I Loathe Dublin Bus

TeamJesus

I get dublin bus 100+ times per month as I have to get two buses to work.

Today I got my first bus and the machine did that one long beep and it was fine. But on the second bus it ran out which was weird because it's capped but I obviously made some mistake.

Anyway I couldn't get the right amount of change. I asked if I could stay on the bus.

The driver shouted at me to GET OFF THE BUS.

All the keyboard warriors are going to say serves me right etc etc because they'd never ever make such a mistake.

I just want to have a rant that Dublin bus have absolutely no customer service. This driver talked to me like a dog and I'm fed up of them.

Their real time info is usually wrong.
Their buses are so full in the morning it's a safety hazard.
Sometime the buses don't come at all.

They're always making mistakes but talk to their customers like dogs when they make a mistake.

circadian

It's the only system I have ever seen that does timetables the way they do. It drives me mental.

MagicMarker

To be fair I find the real time info is usually right.

Anyway op, I had a similar situation once where i thought i had money on my leap card but turned out I didn't, but the driver let me on.

5uspect

I really dislike Dublin bus too. The ticketing system is just too complicated and the drivers are too rude to deal with it.

I just want to get a bus to town not negotiate with a driver who has no interest with dealing the public. I've seen people miss a stop and get a bollicking from a driver far too frequently. I just end up driving most of the time I find it that frustrating.

Why can't they have a sensible flat rate like most other cities?

Also the buses in my area aren't too punctual either.

n97 mini

A bus driver was telling everyone yesterday as they got off the bus that we're all going to die of Ebola. That was weird.

BonnieSituation

OSI wrote: »

Other cities have flat rates? TfLs zone system would be a better option. But I don't see the problem with changing people based on how far they are going.

Yeah the likes of Ottawa have a flat fare of $3.05 for a 90min trip of any length. You just flash your ticket when you get on. When using their version of Leap (Presto) the display will give you the discounted rate of fare which I think is $2.75 and then show you how long you have left on your journey (1h30 at peak times/ 1h45 off-peak). So when you get onto your second bus it will show you the time remaining.

LuckyLloyd

I get up to five bus journies a day and reckon DB provide a solid service. The improvement in every aspect of quality and reliability over the past 13 years is significant (obviously that is not solely down to DB as a company, but the NTA).

Regarding drivers, rude / unhelpful individuals are a small minority ime.

Ol' Donie

I've had quite a few infuriating experiences with them in the past...the driver sitting in traffic at the bus stop pretending not to hear me knocking of the door of his half empty bus still makes me angry, 6 or 7 years on...

But then there is the Overheard in Dublin story of the driver who opened the door of his packed bus at the Central Bank while shouting "Fly, my pretties, fly!" for which I forgive a lot.

Ben D Bus

OSI wrote: »

Other cities have flat rates? TfLs zone system would be a better option. But I don't see the problem with changing people based on how far they are going.

London buses are flat rate. Approx €1.80. And cashless.

You can't use cash to pay for your bus fare. You can use Oyster or a contactless payment card to pay as you go, a Travelcard or a Bus & Tram Pass. A single adult fare is £1.45 with Oyster or a contactless payment card.

https://www.tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/fares/bus-and-tram

paddyh117

I've been using Dublin bus twice a day for the last 3.5 years, but thankfully due to moving location, will now be getting the DART instead.

I don't have a huge problem with delays etc - traffic/weather etc has a bearing on this so what can you do?

I fundamentally disagree though with anyone that say the staff are acceptable - some are - i would hazard a guess at 20% -30% are actually good at their job, friendly helpful and courteous -

about 20% don't seem bothered one way or the other but about 50% IMO are stealing a living, and if it wasn't for a heavily unionized environment would/should be sacked in the morning

I'm very glad I will no long have to look at their miserable faces every day.

n97 mini

Ben D Bus wrote: »

London buses are flat rate. Approx €1.80. And cashless.

There are still TfL zones which I think is what he meant. They apply on other modes of transport where there isn't a flat fare.

end of the road

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

I get up to five bus journies a day and reckon DB provide a solid service. The improvement in every aspect of quality and reliability over the past 13 years is significant (obviously that is not solely down to DB as a company, but the NTA).

