Bus Lanes

thebostoncrab

For the second day in a row, I'm late for work. I use public transport and get the very first bus I can (I commute from Moate to Swords so it's a long trek) and the reason for my lateness is because seem to think that the bus lane is for everyone to use. If this carries up I don't think my employers will accept it and I don't even want to think of what I'd be faced with.

So my question for AH is this, do you find yourself becoming delayed for the same reason and why the hell are we letting motorists get away with it?

vibe666

not being funny, but regardless of what is holding up the traffic it sounds like you need to be getting an earlier bus.

if you were driving into work and were regularly late because the traffic was heavy you'd need to start leaving earlier, how is this any different?

wolf moon

thebostoncrab wrote: »

why the hell are we letting motorists get away with it?

While driving around Dublin I keep saying that Garda Traffic Corps could easily pull this country out of recession. The poor style of driving, blocking traffic flow, ignorance, parking whenever is comfortable and overall muppetry would certainly earn us a few quid to pay off the debt.

thebostoncrab

vibe666 wrote: »

not being funny, but regardless of what is holding up the traffic it sounds like you need to be getting an earlier bus.

if you were driving into work and were regularly late because the traffic was heavy you'd need to start leaving earlier, how is this any different?

My bus is the very first bus, there are no earlier buses. All summer traffic wasn't an issue, I'd land in town before 9 and hop on the Swords Express and be in work before 10 I'm hoping it's just a bad two days but it's still frustrating as hell.

vibe666

vibe666 wrote: »

not being funny, but regardless of what is holding up the traffic it sounds like you need to be getting an earlier bus.

if you were driving into work and were regularly late because the traffic was heavy you'd need to start leaving earlier, how is this any different?

Ahem:

thebostoncrab wrote:

I use public transport and get the very first bus I can (I commute from Moate to Swords so it's a long trek)

stargazer 68

thebostoncrab wrote: »

and be in work before 10 .

So how are you already late for work today?

steve9859

I love it when I see the traffic Garda pulling people over in the bus lanes. I really don't understand why they don't have someone policing the problem areas every morning. Do you get points on your licence as well? If not, you should IMO. It would also raise a good bit of cash, and I'd be more likely to get the bus if it could fly unimpeded down the bus lanes.

thebostoncrab

Dovies wrote: »

thebostoncrab wrote: »

and be in work before 10 .

So how are you already late for work today?

Because I'm on the Swords Express now and just coming into the Port Tunnel, unless it can get there in four minutes I'm going to be late

Fran1985

thebostoncrab wrote: »

My bus is the very first bus, there are no earlier buses. All summer traffic wasn't an issue, I'd land in town before 9 and hop on the Swords Express and be in work before 10 I'm hoping it's just a bad two days but it's still frustrating as hell.

The first bus is at 6 am or 6:30 am or something like that, if you get this bus and don't get into work until 10 then you need to move closer to your job

thebostoncrab

Fran1985 wrote: »

thebostoncrab wrote: »

My bus is the very first bus, there are no earlier buses. All summer traffic wasn't an issue, I'd land in town before 9 and hop on the Swords Express and be in work before 10 I'm hoping it's just a bad two days but it's still frustrating as hell.

The first bus is at 6 am or 6:30 am or something like that, if you get this bus and don't get into work until 10 then you need to move closer to your job

Yup 6:30 is when it pulls in. It's a temp job so it's not worth moving up, especially when the misses has a permanent job locally. By God I got made permanent I'd instantly look to move closer but that won't happen.

wolf moon

Traffic lanes are not a huge problem. How about cars parked along the road despite the double yellow line? Who gives a damn actually? MOST IMPORTANT - THEY ARE DRIVING SLOW=SAFE, but it's not a problem parking on a roundabouts or right behind the turn... And open the door right in front of approaching vehicle.

It's not just bus lanes - at least 30% of drivers in Ireland should never be allowed to drive in "real" traffic.

That's all, when I think about it it instantly winds me up - how much time and petrol I've wasted just because of this ignorant attitude on Irish roads.

LaFlammeRouge

Why don't you drive yourself. Moate to Swords would be a 3hour trek on Public Transport. If you don't want to drive yourself then look into http://carsharing.ie/ A car pooling website set up by the Dept. of Transport.

Or you could get the direct bus to the airport and then get a bus to Swords.

thebostoncrab

LaFlammeRouge wrote: »

Why don't you drive yourself. Moate to Swords would be a 3hour trek on Public Transport. If you don't want to drive yourself then look into http://carsharing.ie/ A car pooling website set up by the Dept. of Transport.

