I Loathe Dublin Bus

Ol' Donie

Saipanne wrote: »

They are not meant to pick up or drop off in the middle of the road. You were 100% in the wrong.

Just so we're clear the traffic was stopped at the red light, and tailed all the way back to the bus stop, which is exactly where the bus was sitting.

Sitting still, directly in front of the bus stop.

So i stepped off the kerb (watching for 50cc bikes etc., as I actually actively try to avoid being knocked down), and knocked on the door.

While he stared ahead at the still traffic in front of him, ignoring me.

I do admire the way so many of you are quick to jump to his defence, despite not having been there.

But while I'm here, what of the many, many drivers I've seen do all these things? Y'know stop away from the bus stop, open doors once they've been closed etc?

I'll save you the trouble. I'm 100% wrong about them too.

Enjoy the next AGM, chaps. You've earned it.

end of the road

Ol' Donie wrote: »

Just so we're clear the traffic was stopped at the red light, and tailed all the way back to the bus stop, which is exactly where the bus was sitting.

Sitting still, directly in front of the bus stop.

So i stepped off the kerb (watching for 50cc bikes etc., as I actually actively try to avoid being knocked down), and knocked on the door.

While he stared ahead at the still traffic in front of him, ignoring me.

I do admire the way so many of you are quick to jump to his defence, despite not having been there.

But while I'm here, what of the many, many drivers I've seen do all these things? Y'know stop away from the bus stop, open doors once they've been closed etc?

I'll save you the trouble. I'm 100% wrong about them too.

Enjoy the next AGM, chaps. You've earned it.

oh for god sake. he wasn't in the bus stop but outside it, he therefore wasn't allowed to let you on. end of. the fact that some may break that rule isn't a reason to whine over this

punisher5112

Ol' Donie wrote: »

Just so we're clear the traffic was stopped at the red light, and tailed all the way back to the bus stop, which is exactly where the bus was sitting.

Sitting still, directly in front of the bus stop.

So i stepped off the kerb (watching for 50cc bikes etc., as I actually actively try to avoid being knocked down), and knocked on the door.

While he stared ahead at the still traffic in front of him, ignoring me.

I do admire the way so many of you are quick to jump to his defence, despite not having been there.

But while I'm here, what of the many, many drivers I've seen do all these things? Y'know stop away from the bus stop, open doors once they've been closed etc?

I'll save you the trouble. I'm 100% wrong about them too.

Enjoy the next AGM, chaps. You've earned it.

You actually letterally have no kerb to stand on....

You say you had to step off the kerb to get to door so he was no longer at the stop.

I can't actually see how you think this is ok.

As a driver we have to look after number 1 as nobody else will and if he opened the door and someone then stepped off would you take reponsibility for that person if they fell or were hit including yourself as when something like that does actually happen people like yourself are very quick to point the finger that the bus wasn't at the stop and then sue.

You think we are jumping in defending him well I am not as he done a good job of thatr himself by not opening the door.

Drivers have been nice and tried to help others by letting out early at say lights or back from the stop only for them to fall, trip or get hit so please save it.

Sure do what a lot do and put in a complaint that the driver wouldn't open the door where he had already passed or left the stop.

Love to hear response you get.

SparkySpitfire

end of the road wrote: »

were not. he hadn't the money to pay the fare, therefore he didn't get to travel, therefore he was asked to leave the bus. no point missed.

Yes you are, you're purposely missing the point. Since someone has already pointed this out to you I doubt you're going to get it this time but I'll give it a go...
If the driver had said "Sorry mate, no can do", or something civil but firm along those lines, there'd be nothing to complain about. However, he did not and there is no public-facing job on earth that allows you to be rude to customers. I'd get a bollicking for it (I work in a shop) and rightly so. I'm not paid to like people, just to operate on behalf of the company, which means not being rude and giving people cause to complain.

Dublin Bus have a team that are paid to take complaints or queries and Dublin Bus drivers are not.

It's the exact same as people giving out to shop assistants (hey!) when they disagree with something set by the management. Management always have a way of hiding behind their front line employees and most people don't care about sending emails off to some invisible task force, they just want someone to give out to. While I can understand this, it is SO very grating, and I understand how it just sucks the life out of you when you're facing it for years.

