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Buses not going through Blanch

  • 16-06-2006 4:30pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,961 ✭✭✭✭


    This post has been deleted.


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,570 ✭✭✭daymobrew


    Contact Phibsboro depot on 703-3482 or 703-3462.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,088 ✭✭✭✭_Kaiser_


    This post has been deleted.
    This is a semi-regular thing with them where they decide the traffic is too bad/sun is in the wrong quarter of the sky and change the route without telling anyone.

    Probably the same old story...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 856 ✭✭✭andrew163


    Odd. I was on a 39 earlier and it bypassed the centre too. Must've been something up..

    (not that I minded, got me home 5 minutes faster :))


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,961 ✭✭✭✭Mimikyu


    This post has been deleted.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 498 ✭✭Arcadian


    Driver told me yesterday that it was because of traffic, i wasn't complaining as it got me home 20 mins earlier:D


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,396 ✭✭✭✭Karoma


    It's traffic. It's reasonable. I'm happy with it - it's a 5 minute walk for the lazy sods going in - and can cut a fair amount of time off a journey for those heading further.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,088 ✭✭✭✭_Kaiser_


    Karoma wrote:
    It's traffic. It's reasonable. I'm happy with it - it's a 5 minute walk for the lazy sods going in - and can cut a fair amount of time off a journey for those heading further.
    What if you have a load of shopping with you? Or kids? Or what if it's lashing rain? Or you're waiting at the Centre there wondering where all the buses are?

    We all have to put up with traffic, but that's no reason for drivers/inspectors rerouting buses without any advance notice to paying customers. What they SHOULD be doing is lobbying the local council/transport authority for something to be done about traffic management in the area.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,841 ✭✭✭shltter


    Kaiser2000 wrote:
    What if you have a load of shopping with you? Or kids? Or what if it's lashing rain? Or you're waiting at the Centre there wondering where all the buses are?

    We all have to put up with traffic, but that's no reason for drivers/inspectors rerouting buses without any advance notice to paying customers. What they SHOULD be doing is lobbying the local council/transport authority for something to be done about traffic management in the area.

    Drivers dont re route buses


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,088 ✭✭✭✭_Kaiser_


    shltter wrote:
    Drivers dont re route buses
    You're just being pedantic now. :rolleyes: You're well aware of the point I was making.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,083 ✭✭✭✭Stark


    If the traffic in the Blanchardstown centre is a huge problem (and I believe it genuinely is), then they should make a permanent change to the route and notify all its customers. Modifying a route ah hoc on a whim, and leaving people to stand for an hour or so wondering where the buses are, is bull****.

    Of course, CIE aren't the only ones guilty of this. Urbus is another service where the drivers regularly can't be bothered doing certain sections of the route and don't bother to give any notification to people who might be waiting along those sections. Aircoach tend to do the same, although usually they ask people on the bus if they want to go through and they ring ahead to someone stationed in the town to ask if there's anyone waiting at the stop.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,961 ✭✭✭✭Mimikyu


    This post has been deleted.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 856 ✭✭✭andrew163


    Odd.. I was on it again today and it skipped the centre again. Traffic was moving at a fairly normal pace.

    The driver announced that it was "in the interest of health and safety" :confused:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,083 ✭✭✭✭Stark


    Buses often won't go to certain areas at night as kids will attack the bus with stones. Don't see how that applies to the Blanchardstown centre in broad daylight though.

    I'd really love to hear how they think there's a "health and safety" issue :confused:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,961 ✭✭✭✭Mimikyu


    This post has been deleted.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,705 ✭✭✭ciaran76


    Stark wrote:
    Urbus is another service where the drivers regularly can't be bothered doing certain sections of the route and don't bother to give any notification to people who might be waiting along those sections.

    I use Urbus quite regulary and haven't had much to complain with their route changing as it never happened to me. What went bad for you if you don't mind me asking ?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,050 ✭✭✭gazzer


    Urbus dont go through Castlecurragh after a certain time.

    I rang up about it back in January as i was waiting for a bus to the airport one evening and nothing was coming. They told me that they dont go into Castlecurragh 'after dark' as they had some incidents with kids throwing stones at the bus..

