Dublin Bus Network Map

Metrobest · 21-12-2009 02:19PM

KC61 wrote: »

It is also exactly the format that Transport for London use for their bus network. http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/gettingaround/maps/buses/pdf/trafalgarsquare-2262.pdf

As I said above, my understanding is that there will still be a local map on bus stops, but schematic maps are far easier to follow.

If you want a full map with streets and bus routes marked in, then the Ordnance Survey do exactly that!

That map is just a diagram of routes leaving from Trafalgar Square and it doesn't have the level of clutter as Dublin Bus's map. A similar spider diagram of routes out of College Green, Parnell Sq, etc, displayed at those locations, might be somewhat useful.

If I want to see good bus maps, I would look at Paris, Barcelona or Amsterdam. London is not a best practice to follow.

This new Dublin Bus spider map gives the false impression that Dublin is equipped with an extensive, interconnected bus network.

It also misses out on important city landmarks. The Spire, the Phoenix Park, Trinity College.

Cool Mo D · 21-12-2009 02:43PM

Metrobest wrote: »

That map is just a diagram of routes leaving from Trafalgar Square and it doesn't have the level of clutter as Dublin Bus's map. A similar spider diagram of routes out of College Green, Parnell Sq, etc, displayed at those locations, might be somewhat useful.

If I want to see good bus maps, I would look at Paris, Barcelona or Amsterdam. London is not a best practice to follow.

This new Dublin Bus spider map gives the false impression that Dublin is equipped with an extensive, interconnected bus network.

It also misses out on important city landmarks. The Spire, the Phoenix Park, Trinity College.

The Phoenix Park and Trinity College are both explicitly mentioned on the map, as is O'Connell street for the spire.

I personally think the map is excellent, but it needs to be paired with the dublinbus.ie website for full effect.
You can now easily look up what bus routes serve the general area you want on this map, and then check the exact individual routes on the google map provided on the website.

I do agree though, that another map with all the low frequency services taken off should be produced - a map with services that have an off-peak service of every half hour or better should be provided.

Chris_533976 · 21-12-2009 06:48PM

Heres Munichs. Rail, tram and (major) bus routes.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/VerkehrsnetzMuenchen2008.png

dowlingm · 21-12-2009 07:06PM

Two bits of fail

1. No pretence at indicating other modes like rail and tram (too busy "competing" with them) - this map should be a DTA/NTA/whateveryou'rehavingyourself production, especially given its TFL provenance.

2. Wot's an I.S.F.C.?

Sulmac · 21-12-2009 08:20PM

Metrobest wrote: »

Here's Amsterdam's with every bus (public and private), tram, ferry and metro. A large blown-up version of this map is displayed at every stop. Being geographical, it's also very handy if you are going by bike to an unfamiliar area!

http://www.gvb.nl/reizigers/toegankelijkov/Documents/Lijnenkaart-dec09-kaartzijde.pdf

That map is excellent; the exact same kind of thing for Dublin is what is needed for every bus stop, Luas halt and train station - along with real-time information at every bus stop (complete with bus shelter) and timetables showing the time that a bus should depart from that stop - none of this "from terminus" crap.

Another thing Dublin needs is the Nitelink service every night in some shape or form, as well as some (limited) services on Christmas Day.

However, this new map is still a good start, but they've still a long way to go.

dowlingm · 21-12-2009 08:53PM

Toronto Transit Commission:
Full System Map (PDF 1.25Mb, showing adjoining routes run by neighbouring systems, posted in stations and many shelters)
Night Routes (PDF, 0.2Mb)
Downtown Core (PDF, 0.2Mb)
Accessible Routes (PDF 1.4Mb)
Bike Rack equipped routes (PDF 1.4Mb)

What we don't have is a shaggin' trip planner because four years later they're still trying to figure it out, even though a bunch of volunteers built one in months.

Ernest · 22-12-2009 12:34AM

The map is quite nice for the suburbs but all routes stop at a huge black hole that is the city centre where there is no information of where exactly each bus route goes.
Still, a slight improvement from the people who brought us buses that won't take banknotes or give change and which abolished prepaid packs of tickets before introducing smart cards.

