Bus gripes

Ham'nd'egger

Given that threads on buses have been to the fore here recently, I feel that it would be a good exercise if we had a few knowledable people to post up accurate reasons as to why some of the problems exist and how they can be eased or/and eradicated. When a few of the bus drivers (Such as ****ter) post, the meat of what they are saying is missed at the expense of getting a sensible answer. So how about they knock up a few of the main "problems" in the service and see if people can get answers to common issues. Things such as why there isn't more routes, buses, who decides wherebuses go, where your fare goes, what makes a bus late, if a driver is sick, who fills in etc etc etc etc.

Any takers?

AlekSmart

Oh don`t worry there`ll be one along in a minute.

However,on a slightly different note H&E would you be able to post an outline of the major changes to the Dublin Taxi scene since the OTR took up duty.

I`m partickly interested in the entire Plate Numbering issue and what seems to be an overlaying of complexity on what was a relatively simple scheme.

Plus any ideas on some of the ACTUAL regs which define where a cab may pick up etc etc

After 3.....ah 1 ...ah 2.....and they`re off !!!

Ham'nd'egger

AlekSmart wrote:

Oh don`t worry there`ll be one along in a minute.

However,on a slightly different note H&E would you be able to post an outline of the major changes to the Dublin Taxi scene since the OTR took up duty.

I`m partickly interested in the entire Plate Numbering issue and what seems to be an overlaying of complexity on what was a relatively simple scheme.

Plus any ideas on some of the ACTUAL regs which define where a cab may pick up etc etc

After 3.....ah 1 ...ah 2.....and they`re off !!!

Now now, Alex, are you trying to muddy the waters? It is a known fact that the stickers that are a good idea made the taxis go quicker. That and the ads on the radio.

Or something.... So why is my bus late?

Victor

Hamndegger wrote:

Or something.... So why is my bus late?

Too many taxis picking up people at bus stops and blocking bus lanes.

dub_commuter

Well I heard the other day the 100 buses Dublin bus have been given have all been delivered yet 60 are not in service yet as Dublin bus have not got any drivers. After the amount of fuss they kicked up over it all, it really says a lot.

You also have the great Phibsboro/Donnybrook monopoly when they seem to be the only ones that get any new buses, take Harristown for instance, how many of their buses that they have got (which isn't many) have they been using on their own services? Very few.

You have buss inspectors getting on half way through the journey, chatting to the driver for 10 minutes (Especially on Donnybrook routes) in peak pissing everyone off that is on the bus, you have yobs throwing stones through windows, some routes you will see drivers taking 10 minutes break when they are due to go out, then when 10 minutes are up saying they could not do the route as they are too late.

You have buses on D'Olier street going past their stops, because the driver does not feel like stopping, or a controller tells him to 'So the next bus is fuller' drivers changing their scrolls to out of service to stop picking people up, and some drivers are the most rude idiots ever.

You have ridicolous traffic in certain areas, which some of it is the problem, where some of it, it is vastly exagerated, you have a union which is more interested in preserving Dublin Bus as the sold transport provider in Ireland than actually how the customers are served etc.

The transport is in a mess, a lot of it is down to Dublin bus but a honorable mentions must go to traffic, yobs, the Finglas routes (These should all be axed), and driver lazyness/rudeness.

And on top of it all I am told the unions do not want competition because Dublin bus will have to cut their costs and stop buses sitting in various city centre terminuses for up to an hour on end.

AlekSmart

Now wudya lookit wat you`ve started...!!!! :rolleyes:

No No HE You misinterpret my request for its a genuine call for an insiders information on how the Taxi Business works....Not for slaggin ....(But don`t worry there`ll be one along in a minnit)

Flukey

Well as you may have seen in the recruitment section of papers they are currently in the process of hiring new drivers. Some of those are coming onstream soon.

