Can't make work because of strike

El Inho

With the impending dublin bus strike, it occurs to me this is the first time I'm dependant during a strike.

I depend on db to get across dublin for work, approx a 40 euro round trip in taxis.

Can I expect work to sub me this cost? Or what are the laws?

obriendj

I dont think you will be able to get a taxi

But also dont think that if you could that your work would sub the cost. I doubt there are any laws.

jaymcg91

No, theres no provision for you. Tough **** I'm afraid. This is why the scale of the disruption is so big. I've an exam at 9am on the 1st May, and **** knows how I'll get to it.

January

Get a taxi or ask a workmate to pick you up and you'll sub petrol. Or get together with a few people at your bus stop and club in for a private mini bus into a designated drop off point in the city centre, and a designated pick up point and time on the way home.

FloatingVoter

Tell them at work about the issue ASAP. Either other people will have similar issues and one of the above solutions will work or they'll roster around you.
Do not leave them high and dry at the last minute.

Lovely Bloke

Bleedin Unions, thinking only of themselves.

ProudDUB

El Inho wrote: »

With the impending dublin bus strike, it occurs to me this is the first time I'm dependant during a strike.

I depend on db to get across dublin for work, approx a 40 euro round trip in taxis.

Can I expect work to sub me this cost? Or what are the laws?

No, there is no law that says that employers are obliged to pay for taxis for their employees, in the event of a Dublin Bus strike.

Ask your employer if they are going to do something for their employees to help them out. They may, or they may not. It's entirely up to them. There is no law that forces them to do so.

Mongfinder General

Cycle?

BeatNikDub

I'm buggered as well.
I live 15km from work and don't have a bike or car.
Here are my options; the strike affects me work wise 3 days, as for any leisure activity I had planned that will just have to be cancelled but I can live with that.

1. Spend €60 per day on taxis.
2. Try and borrow a bike from someone and cycle 30km per day (it is a LONG time since I have been on a bike, let alone tackled Dublin traffic!)
3. Leave about 6.30am to walk to the nearest DART to get there for about 7ish in the HOPE that I will be able to wrangle a place on and get to Dublin 4 in time for 8.30am, even though they will be servicing the whole of North Wicklow!
4. Stay somewhere else for 3 nights with people who live near a luas line because lets face it, anyone that lives near a luas wouldn't dream of getting the bus! This is my most likely option as my parents live about a 25 minute walk from a stop on the green line. I'd have a 25 min walk each way but in this weather it would be most pleasant! Will have to start organising this with them now as they are now inconvenienced too!

And I am probably one of the least inconvenienced. There are people with exams, tourists, people who need to get to work to actually care for people and who want to provide a public service, Slane is on etc etc.

One day, maybe even two, maybe even three....but SEVEN?
I am incredulous!

ThisRegard

BeatNikDub wrote: »

3. Leave about 6.30am to walk to the nearest DART to get there for about 7ish
4. Stay somewhere else for 3 nights with people who live near a luas line because lets face it, anyone that lives near a luas wouldn't dream of getting the bus! This is my most likely option as my parents live about a 25 minute walk from a stop on the green line. I'd have a 25 min walk each way but in this weather it would be most pleasant! Will have to start organising this with them now as they are now inconvenienced too!

A half hour walk it nothing, 25 minutes even less obviously. You have two handy ways to get into work compared to most who rely solely on the bus.

Teyla Emmagan

I'll have to walk, will take me an hour each way. F$ck Dublin Bus.

Slydice

Just googled for bike rental:
http://rentabikedublin.com/dublin-bike-rental.php

Daily Price €12.50 Weekly Price (Hi / Low) €70 / €60

5rtytry56

Teyla Emmagan wrote: »

I'll have to walk, will take me an hour each way. F$ck Dublin Bus.

Dublin Bus. In a world of their own.

hfallada

They should run the buses, but not collect fares. Its unfair that they are inconveniencing people for the day. Its also doing nothing for their support.

BeatNikDub

ThisRegard wrote: »

A half hour walk it nothing, 25 minutes even less obviously. You have two handy ways to get into work compared to most who rely solely on the bus.

