What changes would you like to see within Dublin Bus?

meanmachine3

theres alot of threads going around about dublin bus in general. so i'm curious as to what you'd like to see done differently within dublin bus.
Now all i ask is you please keep this clean or i'll get it locked.
i promise i wont jump down anyones throat

melekalikimaka

happy in general, maybe ticket machines like luas

LXFlyer

Fundamentally I think there needs to be a greater understanding between everyone within the company (staff and management) that the customer is #1. Everyone within the company has to become more responsive to change and (this is key) there needs to be the ability to change quickly to respond to problems. The company need to learn from their mistakes.

Take the Network Direct changes. The network redesign, I would suggest broadly has been good, but this has been lost in the implementation of phase 1 due to fundamental shortfalls:

1) Little or no on-street publicity on the N11 and N3 corridors
2) Unachievable rosters being implemented on those corridors
3) Said rosters not being changed until months later (or not yet at all) leaving customers frustrated due to buses being curtailed or not operating.
4) Revised routes being implemented without necessary bus priority or traffic light sequencing changes being put in place (I'm specifically thinking of the 25/25a/25b whose reliability have been badly affected by the traffic on Fitzwilliam Place).

The results of these have errors have been clear to see on this board - people genuinely frustrated by not being able to go when and where they want to and the company loses credibility. Leaving problems to fester for months is in my mind fundamentally wrong and must be addressed more quickly.

The on-street publicity and roster issues were to be fair much less in evidence on the N4 implementation, but the traffic issues on Fitzwilliam Place caused major problems.

Mr Simpson

Personally I would like to see one flat fare (Get rid of stages) and Integrated ticketing. Hopefully we'll see a wider rollout of the RTPI and an app for it.

Cookie_Monster

Flatter fairs, ie zones
useful ticketing options, 2easys being brought back, proper integrated Dart, Luas and bus ticket (though I know that's not DB fault they're not in yet)

Minimum fairs on peak hour routes that use main corridors but are infrequent. ie the 7b on the 145/46a corridor to discourage people from using them for short hops instead of the more frequent routes

more inspectors, dealing with fare evaders and the general scumbag behaviour - backed up by security/gardai as required

bring back the two tone green with orange stripe

internals target for mgt and drivers to be met, ie mpg targets to encourage better driving (as per many transport companies) mgt target to reduce empty OOS running as much as possible, proper logging of departure times and running times to ensure drivers are leaving when they should and that they have enough time to meet their deadlines for leaving at the other end.

Realtime information (being rolled out)

and I'm sure if I though about it a whole slew of changes to routes

dogmatix

My wishlist, in no particular order and not considering economic realities and the like.

1. Fares - A simple flat-fare system. One fare within the M50 at least.
2. Fares - your fare would give you unlimited travel within your zone for 2 hours on any public transport option. A little like the travel-90 yoke from a few years back (is that still available?).
3. Fares - accept that public transport is a public service and not (and can never be) a profitable revenue generator. So set the fare at 1 euro within the M50 and say 2 euros in some sort of "metro-zone". And the fare giving you unlimited travel for 2 hours of course.
4. Real-time display system showing approximate times for the next bus.
5. Reduce excessive numbers of bus stops - whats the point of having a bus stop 100 metres from the next one outside of the city centre, on a route that has only one or two services on it?
6. Increased security and tackle smoking on upper deck.
7. Smart card that can be used on all public transport options.

mgmt

Use the Italian system of ticketing. Buy a ticket from a shop/machine and validate it on the bus. No interaction with the driver, thereby speeding up journey times.

Bring back the 2nd door.

WiFi would be nice

Better CCTV

Bike racks on the front of the bus like in America.

markpb

dogmatix wrote: »

4. Real-time display system showing approximate times for the next bus.
7. Smart card that can be used on all public transport options.

It's worth pointing out that both of these are on pilot at the moment. All the buses have GPS systems enabled and some bus stops around the city have had real-time displays for a few weeks now. I have a pilot integrated ticket in my hand right now.

LXFlyer

dogmatix wrote: »

2. Fares - your fare would give you unlimited travel within your zone for 2 hours on any public transport option. A little like the travel-90 yoke from a few years back (is that still available?).