Capt'n Midnight · 22-12-2009 02:11AM

KC61 wrote: »

Well reading the signs on the stops I would say that the plan is for new street maps (similar to the city centre map at http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/Your-Journey1/City-Centre-Bus-Stops/OConnell-Street-Bus-Stops/ ) developed for the individual bus stops.

I would imagine that the OS licence was costing an arm and a leg.

All the bus stops are on Google Maps

They could get maps free from open street map. DB should have a list of stops already (see above)

KC61 · 22-12-2009 10:32AM

Metrobest wrote: »

That map is just a diagram of routes leaving from Trafalgar Square and it doesn't have the level of clutter as Dublin Bus's map. A similar spider diagram of routes out of College Green, Parnell Sq, etc, displayed at those locations, might be somewhat useful.

Reading the notice at my bus shelter again last night, it would appear that the intention is to have local spider maps at bus shelters, together with a local street map in the same design as the city centre maps already referred to.

I think we need to be patient here - there are encouraging signs and hopefully as the network review takes shape next year we'll see these maps rolled out.

Colm R · 22-12-2009 10:55AM

The map is good, albeit with some faults.

But really gets me is I think this is Dublin Bus trying to become the dominant player in the NTA.

Most people would agree that a serious reorginasation/simplification of the bus routes is badly needed and this is probably in the domain of the NTA. So what I worry about is the cost of:

1. Produce the map that is publish now.

2. Put all these local Spider and OS maps at local bus stops.

3. Replace these maps with NTA maps at the bus stops.

MiniD · 22-12-2009 12:29PM

I agree this is a step forward, but it could be better.

There is no consistency with parts of this map and the Dublin Bus website or it's timetables.

For example, Dartry is listed as being the terminus for the 128 and 142, which is correct. The problem is, buses and timetables display Rathmines. If you look up Dartry on the Dublin Bus website, the closest thing you get is Dartry Road, and that just displays 14A.

It's similar with route 19. The map lists route 19 as terminating in Inchicore. Nowhere on the Dublin Bus website or timetable is route 19 mentioned as serving Inchicore. Try search Inchicore on the "place name" section, you'll see the one route missing is Route 19.

The index is missing large parts of Dublin. If you were a tourist needing to find a bus to Raheny, Crumlin or Templeogue you would be a long time searching that map. Yet, the index includes places like Poolbeg, which has 2 buses a day and is used by a handful of people.

There are key routes missing from the index. For example, the busiest service on Leeson Street is the 46A. There is no mention of this route on the index for Leeson Steet. It's similar for places like Drimnagh Road and Dundrum, which are missing busy routes.

It would be better if this map didn't have an index at all, rather than leave out information and exclude orbital routes.

Aard · 22-12-2009 12:40PM

This diagram is good for one thing for sure - it points out the ridiculous baroqueness of the network! So many convoluted routes. They're trying to please everyone and end up pleasing no-one. A very Irish way of thinking.

Cookie_Monster · 22-12-2009 12:45PM

Incidentally the 10a to Stillorgan is wrong too.

KC61 · 22-12-2009 03:09PM

The 10a does operate to Stillorgan. Some journeys have however been curtailed to UCD for health and safety reasons.

Cookie_Monster · 22-12-2009 03:20PM

KC61 wrote: »

The 10a does operate to Stillorgan. Some journeys have however been curtailed to UCD for health and safety reasons.

Ah, i thought they cut them all...

dowlingm · 22-12-2009 04:03PM

health and safety? Like overcrowding?

KC61 · 22-12-2009 04:12PM

Lack of space at Stillorgan while buses lay over for their next journey I believe.

Sulmac · 22-12-2009 04:44PM

After my last post on this thread, I e-mailed the new National Transport Authority giving the ideas (I encourage you all to do the same if you have the time!) that I outlined here already (such as an integrated map like Amsterdam's, decent timetables, smartcards, etc.).