Exactly the walking is fine, I'm worried about getting a place on the dart as it will be serving the whole of north Wicklow. You missed my point completely. Also making me leave 2 hours early for work is not pleasant either.
As for the luas that means leaving my family and inconvenicing my parents three times next months.
The whole thing is a joke.

KomradeBishop

What they're striking for is more important than a weeks disruption really - people should publicly back them to fight the tendering off of bus routes, because as more privatization rolls in our bus services are going to become even more expensive than they are now, with worse quality and routes.

Supporting their disruption now, will save you more bother/disruption and money in the long run.

Timberrrrrrrr

Bus lanes will be open to traffic

Lubberly jubberly.

_Brian

You need to find a way into work yourself.
Pay taxi, ask a friend to pick you up. Maybe take a day Annual leave.

But it's not a reason not to go to work nor be late as your well warned and have plenty if time to plan an alternative travel plan.

Captain Chaos

KomradeBishop wrote: »

What they're striking for is more important than a weeks disruption really - people should publicly back them to fight the tendering off of bus routes, because as more privatization rolls in our bus services are going to become even more expensive than they are now, with worse quality and routes.

Supporting their disruption now, will save you more bother/disruption and money in the long run.

Bring in privatization I say. Look at Luas, more expensive than Dublin but it's a faster far more reliable service and they don't strike.

Well worth the extra money and with the Leap card capped at 40 per week anyway. Price makes no odds anymore to me.

No support for Dublin Bus from me and I have friends who are bus drivers. It's the management that the problem.

KomradeBishop

Captain Chaos wrote: »

Bring in privatization I say. Look at Luas, more expensive than Dublin but it's a faster far more reliable service and they don't strike.

Well worth the extra money and with the Leap card capped at 40 per week anyway. Price makes no odds anymore to me.

No support for Dublin Bus from me and I have friends who are bus drivers. It's the management that the problem.

Luas serves two easily-profitable routes, not an entire city with routes of mixed or negative profit (which is why Dublin Bus is a public service - for serving routes which are socially beneficial, but which can't always be profitable).

Read up on the history of bus service privatization, and analysis of its results - it nearly always costs more, with worse service - you just end up subsidizing for-profit beneficiaries (be it management or otherwise) in private companies.

John Mason

KomradeBishop wrote: »

What they're striking for is more important than a weeks disruption really - people should publicly back them to fight the tendering off of bus routes, because as more privatization rolls in our bus services are going to become even more expensive than they are now, with worse quality and routes.

Supporting their disruption now, will save you more bother/disruption and money in the long run.

Bring on privatisation I say. My route has gone from having 5 bus routes to 1. Gone from a bus every few minutes to one when every it feels like it. 5 in a row and then none for 50 mins.

I bought a car because Dublin Bus are so unrealiable.

OP, can you organise car sharing? I will be doing that in my place

phantom_lord

KomradeBishop wrote: »

What they're striking for is more important than a weeks disruption really - people should publicly back them to fight the tendering off of bus routes, because as more privatization rolls in our bus services are going to become even more expensive than they are now, with worse quality and routes.

Supporting their disruption now, will save you more bother/disruption and money in the long run.

A bus service I use was opened up to a private company, they did a reliable service for about half the cost of BE, and forced BE to improve their service and cut their fares, win win for everyone. Hopefully this strike opens people's eyes and encourages people to support private companies to take over from the wasteful inefficient public service.

John Mason

John Mason wrote: »

Bring on privatisation I say. My route has gone from having 5 bus routes to 1. Gone from a bus every few minutes to one when every it feels like it. 5 in a row and then none for 50 mins.

I bought a car because Dublin Bus are so unrealiable.

OP, can you organise car sharing? I will be doing that in my place

Take care of what you wish for. If the number of busses is reduced it is because it is not profit making. Private company might mean no bus!

John Mason

Deleted User wrote: »

Take care of what you wish for. If the number of busses is reduced it is because it is not profit making. Private company might mean no bus!

Most of the time the bus too full to get on.