Yes it is - as smartcard with 10 Travel 90 journeys.

http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/Fares--Tickets/Tickets/2-Journey-Daily-Weekly/

10 Journey Travel 90 Adult €18.50

• Valid for 10 journeys of 90 minutes unlimited travel
• Valid on Dublin Bus scheduled services including Xpresso (excluding Airlink, Nitelink, Tours, Special Events and Private Contract services)
• No CIE photo ID required

Polar101

Match timetables with reality, get rid of the buses that are listed but don't actually exist.

foggy_lad

Cashless services on busier routes, maybe have a cash bus every 20-30minutes on services with 8-10min frequencies. These will reduce dwell times and speed up busses for the majority while still having a slow cash bus for those that can't be bothered buying a prepaid ticket and those who root through their bags for change holding up everyone.

patrickbrophy18

I notice that the 111 is having an increase in its frequency. As such, I thought that I might make a suggestion of merging it with the 8 as per the attached file(Number8Bus.kmz). The 8 would be restored to it's old alignment from Dalkey as far as Westmoreland Street. Here after, there would be an extension to Heuston station. This would help in getting Dalkey further connected with town and also connected with the LUAS green line.

Aard

1. Flat fare.
2. Encourage prepaid fares.
3. Abolish student/scholar/schoolchild fares, and bring in a single Under 26s "Youth" fare.
4. Get rid of the current ID scheme, and make people buy such tickets at DB O'Connell St with passport/etc only.

ArmaniJeanss

Abandon the idea of driver changes mid route - It was annoying customers 20 years ago and it's still annoying customers now.
Build the timetable and driver/bus rosters around the concept that the driver who starts the journey is the driver who finishes the journey.

Gunslinger92

A more frequent 33 would be delightful, never gonna happen though

stop

Better marketing of existing prepaid tickets - particularly the travel90 - have posters put on long distance routes making it clear for customers on those routes how much they can save.

Enforce minimum fare where it exists and put it in place on some long haul routes e.g 66/67 from city centre.

Review stage system.

Eliminate ridiculous out of service workings - eg last 84 to Newcastle comes back oos to Bray. X services - before their afternoon duty they operate to the city centre as a short 19C or something, then go out of service to belfield before leaving belfield as an X. Why? A smaller one but a good example of oos operations is the route 161. How does it's 1620 departure get to Rockbrook? Why not run it in service from wherever it comes from? Similarly the 1750 from Nutgrove to Rockbrook has to come back down to Donnybrook or somewhere.. why not run it in service?

Stricter revenue protection - particularly on bad routes where upstairs is the smoking area. Liase with Gardai if needed. More inspections on Dept Of Social Protection passes.

markpb

Gunslinger92 wrote: »

A more frequent 33 would be delightful, never gonna happen though

Don't you people have a train service? Stop hogging our buses out there

SparkyTech

-More oribtal routes with consistant (and adequate) timetables
-High frequency feeder routes through to dart and luas services
-Intergrated ticketing
-Stringer audits of DB departure times/timetable to ensure service operates as planned and not to discretion of some drivers

Gunslinger92

markpb wrote: »

Don't you people have a train service? Stop hogging our buses out there

Indeed they do, but the 33 stops right outside my apartment and takes me right outside my boyfriend's house, it's handy out! :pac:

dudara

The single major change that Dublin Bus could make for me revolves around fares and ticketing.

Adopt a rechargeable smartcard system (preferably integrated with DART and Luas) - a la the Oyster Card in London or the OV Chipcard in Holland. Ticket machines to be readily available at all transport hubs and in major retailers. Encourage use by offering discounted fares. I've lived in Holland and the OV system is excellent.

I wanted to take the bus the other day from my house, but the smallest I had was a E5 note (no coins). There are no shops immediately around me, so I couldn't get change. The irony is that I did have a Luas smartcard, an OV card and an Oyster card in my pocket, all with over E10 credit on each. (I travel a lot for work). In the end, I got a taxi for E8, when I'd have preferred to get the bus.

The other change I'd like to see is an adherence to published timetables. I'm not convinced about the new real-time displays as I don't think Dublin Bus is capable of providing a basic enough service to benefit from the displays.

TBH - Dublin Bus is typical of Ireland in general. For ages the country had plenty of money, but did it get spent in adopting technology that would benefit us in the long-term. Integrated, smartcard ticketing is a no-brainer - it should have been put into existence over 10 years ago, but here we are, still counting the coins and hoping that we have enough change for the bus. Ri-donk-culous.

mikemac

Flat fares, do away with this 5c nonsense, make it an easy round number.
If needs be, hike it a bit as a stick to get people to use prepaid tickets.

