Luas Begging - RTE - Drivetime - 03 May 2010

Amalgam

RTE Radio 1
Monday - May 03 - 2010

Drivetime - Mary Wilson & Paddy O'Gorman

Drivetime covered the harassment of LUAS users at ticket dispensing machines. (Dublin)

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Drivetime-LUAS-03.05.2010.mp3 - 1.56MB

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=W8MCLV75

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05min 26sec
.mp3 CBR
40kbps
24000Hz
Mono

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veryangryman

<Conspiracy Theory>
Dublin is an overcrowded city. Dublin City Council hire these "bums" to discourage people from using the city to keep the population down
</Conspiracy Theory>

Cookie_Monster

veryangryman wrote: »

<Conspiracy Theory>
Dublin is an overcrowded city. Dublin City Council hire these "bums" to discourage people from using the city to keep the population down
</Conspiracy Theory>

:rolleyes:
take it here

Run_to_da_hills

veryangryman wrote: »

<Conspiracy Theory>
Dublin is an overcrowded city. Dublin City Council hire these "bums" to discourage people from using the city to keep the population down
</Conspiracy Theory>

<Conspiracy Theory>
Luas have these "bums" employed to harass people into using prepaid smart cards rather than cash dispensing ticketing machines
</Conspiracy Theory>

Cookie_Monster

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

<Conspiracy Theory>
Luas have these "bums" employed to harass people into using prepaid smart cards rather than cash dispensing ticketing machines
</Conspiracy Theory>

why would they do that, its more revenue to them in dealing in cash rather than prepaid cards

JHMEG

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

why would they do that, its more revenue to them in dealing in cash rather than prepaid cards

Cash more lucrative than electronic. That'd be a first?

snappieT

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

why would they do that, its more revenue to them in dealing in cash rather than prepaid cards

But more cost in the form of maintenance, tickets, cash processing, security, and the cost of the machines themselves.

Run_to_da_hills

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

why would they do that, its more revenue to them in dealing in cash rather than prepaid cards

Not at all, If that was the case TFL would not be promoting Oyster.

Transport companies will gain in the long run, less administration, less vandalism and maintenance on machines, less security and ticket sales staff required. also registered smart cards will save transport companies in the long run due to "track and trace" abilities on vandals and abusive passengers etc.

KevR

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

why would they do that, its more revenue to them in dealing in cash rather than prepaid cards

I Run_to_da_hills means that if everyone has a smart card then the government can keep track on everyone's movements.

I don't really buy into this theory. I don't think they care about tracking everyone's movements and even if they did, I don't care myself.

Amalgam

Sorry, I don't 'see' what other posters are discussing. No conspiracies for me, sadly.

The man interviewed is more or less sober, depends on the stops, the 'couple' up at St Stephens Green are away with the fairies on various drugs and will often casually take your change out, without a care, from the slot. Do you really want to wrestle it back off someone that is covered in sores?

steamengine

The onus should be 'stuck' on Luas fairly and squarely to look after their customers, starting at the vending machines, how they achieve that shouldn't be the customer's problem. 'Duty of Care' !!!

KevR

I always try and have exact change ready when buying tickets at Luas stops - at least that way they can't pester me for the change from the machine.

Even if I do get change from the machine, the junkies never get it.

KevR

steamengine wrote: »

The onus should be 'stuck' on Luas fairly and squarely to look after their customers, starting at the vending machines, how they achieve shouldn't be the customer's problem.

In my opinion, part of the blame lies with the people who give them money - it only encourages more begging. If nobody ever gave them money, they wouldn't beg.

But Luas/Veolia do need to provide more security at some particular stops.

Stark

Have had to get the Luas from Museum stop instead of Heuston on occasion as there'd be several junkies standing there with his hands in front of the machine when I'm trying to put money in. Annoying feckers. Though that was before I discovered that the bus was much less hassle.

Run_to_da_hills

I thought that there was supposed to be a new law passed against beggars hanging around shop fronts, cash dispensing machines (ATM, ticket machines) etc?

Is this not implemented yet?

Where is the Gardai

munchkin_utd

are these the same guards that give second chances to drivers on Learners Permits that drive unaccompanied, an offence that carries a statutory MINIMUM of 1000Euro fine?

