BusConnects Dublin - Big changes to Bus Network

I've observed lots of people changing I'm phibsboro to get buses to ballymun and finglas. I do it myself often and see lots of people doing same. I'm not saying removing the 46a entirely is a great idea, I'm not convinced of that myself.

That's irrelevant, because:

1. As already pointed, an actual frequency is less than that.

2. As already pointed, a final destination to the passengers isn't just the Parnell, nor it necessarily is a city centre. People just happen to use the 46a to connect with other services (which they will have more options to do, going forward). N2 and the O will connect via Heuston, Broombridge, NCR, SCR, Connolly and more. I don't understand this fuss. People will need to change their travel habits, that's it. That's not that difficult. And a part of 46a is already covered by the Luas, while other parts will be covered by the alternative routes.

The area closer to the Phoenix Park will be served in both directions rather than be the end of the route as before. So it will be 1 option less, but at least 3 options more: Heuston, NCR and Broombridge splits/directions.

It is similar to a shoppers behaviour at the supermarkets: too many options on a shelf and they won't try something new or better. Remove the old-school option and they discover and are happy with the new options. People need to be encouraged to choose. Once they lose the 13 or 123, like a crowd of cute sheep, they will find a new alternative.

To be fair, you can't expect all Dublin areas to have a direct route to town. And, as stated already, the area will have more directions. 39a is irrelevant as it's a temporary route till a full BC is rolled out. Spine B and 37 will serve the demand. From the first 46a bus stop to Aughrim St are only 3 stops to bus 37. That's less than a kilometre (around 650 m) of walk so just 10 min! The fact that there are 3 stops within such a short distance is another problem, but it's another topic. You or anyone else usually walk much more in the city centre and don't complain. But suddenly when there's no direct taxi-bus from the door to town - it's a drama-problem... We walk in town, we will walk around residential areas too. That's good for a physical and mental health. And those who chose not to walk, will take N2 or O. So there's really no problem here.

Tune down the drama - it will be grand.

A frequency, not a number of routes, serve a demand. Number of routes create directions/options. And a frequency is easier to adjust then introduce additional routes. What you just said is irrelevant as it can be adjusted. C spine is a good example: more buses are in the routes, and planning to increase a frequency even more.

If you have two buses a minute to meet demand, then you need to upgrade the mode.

They should bring back bendy buses to Dublin to solve some of the capacity issues with double deckers. A double decker can only fit around 90 people. Bendy buses can fit 140 and bi-articulated buses can fit even more. Obviously it requires some infrastructure changes and turning circles to be sufficient. However, on busier routes like the B Spine, Stillorgan Road and the A Spine to Terenure (3 min frequency- the most frequent in Dublin once Busconnects is done), they could really do with the extra capacity. For instance, on the A Spine, with double deckers every three minutes, it has a capacity of 1,800 per hour. With bendy buses carrying 140 per bus, it has a capacity of 2,800 per hour. I can't understand why they got rid of them from Dublin in the first place.

Loadings on the W61 have improved nicely since the reopening of the schools in Maynooth, prior there were still a handful of passengers boarding and alighting along the Moyglare road so word is getting out and people are getting used to the service. The college isn't back yet either so that should generate more demand for it.

Not sure about the rules in Ireland, but in other EU countries either a special driver licence code (DE?) or just an additional special internal training is required to get used to the angle of the articulated bus. Can't remember, which...

The turning angle is different is there are cases when a pedestrian steps on a road while an articulated bus is in motion but around the end of making a turn. The end of the bus do sometimes drive over such inpatient pedestrians and a driver may not even see that due to the angle and drive away.

Knowing a lack of the discipline and awareness of the pedestrians and basically no enforcement of crossing the red, these accidents are likely in the crowded junctions at the turns. Even though bendy buses do turn the rear wheels too to make a better angle, and these day can even get a turn middle axle, it still is a very different approach so drivers should have a proper training provided. But even so, many (but not all) routes won't be able to support having bendy buses because of the sharp turns and mini (or even some normal, just smaller) roundabouts. Depending on the length of the main body of the articulated bus, if it's longer from the front to the bendy part than the current double deckers, then they will need even more space on turns. They would get much slower on turns but much faster at the bus stops (more doors to leave). While it's a good idea, some bus stops in the suburbs are very small, just a grass and then one block of concrete. Aside of what's mentioned, this would need to be reviewed too. And I'm not sure about the NTA capabilities to do the job properly.