Also, R.E. your post on buses leaving at different times and arriving at the same time... this is so bloody annoying for people during rush hour and I'm sure you can appreciate how stupid the practice is. However, I'm also aware that drivers have nothing to do with timetabling and yet again have to face the public's ire for the management's ill-made decisions.

Drivers definitely get the short end of the stick as the majority of people will realise. But really, the public are getting shafted too, and by the same people who shaft you guys: Dublin Bus management.

It's those guys who need the kick up the hole, not the drivers or the public. They make both parties' lives harder, as far as I can see!

Saipanne

Ol' Donie wrote: »

Just so we're clear the traffic was stopped at the red light, and tailed all the way back to the bus stop, which is exactly where the bus was sitting.

Sitting still, directly in front of the bus stop.

So i stepped off the kerb (watching for 50cc bikes etc., as I actually actively try to avoid being knocked down), and knocked on the door.

While he stared ahead at the still traffic in front of him, ignoring me.

I do admire the way so many of you are quick to jump to his defence, despite not having been there.

But while I'm here, what of the many, many drivers I've seen do all these things? Y'know stop away from the bus stop, open doors once they've been closed etc?

I'll save you the trouble. I'm 100% wrong about them too.

Enjoy the next AGM, chaps. You've earned it.

Again. You were wrong. No matter the context, drivers are instructed not to pick up and drop off in the middle of the road Rules are rules. This may startle you, but they apply to you too (i know, it's a travesty). Accept it and the years of anger will pass.

carlmango11

ardle1 wrote: »

So the driver giving you a bit of lip

"A bit of lip" ? It's actually amazing how hard you try to twist the story. The driver screamed at him. If I screamed at a customer in work I'd be given a formal warning.

Comments like that make it clear as day that you're completely biased.

dirtynosebeps

http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/About-Us/Dublin-Bus-Bye-Laws/Boarding-and-Alighting/
7. No person shall attempt to board or to alight from the vehicle after the doors have commenced to close.

http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/About-Us/Dublin-Bus-Bye-Laws/Passenger-Behaviour/
43. No person shall consume alcoholic drinks or other beverages or food while on the vehicle.

Saipanne

dirtynosebeps wrote: »

http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/About-Us/Dublin-Bus-Bye-Laws/Boarding-and-Alighting/
7. No person shall attempt to board or to alight from the vehicle after the doors have commenced to close.

http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/About-Us/Dublin-Bus-Bye-Laws/Passenger-Behaviour/
43. No person shall consume alcoholic drinks or other beverages or food while on the vehicle.

Of course there's number 76. No rules apply to
Ol Donie.

RayM

punisher5112 wrote: »

You actually letterally have no kerb to stand on....

You say you had to step off the kerb to get to door so he was no longer at the stop.

I can't actually see how you think this is ok.

I've had to step off kerbs to get on buses loads of times - like in the city centre, pretty much every evening on Pearse Street, when another bus (or a Garda car) is parked at the bus stop. If a driver can't get close to the kerb, are they breaking the rules by allowing people to board the bus in the middle of the road? In those circumstances, if an inspector saw a bus driver who had no choice but to let passengers on in the city centre, away from the footpath, would the driver face disciplinary action? Should I report the driver next time it happens?

Ol' Donie wrote:

Just so we're clear the traffic was stopped at the red light, and tailed all the way back to the bus stop, which is exactly where the bus was sitting.

Sitting still, directly in front of the bus stop.

So i stepped off the kerb (watching for 50cc bikes etc., as I actually actively try to avoid being knocked down), and knocked on the door.

While he stared ahead at the still traffic in front of him, ignoring me.

In that situation, the driver should have used a bit of common sense and let you on. In fairness, I think most drivers probably would - you were just unlucky to encounter someone who wasn't even prepared to have some manners and make eye-contact, let alone be decent and obliging. It might technically be in breach of the rules, but he was still at the bus stop and it was very obviously a low-risk situation. He was being a dick.

