Thanks for the Clarification APW.
With the introduction of the new tri-axle VT class bus on the 46A route there has been a significant increase in capacity.
However the decision to retain a single door arrangement remains decidely odd in my mind especially when combined with the present cash rich operating environment.
Given that the Cash Fares are exclusively within the remit of the Department of Transport and their adjustment is a reserved function of the Minister then we once again have a vision of a lethargic,semi-interested administration who really have little actual hands-on experience of travelling on their own remit.
The issue of prolonged dwell times at bus-stops is for me a major disincentive to the Public Transport user who requires some rate of progress in their commute.
My understanding of the situation is that NO Independent study of Bus Dwell times currently exists in order to have a baseline to work from.
It appears that the only figures are in house and date back to the early 1970`s in some cases.
It is now long past the time for the introduction of Kerbside Ticket Machines within the Central Area at least.
However this would also entail a move to zonal or time based simplified fares and that is something which the Department has had NO enthusiasm for in the recent past.
Bus Atha Cliath senior management did attempt a simple and sensible Fare Structure revision commensurate with the introduction of the Euro Currency.
The revised fares were simpler and reduced by a great deal the amount of rooting and drift netting for coins which is an integral part of Public Bus Transport in Dublin.
The speed and vehemence with which the Department acted to involve the Chairman of CIE and force a climb down stands in stark contrast to the stasis and lethargy which characterizes the Departmental Attitude in relation to the remainder of its Public Transport brief.
As far as I am concerned the availibility of on-bus cash fares should be reduced considerably and essentially should be in the €2 Adult and €1 Child range with On Street Machines selling at 20-50% discounts.
It`s not rocket science yet it remains the single most difficult area to secure progress on.....