Or you could get the direct bus to the airport and then get a bus to Swords.

I looked up alot of car pooling sites but I dunno how I missed that one! I'll be signing up at lunch, thanks for the link!

vibe666

thebostoncrab wrote: »

My bus is the very first bus, there are no earlier buses. All summer traffic wasn't an issue, I'd land in town before 9 and hop on the Swords Express and be in work before 10 I'm hoping it's just a bad two days but it's still frustrating as hell.

yes, i'm officially a numpty, missed that bit in your original post.

Fran1985

thebostoncrab wrote: »

Yup 6:30 is when it pulls in. It's a temp job so it's not worth moving up, especially when the misses has a permanent job locally. By God I got made permanent I'd instantly look to move closer but that won't happen.

If its taken 3-4 hours to get there, and 3-4 hours to get back, how much do you see the misses anyway? would you not be better of paying a couple of bob a week for a bedsit, travel up on Monday, stay over and go back on Friday? or even make a trip back mid week. It'll only be 3 full days a week you wont see her. I'm sure she'll understand cos that's a crazy amount of travelling for a temp job. And as you say, its a job you'll lose soon enough if you don't sort something out. Something to consider anyway.

stupidusername

i was ten minutes late yesterday morning, so i got up earlier this morning, was about ten minutes earlier leaving the house. i said i wouldn't wait for the regular bus I get, because it stops at UCD for ever, and has loads of people on it (hence more stops), that I'd get another bus into town to get a different one that usually has less people on it. the link bus was full, the driver wouldn't stop, then the regular bus I get was late. then when we got to town there was some guy that wouldn't let the driver go without letting him on (because the bus was full) holding every one up, saying that the last two buses were full too.

so I ended up being 15 minutes late this morning. getting up earlier doesn't always work out. stupid dublin bus.

sbsquarepants

I have to say, i'm a serial offender.
If i'm sitting in traffic and there's an empty bus lane beside me, i'll drive in it - fúck it - all's fair in love and traffic. I get caught and fined roughly every 18 months or so, as far as i'm concerned that's a perfectly acceptable level of risk/reward. To be perfectly honest, i feel no civic duty of care towards buses or taxis, i'm just trying to get to work like everyone else. Although, that being said, i honestly don't think i've ever held up a bus, i'd usually only be in the bus lane when i'm turning out of it in a short while and i believe they should be bus/turning lanes anyway
Maybe you're just cutting it too fine?

mikemac

Time lost is lost forever

To commute from Galway to Dublin is a crazy distance

I second the suggestion to get a cheap bedsit for yourself or even become a lodger in Swords. Lots of place to rent and you can haggle with them all
Then head home near the end of the week

You're adding a lot of stress for yourself with that commute
Ever consider getting a motorbike? Faster too and well you can unofficially drive in the bus lanes. Gardaí don't mind, bikes don't slow anyone down or clog the bus lane

Cianos

sbsquarepants wrote: »

I have to say, i'm a serial offender.
If i'm sitting in traffic and there's an empty bus lane beside me, i'll drive in it - fúck it - all's fair in love and traffic. I get caught and fined roughly every 18 months or so, as far as i'm concerned that's a perfectly acceptable level of risk/reward. To be perfectly honest, i feel no civic duty of care towards buses or taxis, i'm just trying to get to work like everyone else. Although, that being said, i honestly don't think i've ever held up a bus, i'd usually only be in the bus lane when i'm turning out of it in a short while and i believe they should be bus/turning lanes anyway
Maybe you're just cutting it too fine?

No, that is asshole behavior and you're annoying more people than buses (full of people) and taxis.

blackwhite

sbsquarepants wrote: »

I have to say, i'm a serial offender.
If i'm sitting in traffic and there's an empty bus lane beside me, i'll drive in it - fúck it - all's fair in love and traffic. I get caught and fined roughly every 18 months or so, as far as i'm concerned that's a perfectly acceptable level of risk/reward. To be perfectly honest, i feel no civic duty of care towards buses or taxis, i'm just trying to get to work like everyone else. Although, that being said, i honestly don't think i've ever held up a bus, i'd usually only be in the bus lane when i'm turning out of it in a short while and i believe they should be bus/turning lanes anyway
Maybe you're just cutting it too fine?