Wishbone Ash

dub_commuter wrote:

drivers changing their scrolls to out of service to stop picking people up

That would be a management (control) decision. The driver is merely following their request.

shltter

dub_commuter wrote:

Well I heard the other day the 100 buses Dublin bus have been given have all been delivered yet 60 are not in service yet as Dublin bus have not got any drivers. After the amount of fuss they kicked up over it all, it really says a lot.
.

The buses that they received were already on order for fleet replacement they were redirected as fleet expansion after Minister Cullens announcement. That is how they were delivered so quickly. As fleet replacement no further staff would be required as fleet expansion roughly 200 extra drivers would be required. That number of drivers can not be magically produced over night. It takes time to train someone to drive a Bus. Even if someone already has a license to drive a bus DB will insist on putting them through the same training before allowing them to take a bus full of passengers on the road.
And Dublin Bus could not have 200 extra drivers sitting around waiting to go should the Minister make an announcement.

They have already got 40 buses into service and they have Drivers undergoing training and they are recruiting more as well as more Instructors to train more drivers.
Given that the announcement was only made in October I think that they have done pretty well to have so many in service already.

So tell us what in your opinion should DB have done differently.

shltter

dub_commuter wrote:

You also have the great Phibsboro/Donnybrook monopoly when they seem to be the only ones that get any new buses, take Harristown for instance, how many of their buses that they have got (which isn't many) have they been using on their own services? Very few.
.

Thats just nonsense the New buses are sent to every Depot.

shltter

dub_commuter wrote:

And on top of it all I am told the unions do not want competition because Dublin bus will have to cut their costs and stop buses sitting in various city centre terminuses for up to an hour on end.

Yes I believe that is the exact argument that the unions used in their discussions with Minister Cullen and he was very impressed by it.:rolleyes:

shltter

dub_commuter wrote:

, the Finglas routes (These should all be axed),

.

Axe all the routes to Finglas that seems like a really sensible idea any other gems you care to share with us that could improve the traffic situation

shltter

dub_commuter wrote:

You have buses on D'Olier street going past their stops, because the driver does not feel like stopping, or a controller tells him to 'So the next bus is fuller' drivers changing their scrolls to out of service to stop picking people up, and some drivers are the most rude idiots ever.

Yeah Drivers just get that feeling on D'Olier Street I think it is the fumes from the wafting up from the Liffey. They just say to themselves I don't feel like stopping I am changing my scroll it wears off though once you get past D'Olier St (depending on the way the wind is blowing). :rolleyes:

shltter

Victor wrote:

Too many taxis picking up people at bus stops and blocking bus lanes.

Or parking in bus lanes while they go into the Spar/ Centra for a cup of coffee even though there are parking spaces available but that would involve walking their lazy arses 20 or 30 feet.

dub_commuter

shltter wrote:

Thats just nonsense the New buses are sent to every Depot.

That wasn't the point with due respect. I never said Garages like Harristown did not get any. Can you please name me a Harristown route that is low floor apart from the 4? There isn't one despite the 60 low floor buses they have. They AX's they got this year can be seen operating on pretty much every other depots services apart from their own. You see the odd one on the 13/40/17 etc

Also with regards to the 100 extra buses we were promised, I read 60 were for Broadstone and 40 were for Harristown. Seems Broadstone, which is operated by Phibsboro (Suprise suprise!) got the lot, and Phibs/BS got AX 504-509 which were initally Harristown to boot!

And I'm sure our friends in Clontarf will wonder what happened to their 06 allocation?

KC61

A synopsis taken from BUSES Magazine-Jan issue shows where the 100 additional buses are planned to operate:

Phased implementation of new services for Dublin Bus

Nov - 9 buses for 145
Jan - 16 buses for new Swords to Rathmines service
Jan - 14 buses for new route 151, based in Conyngham Rd Garage
Feb - 15 buses for new Malahide Road QBC Direct service
Feb - 6 buses to increase frequency and extend route 4 to Blackrock
Feb - 4 buses to increase routes 29A and 32
March - 15 buses to increase services on Lucan QBC (Adamstown)
March - 9 buses to increase routes 15 and 49.
March - 6 buses to increase service on 15A/B.
March - 6 buses to increase services in Blanchardstown area.

