Dublin Bus fares go up again - too much?

Price goes up => Demand goes down.

I'd say the gain in the price increases is offset by decrease in passenger numbers.

It is unsustainable and Dublin bus are facing oblivion.

From the Dublin Bus website;...
"The National Transport Authority and Dublin Bus have introduced new daily and weekly capping levels for customers traveling on Dublin Bus services. From 4th November, customers can make as many trips as they like across the network using Leap Card and their spend will be capped at €6.90 a day or €27.50 a week. There are also discounted capping levels for students at €5.00 a day or €20.00 a week and children at €2.50 a day or €8.20 a week."

Definitely time to switch to Leap cards.

JayRoc wrote: »

Saying that people who don't use the Leap Card are all daft is missing the point. A large number of DB customers will be casual users who want to pay cash. I can't see that ever changing, personally. At least until the Leap Card becomes as CONVENIENT and hassle-free as cash, and as reliable!

Personally I have no intention of using a leap card for the forseeable future. I hear so much about charging inconsistencies, downright mis-charging, a difficulty in putting money on the card,and an apparent lack of driver training that it just doesn't seem worth it to me.

I, and many other people who don't necessarily use public transport every weekday will continue to use the change in my pocket because it is the most convenient and least troublesome method available to me.

JayRoc, I feel like a leap card worker sometimes! I have got so many of my family and friends onto the leap card. It really is worth getting. And now with the daily/weekly capping, you can't go wrong. You are mad giving Dublin Bus/IE/ Luas a cent more than you have to for the relatively poor service.

Honestly, even if you use public transport 10 times a year its worth having. It's easy to top up, any payzone shop, all railway and luas stations, auto top if you want. Far handier than fumbling for coins and change. Embrace the change and save money!!

JayRoc wrote: »

Saying that people who don't use the Leap Card are all daft is missing the point. A large number of DB customers will be casual users who want to pay cash. I can't see that ever changing, personally. At least until the Leap Card becomes as CONVENIENT and hassle-free as cash, and as reliable!

Personally I have no intention of using a leap card for the forseeable future. I hear so much about charging inconsistencies, downright mis-charging, a difficulty in putting money on the card,and an apparent lack of driver training that it just doesn't seem worth it to me.

I, and many other people who don't necessarily use public transport every weekday will continue to use the change in my pocket because it is the most convenient and least troublesome method available to me.

You are exactly who the LEAP epurse is designed for.

Regular users have already got prepaid passes.

ibarelycare wrote: »

So the 5 day prepay is now the same cost as the Leap card. That's good, sometimes I don't have the money to buy the 30 day one so I buy the 5 day one. I wonder how it will work though...I take 4 buses a day, so if I use my leapcard, I presume I just use the ticket scanner for all four journeys instead of having to queue up for the driver?

Correct and Right,ibarelycare.

If you wish to use your Rambler then you have no need to embrace your ever friendly Busdriver at all,just offer it to the Remote Validator and walk-on-by.

The Validator will automatically default to the oldest stored Rambler product contained on it.

The only exception to this is for a FIRST validation after 8 PM when the Flat Fare of €2.45 will be deducted instead,unless you have no-credit when the Rambler Day WILL be deducted...(Smart,eh )

The other scenario may be if you are only making a single Bus journey on any given day and you do not want to use up a Rambler Day,in which case you Place your Leapcard on the Drivers Ticket Machine to get a Leap Purse Fare.

Either way,this is a HUGE advance in Leapcard Functionality,and now offers Leapcard holders a degree of flexibility not available elsewhere,and all at a cheaper cost than cash.

However,such has been the NTA's lack of marketing skills in relation to Leapcard,it remains an uphill battle to migrate the significant numbers which the ITS system requires to become the NORM for Dublin Public Transport use.

One other major advance would be the opening of the City-Centre Leapcard Walk-In Centres referred to on Leapcards website.

Just as Dublin Bus has 59 O Connell St,Leapcard urgently requires a definitive Location where it's customers customers can be accomodated and NEW customers accquired !

AlekSmart wrote: »

Correct and Right,ibarelycare.

If you wish to use your Rambler then you have no need to embrace your ever friendly Busdriver at all,just offer it to the Remote Validator and walk-on-by.

The Validator will automatically default to the oldest stored Rambler product contained on it.

