Reporting Bus Drivers

[PaulM]

As we all know I get frustrated with busses on a regular basis. Here is a new one.

I was coming home from work and got on the 45 (around the corner from Frascatti centre in Blackrock). When we got to the Frascatti centre (next stop) the driver stopped further back from the stop and let people off. No one got on, I found this odd but thought nothing of it. As we drove on, I saw bus stops with people at them and no one put there hands out and the bus didn't stop. I just assumed people were going to Henry St. and waiting for the 7.

When we got to Ballsbridge there was a very full bus stop, no one tried to get on. I was getting worried thinking that I had gotten a bus only going to Ballsbridge. The bus didn't stop until Merrion sq. people were let off.

When we got to Corn exchange place, I looked at the front of the bus "Out of service". This got me home quickly but it was not on, I have seen "out of service" busses pass the Frascatti centre with people on them, I have waited over an hour for a bus as a result. I want to complain as it is rediculous that this carry on happens.

In terms of evidence I have a photo of the bus and my ticket (F* all really) but I want to do something. Please let me know the best person to go to. If you don't want to post here, please PM me. This crap has to stop!

[markpb]

I think this was mentioned on C&T on boards.ie a while ago. On at least one route, inspectors tell drivers to go OOS so they can finish the end of their run and make their next start on time. It's crappy but the alternative is the bus getting to the end so late that it's next run is cancelled.

If the city councils had decent (real) bus priority measures, we wouldn't have this problem :mad:

[PaulM]

I've heard that about "Out of Service" busses running to town but this one changed his mind as soon as a few of us got on... Seems odd to suddenly change.

[Derek Wheeler]

Alek Smart is your man.

When he's available, Im very sure that he will put some perspective on this without any bull or spin. Be patient Paul, all will be revealed.

[Thomas J Stamp]

the expression nowadays is to go Out of service in order to catch up with yourself, in the olden days it was "go Blank" ie to scroll up the destination blind untill it showed white. Usually they'll do it when they get to a stretch of road that has several routes on it, happen inwards form Chapelizod as well on the 25's and 66's, where, also, you can be chucked off a bus at the garage and onto another bus. This also used to happen around broadstone years ago, odnt know if it happens now.

[alek smart]

Yes Paul ...I can only confirm that it`s not any part of a conspiracy to delay or further frustrate P11 committee members as they perambulate about the parish.

The terms "Blank it Out" and "Drop them Off" cover what you experienced and the location (Frascati) is by now the Dei Facto limit of the 45 route inbound as a "Normal" bus route.

There is even some limited logic at play here as Frascati would be the first location of meaningful interplay with the (hopefully) more frequent Number 7 group routes,which theoretically would be the prime movers on this "Corridor" (It Really does stick in my Throat to describe the present situation as such)

As the other posters have referred to this Out of Service running has become accepted as an integral part of operations on the Bray routes.

The reality is that the Loadings on the 45 and its convoluted routing both in Bray and at locations such as Cabinteely and Blackrock Village virtually ensure that most if not all peak time journeys are running late,sometimes VERY late.

All of this is of compounded of course by Dun Laoire Rathdowns contribution to minimalist Civil Engineering on the Rock Road and this looks like continuing for some time.

To make any real improvement would require Bus Atha Cliath to allocate extra resources to the 45 in order to allow for considerably longer running time by way of a new schedule.

This rather simple expedient now requires Dept of Transport specific sanction and Departments of State simply do not work that way so when your suitably smouldering missive lands on the Asst Principle Secs desk he/she will prob file it under "Colleteral Damage" and ask BAC to send U a weekly ticket gratis.

I am conscious of the no win situation which the route controller finds him/herself in as they are damned if they do (Allow the Duty to Run Late) and they are damned if they don`t (Curtail the normal duty and run OOS).

What is more worrying to me is the ease with which this particular response has now become the Norm.
What really should be a short-term and frugally used response has become an everyday occurrance.

Before anybody gets too far up the "Lazy good for nothing Drivers" ladder its worth noting that very few if any duties actually gain tea-drinking time from this practice.
Generally it allows crews to just about hand-over to their relief driver on time for the outbound journey..and wen I say "Just About", I mean it.

Another worrying point is the use of similar OOS tactics on the 145 route also.
In this case the Dropping Off generally commences at Foxrock Church although it can sometimes be commenced at Cabinteely if the place is in a heap.

Once again Markpb displays an appreciation far beyond what the Local Authorities have when he points to the lack of REAL Bus Priority measures as being a major factor.....

After the NDP and now with T21 and whatever comes next we in Dublin are still waiting for an Administration which understands the capabilities of a functional Quality Bus Corridor as opposed to a few stretches of oul`Bus Lane.

In the meantime Paul...be strategic about where you wait for that Bus...Maximise ur Chances and keep saying ur prayers.

PS : Of course if the Dept were to sanction and fund a simplified Flat or Zonal Fare structure on Dublin Bus and perhaps to heavily subsidise OFF Bus Ticket sales then the boarding process and resultant dwell time would be substantially less rendering the need for OOS running far less pressing.......Just a thought......:rolleyes:

[PaulM]

Hi Alek, that is interesting to know. It is still a pain but at least I know there is a reason, albeit a bad one, for it to happen.

There is one dilemma now. The 45 sometimes doesn't go around the stop before Frascatti. I have seen some come right down the Rock road, I started going to the Frascatti stop because I kept seeing 45s go straight past (if people know that area of Blackrock this makes more sense).

[Mark Gleeson]

The fact remains the timetable says it stops at all stops

[alek smart]

Sorry Paul....Forgot to add that little detail.....The accepted convention with the instruction to run in "Drop Off" mode is to by-pass the village via.......The By-Pass !!

The sad but true reality of this is to factor out the 45 as a viable part of the Rock Road QBC.
I don`t believe the powers to be have any real concept of what this will eventually lead to.
The real issue is a Bus Service which is totally hamstrung in relation to how it can respond to worsening situations along its routings.
Sadly these "Micro" situations are exactly what are being ignored by the various responsible bodies,each of which appears transfixed by the prospects of BIG MONEY projects and the attendant glory.

Presently we are having to endure a similar lack of interest along Dorset St as various contractors get stuck in to another IAP Boulevardization project.
Here too we see NO evidence of communication or co-operation between the City Authorities and the Primary Bus Service provider as Bus Stops remain in use with little or no SAFE method for a Bus Driver to access them.

The recent Dublin City Coroners court verdict on the Lady killed crossing O Connell St at the Spire should be seen as a damning indictment of Dublin City Council`s Professional Engineering and Design acumen yet it remains strangely unremarked upon.

Something rotten in the State of Denmark.......Shakespeare was`nt half wrong but he should have stuck closer to home for his inspiration !! :cool:

[MrX]

What really annoys me on that route is that sometimes when one bus is pulled in at a stop, sometimes another bus which is running in parallel from Ballsbridge to town will skip past on the outside ploughing right past the stop!

The problem is that if you want to actually get the 4 or whatever to a point beyond "An Lar" you can end up having to change busses, and pay extra when you get to o'connell street.

It's utter nonsense. Either they operate to the time table and call at all stops en route or they revise the time tables and stop pretending!