KomradeBishop

John Mason wrote: »

Bring on privatisation I say. My route has gone from having 5 bus routes to 1. Gone from a bus every few minutes to one when every it feels like it. 5 in a row and then none for 50 mins.

I bought a car because Dublin Bus are so unrealiable.

OP, can you organise car sharing? I will be doing that in my place

Obviously your route is not profitable, so privatization will guarantee that it stays at 1 route instead of 5 - if you want 5 routes to service the area better, and with more frequency, then you want a public bus service, with more government funding - because how exactly would a privatized service afford unprofitable routes like that? (hint: it would need subsidies - i.e. you still end up paying for a crap service, except now you'll be subsidizing a for-profit private company)

This is why people should be supporting Dublin Bus here - greater privatization means all the unprofitable, yet socially beneficial, routes start to get cut more, fares start to cost more, and bus times get less frequent etc. - and you will still be paying for it, through government subsidies (except you'll now also be padding the pockets of private beneficiaries, running/owning the for-profit bus companies).
You pay more for a worse service, covering less routes.

The entire point of public services, is that they are not meant to be run solely on a for-profit basis - because they are meant to prioritize social benefit, mixing profitable routes with unprofitable (but socially beneficial) routes - the latter gradually disappear with increased privatization.

hdowney

BeatNikDub wrote:

One day, maybe even two, maybe even three....but SEVEN? I am incredulous!

I missed that. I noticed the other day it had gone from 1 day to 3. When did it jump to 7. I am all for supporting the workers and against the privatization plans for some routes but dear God 7 days over May including Uni exams and the May bank holiday. *note to self, put petrol in car*

Pete_Cavan

What is proposed is not privatisation of the services, the NTA will issue a tender for the supply for services under PSO for a set period and companies bid for it. The NTA will set the standards of operational performance, customer service and penalties for non-performance and the company who requires the lowest subsidy will be awarded the contract, as currently with M&A Coaches. DB can bid but know they cannot compete with private operators paying market rates - screw them, we will get a similar level of service but it will be cheaper (not cheaper fares but less subsidy from the taxpayer). Ignore the misinformation coming from DB, they present this as state assets being handed over to private companies but that is not the case. Its up to DB to compete, thankfully the EU is making the government end their monopoly.

BeatNikDub

hdowney wrote: »

I missed that. I noticed the other day it had gone from 1 day to 3. When did it jump to 7. I am all for supporting the workers and against the privatization plans for some routes but dear God 7 days over May including Uni exams and the May bank holiday. *note to self, put petrol in car*

The dates are
May 1st, 2nd, 15th, 16th, 29th, 30th and 31st

Hope you can rearrange things without too much inconvenience but I don't think anyone of us can

John Mason

KomradeBishop wrote: »

Obviously your route is not profitable, so privatization will guarantee that it stays at 1 route instead of 5 - if you want 5 routes to service the area better, and with more frequency, then you want a public bus service, with more government funding - because how exactly would a privatized service afford unprofitable routes like that? (hint: it would need subsidies - i.e. you still end up paying for a crap service, except now you'll be subsidizing a for-profit private company)

This is why people should be supporting Dublin Bus here - greater privatization means all the unprofitable, yet socially beneficial, routes start to get cut more, fares start to cost more, and bus times get less frequent etc. - and you will still be paying for it, through government subsidies (except you'll now also be padding the pockets of private beneficiaries, running/owning the for-profit bus companies).
You pay more for a worse service, covering less routes.

The entire point of public services, is that they are not meant to be run solely on a for-profit basis - because they are meant to prioritize social benefit, mixing profitable routes with unprofitable (but socially beneficial) routes - the latter gradually disappear with increased privatization.

As i said i bought a car years ago because of the lack of services.

I live in Finglas, it is a hugely populated area. I had the misfortune of having to use the bus last year for 8 weeks and it was impossible to get on due to crowding issues.

I would use the bus if it was feasible but really the excuse of being late to work every morning of well 4 buses didnt show up would wear thin pretty quickly.