    The problem mustnt be resolved as even though it is bright up to 10pm now the bus still doesnt go through the estate after 7pm..


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,083 ✭✭✭✭Stark


    No mention of that on their website of course. Timetables still show the buses going into Castlecurragh all day. I got the bus from the Blanchardstown centre sometime between 4pm and 5pm one day as well and it still didn't go through Castlecurragh.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,705 ✭✭✭ciaran76


    Oh yeah. They don't go into Castlecurragh after 4pm I was told by one driver. Fine by me but they should have it on the timetable if this is the case.

    Also I have e-mailed them a few times about certain things but they never get back to you. So I started cycling to work which is actually quicker then the Urbus most times !!!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,107 ✭✭✭John R


    Stark wrote:
    Buses often won't go to certain areas at night as kids will attack the bus with stones. Don't see how that applies to the Blanchardstown centre in broad daylight though.

    I'd really love to hear how they think there's a "health and safety" issue :confused:

    There is an ongoing dispute over the bus stop arragements at the centre. The drivers have been unhappy with the situation there for some time now. I do not have details about exactly what they want changed but they are claiming that it is a safety issue.
    I believe it is the centre management who are refusing to consider changes, DB management appear to be rather silent on the topic.

    The diversion over the weekend was down to the drivers, they gave notice to management but it seems that DB have a policy of not notifying the public about unofficial disruptions.

    The confusion about the reason is because on several other occasions it is DB management who have withdrawn services from the centre because of traffic gridlock.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,088 ✭✭✭✭_Kaiser_


    John R wrote:
    There is an ongoing dispute over the bus stop arragements at the centre. The drivers have been unhappy with the situation there for some time now. I do not have details about exactly what they want changed but they are claiming that it is a safety issue.
    I believe it is the centre management who are refusing to consider changes, DB management appear to be rather silent on the topic.

    The diversion over the weekend was down to the drivers, they gave notice to management but it seems that DB have a policy of not notifying the public about unofficial disruptions.

    The confusion about the reason is because on several other occasions it is DB management who have withdrawn services from the centre because of traffic gridlock.
    So basically then it's a case of the tail wagging the dog is what you're saying?

    The drivers have a problem and rather than go through proper channels they take it upon themselves to withdraw services - presumably in this case to force Blanch Centre management to give in to whatever demands they have now.

    Once again though it's only the paying public that suffers, but hey we're only paying their wages, right?

    If a driver refuses to complete the route as it was set out and agreed by all sides then he or she should be suspended without pay immediately. If they come back and do so again they should be fired completely. It's not up to them to dictate how they'll do their jobs on any given day. There is a process for addressing grievences in place. Use it!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,107 ✭✭✭John R


    Kaiser2000 wrote:
    So basically then it's a case of the tail wagging the dog is what you're saying?

    The drivers have a problem and rather than go through proper channels they take it upon themselves to withdraw services - presumably in this case to force Blanch Centre management to give in to whatever demands they have now.

    I am sure the "proper channels" have been gone through, this dispute has been going on for a long time.
    Kaiser2000 wrote:
    Once again though it's only the paying public that suffers, but hey we're only paying their wages, right?

    That's the way it is when there is a problem with essential public services, the customers get inconvenienced. In this instance proper notification of the disruption and the nearest location where the services could be accessed should have been provided.

    If bus services in the city weren't considered petty annoyances that have to be grudgingly tolerated by the people running the city then these disputes would not arise in the first place and would certainly not fester until they ended up as disruptions.
    Kaiser2000 wrote:
    If a driver refuses to complete the route as it was set out and agreed by all sides then he or she should be suspended without pay immediately. If they come back and do so again they should be fired completely. It's not up to them to dictate how they'll do their jobs on any given day.

    If it is a safety issue then it is up to them. Under the law the driver bears primary responsibility for safety. If they feel it is unsafe then yes they have every right to alter their jobs.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 371 ✭✭MiniD


    Kaiser2000 wrote:

    If a driver refuses to complete the route as it was set out and agreed by all sides then he or she should be suspended without pay immediately. If they come back and do so again they should be fired completely. It's not up to them to dictate how they'll do their jobs on any given day. There is a process for addressing grievences in place. Use it!