Regarding drivers, rude / unhelpful individuals are a small minority ime.

i agree. my experiences with dublin bus have been positive, some routes could do with better frequency but maybe that will happen some day. the drivers i've dealt with have been helpful and nothing but. i've no doubt people have bad experiences and there are some rude drivers who shouldn't be in the job (along with some rude self entitled customers) but life has such people unfortunately.

end of the road

Ol' Donie wrote: »

I've had quite a few infuriating experiences with them in the past...the driver sitting in traffic at the bus stop pretending not to hear me knocking of the door of his half empty bus still makes me angry, 6 or 7 years on...

But then there is the Overheard in Dublin story of the driver who opened the door of his packed bus at the Central Bank while shouting "Fly, my pretties, fly!" for which I forgive a lot.

if you were outside a stop he has no obligation to let you on and rightly so.

end of the road

TeamJesus wrote: »

I get dublin bus 100+ times per month as I have to get two buses to work.

Today I got my first bus and the machine did that one long beep and it was fine. But on the second bus it ran out which was weird because it's capped but I obviously made some mistake.

Anyway I couldn't get the right amount of change. I asked if I could stay on the bus.

The driver shouted at me to GET OFF THE BUS.

All the keyboard warriors are going to say serves me right etc etc because they'd never ever make such a mistake.

I just want to have a rant that Dublin bus have absolutely no customer service. This driver talked to me like a dog and I'm fed up of them.

Their real time info is usually wrong.
Their buses are so full in the morning it's a safety hazard.
Sometime the buses don't come at all.

They're always making mistakes but talk to their customers like dogs when they make a mistake.

right. so let me get this straight. you didn't have the fair for the second part of the journey. yet you expect to be let on the bus. got you. you don't pay your fair, you don't get to travel. nothing to do with keyboard warriors but common sense. so yes, it serves you right, and no i would make sure i have some way of paying the correct fair when using public transport. make sure your card is topped up.

Ol' Donie

end of the road wrote: »

if you were outside a stop he has no obligation to let you on and rightly so.

Thanks for that. No obligation to be a decent bloke, either, I suppose.

But if i was at a bus stop, as i said above?

(See, still makes me angry.)

LXFlyer

Ol' Donie wrote: »

I've had quite a few infuriating experiences with them in the past...the driver sitting in traffic at the bus stop pretending not to hear me knocking of the door of his half empty bus still makes me angry, 6 or 7 years on...

But then there is the Overheard in Dublin story of the driver who opened the door of his packed bus at the Central Bank while shouting "Fly, my pretties, fly!" for which I forgive a lot.

If a bus driver has closed the doors having let all the passengers on/off, and is focussing on the traffic then he is in driving mode and is not supposed to open the doors again until the next stop.


I wouldn't take it personally.

Ol' Donie

Oh, come on. The bus was sitting still, the traffic was stopped at a red light up the road.

Fine. I won't take it personally. Just as i hope he wouldn't take it personally if i told him i thought he was a knob.

LXFlyer

Ol' Donie wrote: »

Oh, come on. The bus was sitting still, the traffic was stopped at a red light up the road.

Fine. I won't take it personally. Just as i hope he wouldn't take it personally if i told him i thought he was a knob.

Part of the basic training is that once the doors are closed, they stay closed.


That's not being a "knob" - that is how they are trained to drive the bus. The driver was actually obeying the regulations.

Ol' Donie

lxflyer wrote: »

Part of the basic training is that once the doors are closed, they stay closed.


That's not being a "knob" - that is how they are trained to drive the bus. The driver was actually obeying the regulations.

Does that apply if, say, someone wanted to get off the stationary bus at the bus stop? Would they be told to sit down until the next stop?

Anyway, not worth getting wound up about. Whatever the cause, Dublin Bus had a very dissatisfied customer that day.

Who now drives a Carolla, and if he has to, gets the Luas.

LXFlyer

Ol' Donie wrote: »

Does that apply if, say, someone wanted to get off the stationary bus at the bus stop? Would they be told to sit down until the next stop?

Anyway, not worth getting wound up about. Whatever the cause, Dublin Bus had a very dissatisfied customer that day.

Who now drives a Carolla, and if he has to, gets the Luas.

