for what it's worth I find Dublin Bus drivers are generally helpful and considerate. It's been a long while since I remember seeing anything other than professionalism and I get a bus several times a week.

    My problems would be with the fare structure, excessive bus stops on some routes, policing of bus lanes, timetables and the lack of late night buses. But none of that is down to the driver so I wouldn't hold it against them.


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  • #22
    MattD1349
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81 ✭✭MattD1349


    Tiger Mcilroy wrote: »
    I have no issue with the driver your talking about and never said or posted that, its your attitude that stinks.

    if you think his attitude stinks then maybe you should smell his fingers... 😆

    Couldn't resist! Seriously though, people have a job to do. Bus drivers aren't there to be used as other people's voodoo dolls anymore than passengers are. Good and bad everywhere.


  • #23
    s8080
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 102 ✭✭s8080


    so the dublin bus rush hour post.

    People complaining about no room on the bus as it passes by without stopping, "dublin bus are a disgrace not putting on extra buses to carry the passengers, they are leaving loads of money at the side of the road."

    Dublin bus are well aware of this and would like nothing better than to put on extra buses. Truth is they are forbidden by the NTA to put on extra buses.

    Remember folks dont let the truth get in the way when you want to give out about dublin bus.


  • #24
    keith16
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,061 ✭✭✭keith16


    My experiences with Dublin bus are generally good. The network / timetabling / payment system could always be better. But that's hardly the fault of the bus driver.


  • #25
    BabysCoffee
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,713 ✭✭✭BabysCoffee


    Today I was on a bus. There was a lady standing at the middle door. When the bus stopped she shouted "Middle Door". The driver didn't open it so she went up front and got off there.

    What's that about?


  • #26
    ClovenHoof
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,121 ✭✭✭ClovenHoof


    I do not hate Dublin B us drivers.

    I just expect a level of customer service across the board with the scumbag and incompetent drivers sacked for their often disgusting behaviour towards passengers and not the 90% of the decent drivers forming a protective ring around these dirtbags/deadbeats and screaming 'Larkin!!! Larkin!!!' towards any hint of personal accountability for wrong doing.


  • #27
    Kalimah
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,257 ✭✭✭Kalimah


    Have to say I find Dublin Bus a very good service. Polite helpful drivers on the 15 route anyway! One even had classical music on one morning heading into town. Kept him sane I'd say!
    Not an easy job by any means.


  • #28
    RobbingBandit
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,193 ✭✭✭✭RobbingBandit


    Had an issue a while back two buses turned up at once, one stopped about 20 metres behind the other let his passengers off and wouldn't let any on closing his door and drove off, the other bus was crowded and ended up leaving many behind me included. Stupid imo to have two buses in such close proximity timewise(17:45 iirc) on the same route(39a btw).


  • #29
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    have to say generally have good experiences on DB,
    I do feel for the drivers in those situations where people want to get on for free or don't have enough change no matter what its always going to end up with them saying the drivers attitude stinks or something to that effect,
    its like people getting ID 'd for smokes or drink in shops they don't have ID so they give abuse :\


  • #30
    s8080
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 102 ✭✭s8080


    i will post in broad terms to try keep it simple

    Dublin bus has never been busier, the NTA will say passengers numbers are down, the reality is different.

    NTA will say 1,000,000 passengers a week 5 years ago, only 900,000 today.
    sounds good but dig deeper 5 years ago the fleet was 1,000 buses , today 800.
    The NTA are not lying jut economical with the truth.

    Free travel pass users has exploded, they are not counted.only fare paying passengers.

    Now this is where the piece of junk ticket machines come into it.
    Just as the bus services of europe where scrapping these machines, the NTA where spending million to bring them to dublin bus.
    As everyone who has ever used one can see they are not up to the job, well not the job you would expect them to do.
    If you wanted a way to under report the number of passengers they are perfect, at a conservative estimate i would say 6 hours a week they dont work, validator beside door out of service, and leap card users travel for free.
    Then you have the leap tranactions at the drivers machine, dozens of times per day, Bad read/faulty update messages pop up after a ticket has supposedly been purchase and the passenger has walked away. Passengers traveling for free. None of these passengers are recorded as using the bus.

    Great news you say , free travel. Think again.