Better marketing and discounted rates will be the carrot for prepaid fares.

Security costs money I know.
But nobody is asking for round the clock security.
At certain times (it isn't before noon ), on known problem buses have the STT guys on.
They can hop on and hop off along the route for an hour or two.
Ask Irish Rail for advice on contracts for it

loyatemu

• cashless buses
• simplified fare structure
• ticket machines at busy stops (they don't have to be as big & complicated as the IR and Luas machines)
• real-time info (I know, its coming soon).
• less bus stops (the proximity of the stops on some routes is ludicrous).
• more direct routes (I know they're doing this in theory at the moment, but they seem to be cocking it up).

testarossa40

• Enforce No Smoking laws
• Ban cash transactions - prepaid passes only
• Prominent & frequent "No Standing Downstairs While Seats Available Upstairs" messages. Oh, and "No Standing in Stairwell EVER" while we're at it...
• Regular inspections & repair of interior heating during winter.
• Better & objectivised customer service & handling skills training for ALL customer-facing roles - incl phone-based.

Diddler1977

*Bike Racks on the front of buses.

*Dogs allowed on buses.

Buses and public transport has to allow for different lifestyles not just commuters.

I bring my dog just about everywhere (except work) - I should be allowed to take him on the bus with me.

mgmt

Diddler1977 wrote: »

I bring my dog just about everywhere (except work) - I should be allowed to take him on the bus with me.

Don't agree with that, Dogs freak me out.


I would also like bus timetables to be printed on all bus stops. Its annoying that a lot of stops don't have a timetable when it could be so easily provided.

Zebra3

The stupid timetable for the 66 and 67 on a Sunday.

Both services are once an hour from Maynooth with one leaving at twenty to the hour and the other leaving at ten to the hour.

No service then for 50 mins. :rolleyes:

CIE

I have to disagree with all "cashless transaction" suggestions. Simplifying the fare system to the point where only a couple of coins at most means the fare is paid gets rid of any headache that might be associated with cash fares. That doesn't mean making cashless riding easier shouldn't be looked into (the discounted rates idea is a good idea, something that other transport agencies elsewhere in the world have done to great positive effect)...but I don't believe that it's a selling point to encourage people to leave their cars home, by itself, because it makes it a headache to start riding the bus if you haven't done it (having to worry about a broken ticket machine or closed newsagents makes having cash on hand far less stressful by comparison).

Timetables at bus stops "easily provided", at what cost to the public? I know that I find buying the bus timetables at the newsagents to be familiar enough, but printing isn't free after all. At bus stops where multiple bus routes stop, would there be enough room for all the routes?

Smart cards...weren't they subjected to hacking a while back, especially on the OV system? There are also privacy issues related to them.

DB needs to introduce limited-stop operation on the busiest corridors, especially on the most popular routes. The limited-stop variant of the route should either have its own alpha suffix or perhaps new number (I prefer new number to alpha suffix: think 40/140 on the Finglas Road corridor; either the 40 or the 140 should be "limited" on this corridor) or be otherwise clearly marked with the word "Limited"; this will also require special marking of stops for the limited bus unfortunately, but that should be low enough cost. (Advertising of same should be clear, frequent and its advantages expounded.)

If there is an increase in transition to an orbital/radial route network, the orbitals ought to have a free or low-cost transfer onto the radial and vice versa, and of course the frequency should be high enough to make a two-seat ride more viable. There certainly is a bit of a dearth of orbital routes on the south side; I can think of at least one corridor that should have a continuous orbital route operation (Kylemore Road/Walkinstown Avenue/St. Peter's Road/Greentrees Road/Templeville Road/Springfield Avenue/Dodder Park Road/Braemor Road/Upper Churchtown Road/Taney Road) but instead has discontinuous bus service on mostly radial routes (save the 18 on Kylemore Road) and large segments with no service at all. (Griffith Avenue on the north side perhaps should also have its own orbital route.)

Youth fare for under 26? That will exacerbate the problem with the under-16 fare, since people up to their mid-40s (some into their 50s!) can look under 26. There should be a children's fare, but that (as I've said in other threads) should be either for under-12s or based on fare box height (taller than fare box = full fare).