Once the driver has closed the doors, he/she is focussing on the road and as such is not supposed to reopen the doors until the next stop.


I know it sounds harsh, but those are the rules, as the driver should at that stage be focussing on the road and the traffic around them. As I said, I certainly wouldn't think it was any way personal - the driver was just doing his job by the book by the sounds of things.

Chun the Unavoidable

i would have expected a member of team jesus to be more forgiving.

end of the road

Ol' Donie wrote: »

Thanks for that. Not obligation to be a decent bloke, either, I suppose.

But if i was at a bus stop, as i said above?

(See, still makes me angry.)

he's not allowed to let you on outside a stop. end of. its not about being a decent guy, its about him following the rules so he won't be sacked from his job.

dquinnan

Only thing that annoys me is the 'real time passenger info' which isn't real time at all. Just frustrating watching buses disappear off the screen, or count down from 15 mins to due and then vanish.

Have only ever had two bad experiences with drivers. One was when I thought I had pressed the bell to get off at the next stop, but I actually hadn't pressed it and couldn't hear that I hadn't because of my earphones. Driver gave me a bit of a bollocking but still stopped a bit up from the stop instead of waiting til the next one to let me off.

Other time was when I had ran for the bus as it rounded a corner and passed me, but couldn't run all the way to the stop because of a knee injury. The driver waited at the stop, but gave me a bollocking when I got on for being lazy and holding everyone up. Wasn't in the mood to show him my surgery scarred knee, or for an argument so just apologized.

Good things I've witnessed them doing (driver giving tourists change out of his wallet for the machine, letting me on for free when Leap machine not working or I mistakenly had no credit, helping women fold buggies, giving directions etc) far outweigh the above.

Also, was on the new electric hybrid bus on the 151 the other week and thought it was great, so quiet and smooth. Plus far more leg room for my 6'4 frame!

BonnieSituation

paddyh117 wrote: »

I've been using Dublin bus twice a day for the last 3.5 years, but thankfully due to moving location, will now be getting the DART instead.

I don't have a huge problem with delays etc - traffic/weather etc has a bearing on this so what can you do?

I fundamentally disagree though with anyone that say the staff are acceptable - some are - i would hazard a guess at 20% -30% are actually good at their job, friendly helpful and courteous -

about 20% don't seem bothered one way or the other but about 50% IMO are stealing a living, and if it wasn't for a heavily unionized environment would/should be sacked in the morning

I'm very glad I will no long have to look at their miserable faces every day.

You say that now. One of the greatest things ever was moving office from Dún Laoghaire to Ballsbridge. I could still get the DART but the bus was so much better and quicker and more reliable.

paddyh117

BonnieSituation wrote: »

You say that now. One of the greatest things ever was moving office from Dún Laoghaire to Ballsbridge. I could still get the DART but the bus was so much better and quicker and more reliable.

Well today is the end of my first full week of change - been perfect so far. Couple of mins late here and there but other than that the service on the DART so far has been fine and much more preferable to my previous Dublin Bus experience - it's only been a week though so i will give it time

punisher5112

I always find these threads very amusing.

The Luas driver never gets complaints because you can not ask them anything.

The Dart driver never gets complaints because you can not ask them anything.

Dublin Bus driver's are just filth as I do be called at times among another fine choice of words and also verbally abused, threats can be common but mostly not acted on and just have passengers be plain rude among other things.

I will agree op some may and are rude but to be honest there are a hell of a lot more rude passengers and pedestrians and other road users out there.

You came on to rant as you could not travel for free because YOU did not have funds on YOUR Leap card.
Leap has auto top up for a while now so really no excuse to have nothing on the card anymore.

I have found over the last couple of months that a hell of a lot seem to have forgotten to top up or from what they say just topped up in the shop or petrol station or the best I topped up on the internet last night then I ask so where did you allocate to tag on for your top up from the internet and mostly I get a blank stare or at times a fu*k you and a quick walk away.

From what I am coming across lately a lot of kids, students and adults who should know better are trying it on and maybe are getting away with it but I will aske you op if you enter a shop and pick up a can or bar or whatever and then notice at till your short €1 or €2 would you actually expect to be able to walk out leaving them short.