Also it takes about 90 minutes to walk from town home i have waited for buses on Westmoreland street for 40/50 mins (they are supposed to be every 10 mins). i can walk home quicker than waiting on a bus.

the last time i phoned to complain, i was told "i cant tell you if your bus will turn up tomorrow morning, i dont know if i will be alive tomorrow morning. I cant see the future" :mad:

Then you have the guys who just decide they are not going to follow the route without telling anyone and you get left miles away from your bus stop.

Dublin Bus need a good kick up the arse, they have had for too cushy for far too long.

I am more than happy to support the privatisation of public buses - we might even start to get clean ones, that dont smell of mould and breakdown every other day.

ThisRegard

Under public ownership, we lost our direct Dublin Bus route to the nearest village, where most of the pubs and restaurants are, as well as nearest train station. So if you now want to get there you have to get a taxi.

phantom_lord

KomradeBishop wrote: »

Obviously your route is not profitable, so privatization will guarantee that it stays at 1 route instead of 5 - if you want 5 routes to service the area better, and with more frequency, then you want a public bus service, with more government funding - because how exactly would a privatized service afford unprofitable routes like that? (hint: it would need subsidies - i.e. you still end up paying for a crap service, except now you'll be subsidizing a for-profit private company)

This is why people should be supporting Dublin Bus here - greater privatization means all the unprofitable, yet socially beneficial, routes start to get cut more, fares start to cost more, and bus times get less frequent etc. - and you will still be paying for it, through government subsidies (except you'll now also be padding the pockets of private beneficiaries, running/owning the for-profit bus companies).
You pay more for a worse service, covering less routes.

The entire point of public services, is that they are not meant to be run solely on a for-profit basis - because they are meant to prioritize social benefit, mixing profitable routes with unprofitable (but socially beneficial) routes - the latter gradually disappear with increased privatization.

Private companies can do the same routes and service for less of a subsidy than Dublin Bus.

KomradeBishop

Pete_Cavan wrote: »

What is proposed is not privatisation of the services, the NTA will issue a tender for the supply for services under PSO for a set period and companies bid for it. The NTA will set the standards of operational performance, customer service and penalties for non-performance and the company who requires the lowest subsidy will be awarded the contract, as currently with M&A Coaches. DB can bid but know they cannot compete with private operators paying market rates - screw them, we will get a similar level of service but it will be cheaper (not cheaper fares but less subsidy from the taxpayer). Ignore the misinformation coming from DB, they present this as state assets being handed over to private companies but that is not the case. Its up to DB to compete, thankfully the EU is making the government end their monopoly.

That's exactly a process of privatization of the service - getting in private subsidized companies, to do the bus routes.

Past precedent of tendering like this shows the opposite results, to what you claim - with the claims of any benefit from tendering/privatization, being based on ideology alone.

KomradeBishop

John Mason wrote: »

As i said i bought a car years ago because of the lack of services.

I live in Finglas, it is a hugely populated area. I had the misfortune of having to use the bus last year for 8 weeks and it was impossible to get on due to crowding issues.

I would use the bus if it was feasible but really the excuse of being late to work every morning of well 4 buses didnt show up would wear thin pretty quickly.

Also it takes about 90 minutes to walk from town home i have waited for buses on Westmoreland street for 40/50 mins (they are supposed to be every 10 mins). i can walk home quicker than waiting on a bus.

the last time i phoned to complain, i was told "i cant tell you if your bus will turn up tomorrow morning, i dont know if i will be alive tomorrow morning. I cant see the future" :mad:

Then you have the guys who just decide they are not going to follow the route without telling anyone and you get left miles away from your bus stop.

Dublin Bus need a good kick up the arse, they have had for too cushy for far too long.

I am more than happy to support the privatisation of public buses - we might even start to get clean ones, that dont smell of mould and breakdown every other day.

That's what happens when you starve a bus service of money...you seem to think privatization is a magic bullet that will fix the money problem, when past precedent shows it makes services even more crapified and costly.

KomradeBishop

phantom_lord wrote: »

Private companies can do the same routes and service for less of a subsidy than Dublin Bus.

