Taxsaver Annual Dublin Bus Ticket

spurious

I got an annual ticket this year (through my employer) under the Taxsaver scheme. It seems to me like a very good deal - I reckon I saved at least the price again of the ticket and found the fact that I could use it on the Nitelink and Airlink services an unexpected surprise. Is there much uptake on this scheme?

Disappointed in the design of the 2008 ticket though - very functional.

paulm17781

spurious wrote: »

I got an annual ticket this year (through my employer) under the Taxsaver scheme. It seems to me like a very good deal - I reckon I saved at least the price again of the ticket and found the fact that I could use it on the Nitelink and Airlink services an unexpected surprise. Is there much uptake on this scheme?

I got one for Luas too. The tax saving is what really makes it worth it. It's so handy not having to carry change / top up Smart card. It's a shame it would have cost and extra 500 for DART too. I find the additional cost per operator is the only thing wrong with the system... that and it had to be done via a willing employer.

patrickmooney

I see on the new 2008 design, there are two icons. One indicates magnetic swipe, the second, the circles indicates perhaps their Oyster Style Card readers. Is the new card paper or plastic. Wonder if it will work with the new readers for smart cards onboard. Does it also have you photo on it, like my current annual bus and rail ticket for 2007?

dcr22B

Now getting it for the 4th year running.

Unfortunately, I only realised this year that it worked on the Nitelink and with it being €6 out to Lusk, I could've saved myself a fortune (more likely, I would've just bought that extra pint every night )!

godtabh

I've one for the bus and train. Well worth it

spurious

patrickmooney wrote: »

I see on the new 2008 design, there are two icons. One indicates magnetic swipe, the second, the circles indicates perhaps their Oyster Style Card readers. Is the new card paper or plastic. Wonder if it will work with the new readers for smart cards onboard. Does it also have you photo on it, like my current annual bus and rail ticket for 2007?

It's a kind of plastcky paper - not stiff like a credit card, but I'd say it would be very hard to tear.
No photo - I use the extremely flattering photo on my CIE Photo ID.

Flukey

I got my annual bus pass yesterday, as I have been doing for many years now. They are great value. I agree that the design is a bit plain this time, compared to the usual symbols, sights or personalities of Dublin that appear on them. Still, it is good to know I don't have to pay another bus fare for a year now.:)

godtabh

Who gives a crap what they look like? I dont

AlekSmart

I suspect the rather Plain Jane card style is due to the imminence of the Dublin Bus "Smart Card,which all going well should debut in May.

The company probably ordered the simplest possible design for its last bunch of Mag Card Validation tickets to keep cost down.

It needs to be borne in mind that the Bus Atha Cliath roll out of Smart Card ticketing will be the single largest of it`s type in Ireland and as such will be breaking very virgin soil indeed.

There is little doubt but that Government handling of the entire Fares and Ticketing situation has been shambolic in extremis.

Oddly enough the Minister for Transport still posseses strong and very clear powers to set fare levels and to specify the means of collection on all services operated under the bad old 1932 Road Transport Act.
The fact that successive recent Ministers have largely abdicated their powers under this Act cannot be laid at the door of the Act itself,but appears to be more indicative of a lack of political will to get involved with the minutae of their Job.

When we have Senior Departmental Officials making Truly Incredible revelations to the Dail Select Committee of Transport as to the Departments virtually total lack mof knowledge or interest in its own affairs then we KNOW that all is indeed rotten in our state of Denmark !!

Example from Dail Select Committee on Transport Hearing 12th Dec 2007.

Topic: Level of Unlicenced Public Transport Operation :


From the Joint Committee on Transport,sitting on 12the December 2007.

For example.....On the topic of the numbers of UNLICENCED (Therefore ILLEGAL and committing a CRIMINAL offence according to Minister Dempsey) Operators.

Quote [

Deputy Fergus O'Dowd: I accept what Mr. Weafer is saying. My concern is that cowboy operators might be getting away with it. When the Department has become aware of unlicensed operators, have court cases been initiated or what process, if any, has been followed?

Mr. Micheál Ó Méalóid: The RSA is responsible for the enforcement of the licensing rules.

Deputy Fergus O'Dowd: However, the Department identifies whether operators are licensed.

Mr. Micheál Ó Méalóid: The RSA has a hotline

---

Deputy Fergus O'Dowd: When the Department believes an operator is unlicensed, what does it do?

Mr. Micheál Ó Méalóid: We have regular contact with the RSA on all these issues. The RSA has a hotline which members of the public can contact if they think an operator is illegal.

Deputy Fergus O'Dowd: How many has the Department been made aware of? This is a critical question.

Mr. Micheál Ó Méalóid: I could not put a figure on it. ] END

Closely followed by............



Deputy Fergus O'Dowd: When the Department believes an operator is unlicensed, what does it do?

Mr. Micheál Ó Méalóid: We have regular contact with the RSA on all these issues. The RSA has a hotline which members of the public can contact if they think an operator is illegal.

Deputy Fergus O'Dowd: How many has the Department been made aware of? This is a critical question.

Mr. Micheál Ó Méalóid: I could not put a figure on it.

Deputy Fergus O'Dowd: Mr. Ó Méalóid said he was aware of some.

Mr. Micheál Ó Méalóid: We are aware they exist, but we do not have numbers because they do not tell us they are operating illegally. Figures I have heard from the RSA's transport office suggest approximately 20% of the market could be illegal. ] END

A senior Official in The Department of Transport telling a Parliamentary Committee that the methodology used by his Department for Monitoring the Illegality of such Operations depends on figures he "has heard" from another statutory body`s office....:mad:

I certainly hope our Smart Card is VERY smart indeed as most of those in charge of this particular sweet-shop appear to be certifiably insane...... :eek: :eek: :eek:

decsramble

I got the luas and bus tickets for the first time. Seems to make sense especially when tax if taken into account. I asked an inspector about using the card on the luas since it has the circles that make it look like an oyster type card and was told there is no need to swipe it just show it to the inspectors. I suspect the oyster functionality doesnt actually exist on the card and it's just a logo.

I also got the ID card, flimsy piece of plastic/paper. Anyone know where I can get it laminated in Dublin? It says the card is only valid when a photo is attached and laminated?

icdg

spurious wrote: »

It's a kind of plastcky paper - not stiff like a credit card, but I'd say it would be very hard to tear.
No photo - I use the extremely flattering photo on my CIE Photo ID.

Mine does have a photo, although mine is issued by Irish Rail rather than Dublin Bus, apparently I don't need a CIE photo ID in this case...

What I've found though is, after 2 weeks in the little irishrail.ie wallet that they gave me, the ink on the photo and on the part where it says "Short Hop Bus/Rail" is now sticking to the plastic in the wallet, so I've removed it from that and put it in my own wallet.