There is a significant minority of drivers in Dublin Bus, who are extremely ignorant towards their customers. I accept that they have to take a lot of crap from idiots, but that's true of anyone who has to deal with the general public. In no other industry is it considered acceptable to take your frustrations out on the rest of your customers.

punisher5112

RayM wrote: »

I've had to step off kerbs to get on buses loads of times - like in the city centre, pretty much every evening on Pearse Street, when another bus (or a Garda car) is parked at the bus stop. If a driver can't get close to the kerb, are they breaking the rules by allowing people to board the bus in the middle of the road? In those circumstances, if an inspector saw a bus driver who had no choice but to let passengers on in the city centre, away from the footpath, would the driver face disciplinary action? Should I report the driver next time it happens?



In that situation, the driver should have used a bit of common sense and let you on. In fairness, I think most drivers probably would - you were just unlucky to encounter someone who wasn't even prepared to have some manners and make eye-contact, let alone be decent and obliging. It might technically be in breach of the rules, but he was still at the bus stop and it was very obviously a low-risk situation. He was being a dick.

There is a significant minority of drivers in Dublin Bus, who are extremely ignorant towards their customers. I accept that they have to take a lot of crap from idiots, but that's true of anyone who has to deal with the general public. In no other industry is it considered acceptable to take your frustrations out on the rest of your customers.

Hold on there chief.

The bus was not at the stop think the argument is getting a bit old.

In the city this is a common problem and it is crazy and dangerous but report away for the nerve of a driver actually picking up and dropping people off at a stop.

I don't get what it is about who I should report and sue.

As I said before trams don't re open doors if closed or pulled away and trains are the same so I can't wait till the doors are linked to god and only open when he says so.....

RayM

punisher5112 wrote: »

Hold on there chief.

The bus was not at the stop think the argument is getting a bit old.

In the city this is a common problem and it is crazy and dangerous but report away for the nerve of a driver actually picking up and dropping people off at a stop.

I don't get what it is about who I should report and sue.

As I said before trams don't re open doors if closed or pulled away and trains are the same so I can't wait till the doors are linked to god and only open when he says so.....

So we agree that it would be unacceptable for drivers not to use a bit of common sense at city centre termini, if the bus stop is blocked, and it means that they have to stop in the middle of a busy city street. Is it honestly acceptable for a driver to stare straight ahead, refusing to even acknowledge or make eye-contact with somebody who is knocking on the door at a bus stop, albeit a few feet from the kerb?

Dublin Bus drivers are well trained and are surely capable of judging, on a case-by-case basis, whether or not it's safe to open a door when stationary. Thankfully, plenty of drivers have no problem with this - even (shock, horror!) at non-designated bus stops (sack them!). It adds a friendly 'human touch' to the service.

And if a driver judges that it isn't safe to open the doors, it wouldn't kill them to communicate this fact to the intending passenger via a simple head-shake or mouthing the words "no, sorry".

punisher5112

RayM wrote: »

So we agree that it would be unacceptable for drivers not to use a bit of common sense at city centre termini, if the bus stop is blocked, and it means that they have to stop in the middle of a busy city street. Is it honestly acceptable for a driver to stare straight ahead, refusing to even acknowledge or make eye-contact with somebody who is knocking on the door at a bus stop, albeit a few feet from the kerb?

Dublin Bus drivers are well trained and are surely capable of judging, on a case-by-case basis, whether or not it's safe to open a door when stationary. Thankfully, plenty of drivers have no problem with this - even (shock, horror!) at non-designated bus stops (sack them!). It adds a friendly 'human touch' to the service.

And if a driver judges that it isn't safe to open the doors, it wouldn't kill them to communicate this fact to the intending passenger via a simple head-shake or mouthing the words "no, sorry".

I'll give it to ya bluntly because you seem to think that all the general public are little angels.

99% of times if I were to look or give eye contact as you say I will in return get a fcuk you, fingers, hand gesture or maybe even a spit at the door or kick and also a punch and be also verbally abused.

If a bus stop is blocked next time you want a bus why not be a good samaritan and help the bus driver by getting the person obstructing the stop to move as if this was done it would make things move much better.