Whether you like the service or not you are using a service and should pay for said service.
As a driver yes I get travel on DB but if I have to get the LUAS or DART I have to pay like everybody else and I for one would not expect to be able to travel for free if I as my own fault did not have the funds to do so.

I do believe there could be more trainning throughout the network but also it would be nice to have management backup when problems arise.

mikemac1

Ol' Donie wrote: »

Oh, come on. The bus was sitting still, the traffic was stopped at a red light up the road.

Fine. I won't take it personally. Just as i hope he wouldn't take it personally if i told him i thought he was a knob.

If a cyclist or 50cc scooter comes up inside the bus and hits you while you are at the open door the drivers new wage will be 188 per week

And you will sue Dublin Bus for compo though the driver tried to assist you

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

If OP tried to go on a dart or irish rail train with no funds on the leap card you wouldn't be able to get on because the barriers notice no funds and stay closed

Would you hurl abuse at them for not opening ?

Same rule for all buddy. No fare, no journey

carlmango11

I think a lot of you are missing the point. It wasn't that the driver didn't allow him to travel. It's the way he spoke to him.

When was the last time you were buying a coffee or clothes and the guy behind the till roared at you to get out of the shop because your card was declined?

Dublin Bus employees live in unionised la-la land where they see doing their job as a favour to the passengers. We're so used to it that we don't bat an eyelid when we're spoken to like **** by drivers. Compare the private sector to how Dublin Bus operates, it's madness.

OP, report him. I've been treated in a similar way to you before and I did the same (and I actually did have my fare, so no pathetic excuses).

punisher5112

Really

Awful_Bliss

I was told by the driver this morning that hot drinks (I had a coffee) weren't allowed on the bus so I couldn't get on. First time I've ever been told this. Anyone else experienced this on Dublin Bus?

Saipanne

Ol' Donie wrote: »

Oh, come on. The bus was sitting still, the traffic was stopped at a red light up the road.

Fine. I won't take it personally. Just as i hope he wouldn't take it personally if i told him i thought he was a knob.

They are not meant to pick up or drop off in the middle of the road. You were 100% in the wrong.

punisher5112

Awful_Bliss wrote: »

I was told by the driver this morning that hot drinks (I had a coffee) weren't allowed on the bus so I couldn't get on. First time I've ever been told this. Anyone else experienced this on Dublin Bus?

It's in the bye laws.

Driver discretion.

I personally don't as I dont need a cup in the face as has happened without confronting the person so imagine how unhappy someone could be.

punisher5112

Saipanne wrote: »

They are not meant to pick up or drop off in the middle of the road. You were 100% in the wrong.

110% correct saippan

end of the road

carlmango11 wrote: »

I think a lot of you are missing the point.

were not. he hadn't the money to pay the fare, therefore he didn't get to travel, therefore he was asked to leave the bus. no point missed.

carlmango11 wrote: »

Compare the private sector to how Dublin Bus operates, it's madness.

yeah. shur the perfect private sector would never treat customers badly. yeah, right

punisher5112

Dublin Bus have a team that are paid to take complaints or queries and Dublin Bus drivers are not.

Why does everyone have to take their anger, frustration and so on out on the driver. As I said I know there are bad drivers who have no time for the passengers but I really think people need to take a step back and take a deep breath and realise that these drivers may have ended up like this after years of abuse and been always in the wrong even when they were right.


It is one thing about working in such a job you soon notice you will never win or be right so some have probably taken this to heart and can no longer stand the job but have nothing else.

Awful_Bliss

punisher5112 wrote: »

Dublin Bus have a team that are paid to take complaints or queries and Dublin Bus drivers are not.

Why does everyone have to take their anger, frustration and so on out on the driver. As I said I know there are bad drivers who have no time for the passengers but I really think people need to take a step back and take a deep breath and realise that these drivers may have ended up like this after years of abuse and been always in the wrong even when they were right.


It is one thing about working in such a job you soon notice you will never win or be right so some have probably taken this to heart and can no longer stand the job but have nothing else.

If you don't like the job or the way you're treated then quit. Ill mannered people shouldn't deal with the public

punisher5112

Awful_Bliss wrote: »

If you don't like the job or the way you're treated then quit. Ill mannered people shouldn't deal with the public

So because I like a job but get grief from people who really should know better I should quit wow you are very quick off the mark there.