Again...you're ignoring the past evidence of previous tendering/privatization attempts, that shows the opposite results. Your claim is based on free market myths.


It's simple: You want a good public bus service, you have to pay for it. When your government starts defunding it and pushes for privatization, and you don't defend the public bus service (and start blaming the defunded service for the government cuts and inevitable reduction in quality service...), then you've only got yourself to blame then really when it gets worse, for not being more politically knowledgeable/active about it.

jimmycrackcorm

BeatNikDub wrote:

I'm buggered as well. I live 15km from work and don't have a bike or car. Here are my options; the strike affects me work wise 3 days, as for any leisure activity I had planned that will just have to be cancelled but I can live with that.

I cycle this distance to work every day and it's quicker than getting the bus. Get a bike on the bike to work scheme which comes out of your salary over the year and tax free and you'll be sorted.

EB_2013

KomradeBishop wrote: »

What they're striking for is more important than a weeks disruption really - people should publicly back them to fight the tendering off of bus routes, because as more privatization rolls in our bus services are going to become even more expensive than they are now, with worse quality and routes.

Supporting their disruption now, will save you more bother/disruption and money in the long run.

The service is so bad at the moment, could it really get any worse under privatization. If the service improves I would think about using buses again but at the moment there's no chance.

The service is only going to continue to get more expensive and unreliable if things are left as they are.

Pete_Cavan

Komrade, I was making the point that by having a tender competition means the company willing to operate the service at the lowest subsidy will get the contract. That obviously means the lowest cost to the taxpayer. The quality of service will stay the same because the successful company be contractually obliged to operate the same route, the same number of services, the same stops, the same times, etc. as DB would. You on the other hand are making out that the private operator will make the service “more crapified and costly”, its up to you to prove that.

Nobody is making claims based on “free market myths”. Tendering will mean the operator at the lowest cost to the taxpayer will operate the service, that operator can be a public or private operator. The result will be a lower cost to the taxpayer and an operator being compelled to provide set services with a proportion of payment withheld each month and is only paid if the performance targets are met. That is an improvement to the current situation where DB are automatically awarded contracts with no competition and nothing to ensure value for money. You are the one bringing ideology into it (private operators bad).

And it is not “privatisation” in that the ownership or control of something is not being sold/given to private companies, this is a tender for a contract to be awarded to the preferred bidder (be they public or private or a joint venture of both) to operate set services for a fixed period. At best it is the possibility of temporary privatisation (DB can win contracts) based on a tender competition open to multiple bidders rather than the traditional single bidder, where the winner cannot determine the services they provide as these are specified under the contract.

Finally, the point has to be made that this stems from an EU directive and failure to comply will result in penalties for the country.

BeatNikDub

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

I cycle this distance to work every day and it's quicker than getting the bus. Get a bike on the bike to work scheme which comes out of your salary over the year and tax free and you'll be sorted.

I quite honestly would prefer not to be forced into having to do that!

My partner cycles because he couldn't cope with the poor quality of the bus service in our area, but is extremely fit. Also a lot of it is uphill and I honestly can't think of anything more hellish tbf. i have honestly considered it a number of times though because of how unreliable the service is, but the thought of doing 30km a day is just too much!

I think in a capital city though its not too much to ask to have a functioning bus route to the centre of the city within walking distance of your home.

KomradeBishop

EB_2013 wrote: »

The service is so bad at the moment, could it really get any worse under privatization. If the service improves I would think about using buses again but at the moment there's no chance.

The service is only going to continue to get more expensive and unreliable if things are left as they are.

If you want the service to improve, then campaign for increased government funding of it - anything short of that, and your out of luck.

Things can get a lot worse with privatization - just do a bit of research on how this went down elsewhere.

Penny Tration

I don't drive and cant cycle. I normally commute two hours each way to and from work.

Unless I can convince someone to bring me to and from work (I'm working every day of the strike), my only other option is to leave my house at 6.30am, walk into town for 8am, get a Luas and then a 40 minute walk from the Luas.