RayM

punisher5112 wrote: »

I'll give it to ya bluntly because you seem to think that all the general public are little angels.

99% of times if I were to look or give eye contact as you say I will in return get a fcuk you, fingers, hand gesture or maybe even a spit at the door or kick and also a punch and be also verbally abused.

I don't think the general public are angels. Although I strongly doubt that 99% of us are verbally or physically abusive.

punisher5112 wrote:

If a bus stop is blocked next time you want a bus why not be a good samaritan and help the bus driver by getting the person obstructing the stop to move as if this was done it would make things move much better.

In the city centre, it's usually being obstructed by several other buses.

Ol' Donie

Sooo...

Are you saying if he did look me in the eye and say "No, sorry" I would have climbed through the closed doors and assaulted and spat on him?

Good Lord, just as well we have the old regulations.

By the way, I just want to say categorically that I believe with absolute certainty that the vast majority of drivers are very good guys, doing a tough job that is extremely important. And for what it's worth, I always say thanks when I'm getting off.

I just think that fella could have helped me out, and the closing of ranks in this thread brought down the red mist again.

Mongfinder General

RayM wrote: »

I don't think the general public are angels. Although I strongly doubt that 99% of us are verbally or physically abusive.



In the city centre, it's usually being obstructed by several other buses.

Members of the general public can be an obnoxious bunch of a**eholes if they don't get what they want. Bus drivers should have a control panel with options that activate ejector seats to rocket any undesirables off the bus. They should also be issued with tazers in case they are attacked. Routes 27, 40, 77/A and 79 should be prioritised to accomodate these changes.

5uspect

The simple solution is to just separate the driver from the public as much as possible. Like TFL buses, tag on with your card, pay your flat rate. If you tag on several times your card is only debited accordingly.

I don't see why a city as small as Dublin can't manage a straightforward system.

LXFlyer

5uspect wrote: »

The simple solution is to just separate the driver from the public as much as possible. Like TFL buses, tag on with your card, pay your flat rate. If you tag on several times your card is only debited accordingly.

I don't see why a city as small as Dublin can't manage a straightforward system.

At what rate do you set the flat fare at, noting that it would apply equally for someone travelling one stop as going from City Centre to Ballyknockan on the 65 for example?

I suspect that the flat fare required to maintain farebox revenues (i.e. Them key required to run the business) would be far higher than many would be prepared to pay.

London has a congestion charge that means that they can afford a flat fare system.

5uspect

I'm not sure, about €2 I would think, which mostly covers the 4 to 13 stages range.

The point is that the interaction with the driver is bothersome when you already have a leap card and two different units to tag onto depending on your journey. Drivers seem reluctant to be helpful when you're unsure of the number of stages and get pissy when people get it wrong. Passengers don't like the system because it removes a lot of the convenience of public transport. Why have all this technology and not use it to its fullest?

Perhaps allow an optional tag off where your fare can be calculated based on your actual journey?

crushproof

5uspect wrote: »

I'm not sure, about €2 I would think, which mostly covers the 4 to 13 stages range.

The point is that the interaction with the driver is bothersome when you already have a leap card and two different units to tag onto depending on your journey. Drivers seem reluctant to be helpful when you're unsure of the number of stages and get pissy when people get it wrong. Passengers don't like the system because it removes a lot of the convenience of public transport. Why have all this technology and not use it to its fullest?

Perhaps allow an optional tag off where your fare can be calculated based on your actual journey?

I really don't understand why they can't have a flat fare system. It works perfectly in Edinburgh, similar to Dublin in terms of relying on buses to shuttle most commuters.
£1.50 flat fare on Lothian or First buses, whether that be a 5 minute bus journey or a 1 hour journey.

LXFlyer

crushproof wrote: »

I really don't understand why they can't have a flat fare system. It works perfectly in Edinburgh, similar to Dublin in terms of relying on buses to shuttle most commuters.
£1.50 flat fare on Lothian or First buses, whether that be a 5 minute bus journey or a 1 hour journey.