I am telling how it is and sorry that seems to offend you.

If you don't like travelling by bus don't

If you do then and were a decent person you wouldn't have a problem with a driver as you wouldn't be starting.

Awful_Bliss

punisher5112 wrote: »

So because I like a job but get grief from people who really should know better I should quit wow you are very quick off the mark there.

I am telling how it is and sorry that seems to offend you.

If you don't like travelling by bus don't

If you do then and were a decent person you wouldn't have a problem with a driver as you wouldn't be starting.

It's hardly the passenger's fault you're late is it? (i.e. the folk in customer service are hardly to blame for your lateness)

Just because there are one or too difficult people to deal with doesn't mean you've to be a grumpy sod for everyone.

end of the road

Awful_Bliss wrote: »

If you don't like the job or the way you're treated then quit.

and do what. incase you haven't noticed, the country isn't a wash with good jobs as it once was. maybe stop giving drivers grief and they won't be rude back.

Awful_Bliss wrote: »

Ill mannered people shouldn't deal with the public

and those Ill mannered members of the public shouldn't be Ill mannered themselves.

Awful_Bliss

end of the road wrote: »

and do what. incase you haven't noticed, the country isn't a wash with good jobs as it once was. maybe stop giving drivers grief and they won't be rude back.



and those Ill mannered members of the public shouldn't be Ill mannered themselves.

Re-educate yourself. I've done it three times over. Plenty of courses out there. I can hear the violins playing for the bus drivers by the way. They don't because they're waiting for two buses to leave the depot so they can all come in threes.

Passengers complain for a reason by the way

punisher5112

Awful_Bliss wrote: »

Re-educate yourself. I've done it three times over. Plenty of courses out there. I can hear the violins playing for the bus drivers by the way. They don't because they're waiting for two buses to leave the depot so they can all come in threes.

Passengers complain for a reason by the way

Sound like a motorist giving out the bus lane is empty or the bus takes up too much room.

This is the exact attitude we drivers have to deal with on a daily basis.

end of the road

Awful_Bliss wrote: »

Re-educate yourself. I've done it three times over. Plenty of courses out there.

and no guarantee of employment afterwords

I can hear the violins playing for the bus drivers by the way.

i can't hear anything apart from my radio here.

They don't because they're waiting for two buses to leave the depot so they can all come in threes.

yeah, i'm sure they are. busses leave when the timetable says they leave unless there are exceptional circumstances. if they come in 3s its to due with traffic. as a user, i know thats the reason.

Passengers complain for a reason by the way

were not talking about someone complaining, were talking about those few who are self entitled and who expect the driver to carry out whatever request they make even though it maybe against the rules, or expect to be able to travel for free when they don't have the proper fare, or the fare at all. when the driver can't do it because its against the rules, they insult the driver, or come on here or other places ranting and raving and calling the driver names because the driver refuses to break the rules for them.

punisher5112

Awful attitude see the pun:pac:

I will explain this as best I can bear with bliss

Bus 1 leaves terminus at 12.00, bus 2 leaves at 12.10, bus 3 leaves at 12.20.

You with me so far ??????

Bus 1 ends up getting a lot of passengers and ends up been held up along the way.( hold ups could be the passenger who doesn't have the change out or no funds on card, passenger or even just someone off the street looking for directions, someone enquiring about another bus or times, lost luggage or item, they were attacked or given abuse etc etc, and I could keep going there is that much that could happen.)

Bus 2 ends up catching bus 1 as the bus stops bus 1 has cleared along the way.


You with me ?

Bus 3 then catches near 3/4 of the journey due to clearer stops and maybe a break in traffic and possibly got a lot more green lights.

You got this much?


What actually happens is the buses end up getting thepassengers to their destination quicker in the end as a result of the load been spread out.


Bls hope you could follow with all the different re education.


There is a policy that use to be done or possibly could be brought back in where the bus would have to wait a certain time at stops and end up taking a hell of a lot longer to complete the journey.

Bus 1 leaves at 12.00 and isn't due at other end till 13.50 lets say.