Joy.

timetogo

KomradeBishop wrote: »

Again...you're ignoring the past evidence of previous tendering/privatization attempts, that shows the opposite results. Your claim is based on free market myths.

I used to get the 41X in Swords. I wrote to Dublin Bus one day as at that time the express buses were extremely popular and filled after the first couple of stops. One morning I counted 30 people left behind on stops we passed. They replied saying there was nothing they could do.

Swords Express (a private company) opened a few years ago and became popular. When they noticed people being left behind they got a temporary smaller bus and picked up the stragglers and then rejigged the timetable. They kept doing this until they got a system that worked.

Now we have a situation where the 41X timetable has barely changed from the time I used it (about 9 years ago) and loads of SwordsExpress buses.

I know Swords is a popular route and probably profitable but it begs the question why couldn't Dublin Bus rejig their timetables to accommodate paying customers. It was as if they didn't care about the money they were leaving behind. The private operator did seem to care.

It's ironic that the bus companies are going on strike to totally annoy their customers which depend on them and is going to get most people thinking we need more private operators. It's like here's my foot, take aim, fire.

KomradeBishop

Pete_Cavan wrote: »

Komrade, I was making the point that by having a tender competition means the company willing to operate the service at the lowest subsidy will get the contract. That obviously means the lowest cost to the taxpayer. The quality of service will stay the same because the successful company be contractually obliged to operate the same route, the same number of services, the same stops, the same times, etc. as DB would. You on the other hand are making out that the private operator will make the service “more crapified and costly”, its up to you to prove that.

Nobody is making claims based on “free market myths”. Tendering will mean the operator at the lowest cost to the taxpayer will operate the service, that operator can be a public or private operator. The result will be a lower cost to the taxpayer and an operator being compelled to provide set services with a proportion of payment withheld each month and is only paid if the performance targets are met. That is an improvement to the current situation where DB are automatically awarded contracts with no competition and nothing to ensure value for money. You are the one bringing ideology into it (private operators bad).

And it is not “privatisation” in that the ownership or control of something is not being sold/given to private companies, this is a tender for a contract to be awarded to the preferred bidder (be they public or private or a joint venture of both) to operate set services for a fixed period. At best it is the possibility of temporary privatisation (DB can win contracts) based on a tender competition open to multiple bidders rather than the traditional single bidder, where the winner cannot determine the services they provide as these are specified under the contract.

Finally, the point has to be made that this stems from an EU directive and failure to comply will result in penalties for the country.

That doesn't mean the lowest cost to the taxpayer, it can easily result in higher costs, because costs are:
Subsidies from Taxes + Fares.

You're looking at only one factor of costs, to make a political argument for tendering/privatization.

The quality of the service is a factor of how much money you pay for it as well; you're talking purely theory, that tendering will magically improve service while costing less - it is up to you to prove that, and past precedent shows that claim is wrong. Research the studies linked from the earlier article:
http://www.irishleftreview.org/2015/04/21/racing-public-transport-bottom/

You've got your facts wrong in multiple places - you also repeated the debunked EU directive claim - and in general, like others, you don't cite your claims.

Pete_Cavan

KomradeBishop wrote: »

That doesn't mean the lowest cost to the taxpayer, it can easily result in higher costs, because costs are:
Subsidies from Taxes + Fares.

You're looking at only one factor of costs, to make a political argument for tendering/privatization.

The quality of the service is a factor of how much money you pay for it as well; you're talking purely theory, that tendering will magically improve service while costing less - it is up to you to prove that, and past precedent shows that claim is wrong. Research the studies linked from the earlier article:
http://www.irishleftreview.org/2015/04/21/racing-public-transport-bottom/

You've got your facts wrong in multiple places - you also repeated the debunked EU directive claim - and in general, like others, you don't cite your claims.

Fares are set by the NTA so not determined by DB or any future private operator.

I am not making a political argument or talking theory, I am stating facts. If the contract is awarded to the operator requiring the lower subsidy then present, then the costs to the taxpayer are reduced. The tender will be based on set terms of service (times, frequency, etc.) so the service to be provided will be the same regardless of whether the operator is public or private. Failure to comply with the terms of service will result in penalties under the terms of the contract for the operator (be they public or private). I am not claiming that this will improve services This is not privatisation, this is regulated competition.