To my (pleasant) surprise I got an e-mail this morning back, here's what it said:

Dear ________,

Thank you for your suggestions. We agree strongly with the points you make.
The National Transport Authority (established 1/12/09) will be picking up on an item in the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 which states that the Authority will publish information for all modes of transport.

My view is that this will take the shape of integrated information for all stops/stations (not just termini) nationally.

It will be both electronic and paper based.

As we are a young organisation, we actually haven’t set the work into motion yet but I believe it will in the work programme for 2010.

In the meantime, a couple of gentlemen built this tool privately some time ago which is quite useful. http://www.justroutes.com/

Yours sincerely,

_______ ________

It looks promising.

Colm R · 22-12-2009 05:00PM

Sulmac wrote: »

After my last post on this thread, I e-mailed the new National Transport Authority giving the ideas (I encourage you all to do the same if you have the time!) that I outlined here already (such as an integrated map like Amsterdam's, decent timetables, smartcards, etc.).

To my (pleasant) surprise I got an e-mail this morning back, here's what it said:

It looks promising.

It does look promising. The first time I have seen anything that would indicate a change in how Public Transport works in this country. I fear someone sitting in an office in Heuston or Connolly fears that somebody else is stepping on their territory and lobby a certain minister to do something about it.

lola576 · 03-01-2010 05:42PM

I thought I'd bring this thread back to life, hopefully. I have never been to Ireland and am planning a trip to Dublin which will be the base I will travel from, using Heuston rail Station mostly. Could someone help me to understand how I can find the bus that takes me from Central Station to Heuston by reading this map? I don't understand the bus system at all!!
I'm trying to travel on a budget; and hate to have to spend money on cab's because I can't figure out how to ride the bus!

markpb · 03-01-2010 05:52PM

lola576 wrote: »

Could someone help me to understand how I can find the bus that takes me from Central Station to Heuston by reading this map? I don't understand the bus system at all!!

The other train station is called Dublin - Connolly. You can get a 90 or 91 bus between the two stations. Go out the front of Connolly and down the escalator to the Luas tram station. Dublin Bus buses use the first bus stop (with the blue pole).

You can also get the tram (Luas) although it's slightly more expensive. Only 1/3 of the trams serve Connolly so it might be faster to walk along the tram line to the Busaras stop which is served by all trams.

lola576 · 03-01-2010 06:09PM

markpb wrote: »

The other train station is called Dublin - Connolly. You can get a 90 or 91 bus between the two stations. Go out the front of Connolly and down the escalator to the Luas tram station. Dublin Bus buses use the first bus stop (with the blue pole).

You can also get the tram (Luas) although it's slightly more expensive. Only 1/3 of the trams serve Connolly so it might be faster to walk along the tram line to the Busaras stop which is served by all trams.

Thanks so much. What I meant by Central Station was the Busaras. I wasn't even aware that there was a tram system. I'll be arriving on a ferry and the ferry port bus will stop at Busaras. I have accomadation near St James Hospital, which is within walking distance of Heuston Station. I will probably end up walking everywhere a lot, but to start off I'll have luggage until I can stow it.
I just checked out Luas and that makes a lot more sense!! Thanks Mark!

lostexpectation · 03-01-2010 06:19PM

well Busaras is next to Connolly so you can take the 90/91 or Luas to there aswell

MiniD · 03-01-2010 06:34PM

Hi Lola,

The Luas tram system will probably be your best option. It is slightly more expensive than the bus, but it's the most direct service to where you are going. When you arrive at Busaras you will see the Luas platform. You'll need a tram heading for Tallaght. You can purchase your ticket at the automated machine on the platform, which is very simple to use. The fare between Busaras and St.James Hospital is €1.80. Trams run about every 5 minutes.

There is a bus service to Heuston, Route 90, but this finishes at 10am each morning. If you do wish to use the bus, you can make a short walk to O'Connell Street for the 123 bus, which will also take you to James' Street/Hospital.

It does sound like the Luas is the better option for you.

If you are spending a few days in Dublin and will be using public transport, you should look into purchasing a prepaid ticket which will last a few days and save you a few euro.

Dublin Bus Network Map

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