The only exception to this is for a FIRST validation after 8 PM when the Flat Fare of €2.45 will be deducted instead,unless you have no-credit when the Rambler Day WILL be deducted...(Smart,eh )

The other scenario may be if you are only making a single Bus journey on any given day and you do not want to use up a Rambler Day,in which case you Place your Leapcard on the Drivers Ticket Machine to get a Leap Purse Fare.

Either way,this is a HUGE advance in Leapcard Functionality,and now offers Leapcard holders a degree of flexibility not available elsewhere,and all at a cheaper cost than cash.

However,such has been the NTA's lack of marketing skills in relation to Leapcard,it remains an uphill battle to migrate the significant numbers which the ITS system requires to become the NORM for Dublin Public Transport use.

One other major advance would be the opening of the City-Centre Leapcard Walk-In Centres referred to on Leapcards website.

Just as Dublin Bus has 59 O Connell St,Leapcard urgently requires a definitive Location where it's customers customers can be accomodated and NEW customers accquired !

Thanks...confused by the highlighted bit though?

kryptonmight wrote: »

I would have no issue paying more if it meant not being squashed like sardines during rush hour.

There's usually loads of room upstairs.

fta93 wrote: »

Have they set a date for this? Thought it was supposed to be done around August but no mention..

Would rather it on the leapcard than having to carry the ticket and student leap card around.
I've no problem with the leapcard, find it useful for trains etc outside of the prepaid ticket.

It is available now!

Full list of products available on LEAP are here.

At get rid of the poxy 5 cents and make it €3

fta93 wrote: »

Apologies, completely missed it over the past few weeks! Handier I suppose.

Presume the ticket will go up to 100 euro on Jan 1 on the leap card too..

It is exactly the same product - you just load it onto the card rather than getting a paper ticket.

It will cost €100 from January 1st.

dublinstevie wrote: »

Anyone who still pays cash is a fukn retard

Tone it down

Moderator

If you look at the document detailing the proposals from Dublin Bus they wanted to increase Leap fares at the same rate as cash fares (~8-10%), but the 'Authority' would only allow them to increase Leap fares by ~2-3%. So Dublin Bus weren't actually intending to treat Leap Card users differently in the hike. :P Thank you 'Authority'!!

Mr.Frame wrote: »

Incredible to think that we the taxpayers are funding this company .A company that is losing money on a continuous basis ,wont do anything to change this but decides the best way is to put fares up.

fairs are going to go up anyway because the subsidy is being and is going to continue to be cut, even if dublin bus reduced its costs any savings will be wiped by a subsidy cut, the tax payer is going to pay no matter who runs it, and the majority of the services are and always will be loss making unless cars are completely banned from dublin city which isn't going to happen

Faustino wrote: »

Public Transport in Ireland and specifically Dublin Bus, must be the most expensive transport service in Europe at this stage. They've basically increased their cash paying fares by 25% in the space of 11 months. Always the same bullsh*t excuse, decreasing passenger numbers and increased fuel costs.

not bull**** at all, numbers are down due to the recession, i don't believe they get the fuel rebate anymore, the belief that fuel consumption is down is probably due to the fact their are less busses on the road due to network direct, however these busses are used more intensively.

Faustino wrote: »

I find their reasoning to be deceptive and based solely on the fact they are unwilling to tackle the main reasons for their troubles.

they are tackling the reasons, not quick enough but it is happening.

Faustino wrote: »

They are also passing this burden onto the paying customer who are already paying substantially more for fares than they should be.

because the subsidy is being cut, why do people fail to remember this? if the subsidy is being cut and is going to continue to be cut then the money has to come from somewhere, cuts in wages and staff can only do so much, otherwise it will be whats happening (the customer pays more) or services will be cut which is a lot worse then paying more IMO, or worse again it will be service cuts and higher fairs together.

Aard wrote: »

Excellent post highlighting the fact that many people are probably paying 50%-100% more than they need to on public transport. The Irish need to move away from their cash-fare addiction.

The other side of the coin (sic) is that Dublin Bus have "progressively" removed a number of prepaid tickets or greatly increased pre-paid ticket prices to such an extent that the cheapest options in some cases were the cash-fares. As of yet while the leap card is greatly welcomed, it's not yet the game changer it should be...

D.