DB Bus stops

markpb · 13-07-2009 9:50am #1

DB have, in their infinite, wisdom replaced some of the posters in the bus stops. They have removed the OSI map and replaced it with a panel saying that the map has been removed(!) and will be replaced with a better (spider) map in about 18 months time.

The thought process behind this was staggering:

1. They removed the perfectly okay map
2. They replaced it with a sign saying 'sorry we removed your map'
3. They won't put up another map for 18 months'
4. They could have used the space to put up some of the other timetables
5. They paid someone to print the new notice, take down the old one and put up the new one - with less information than before

Who on earth thought that was worth doing? Earth to DB, is anyone there?

enda1 · 13-07-2009 9:53am

markpb wrote: »

DB have, in their infinite, wisdom replaced some of the posters in the bus stops. They have removed the OSI map and replaced it with a panel saying that the map has been removed(!) and will be replaced with a better (spider) map in about 18 months time.

The thought process behind this was staggering:

1. They removed the perfectly okay map
2. They replaced it with a sign saying 'sorry we removed your map'
3. They won't put up another map for 18 months'
4. They could have used the space to put up some of the other timetables
5. They paid someone to print the new notice, take down the old one and put up the new one - with less information than before

Who on earth thought that was worth doing? Earth to DB, is anyone there?

I think we all know the answer to that unfortunately...

Saruman · 13-07-2009 9:58am

That defies logic, to be honest I can not actually believe it

Got a picture maybe? If so it deserves to be on one of those joke emails depicting stupidity.

markpb · 13-07-2009 10:10am

Photo attached - sorry about the poor quality.

dub_commuter · 13-07-2009 10:17am

Markpb, it doesn't surprise me, when they put the new trueform style bus stops in, they took the old poles out the ground and put the new ones in saying information coming soon, six weeks later they eventually finished most of the stops they replaced. Why they couldn't wait until they had the information printed and replaced them with the information at the same time, saving time and no doubt money.

Their explanation to me was that you could always go online or phone them up, but you shouldn't have to. and going online is no help when your standing at a bus stop. No doubt someone will come on here now and say it is short term pain for long term gain, however at the end of the day this is another clear indication that Dublin Bus have absloutely no idea of how to provide a proper information service to customers, and amazingly for a company that is so financial stricken, continue to throw money down thr drain.

It's interesting that they are replacing maps though that are not broken, because there are many areas in the city where the wrong timetables are up, and some huge mistakes or out of date information on some information panels, such as the ones at Blanchardstown Centre that list the 39 as a circular route from Hawkins Street to Hawkins Street, the 236/237/238 being 1 euro rather than 1.15 (Be interesting to see what they did if you only paid 1.00 because thats what they advertise), and still has the old 39 timetable.

Saruman · 13-07-2009 10:59am

I am gobsmacked. Thanks for the photo.

Tristram · 13-07-2009 11:04am

That's ****ing hilarious! Thanks to DB for giving me a good laugh

noelfirl · 13-07-2009 11:08am

Aww, I love the OSI maps. When I'm out aimlessly wandering around, they were very handy for getting me unlost.

bearded1 · 13-07-2009 11:39am

Are there costs involved for reproducing OSI maps? Like a licence fee or something?
Perhaps DB is attempting to save a few quid by using a route network map?

Shame to lose the OSI maps, they're very very handy for anyone not familiar with the local area.

KC61 · 13-07-2009 1:39pm

bearded1 wrote: »

Are there costs involved for reproducing OSI maps? Like a licence fee or something?
Perhaps DB is attempting to save a few quid by using a route network map?

Shame to lose the OSI maps, they're very very handy for anyone not familiar with the local area.

I'd say that's exactly what has happened...

It is a shame. The ideal solution would have been to retain the local map and add a spider map, while doing away with the accessible services diagram.

godtabh · 13-07-2009 3:59pm

[QUOTE=bearded1;61117221

]Are there costs involved for reproducing OSI maps? Like a licence fee or something?

[/QUOTE]

There is and it can be expensive

Victor · 13-07-2009 4:26pm

I suspect they changed the timetables, but hadn't yet updated the map, so rather than publish a wrong map, they published none.

markpb · 13-07-2009 4:30pm

Victor wrote: »

I suspect they changed the timetables, but hadn't yet updated the map, so rather than publish a wrong map, they published none.

That's probably true but the panel could better have been replaced by another timetable or more useful information and a smaller box used to tell people that the map would be replaced soon. Even if there is a logical reason for this madness, the solution is a poor one.

bearded1 · 13-07-2009 5:14pm

Do dublin bus still issue local service guides? I feel some vigilante map insertion coming on if so...

Victor · 13-07-2009 5:46pm

bearded1 wrote: »

Do dublin bus still issue local service guides? I feel some vigilante map insertion coming on if so...

I think so.

KC61 · 13-07-2009 7:53pm

A full set of local guides have not been published for a couple of years.

MiniD · 13-07-2009 9:09pm

There really is a disgraceful amount of bus stops around the city with literally no information on them at all. In some cases bus stops were painted, with the head plate changed to plain black - removing route information in the process.

A lot of routes which changed during the recent route revision are still displaying old timetables.

Some of the new style bus stops are missing key routes and information. For example, the busy bus stop on College Green for Route 49/65 has no timetable at all. The panels are filled with tour bus information, a pre-paid ticket price list and a picture of a wheel, reminding passengers to wait until the wheels stops before boarding a bus.

There is no excuse for this poor customer service. If a passenger goes to a bus stop they should at least know what bus stops there, and where possible, a timetable should be displayed and up to date.

I understand Dublin Bus went through a rebranding process last year, but I don't agree with replacing bus stops unless new customer information is ready to go. I think passengers would rather have a blue bus stop with route information and timetables instead of a yellow pole just saying "bus".

Bonavox · 13-07-2009 11:19pm

Wow thanks for this!

I was at my local bus stop today and saw that the map was removed. I was getting panicky as no one put up the warning. Thanks for telling us all about this. I was pulling my hair out wondering where my map was :rolleyes:

Nevyn · 13-07-2009 11:35pm

I love the fact that the timetable online is different then the one on the bus stop and the fact that neither of them correspond to when the buses actually leave the terminus.

L1011 · 13-07-2009 11:58pm

The not-quite-terminus of the 66 - the first stop where you can actually officially board as there is no pole at where the bus turns/idles a few hundred yards away - hasn't had a set of timetables since possibly when the poles were painted blue from green let alone blue to yellow!

I suspect it was meant to be put on the glass of the bus shelter when one was eventually erected, but the glass got broken so often that its been perspex for ages - and is broken again now.

DB Bus stops

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