    ESB was the only source of electrity in ireland, govermnent said competition would be good for all of us.
    ESB ordered to raise price of electricy from 10c a unit to 15c.
    Now new companies sell electricy at 14c a unit, government says look competition good, you get electricty cheaper than of ESB.
    We are paying 40% more than we would if the ESB did not have "competition"

    Whats this got to do with dublin bus you ask, well if passenger numbers are down (they are most definatly not)
    More free travel passes and faulty ticket machines ensure the numbers appear to be down.The NTA will raise ticket prices to balance the books.
    So next year the max fare will be E3.50. Then the private operators appear to save the day with competition and bring cheaper fares, expect around E3.30.
    You will be delighted you are paying less than the dublin bus fare, but fail to see if the NTA and government where not interfering you would only be paying E2.50


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  • #31
    s8080
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 102 ✭✭s8080


    Mikros wrote: »

    My problems would be with the fare structure, excessive bus stops on some routes, policing of bus lanes, timetables and the lack of late night buses. But none of that is down to the driver so I wouldn't hold it against them.

    These are all out of dublin buses control, blame the NTA for them all except the policing of bus lanes.


  • #32
    s8080
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 102 ✭✭s8080


    ClovenHoof wrote: »
    I do not hate Dublin B us drivers.

    I just expect a level of customer service across the board with the scumbag and incompetent drivers sacked for their often disgusting behaviour towards passengers and not the 90% of the decent drivers forming a protective ring around these dirtbags/deadbeats and screaming 'Larkin!!! Larkin!!!' towards any hint of personal accountability for wrong doing.

    you do know you dont have to have any interaction with the driver.
    Use a Leap card and get information on a journey on your smart phone or PC.


  • #33
    s8080
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 102 ✭✭s8080


    keith16 wrote: »
    My experiences with Dublin bus are generally good. The network / timetabling / payment system could always be better. But that's hardly the fault of the bus driver.

    All of your complaints are the responsibility of the NTA.
    Why is there no posting here about the NTA?


  • #34
    MagicMarker
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 32,865 ✭✭✭✭MagicMarker


    s8080 wrote: »
    here is how it really went down, passenger has no money on leap card,
    Driver- there is no money on the card
    Passenger- i just put 20 on it in the shop
    D- well it on on it now
    P- this is ridiculous i put the money on it 10 minutes ago in the shop
    D- well don’t be angry with me , go back to the shop and sort it out there
    P- your so rude, no need to be so aggressive ,(if a woman) your scaring me with your anger)
    D-well there is no money on the card, you will have to buy a ticket
    P- (Oscar worthy display on righteous indignation). no need to be so aggressive
    D-(thinking to themselves , here we go the big oscar worthy scene is coming,they will make a scene, try embarrass the driver and they will let me on for free.)

    This is poor customer service. What the driver should say is "As you only topped up your leap card 10 minutes ago, you must still have the receipt detailing the transaction and the correct balance, would you please hand it over so I can inspect same?"At which point the customer hands it over, and the driver allows the customer onto the bus as a gesture of good will, understanding that sometimes these things happen.

    The only problems with your posts s8080 is that you seem to think drivers are infallible, and are never at fault.


  • #35
    mawk
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,738 ✭✭✭mawk


    s8080 wrote: »
    i not using fancy words that could not be misinterpret, just plain english,

    Must... Not.. Smartass...


    Damn it..


  • #36
    n97 mini
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,295 ✭✭✭n97 mini


    Why do posts from people who claim to be DB drivers contain so many typos/misspellings? I'm starting to believe a lot aren't DB drivers at all.


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  • #37
    RobbingBandit
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,193 ✭✭✭✭RobbingBandit


    Why, I wouldn't have thought driving a bus would require an expert vocabulary, no offence meant by this btw.


  • #38
    Dravokivich
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Music Moderators, Politics Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 22,360 CMod ✭✭✭✭Dravokivich


    MagicMarker wrote: »
    This is poor customer service. What the driver should say is "As you only topped up your leap card 10 minutes ago, you must still have the receipt detailing the transaction and the correct balance, would you please hand it over so I can inspect same?"At which point the customer hands it over, and the driver allows the customer onto the bus as a gesture of good will, understanding that sometimes these things happen.

    The only problems with your posts s8080 is that you seem to think drivers are infallible, and are never at fault.

    And for how long with other services should that go on for? The issue isn't with the driver or dublinbus. If someone was to go up with empty pockets and say "I got change earlier" should they still be let on?