    If there is a safety issue here then I support the drivers, as it has already been pointed out, it is the driver who faces prosecution should an accident happen. We could do with more drivers speaking up about appalling bus stop conditions around the city.
    It is interesting to see how many passengers actually benefit from by-passing the shopping centre. This highlights just how much bus priority there is in the complex. It can often take 10 minutes for a bus to get in and out of the centre to serve just one stop. For a high capicity route such as the 39, this is not acceptable.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11 white studs


    was waiting at the centre for 39, the conductor approached me and said to go to another bus stop as the buses are not coming into the centre,i asked him the reason why the buses have stopped coming thought the centre. apparently the bus drivers are pissed off that the cars which stop off and park in the bus lane, the management in the centre refused to do anything about it so they are protesting to get them to do something.
    he said to get onto some number he wanted to give to complain, basically supporting the protest. iv no intention, i dont mind the walk.
    so mystery solved!:o


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,705 ✭✭✭ciaran76


    As white studs said I got the same reply from an inspector yesterday evening but also got that they are having a meeting on Wednesday to discuss this issue.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,570 ✭✭✭daymobrew


    Late last year I wrote to the Blanch Centre management about the pedestrian lights between Dunnes and PC World that were fixed on green (for cars) over the weekend. Obviously this is particularly dangerous for pedestrians.
    The management confirmed that they purposely disable the pedestrian crossing sequence. They said that they do it to prevent traffic build-up on the Navan Road off-ramp.

    From that, and knowing that they don't punish/clamp bad parking, I am not surprised that they don't care about buses. Plenty of their customers use the buses, surely they are shooting themselves in the foot.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,705 ✭✭✭ciaran76


    Not trying to defend the Blanch managment people but I have seen plenty of people getting clamped over there.

    There is a guy/girl going around on a moped who walkies the clampers and they arrive and clamp.

    I think they must be working a few different car parks as they don't seem to be always there.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,961 ✭✭✭✭Mimikyu


    This post has been deleted.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,088 ✭✭✭✭_Kaiser_


    Whilst not excusing people who park in the bus stops at Blanch SC, the problem there is that the thing was never thought out properly in the first place.

    It's like they thought: "hey, let's build a big shopping centre in Blanchardstown", but they forgot people might actually come and SHOP there!
    The roads and parking facilities have been inadequate since the start (made worse since they closed the mini multi-story car park 2 months or so back) with the result that it can take 45 minutes to get into the place at all and then try and find a spot at the weekend.

    As for the buses... does the 39 really have to loop back? Could it not say go straight out past KFC/AIB, swing right, then left at Blanch Renault and rejoin the existing route from there?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,083 ✭✭✭✭Stark


    That's what I was wondering. An insane amount of time is wasted when looping back.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,705 ✭✭✭ciaran76


    I see they opened a new car park over beside Smyths and Harvey Normans where there used to be wasteland but no one is using it. I think its because it is so far away ??? Not sure but there is plenty of space there now.

    But as Kaiser2000 said the place was badly designed in the 1st place. :(


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 19,080 ✭✭✭✭Random


    They should have a shuttle bus to that new car park. :)

    I think UCI is moving over there .. proberly why they're getting the car park down now.


    And I don't see how people parking in the bus stops is really a big issue .. there's always room for the bus to go around. The problem is with the sheer volume of cars. They should implement a one-way system (2 lanes ..) the whole way around the centre and work from there.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,083 ✭✭✭✭Stark


    Where's the new car park?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 19,080 ✭✭✭✭Random


    Over by the McD drive through ..


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,705 ✭✭✭ciaran76


    Stark wrote:
    Where's the new car park?


    Basically its at the side of Smyths.

    Used it last night !


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,083 ✭✭✭✭Stark


    I thought that was there for ages. Or maybe it just opened recently?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,705 ✭✭✭ciaran76


    Stark wrote:
    I thought that was there for ages. Or maybe it just opened recently?

    They just finished the new section of it about 2 weeks ago.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,961 ✭✭✭✭Mimikyu


    This post has been deleted.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,961 ✭✭✭✭Mimikyu


    This post has been deleted.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,577 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    This post has been deleted.
    A "bus gate".