Oh yeah; no dogs on the buses unless it's a guide dog. There is no room for them, and there's the risk of being liable if the animal causes an allergic reaction or a cynophobic episode to the point where a passenger (or driver!) gets hospitalised; if you need to ride the bus to bring the dog to the vet, put the dog in a carrier. (Never mind the leftist "different lifestyles" catchphrase, whatever that really means.)

mgmt

CIE wrote: »

Timetables at bus stops "easily provided", at what cost to the public? I know that I find buying the bus timetables at the newsagents to be familiar enough, but printing isn't free after all. At bus stops where multiple bus routes stop, would there be enough room for all the routes?

Timetables at every bus stop could be provided for nothing if Dublin Bus offered advertising space.

CIE

mgmt wrote: »

Timetables at every bus stop could be provided for nothing if Dublin Bus offered advertising space.

There's not enough room on the bus' exterior to sell for ad space?

It might end up so that using separate poles for bus stop markers may not be financially viable. Might have to start attaching them to street light poles (I recall once that there was a bus stop in O'Devaney Gardens that was so erected, but that appears to be replaced by a regular bus stop pole) or to the poles that mark stop signs, clearway signs, no-parking signs or such (other cities do this with bus stops).

Mimikyu

This post has been deleted.

BostonB

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

Abandon the idea of driver changes mid route - It was annoying customers 20 years ago and it's still annoying customers now.
Build the timetable and driver/bus rosters around the concept that the driver who starts the journey is the driver who finishes the journey.

They started this on the 37. Is annoying alright.

mgmt

Captain Morgan wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

How about
Zone 1 - within the canals
Zone 2 - Between the canals and the M50
Zone 3 - Outside the M50

seamus

Diddler1977 wrote: »

*Dogs allowed on buses.

Tbh, while I know this is probably allowed in some other countries, I can understand why this would be unappealing for the company to allow. At the very least, if the journey is quite long (as they can be in Dublin), there's the risk that a dog will let go in middle of bus. Rivers of pee going up and down the bus are par for the course on a nightlink, but not during the day. The bus would have to stop and be abandoned and cleaned.
Likewise a lump of smelly dog poo on the bus...not fun.

There would be a lot of people who would take their dog on the bus and think nothing of letting it do its business on the bus and leaving it there.

markpb

seamus wrote: »

Tbh, while I know this is probably allowed in some other countries, I can understand why this would be unappealing for the company to allow. At the very least, if the journey is quite long (as they can be in Dublin), there's the risk that a dog will let go in middle of bus.

The same could be said of children

If dogs were allowed on buses, especially at rush hour, I'd have to take my allergies away with me a buy a car.

dogmatix

lxflyer wrote: »

Yes it is - as smartcard with 10 Travel 90 journeys.

http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/Fares--Tickets/Tickets/2-Journey-Daily-Weekly/

Glad to hear it - that's actually surprisingly good value as well.

As for the real time displays - just a few days after posting I spotted one beside a bus stop outside the childrens hospital in Crumlin from the top deck of a 151. Looks very good.

dogmatix

mgmt wrote: »

How about
Zone 1 - within the canals
Zone 2 - Between the canals and the M50
Zone 3 - Outside the M50

I'd simplify further and have just two zones:
1. Citizone (everything within the M50 - 1euro fare - unlimited travel for 2 hours on all buses, luas, dart, train etc).
2. Metro zone (everything outside the M50 - say Kilcoole/Kilcock/Skerries) - 2 euro fare on all public transport for 3 hours).

And if money was no object, maybe bring back the old fashioned concept of two crew buses (driver and conductor). Would speed up boarding no end and help to a certain extent with security issues.

**Timbuk2**

Timetables that actually display what time the bus gets to the stop, as opposed to what time it leaves the terminus which might be very far away.

Diddler1977

markpb wrote: »

The same could be said of children

If dogs were allowed on buses, especially at rush hour, I'd have to take my allergies away with me a buy a car.

I'm allergic to peanuts - but I've never seen any signs on DB saying please don't open peanuts on the bus at rush hour

Diddler1977

seamus wrote: »

Tbh, while I know this is probably allowed in some other countries, I can understand why this would be unappealing for the company to allow. At the very least, if the journey is quite long (as they can be in Dublin), there's the risk that a dog will let go in middle of bus. Rivers of pee going up and down the bus are par for the course on a nightlink, but not during the day. The bus would have to stop and be abandoned and cleaned.
Likewise a lump of smelly dog poo on the bus...not fun.