  • #39
    MagicMarker
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 32,865 ✭✭✭✭MagicMarker


    Dravokivich wrote: »
    And for how long with other services should that go on for? The issue isn't with the driver or dublinbus. If someone was to go up with empty pockets and say "I got change earlier" should they still be let on?

    What kind of analogy is that? Not having change is clearly not the same as having essentially pre-paid for a service and then being denied said service!!

    The issue is with the driver and dublin bus, they're the ones that are trying to get people to use a leap card, so they should most definitely be trying to help those who are affected when it doesn't work properly.

    The person who is not at fault in the scenario described is the customer. Is some basic customer service really too much to ask for?


  • #40
    s8080
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 102 ✭✭s8080


    n97 mini wrote: »
    Why do posts from people who claim to be DB drivers contain so many typos/misspellings? I'm starting to believe a lot aren't DB drivers at all.


    in my case its a wireless keyboard and the battery is nearly gone not all key presses are registered plus other distractions so not 100% focusing on screen, if you want to think im thick go right ahead, i have been called worse at work


  • #41
    s8080
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 102 ✭✭s8080


    MagicMarker wrote: »
    What kind of analogy is that? Not having change is clearly not the same as having essentially pre-paid for a service and then being denied said service!!

    The issue is with the driver and dublin bus, they're the ones that are trying to get people to use a leap card, so they should most definitely be trying to help those who are affected when it doesn't work properly.

    The person who is not at fault in the scenario described is the customer. Is some basic customer service really too much to ask for?

    very simple, how long do you think the fare paying passengers would be happy if they saw someone getting on for free. They either have or are just about to pay and they see someone not, big argument would erupt.

    This pre-paid for a service and being denied service is stupid, so you get a gift card of your mother for you birthday and when you try and use it in a shop it does not work, would you expect the shop to give you the goods for free as a good will gesture?


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  • #42
    Cookie_Monster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,522 ✭✭✭✭Cookie_Monster


    s8080 wrote: »
    Truth is they are forbidden by the NTA to put on extra buses.

    they can when it suits them, a couple of extra 84x have just been added
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=92691431&postcount=55


  • #43
    Cookie_Monster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,522 ✭✭✭✭Cookie_Monster


    s8080 wrote: »
    All of your complaints are the responsibility of the NTA.
    Why is there no posting here about the NTA?

    the NTA are only a new enough organisation and inherited plenty of huge steaming turds from CIE and the DofT in regards a lot of issues. They are, at least, starting to make progress on things.

    However the networking / timetabling and fare structure are definitely DB legacy issues...


  • #44
    Esel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,512 ✭✭✭✭Esel


    mawk wrote: »
    Must... Not.. Smartass...


    Damn it..
    Too late, you did.
    n97 mini wrote: »
    Why do posts from people who claim to be DB drivers contain so many typos/misspellings? I'm starting to believe a lot aren't DB drivers at all.
    See below, or underneath your seat. That's where the smelly food usually is...
    s8080 wrote: »
    in my case its a wireless keyboard and the battery is nearly gone not all key presses are registered plus other distractions so not 100% focusing on screen, if you want to think im thick go right ahead, i have been called worse at work

    Not your ornery onager



  • #45
    jamesbondings
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,201 ✭✭✭jamesbondings


    s8080 wrote: »
    so you have a issue with the truth?
    no bad attitude from me, just want to give you the honest truth.

    While I appreciate the honesty of a DB driver coming on here i do feel you have went about it the wrong way. To start your post does smack of attitude in an im right and the commuter is wrong kinda way.

    If you just want to give us the honest truth as you so put it, explain a few things to me please.

    Why when in nice areas like blackrock, sandyford, dundrum etc is it ok for a bus driver to stop outside of the bus stops to let people (running for the bus) on, but as soon as you cross that liffey all the official rules stick?

    Why (on some routes) can the bus driver not issue the correct tickets at the correct prices?

    Why are some drivers rude, obnoxious and generally horrible to deal with?

    Why will some drivers pack their bus to the gills (nearly to the point of it being seriously dangerous) when others fill it to the limit?


    I hate dublin bus, not because of the drivers so much as i have little to no interaction with you for the most part, but because of management, because they cannot be relied upon, because the price is crazy (as im a lazy fecker who would prefer to get the bus 5-6 stops instead of walking!)

    AND dont get me started on the joke of a leap card.......
    I suppose its just like the e-voting machines, the Port Tunnel and all the other stuff us Irish just cant get right....No wonder some think of us as the feckless irish!