What do you think is so special about you that you feel that you should have an exemption from the laws that everybody else has to abide by?

TBH, if I saw you doing that and then saw where you parked, you could find your car sans wing mirrors when you came back to it.

copeyhagen

get a motorcycle and then enjoy using the buslanes whenever you want without even a glance from traffic corps:cool:

steve9859

sbsquarepants wrote: »

I have to say, i'm a serial offender.
If i'm sitting in traffic and there's an empty bus lane beside me, i'll drive in it - fúck it - all's fair in love and traffic. I get caught and fined roughly every 18 months or so, as far as i'm concerned that's a perfectly acceptable level of risk/reward. To be perfectly honest, i feel no civic duty of care towards buses or taxis, i'm just trying to get to work like everyone else. Although, that being said, i honestly don't think i've ever held up a bus, i'd usually only be in the bus lane when i'm turning out of it in a short while and i believe they should be bus/turning lanes anyway
Maybe you're just cutting it too fine?

One word: asshole

ringadingding

blackwhite wrote: »

What do you think is so special about you that you feel that you should have an exemption from the laws that everybody else has to abide by?

TBH, if I saw you doing that and then saw where you parked, you could find your car sans wing mirrors when you came back to it.

Oh the irony

Malari

blackwhite wrote: »

What do you think is so special about you that you feel that you should have an exemption from the laws that everybody else has to abide by?

TBH, if I saw you doing that and then saw where you parked, you could find your car sans wing mirrors when you came back to it.

You realise that you don't have an exemption to criminal damage of other people's property?

In Cork I find the opposite is the case, where many bus-lanes are operational only for a couple of hours during rush hour but no-one ever uses them at any other time :rolleyes:

Lollipops23

sbsquarepants wrote: »

I have to say, i'm a serial offender.
If i'm sitting in traffic and there's an empty bus lane beside me, i'll drive in it - fúck it - all's fair in love and traffic. I get caught and fined roughly every 18 months or so, as far as i'm concerned that's a perfectly acceptable level of risk/reward. To be perfectly honest, i feel no civic duty of care towards buses or taxis, i'm just trying to get to work like everyone else. Although, that being said, i honestly don't think i've ever held up a bus, i'd usually only be in the bus lane when i'm turning out of it in a short while and i believe they should be bus/turning lanes anyway
Maybe you're just cutting it too fine?

Nice that you're adding to the stress of what is already an overworked/underpaid/ generally worn out workforce.

No really, kudos. You're a big man.

blackwhite

ringadingding wrote: »

Oh the irony

That was supposed to be the point.... obviously went over a few heads.. :rolleyes:

Malari

Malari wrote: »

You realise that you don't have an exemption to criminal damage of other people's property?

In Cork I find the opposite is the case, where many bus-lanes are operational only for a couple of hours during rush hour but no-one ever uses them at any other time :rolleyes:

For some strange reason even on Sundays people don't tend to use the bus lanes, i have often come up to a queue of 10 cars with the bus lane empty and free to use.

I make a point of using the bus lane on a Sunday,

Malari

cisk wrote: »

For some strange reason even on Sundays people don't tend to use the bus lanes, i have often come up to a queue of 10 cars with the bus lane empty and free to use.

I make a point of using the bus lane on a Sunday,

When you do use them you get thrown the evil eyes from every other car! Should put in bus lanes instead of yellow boxes in junctions to make sure no-one enters them. It's just bad use of the road and poor observation skills.

Zebra3

OP,

You live too far from your job.

Just The One

Some bus lanes only apply as bus lanes during certain hours. Out of these hours motorists are free to use.

Just The One

also... it is quite annoying when a bus has the use of a bus lane but fails to use it and drives on the main lane stopping you from passing them

kingtut

thebostoncrab wrote: »

My bus is the very first bus, there are no earlier buses. All summer traffic wasn't an issue, I'd land in town Dublin city before 9 and hop on the Swords Express and be in work before 10 I'm hoping it's just a bad two days but it's still frustrating as hell.

FYP :cool:

arybvtcw0eolkf

sbsquarepants wrote: »

I have to say, i'm a serial offender.
If i'm sitting in traffic and there's an empty bus lane beside me, i'll drive in it - fúck it - all's fair in love and traffic. I get caught and fined roughly every 18 months or so, as far as i'm concerned that's a perfectly acceptable level of risk/reward. To be perfectly honest, i feel no civic duty of care towards buses or taxis, i'm just trying to get to work like everyone else. Although, that being said, i honestly don't think i've ever held up a bus, i'd usually only be in the bus lane when i'm turning out of it in a short while and i believe they should be bus/turning lanes anyway
Maybe you're just cutting it too fine?