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 43,045 ✭✭✭✭Nevyn


    Kaiser2000 wrote:
    As for the buses... does the 39 really have to loop back? Could it not say go straight out past KFC/AIB, swing right, then left at Blanch Renault and rejoin the existing route from there?

    They can't abandon the rest of the route and the people living along it.
    They need to split the route up and have one that runs from ongar and then down the clonsilla road and one that goes through the centre into the village or why on earth can't they have more 39a's really I was stunned to get on one an be in town in less then 40 mins.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,841 ✭✭✭shltter


    This post has been deleted.


    It just proves that sometimes unfortunately you have to take action to get this nonsense sorted out. The management of the centre could have done this months ago but they just dragged the whole thing out until drivers action forced them to act.
    It is regretable that people has to be discommoded but there is no doubt that without the drivers action nothing would have been done.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,389 ✭✭✭markpb


    shltter wrote:
    It just proves that sometimes unfortunately you have to take action to get this nonsense sorted out. The management of the centre could have done this months ago but they just dragged the whole thing out until drivers action forced them to act.
    It is regretable that people has to be discommoded but there is no doubt that without the drivers action nothing would have been done.

    Although I'm annoyed at the drivers for doing this (especially since you decreed a few pages back that drivers do not change routes :p), I'm more annoyed with DB management who, as usual, did nothing for the passengers. There was nothing on the website, nothing in the papers and from what I've read here, hardly ever anyone at the bus stops telling prospective passengers not to bother. How hard is it to do any of those things? :mad:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,088 ✭✭✭✭_Kaiser_


    Thaedydal wrote:
    They can't abandon the rest of the route and the people living along it.
    There's 2 (maybe 3) stops between the roundabout at the Centre and the new one they put in at the new Ongar Road junction - which is already served by the 220, 76A and 39B if I'm not mistaken.

    By rerouting as I suggest, they'll not only save time but also in fact increase catchment by running up alongside the apartments that are next to West/Heaven nightclub. There's also enough room to easily facilitate a bus stop on each side of the road.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,841 ✭✭✭shltter


    markpb wrote:
    Although I'm annoyed at the drivers for doing this (especially since you decreed a few pages back that drivers do not change routes :p), I'm more annoyed with DB management who, as usual, did nothing for the passengers. There was nothing on the website, nothing in the papers and from what I've read here, hardly ever anyone at the bus stops telling prospective passengers not to bother. How hard is it to do any of those things? :mad:

    Drivers do not re route buses the re route was forced by the non action of the centres management to deal with a safety issue over a protracted period.
    At that stage it was a health and safety issue outside of drivers control until it was dealt with by those who had the power to do so. Oddly when the buses were removed the issue was dealt with within a few days.

    But you are right the management knew this was happening and seemingly did nothing to inform customers of the re route even if the re route had only lasted a couple of hours it would have been a simple exercise to place signs on the stops that were not being serviced and to announce the fact on local media. Of course that would involve management that actually gave a **** about its customers.

    I would love to know what would be your suggestion as to what the drivers should have done since you are annoyed at what they did do. Should they have allowed the situation to drag on for another year. At the end of the day this is about providing passengers with a safe enviroment to board and alight from buses.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,961 ✭✭✭✭Mimikyu


    This post has been deleted.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,705 ✭✭✭ciaran76


    I see the gate man was gone yesterday. Now I was only there between 6pm and 7pm but I didn't see anyone man the bus stops. Back to normal ?

    I was told by the bus inspector last week that Dublin Bus don't build those bus stops that some advertising company do and its nothing to do with them and its not one of their stops.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,029 ✭✭✭shoegirl


    Stark wrote:
    If the traffic in the Blanchardstown centre is a huge problem (and I believe it genuinely is...snip!


    Surely if traffic is such a problem in the centre then encouraging people NOT to drive is the better answer than withdrawing bus services and making it impossible to access without a car?

    Not to mention potential customers who don't have a car. I saved a fortune during a 2 year period where I didn't have a car quite simply because I couldn't get to all these places where I could spend money!

    Pulling transport links from large shopping malls only creates food "deserts" where people without transport cannot access potentially better value larger stores.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,083 ✭✭✭✭Stark


    There's plenty of transport within 5 minutes walk of the centre. It's getting into the heart of the centre that's the problem.


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