  • #46
    Esel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,512 ✭✭✭✭Esel


    Passengers are called skulls, in the trade. All we need are crossbones.

    Alas, poor Yorick!

    Not your ornery onager



  • #47
    MagicMarker
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 32,865 ✭✭✭✭MagicMarker


    s8080 wrote: »
    very simple, how long do you think the fare paying passengers would be happy if they saw someone getting on for free. They either have or are just about to pay and they see someone not, big argument would erupt.

    This pre-paid for a service and being denied service is stupid, so you get a gift card of your mother for you birthday and when you try and use it in a shop it does not work, would you expect the shop to give you the goods for free as a good will gesture?

    Fare paying passengers see people getting on for free multiple times every journey. It's called a travel pass, i haven't seen any big arguments erupt over it yet. That's a pretty poor excuse not to at least try and help someone who is also, by the way, a fare paying passenger.

    As for your gift card analogy. If I had only bought the thing ten minutes previously and had a detailed receipt which corresponds with the gift card in my hand then you can be damn sure that everything that can be done will be done to make sure i leave with the item i want. Retailers at least have some idea about customer service. As opposed to your Goodfellas "fúck you, pay me" method.


  • #48
    LXFlyer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,935 ✭✭✭✭LXFlyer


    s8080 wrote: »
    i will post in broad terms to try keep it simple

    Dublin bus has never been busier, the NTA will say passengers numbers are down, the reality is different.

    NTA will say 1,000,000 passengers a week 5 years ago, only 900,000 today.
    sounds good but dig deeper 5 years ago the fleet was 1,000 buses , today 800.
    The NTA are not lying jut economical with the truth.

    Free travel pass users has exploded, they are not counted.only fare paying passengers.

    Now this is where the piece of junk ticket machines come into it.
    Just as the bus services of europe where scrapping these machines, the NTA where spending million to bring them to dublin bus.
    As everyone who has ever used one can see they are not up to the job, well not the job you would expect them to do.
    If you wanted a way to under report the number of passengers they are perfect, at a conservative estimate i would say 6 hours a week they dont work, validator beside door out of service, and leap card users travel for free.
    Then you have the leap tranactions at the drivers machine, dozens of times per day, Bad read/faulty update messages pop up after a ticket has supposedly been purchase and the passenger has walked away. Passengers traveling for free. None of these passengers are recorded as using the bus.

    Great news you say , free travel. Think again.

    ESB was the only source of electrity in ireland, govermnent said competition would be good for all of us.
    ESB ordered to raise price of electricy from 10c a unit to 15c.
    Now new companies sell electricy at 14c a unit, government says look competition good, you get electricty cheaper than of ESB.
    We are paying 40% more than we would if the ESB did not have "competition"

    Whats this got to do with dublin bus you ask, well if passenger numbers are down (they are most definatly not)
    More free travel passes and faulty ticket machines ensure the numbers appear to be down.The NTA will raise ticket prices to balance the books.
    So next year the max fare will be E3.50. Then the private operators appear to save the day with competition and bring cheaper fares, expect around E3.30.
    You will be delighted you are paying less than the dublin bus fare, but fail to see if the NTA and government where not interfering you would only be paying E2.50


    I think this needs a little correction.


    The current ticketing equipment was purchased by Dublin Bus, not the NTA. It was purchased when it was brand new equipment, and not at the end of its useful life. This seems to be a common misconception. It is due for replacement starting next year.


    As for passenger numbers, they are nowhere near the levels they were at the height of the boom, and really to suggest otherwise is disingenuous. Numbers are at last increasing again, which is great news, but what is different this time is that as a result of Network Direct there is much better matching of capacity to demand, with overcapacity eradicated, which means that as passenger numbers start to rise again, many buses are fuller than before. This was achieved by eliminating many of the routes that duplicate one another and cutting frequency back. The next stage will be to see services start to expand again, with the focus on the "super" routes (the cross-city services that focus on QBCs - e.g. 15, 16, 27 etc.).

    s8080 wrote: »
    so the dublin bus rush hour post.

    People complaining about no room on the bus as it passes by without stopping, "dublin bus are a disgrace not putting on extra buses to carry the passengers, they are leaving loads of money at the side of the road."

    Dublin bus are well aware of this and would like nothing better than to put on extra buses. Truth is they are forbidden by the NTA to put on extra buses.

    Remember folks dont let the truth get in the way when you want to give out about dublin bus.