There would be a lot of people who would take their dog on the bus and think nothing of letting it do its business on the bus and leaving it there.

If this was the case dog owners cars would be full of poop.

My dog comes on 3hr+ journeys in the car with me and has never gone to the toilet.

Why can it work in other countries but not Ireland?

It is the same as dogs staying in hotels and b&b's - allowed in other countries but not Ireland.

We are very dog unfriendly.

I miss the Ireland of old when there was always a dog in most pubs sitting quietly under the stool of an 'oul fella.......

seamus

Diddler1977 wrote: »

If this was the case dog owners cars would be full of poop.

My dog comes on 3hr+ journeys in the car with me and has never gone to the toilet.

But you stop every so often to stretch your legs and let the dog have a pee right?

Why can it work in other countries but not Ireland?

Well we'd need to look at other countries and what their policies are.

It is the same as dogs staying in hotels and b&b's - allowed in other countries but not Ireland.

Agreed, although there are a good few (and increasing) number of dog-friendly hotels & B&B's.

We are very dog unfriendly.

Indeed, but Irish people (as owners) can also be quite irresponsible and "I don't care" when it comes to what their dogs are doing. Many Irish people still see no problem in opening their door and sending the dog out to "play" in the street.
On the continent, dogs are allowed into many shops with their owners. This would be great, but I get the feeling that many Irish would be more than happy to let their dog run around pulling things off shelves and getting their extendable leads wrapped up all over the place while their owner's looking the other way.

That said, your average gob****e who barely does what's necessary for the dog probably wouldn't be bothered taking their dog on the bus.

Diddler1977

seamus wrote: »

But you stop every so often to stretch your legs and let the dog have a pee right?


That said, your average gob****e who barely does what's necessary for the dog probably wouldn't be bothered taking their dog on the bus.

Wouldn't stop - generally keep driving until I get to my destination. However, I would stop if the dog let me know he wanted to go - he growls and looks out the window as a sign

To the second point above - yes most responsible dog owners who use public transport and are committed to civic duty (including cleaning up after Fido) are penalised because of the the actions of dopes who get a dog and then let it out unsupervised, etc.

My dog is a part of my family, I really feel stongly about being able to take him on the bus.

PS> Saw lots of Dogs on trains and buses in Germany

Riverston

Id like to see Dublin Bus interact better when theres a compaint about them.

Id also like to see an independent authority that they are responsible to, like a regulator, or an independent ombudsman that complaints can be brought to, just like most other industries in this country. Dublin Bus are an island in the sea of regulation, answerable to noone. If consumers and the general public have an issue that they feel they cant get a reasonable response from DB on, theres no Big Brother to haul them in front of....completely unacceptable in my book.

Other than that, everyone else on here has incredibly sensible suggestions that I have no doubt will be ignored by the 'know it alls' in O'Connell St.

Corruptedmorals

A big white line dividing the bus entrance 'CASH FARE QUEUE ONLY' on the left 'PREPAID TICKETS QUEUE ONLY' on the left.
Busses more geared towards people wanting to get into town for the hour, leaving town after finishing work etc. on the hour- weekends are terrible for this, because nobody works them! Very bad deterioration on them on my route- 66. Busses leave town on the hour on sundays at 5 to, meaning those finishing work on time or shortly after have a long wait ahead- times were far better before. Similarly, the busses going in are not the best. I used to work at 11 on sundays, now my option means I'd be in town at 10:20..nothing is open to even pass that time. A bus leaving Maynooth on the hour is better, and from town much better at 25 past or half. No increase in the frequency required.

New Haven

• Easier fare structure
• No termini in city centre blocking the streets
• Proper diciplinary action towards bad mannered drivers
• Proper recognition for the many great drivers who I meet on my commute each day
• Timetables that reflect reality
• More inspectors boarding buses

foggy_lad

I would also like to see all mobile devices including those with handsfree banned from being used by staff whilst driving or sitting in the drivers seat! I am fed up watching drivers make stupid mistakes because they are too busy talking/listening to pay attention to what is going on around them!

AlekSmart

• Easier fare structure
• No Taxis in city centre blocking the streets
• Proper diciplinary action towards bad mannered Passengers
• Proper recognition for the many great passengers who I meet on my commute each day
• Timetables that reflect reality
• More inspectors boarding buses

I`ll go for that too

CIE

Diddler1977 wrote: »

If this was the case dog owners cars would be full of poop.