Details on EU directive here; https://www.nationaltransport.ie/public-transport-services/public-service-obligation-contracts/

BeatNikDub

Jenny Thalia wrote: »

I don't drive and cant cycle. I normally commute two hours each way to and from work.

Unless I can convince someone to bring me to and from work (I'm working every day of the strike), my only other option is to leave my house at 6.30am, walk into town for 8am, get a Luas and then a 40 minute walk from the Luas.

Joy.

That really is tough Joy. Unfortunately they don;t care. The response is just "get a taxi or cycle or something". If only it was that easy!
Best of luck, i hope you get a lift sorted.

KomradeBishop

Pete_Cavan wrote: »

Fares are set by the NTA so not determined by DB or any future private operator.

I am not making a political argument or talking theory, I am stating facts. If the contract is awarded to the operator requiring the lower subsidy then present, then the costs to the taxpayer are reduced. The tender will be based on set terms of service (times, frequency, etc.) so the service to be provided will be the same regardless of whether the operator is public or private. Failure to comply with the terms of service will result in penalties under the terms of the contract for the operator (be they public or private). I am not claiming that this will improve services This is not privatisation, this is regulated competition.

Details on EU directive here; https://www.nationaltransport.ie/public-transport-services/public-service-obligation-contracts/

You're wrong about the EU directive:

Ms Graham also confirmed that there was no obligation from EU legislation forcing their hand.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2015/0422/695916-nta-bus/

"If the contract is awarded to the operator requiring the lower subsidy then present, then the costs to the taxpayer are reduced."
I've just stated how this is wrong in my previous post, since actual costs are Taxes + Fares, so you're just talking past me now.

BeatNikDub

I've enquired about whether my place does the bike to work scheme, I don't think cycling 30km everyday could be much worse tbh!

larrymickdick

Anyone going to Slane or Forbidden Fruit need to consider how to get to gigs too
No public transport those days from Dublin Bus either
They are going to lose a packet!

phantom_lord

I'd forgotten about the Swords Express; another good example of a private bus service outperforming the public transport system.

Stheno

phantom_lord wrote: »

I'd forgotten about the Swords Express; another good example of a private bus service outperforming the public transport system.

It's an excellent service I chose it over the 41 all of the time

triple nipple

KomradeBishop wrote:

It's simple: You want a good public bus service, you have to pay for it. When your government starts defunding it and pushes for privatization, and you don't defend the public bus service (and start blaming the defunded service for the government cuts and inevitable reduction in quality service...), then you've only got yourself to blame then really when it gets worse, for not being more politically knowledgeable/active about it.

For about as long as i can remeber, DB has been an awful service with no accountability. Even during boom times when the country was awash with money. So your argument dosnt fly here

lucernarian

timetogo wrote: »

I used to get the 41X in Swords. I wrote to Dublin Bus one day as at that time the express buses were extremely popular and filled after the first couple of stops. One morning I counted 30 people left behind on stops we passed. They replied saying there was nothing they could do.

Swords Express (a private company) opened a few years ago and became popular. When they noticed people being left behind they got a temporary smaller bus and picked up the stragglers and then rejigged the timetable. They kept doing this until they got a system that worked.

Now we have a situation where the 41X timetable has barely changed from the time I used it (about 9 years ago) and loads of SwordsExpress buses.

I know Swords is a popular route and probably profitable but it begs the question why couldn't Dublin Bus rejig their timetables to accommodate paying customers. It was as if they didn't care about the money they were leaving behind. The private operator did seem to care.

It's ironic that the bus companies are going on strike to totally annoy their customers which depend on them and is going to get most people thinking we need more private operators. It's like here's my foot, take aim, fire.

The 41X buses and specifically their not using the Port Tunnel is precisely because the NTA refused Dublin Bus licencing to have more services going through the tunnel.

Also, about begging the question... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Begging_the_question