    Dublin Bus are permitted to apply to the NTA to operate additional services - there is nothing to stop them doing that, other than a lack of available buses and drivers. I suspect that you will see some modest expansion in the short term.


  • #49
    s8080
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 102 ✭✭s8080


    Why when in nice areas like blackrock, sandyford, dundrum etc is it ok for a bus driver to stop outside of the bus stops to let people (running for the bus) on, but as soon as you cross that liffey all the official rules stick?
    those areas are donnybrook, maybe other areas the local dublin bus management crack down hard on drivers for breaking the rules



    Why (on some routes) can the bus driver not issue the correct tickets at the correct prices?
    on some routes the info on the ticket machine is different from the info you see on the website, example 145 heuston to d'olier st is E1.80 on web site but on ticket machine it is E2.35. Drivers are not out to steal from you, why would they.
    also a lot of passengers just mumble, so driver might hear wrong or drop money into slot with out saying anything, driver takes a quick look and gives the ticket they believe is correct


    Why are some drivers rude, obnoxious and generally horrible to deal with?
    Why are some passengers rude, obnoxious and generally horrible to deal with?


    Why will some drivers pack their bus to the gills (nearly to the point of it being seriously dangerous) when others fill it to the limit?
    The legal limit/overloading the bus is very simple to explain.
    there is a Robocop in city centre who has given penalty point and fine to driver for "dangerous overloading of a bus". This happens to driver only once, never again.
    Drivers who have had a incident because of a packed bus, management will put blame on driver for packed bus, so driver wont pack bus again.


    AND dont get me started on the joke of a leap card.......
    I suppose its just like the e-voting machines, the Port Tunnel and all the other stuff us Irish just cant get right....No wonder some think of us as the feckless irish!

    NTA keep loading new tickets on the leap card , the machines cannot cope are super slow and stop working a lot.
    See previous post for reason why the NTA are happy with this.


  • #50
    devnull
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 11,687 Mod ✭✭✭✭devnull


    lxflyer wrote: »
    The current ticketing equipment was purchased by Dublin Bus, not the NTA. It was purchased when it was brand new equipment, and not at the end of its useful life. This seems to be a common misconception. It is due for replacement starting next year.

    Whilst I agree that it was not at the end of it's useful life or anything near it when it was purchased, it was a machine that had been around for several years beforehand and was based on pretty old technology.

    The newer version was released at around the same time Dublin bus ordered the older version and had they ordered the newer version then the majority of the issues being experienced now would not have occurred.

    The fact that CIE continue to purchase said machines even today for Bus Eireann, is very disappointing when new equipment is due next year.


  • #51
    s8080
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 102 ✭✭s8080


    The current ticketing equipment was purchased by Dublin Bus, not the NTA.
    NTA keep loading new products on leap, it cannot cope, see previous post as to why the NTA/government are happy with this massive loss of money and under reporting of passenger numbers

    As for passenger numbers, they are nowhere near the levels they were at the height of the boom, and really to suggest otherwise is disingenuous.
    Who do you believe the NTA or your lying eyes?
    On a per bus/driver basis dublin bus are carrying as many as they ever had. The ticket machine are not recording these passengers as they stop working a lot, passengers are carried for free and not counted.

    Dublin Bus are permitted to apply to the NTA to operate additional services - there is nothing to stop them doing that, other than a lack of available buses and drivers.

    Dublin bus cannot put on extra buses, NTA must approve , facts are they don’t approve.
    Big exaggeration is lack of drivers and buses.
    Remember the reduced service during summer, some routes running a 80% normal week day service. While you where waiting in the rain and seeing bus after bus pass you at the stop full, those 20% drivers where in the depot watching TV. NTA would not allow them to be put to work as extras on busy routes. They spent the whole summer watching TV.
    Pre NTA dublin bus would have these drivers doing extra works where needed in the city.

    Happens all the time , a problem with the bus it has to be taken out of service and brought back to the depot to be changed.
    Driver goes up to inspector
    D- i need a new bus, xxx has a problem.
    I- wait there i will give you a bus as soon as one come into the yard
    D- there are 10 buses lined up against the wall over there,, can i take one?
    I- sorry you can’t, they are not to leave the yard, orders of the NTA.
    Pre NTA driver would have been given bus in yard straight away to get back to work.

    No doubt dublin bus had/has problems but the NTA is not the white knight riding to the rescue a lot here seem to think.


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