My dog comes on 3hr+ journeys in the car with me and has never gone to the toilet.

Why can it work in other countries but not Ireland?

It is the same as dogs staying in hotels and b&b's - allowed in other countries but not Ireland.

We are very dog unfriendly.

I miss the Ireland of old when there was always a dog in most pubs sitting quietly under the stool of an 'oul fella.......

Wow, this is devolving.

• Not all dogs are the same. If I had to subject my dog to a car journey of three hours plus, I would not get away with not being able to stop to allow the dog relief unless the dog slept through the whole journey, and given how high-strung she is, that's highly unlikely. And oh yeah, comparing the interior of a car with the interior of a bus is an apples/oranges comparison, unless you can fit seventy or so people (and their dogs) in your car.
• What "other countries"? You mean where people ride on the bus like this or worse...?
• No, it's not the same as dogs staying in hotels or B&Bs...unless you've stayed in a single hotel room with a hundred other people and their pets?

I mentioned the word "cynophobia" earlier in this thread. Have you looked up the definition? How about the definition of hygiene...?

diddler1977 wrote: »

My dog is a part of my family, I really feel st(r)ongly about being able to take him on the bus

That sounds bizarre, frankly. Your family is your human family. A dog is an animal that operates on instinct.

diddler1977 wrote: »

Saw lots of Dogs on trains and buses in Germany

So we have to be like Germany now? Don't go there; that'll lead to comparisons with our time as part of the British Empire. (Funny you didn't mention which city.)

And since you capitalised "Dogs", maybe I misunderstood; do you mean human dogs? (I hope you can conceptualise that there's a difference between humans and canines.)

Diddler1977

CIE wrote: »

Wow, this is devolving.

• Not all dogs are the same. If I had to subject my dog to a car journey of three hours plus, I would not get away with not being able to stop to allow the dog relief unless the dog slept through the whole journey, and given how high-strung she is, that's highly unlikely. And oh yeah, comparing the interior of a car with the interior of a bus is an apples/oranges comparison, unless you can fit seventy or so people (and their dogs) in your car.
• What "other countries"? You mean where people ride on the bus like this or worse...?
• No, it's not the same as dogs staying in hotels or B&Bs...unless you've stayed in a single hotel room with a hundred other people and their pets?

I mentioned the word "cynophobia" earlier in this thread. Have you looked up the definition? How about the definition of hygiene...?That sounds bizarre, frankly. Your family is your human family. A dog is an animal that operates on instinct.So we have to be like Germany now? Don't go there; that'll lead to comparisons with our time as part of the British Empire. (Funny you didn't mention which city.)

And since you capitalised "Dogs", maybe I misunderstood; do you mean human dogs? (I hope you can conceptualise that there's a difference between humans and canines.)

http://www.pettravel.com/passports_pubtrans.cfm

http://rome.angloinfo.com/information/17/busses.asp

BTW, it could be revenue generating for Dublin Bus - I'd happily pay for my boy to travel on the bus.

CIE

Diddler1977 wrote: »

http://www.pettravel.com/passports_pubtrans.cfm

http://rome.angloinfo.com/information/17/busses.asp

That certainly seems to undermine your claim. I believe I mentioned dogs travelling in carriers before this. Having dogs on a bus or train in a state of containment (either in a carrier or muzzled/leashed) is not beyond reason; however note the extant law (not superseded by EU "law" yet thankfully) having to do with quarantine of an animal whose origin is not Ireland.

Diddler1977 wrote: »

BTW, it could be revenue generating for Dublin Bus - I'd happily pay for my boy to travel on the bus

Seek help, even if you're codding us...

Diddler1977

CIE wrote: »

Seek help, even if you're codding us...

Attack the post not the poster please.

Public Transport should be there to allow for its users lifestyle. Obviously my dog is a huge part of my life (and my families life) - I feel that DB should accomodate this. End of.

You can't seem to understand the importance of dogs in the lives of some of their owners.

mosi

I agree, Dublin Bus should allow dogs, even if only at off peak times. Their official policy is at the drivers discretion, but most drivers will refuse.
I don't have a car but have two small dogs, and I am very limited in where I can go. If they can do it on the continent, why not here?