Then again, what would the homeless be punished with for begging?
Put them in jail for a week, with fresh clothes, warm room with running water and hot nourishing meals for their stay?
What a punishment for a homeless!!

starviewadams

The Gardai have better things to be doing than arresting people for begging for a few cents,why dont Luas employ more of those giant robocop looking security guys to patrol the begging hotspots?

steamengine

starviewadams wrote: »

The Gardai have better things to be doing than arresting people for begging for a few cents,why dont Luas employ more of those giant robocop looking security guys to patrol the begging hotspots?

or go back to the old, tried, and tested system of a conductor and create employment opportunities in a country that's riddled with unemployment !!!

starviewadams

steamengine wrote: »

or go back to the old, tried, and tested system of a conductor and create employment opportunities in a country that's riddled with unemployment !!!

Ah c'mon now,that would make too much sense!

paulm17781

steamengine wrote: »

or go back to the old, tried, and tested system of a conductor and create employment opportunities in a country that's riddled with unemployment !!!

Why not use security? It's still jobs being created and the security have a better presence than a conductor.

steamengine

starviewadams wrote: »

Ah c'mon now,that would make too much sense!

All the robocops/conductors would need is a ticket machine and customary leather bag - problem solved. As an old schoolteacher of mine used to say 'Common sense ain't all that common'.:)

steamengine

paulm17781 wrote: »

Why not use security? It's still jobs being created and the security have a better presence than a conductor.

That is how I think the term 'conductor' came about originally, so amalgamate the 2 functions, security and tickets. Why should a customer have to fumble about at a machine at all ? After all Luas want our money !!! Make the journeys customer enjoyable experiences !!!

paulm17781

steamengine wrote: »

Make the journeys customer enjoyable experiences !!!

I think they are. A conductor will not make me enjoy it more, possibly the opposite.

steamengine

paulm17781 wrote: »

I think they are. A conductor will not make me enjoy it more, possibly the opposite.

Fair enough - a journey that starts off with a nasty experience at a ticket machine won't be pleasant though !

DWCommuter

steamengine wrote: »

Fair enough - a journey that starts off with a nasty experience at a ticket machine won't be pleasant though !

Well I remember plenty of journies that began with a nasty experience with a conductor.

PCPhoto

only problem with a conductor is that he/she would never be able to navigate the tram (inside) during rush hour..... people crammed in like sardines.

steamengine

PCPhoto wrote: »

only problem with a conductor is that he/she would never be able to navigate the tram (inside) during rush hour..... people crammed in like sardines.

That was also one of the duties of a conductor - to see that eg. a bus didn't become too crowded, which seems to be another issue which LUAS ignore. On double deck buses they ensured standing downstairs only and none upstairs. However its only a suggestion - the main issue is passenger harassment at ticket vending machines .

Amalgam

Why not have a system where small change\credit is reimbursed 'on the ticket', like CIE operate on their buses. So, the only thing that needs to be spat back at the traveller, is the ticket.

The cash can then be returned at a city center location.

dazberry

Stark wrote: »

Have had to get the Luas from Museum stop instead of Heuston on occasion as there'd be several junkies standing there with his hands in front of the machine when I'm trying to put money in. Annoying feckers. Though that was before I discovered that the bus was much less hassle.

I've seen the "giant robocop looking security guys" kicking (not literally) undesirables out of Heuston Station, and where do they leave them...? on the Luas platforms - obviously these are CIE robocops and their duty of care stops at the front door. Another sign of transport integration.

D.

Carawaystick

Amalgam wrote: »

The cash can then be returned at a city center location.

Why not deal with beggars yourself instead of imposing potentially unreasonable costs on people who don't have any issues with them?

city centre location? what about new passengers who's journeys will be entirely in one of the two "counties" of the southside? why should they go to the city?

Here's a thought. maybe if the rpa had got the finger out and not wasted millions of our money in not implementing the integrated ticketing scheme so you could pay by smartcard and actually save money and top up online or at an atm there'd be less coinage and less beggars.

Mushy

Could they have mini-ticket machines on the trams like in other countries? Always laugh when I see it, was firstly at the oddness of it, then became more aw-like at the ingenuiy behond it.

Amalgam

Carawaystick wrote: »

Why not deal with beggars yourself instead of imposing potentially unreasonable costs on people who don't have any issues with them?

city centre location? what about new passengers who's journeys will be entirely in one of the two "counties" of the southside? why should they go to the city?

Here's a thought. maybe if the rpa had got the finger out and not wasted millions of our money in not implementing the integrated ticketing scheme so you could pay by smartcard and actually save money and top up online or at an atm there'd be less coinage and less beggars.

I don't have a problem with them, but many would. Particularly women. The system of returning cash 'on the ticket' is one that has been used by CIE for many years.

I agree about the lack of action over a unified ticketing system.

The current issue surrounding the machines being encroached on by panhandlers needs a solution that allows travellers to use the LUAS safely and with peace of mind, at all points of the journey.