I think it is pretty obvious - there would likely be a shortfall in farebox revenue for the company. All of this boils down to who funds the operation of our bus services. While people might not like to hear it, someone has to pay for the buses to operate, and at the moment our government is not too keen to do that any more than necessary. So it's down to the passengers.

Dublin has some very long bus routes, and the reality is that with a flat fare you would end up with a fare that is too expensive for most people making short trips, and probably would be a major discount over the current fare for those making longer trips. That would contribute to a drop in farebox revenue, and in the current financial situation that is unaffordable.

As I said above, London has a congestion charge, and the additional revenue from that helps fund the flat fare operation there.

LeinsterDub

lxflyer wrote: »

I think it is pretty obvious - there would likely be a shortfall in farebox revenue for the company. All of this boils down to who funds the operation of our bus services.

Then set a flat fair that wouldn't see a shortfall and allow us all to benefit from a clear pricing structure and deceased dwell times

LXFlyer

LeinsterDub wrote: »

Then set a flat fair that wouldn't see a shortfall and allow us all to benefit from a clear pricing structure and deceased dwell times

That I think would be a very very tall order.

devnull

punisher5112 wrote: »

I used the underground and Bus in London last year and cost me £2.40 Sterling not € to travel 3 bus stops not 3 stages or 13 stages I mean 3 bus stops so only paying €2.50 here to travel all the way seems extremely cheap to me

Where is this £2.40 fare you speak about?

Bus fares are £1.40 in London to travel all the way on any route and are capped at £4.40 a day.

https://www.tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/fares/bus-and-tram

macroman

devnull wrote: »

Where is this £2.40 fare you speak about?

Bus fares are £1.40 in London to travel all the way on any route and are capped at £4.40 a day.

https://www.tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/fares/bus-and-tram

Until the buses went cashless, the cash fare was £2.40 - there was a discount for Oyster PAYG and VISA use.

LXFlyer

I'd have to ask why would anyone visiting London pay cash and not get themselves an Oyster card?

iamstop

I used to really dislike DB when I still lived in Dublin.
Far too many bad experiences to mention.
I'm still at a loss as to why there is no transfer system at all.
Also, I always thought, if they did have a transfer system, that they should have a bus service that loops around the quays.

Anyway, I used to do a radio show in Dublin city center a while ago. Normally would drive in but the odd time the car was out of action for whatever reason and I'd have to bus it. Anyway oe of those times I recorded this show:
http://www.mixcloud.com/iamstop/passion-of-the-crates-bus-blues-29-nov-2012/

Hope ye like 'er.

LeinsterDub

lxflyer wrote: »

That I think would be a very very tall order.

I can't imagine how.

AlekSmart

iamstop wrote: »

I used to really dislike DB when I still lived in Dublin.
Far too many bad experiences to mention.
I'm still at a loss as to why there is no transfer system at all.
Also, I always thought, if they did have a transfer system, that they should have a bus service that loops around the quays.

Anyway, I used to do a radio show in Dublin city center a while ago. Normally would drive in but the odd time the car was out of action for whatever reason and I'd have to bus it. Anyway oe of those times I recorded this show:
http://www.mixcloud.com/iamstop/passion-of-the-crates-bus-blues-29-nov-2012/

The Travel90 ticket,formerly the Transfer 90,always offered unlimited bus transfers within a 90 minute window.

However,it involved people actually buying a pre-paid ticket and as a result tended to be regarded as the work of the divil,with peeps preferring to rob themselves blind by paying full cash-fares anyway.

Those who DID use the T90 tended to get VERY good usage out of the product indeed.

The T90 ticket is shortly to be superceeded by the Leapcard equivalent, multi-journey discounting,which will offer substantial savings to those who transfer between buses.

Keep an eye on Leapcard.ie for developments.

Cookie_Monster

lxflyer wrote: »

I'd have to ask why would anyone visiting London pay cash and not get themselves an Oyster card?

because the minimum price of an oyster is 13 GBP, @ 2.40 you can get a bus up to 5 times and still be better off.

macroman

Kind of going off on a tangent slightly, but the last time I was in London I accidentally let my Oyster card get low on credit, when getting onto a bus and tagging on it automatically printed a ticket informing me that I had insufficient credit on my oyster, but it was allowing me this ONE journey which will be debited from my account next time I top up.