Total = 100 Buses spread across the network

The reason that you see the buses from Harristown/Broadstone operating other garage routes is that these are "EURO" duties that operate peak hour services in the morning and then return to the garage, and come back out in the evening peak again. They operate on a 12-hour spreadover, i.e. the entire driver duty finishes 12 hours later. These duties operate from Broadstone primarily because there is no space for any additional buses in the existing garages.

dub_commuter

The question still needs to be asked though, when are garages such as HT going to get new buses for their OWN routes. I was always under the impression Euro Duties were used on spare buses, but garages such as HT have ll new buses on Euros and none on anything else.

I'd like to see the DB fleetlist done in a way that lists buses by the depot they operate for, rather than where they are stored, you'd see Phibs, which already has a higher percentage of low floor than anyone else, even further in front and HT and Clontarf way behind at the back, which like I say, shows the divide.

it seems other garages have pick of HT buses and they have whatever is left, happens other places as well, giving the fact such depots already have their allocation of AV/AX surely they should be the ones to have whats left over, it makes no sense other than a bias to/against certain garages.

Plus if these only operate during peak do they stay doing nothing during other hours? If so then Dublin Bus should be asking itself why a company so short on buses is having some sitting around doing nothing.

Wishbone Ash

shltter wrote:

Even if someone already has a license to drive a bus DB will insist on putting them through the same training before allowing them to take a bus full of passengers on the road

That must be a bit frustrating to drivers who have an unrestricted category D licence. After all, most Dublin Bus drivers that I know are restricted by their licence to driving automatic buses. (But I take the point re. safety etc. )

AlekSmart

Wishbone...Have you noticed a great upsurge in demand for Anorak`s,Notebooks and Pencils on sections of this board ?

Lidl are doing a very nice line at the moment too......:)

KC61

dub_commuter wrote:

Plus if these only operate during peak do they stay doing nothing during other hours? If so then Dublin Bus should be asking itself why a company so short on buses is having some sitting around doing nothing.

The shortage of buses is during the peak periods and not during the day.

In order to operate an efficient public transport service you need balancing driver and bus duties, i.e. early, late, afternoon and spreadovers. DB do not need the entire fleet to be on the road from dawn to dusk, but they most definitely need them during the morning and evening peak periods.

shltter

Wishbone Ash wrote:

That must be a bit frustrating to drivers who have an unrestricted category D licence. After all, most Dublin Bus drivers that I know are restricted by their licence to driving automatic buses. (But I take the point re. safety etc. )

It doesn't matter you have to prove to the company that you can drive to the standard they expect. So they are trained the same as anyone else except at the end they are tested by the company instead of the normal driving test.

You also have to remember that some people in this country bought their driving licence without ever having sat a test.
Also people arriving from other countries with licences that claim they are capable of driving buses but when they get behind the wheel it is obviously the first time.
And of course forged driving licences Irish and foreign are also an issue.

Personally I think the company is right it is a pity that a lot of private operators were not a bit more thorough in who they allow to drive.

grimloch

KC61 wrote:

Total = 100 Buses spread across the network

Quick question. Does this mean that there will be an extra 100 shiny new buses on the roads or does it mean 100 shiny new buses on the roads, some of which are replacing the crap old smelly buses?

KC61

grimloch wrote:

Quick question. Does this mean that there will be an extra 100 shiny new buses on the roads or does it mean 100 shiny new buses on the roads, some of which are replacing the crap old smelly buses?

It means that there will be an extra 100 additional buses on the roads.

Incidentally, the oldest buses in the fleet are now only 12 years old and they will be replaced this year in line with company policy by further new buses.

Wishbone Ash

shltter wrote:

it is a pity that a lot of private operators were not a bit more thorough in who they allow to drive.

Yes, one private company brought me out for a 5 minute drive accompanied by just another driver! Having an unrestricted licence though can be a pain in the arse as you are in the minority and therefore assigned manual buses while all the others get the autos.