I love jogging or walking in bicycle lanes - but only because I think I'm a ride

Horsefumbler

cisk wrote: »

For some strange reason even on Sundays people don't tend to use the bus lanes, i have often come up to a queue of 10 cars with the bus lane empty and free to use.

ffs keep it a secret :mad:

PandyAndy

Say no to traffic jams, say no to getting the bus, say no to being late for work, say YES to getting a monster truck.

Pherekydes

mikemac wrote: »

Time lost is lost forever

To commute from Galway to Dublin is a crazy distance

'tis.

Moate's not as bad, though. Especially the one in Westmeath.

I couldn't commute for 6-7 hrs per day. That'd drive me insane.

Turtyturd

Just drive in and use the Bus Lanes OP.

rubadub

Pherekydes wrote: »

I couldn't commute for 6-7 hrs per day. That'd drive me insane.

a lot of people fail to calculate this time in their pay too. We had lads coming up from wexford to dublin each day to earn little over min wage, when you add in the time they spent they were probably better off on min wage in the local supermarket.

I also hear people fooling themselves saying "it only takes me 40mins to get to work",
-"oh so you leave at 8.20 then, in for 9?",
-"ah no, I leave the hosue at 6, walk to the bus stop, get the bus, wait for the train which is only 40mins, walk to the next bus stop , etc,etc"

rubadub

rubadub wrote: »

a lot of people fail to calculate this time in their pay too. We had lads coming up from wexford to dublin each day to earn little over min wage, when you add in the time they spent they were probably better off on min wage in the local supermarket.

I also hear people fooling themselves saying "it only takes me 40mins to get to work",
-"oh so you leave at 8.20 then, in for 9?",
-"ah no, I leave the hosue at 6, walk to the bus stop, get the bus, wait for the train which is only 40mins, walk to the next bus stop , etc,etc"

Sometimes there is no local work available. I admire anyone who is willing to commute a huge distance to earn a living instead of sitting on their hole moaning that there's no work anywhere. Public transport in Ireland is a joke, though. It used to take me almost 2 hours to get from my house in Dublin 6 to work in Dublin 3, using the Luas, the DART and a bus. A similar journey here in London would take about 20 minutes.

vibe666

i live in navan and was going for a job interview on the outskirts of dun laoghaire which would have been about an hour of a commute by car. unfortunately, the gearbox in my car decided to destroy itself the night before the interview and i had to resort to public transport which meant a 30 minute walk to the nearest bus eireann stop, over an hour on the bus into the city centre, 10 mins walk to connolly station, dart to dun laoghaire and then a 15 minute taxi ride the rest of the way.

after working it all out online and accounting for the waiting time between each leg of the journey and adding a bit of a safety buffer in case anything was late, i left the house at 11am and made it there for about 2:30pm ready for my 3pm interview.

that was more than enough to put me off public transport, but making it home for 6:30pm AND not getting the poxy job put the final nail in the coffin.

so unless you live on the main road in navan next to a bus stop and your work is next to the bus stop at the other end, get yourself a car with a solid gearbox.

Capt'n Midnight

Put cameras in the buses so drivers blocking bus lanes can be reported.

Use traffic cameras to enforce bus lanes , breaking red lights and my pet hate people entering a yellow junction box without a clear exit while turning LEFT

There is a junction box where a side road joins southbound on Ballymun road. The central meridian prevents anyone turning right :rolleyes:

Malaya Attractive Duckling

Malaya Attractive Duckling wrote: »

Sometimes there is no local work available. I admire anyone who is willing to commute a huge distance to earn a living instead of sitting on their hole moaning that there's no work anywhere. Public transport in Ireland is a joke, though. It used to take me almost 2 hours to get from my house in Dublin 6 to work in Dublin 3, using the Luas, the DART and a bus. A similar journey here in London would take about 20 minutes.

get a bike, dublin 6 to dublin 3? seriously? half hour tops. even walking would get there quicker!!

vibe666

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

and my pet hate people entering a yellow junction box without a clear exit while turning LEFT

they had a thing on top gear a few years ago where they hid next to a yellow box and any time anyone blocked it, they jumped out with a marching band or cheerleaders or something like that.