As a DB driver, I thought this was a great idea. As whilst there is a negative balance allowance built into the Leap it doesn't automatically give the user a warning of this as it happens, unless the driver notices the card is going into negative balance and notifies the user. At least if there is a ticket printed, informing them their account is now in negative balance and another journey cannot be completed without topping up it may reduce the instances of trying to get onto the bus without credit, as a previous warning would have been issued.

LXFlyer

macroman wrote: »

Kind of going off on a tangent slightly, but the last time I was in London I accidentally let my Oyster card get low on credit, when getting onto a bus and tagging on it automatically printed a ticket informing me that I had insufficient credit on my oyster, but it was allowing me this ONE journey which will be debited from my account next time I top up.

As a DB driver, I thought this was a great idea. As whilst there is a negative balance allowance built into the Leap it doesn't automatically give the user a warning of this as it happens, unless the driver notices the card is going into negative balance and notifies the user. At least if there is a ticket printed, informing them their account is now in negative balance and another journey cannot be completed without topping up it may reduce the instances of trying to get onto the bus without credit, as a previous warning would have been issued.

This came in recently when the buses went cashless, due to concerns that people might not be able to top up their oyster card depending on where they might be and thus be stranded.

Tickityboo

macroman wrote: »

Kind of going off on a tangent slightly, but the last time I was in London I accidentally let my Oyster card get low on credit, when getting onto a bus and tagging on it automatically printed a ticket informing me that I had insufficient credit on my oyster, but it was allowing me this ONE journey which will be debited from my account next time I top up.

As a DB driver, I thought this was a great idea. As whilst there is a negative balance allowance built into the Leap it doesn't automatically give the user a warning of this as it happens, unless the driver notices the card is going into negative balance and notifies the user. At least if there is a ticket printed, informing them their account is now in negative balance and another journey cannot be completed without topping up it may reduce the instances of trying to get onto the bus without credit, as a previous warning would have been issued.

They just need to look at the readout on the machine to see their balance.
Not that hard to do!!

dirtynosebeps

lets end the debate about not being let on after the driver has closed his doors and here is the reason why most wont open them again.
driver picks up his passengers closes his doors.
here comes
LX banging on the doors, driver opens lets LX on issues fare closes doors,waits to pull out
here comes
alek banging on the doors, driver opens lets alek on, issues fare closes doors,waits to pull out.
heres comes
tickity banging on the doors, driver opens lets tickity on, issues fare closes doors,waits to pull out.
here comes
macro banging on the doors, driver opens lets macro on, issues fare closes doors,waits to pull out.
ohhhh wait , here comes
cookie banging on the doors, driver opens lets cookie on, issues fare closes doors,waits to pull out.
ohhh crap now we have dirtynose
banging on the doors 5 minutes later at the same stop. driver refuses to open doors.
now the driver is the biggest thing under the sun dirtynose can think of because he cant get on the bus. steam coming out of his ears ,foaming at the mouth, cant wait to report the driver for doing his job, cant wait to get on boards looking for all the sympathy he can get.

LeinsterDub

AlekSmart wrote: »

Keep an eye on Leapcard.ie for developments.

As always I wait with bated breath for the latest crumb which will eventually form the ITS cake

Ol' Donie

dirtynosebeps wrote: »

lets end the debate about not being let on after the driver has closed his doors and here is the reason why most wont open them again.
driver picks up his passengers closes his doors.
here comes
LX banging on the doors, driver opens lets LX on issues fare closes doors,waits to pull out
here comes
alek banging on the doors, driver opens lets alek on, issues fare closes doors,waits to pull out.
heres comes
tickity banging on the doors, driver opens lets tickity on, issues fare closes doors,waits to pull out.
here comes
macro banging on the doors, driver opens lets macro on, issues fare closes doors,waits to pull out.
ohhhh wait , here comes
cookie banging on the doors, driver opens lets cookie on, issues fare closes doors,waits to pull out.
ohhh crap now we have dirtynose
banging on the doors 5 minutes later at the same stop. driver refuses to open doors.
now the driver is the biggest thing under the sun dirtynose can think of because he cant get on the bus. steam coming out of his ears ,foaming at the mouth, cant wait to report the driver for doing his job, cant wait to get on boards looking for all the sympathy he can get.