The bus may do this in 1 hr 35 min but because it's ahead of time it will have to lose time along the way in the long run this would create anger and frustration in passengers as it takes so long.

end of the road

Mr.S wrote: »

It's also a rip off when you compare the prices to other similarly sized cities in Europe.

i can't confirm or deny this, but if so, i'd imagine those cities give proper funding to whoever runs the busses so that travel can be cheep, and have things implemented so people will use the bus including the relevant infrastructure which in turn may also potentially help keep the price low.

Mr.S wrote: »

Also pretty pathetic how there isn't a bus service passed 11:30pm on the weekday. Key routes should have longer hours.

i agree. all comes down to funding though.

punisher5112

Mr.S wrote: »

I've found if you need to rely on specific busses at peak times, Dublin Bus will drive you insane. They can't seem to handle rush hour at all, and the time tables are very inadequate (eg, they still timetable a bus for every 10 mins during rush hour, when this is very rarely the case).

Real time is **** half the time, phantom busses appear and never arrive, or get down to 2 mins etc, and then disappear.

It's also a rip off when you compare the prices to other similarly sized cities in Europe.

Also pretty pathetic how there isn't a bus service passed 11:30pm on the weekday. Key routes should have longer hours.

With the luas works taking place in the CC over the next few years, things aren't helping. It takes ages now to get from say, O'Connell Street to Nassau Street because of the works. Obviously not Dublin Busses fault, but they should at least update their timetabling to reflect this.

You are right the timetable are out dated and haven't really been looked at for the last 4 years.
I believe this is because they are fazing them out or hoping to with the real time.

You are also right that there are phantom buses and buses missing.
This can and should be updated and should be worked on as they have someone helping out on twitter but only really during business hours.

The real time info signs could be used so much better and more info on them so as you as a passenger know the story.

As a driver we only know what we are doing as one not what every other bus is doing or where they are some find this strange and think we are computers and know everything.

ardle1

So the driver giving you a bit of lip and looking at you like you have two heads, is worst(in your mind)than you expecting to get on the bus without paying!?
HUH WELL??.

I'm not familar with Dublin bus, but I know in London there are Inspectors who constantly go round the City jumping from bus to bus-tube to tube, now surely if they came across the OP on the bus and checked her ticket! he would be able to figure out that the driver must have let her on for free, or at least some sort of shananagans had occurred...

punisher5112

I used the underground and Bus in London last year and cost me £2.40 Sterling not € to travel 3 bus stops not 3 stages or 13 stages I mean 3 bus stops so only paying €2.50 here to travel all the way seems extremely cheap to me and if you use the bus a lot max cost with leap is €6.90 in a day.

My car costs more just turning the key.

As end of the road said these other countries are properly funded.

There is something by the looks of things in the pipeline as soon enough DB will no longer actually own any bus apart from 1 SG which was recently purchased out of 80 taken in.

Bus cost around €350,000 a piece.

This country is broke but someone decided a sure sell off all the buses which could be overhauled and updated and would easily do another 10 years service but sell them off so a private company gets them cheap and then takes business away from DB.

Private hire for schools are no longer allowed as the buses must be fitted with belts but we have school kids on the bus every day so I am lost with this.

Mongfinder General

I gave up on Dublin bus this year for a couple of reasons. The drivers were fine - never had a problem, just scan your card and get on the bus, simple. The problem is the animals that use Dublin bus on certain routes. Some routes are just full of dirt birds, junkies and maniacs.

The other reason is traffic. I have to commute across the Liffey every day. The LUAS works have fcuked up everything. A 40 min journey now takes over an hour. I've jogged it in 50 and cycled it in 30.

end of the road

punisher5112 wrote: »

This country is broke but someone decided a sure sell off all the buses which could be overhauled and updated and would easily do another 10 years service but sell them off so a private company gets them cheap and then takes business away from DB.

i thought they were sold abroad? i do agree though dublin bus should own the busses outright.

punisher5112 wrote: »

Private hire for schools are no longer allowed as the buses must be fitted with belts but we have school kids on the bus every day so I am lost with this.

i am as well.

punisher5112

Use to be sold abroad now it is a tender process on the net and anyone can buy.

The been sold abroad had a slight loop hole where a foreign company would purchase then re sell to a Irish company which in some cases were actuall previous employee's of DB