I'm sorry, I really don't want to drag this on, but are you saying he doesn't open the doors in case more people want to get on the bus?

Bearing in mind the only reason the bus exists in the first place is to bring the citizens of the city around the city.

You think the doors shouldn't be opened in case it gives someone else a chance to catch the bus before it pulls off?

If the mentality wasn't clear before, it certainly is now.

And, while I'm at it, f*ck all regulations mentioned in that explanation.

hollypink

Tickityboo wrote: »

They just need to look at the readout on the machine to see their balance.
Not that hard to do!!

Am I the only one who finds it difficult to read the display on the machine on the driver's side? Auto topup is great; I only use my leapcard a few times a week, so I often used to ended up with a negative balance without realising till I tried to board the bus.

I've found Dublin Bus drivers fine in general; the main issues I've found are timetabled buses not turning up occasionally (I rang once when that happened and was told they had no driver), which is very inconvenient at times of the day when the next bus isn't scheduled for 20 - 30 minutes, and the RTPI showing phantom buses that never appear or alternatively not showing buses that do actually arrive at the stop.

dirtynosebeps

Ol' Donie wrote: »

I'm sorry, I really don't want to drag this on, but are you saying he doesn't open the doors in case more people want to get on the bus?
Bearing in mind the only reason the bus exists in the first place is to bring the citizens of the city around the city.

would you like the bus to sit at the stop until it's full?

Ol' Donie wrote: »

You think the doors shouldn't be opened in case it gives someone else a chance to catch the bus before it pulls off?

If the mentality wasn't clear before, it certainly is now.

And, while I'm at it, f*ck all regulations mentioned in that explanation.

well just in case you didn't read my example properly. plenty of people were given the chance to get on and they did. but because ol donie didn't get on the bus he comes on here ranting.

Ol' Donie wrote: »

If the mentality wasn't clear before, it certainly is now.
And, while I'm at it, f*ck all regulations mentioned in that explanation.

Ol' Donie, just curious do you work for a living with an attitude like that?

and people wonder why drivers have an attitude towards some passengers.
everyone is quick enough to come on here crying ,whinging, foaming etc that the driver wont break the rules and regulations. yet most of you going home have just come from work where there are rules and regulations , yet you know you'd be all fired if you broke them.
just to put it simply, if you miss the bus ,wait for the next one or even better just get a taxi and ask him to break all the rules and regulations when taking you home.

Tasden

Tbh its just like everywhere else, you can't please everyone.

It's like the til at the shop, if the til is closing at ten and there's a queue they'll put the sign up on the end of the til so no more people join the queue, otherwise ten o clock will pass and there will still be people joining the queue. The odd time they might make allowances if there is one person with a pack of gum or whatever but generally there has to be a cut off point.

Same with the bus, everyone is let on and the doors are closed, ready for bus to take off, the odd time if someone comes running along they might allow him on but there's always a cut off point otherwise the bus could never leave.

Ol' Donie

I'm not saying it should wait at the stop until it's full. I didn't say anything remotely like that. I'm saying where it's reasonable and safe a commuter & paying customer should be helped out, rather than ignored.

Yes, as it happens, I do work for a living. In fact I was trying to get home from work on the day the original incident I mentioned happened. What's the relevance?

dirtynosebeps

Ol' Donie wrote: »

I'm not saying it should wait at the stop until it's full. I didn't say anything remotely like that. I'm saying where it's reasonable and safe a commuter & paying customer should be helped out, rather than ignored.

but what you are saying is you want the bus to wait for ol donie.
let me tell you about something i witnessed yesterday evening
i go on a bus in westmoreland street ,driver closed his doors pulled out a couple of inches and wouldn't let anyone else on (sound familiar,with me so far?) some gob****e decides he's getting and opens the doors from the outside, just as the same gob****e is about to step off the kerb a motor cyclist comes flying up on the inside of the bus blowing it's horn and barely misses mr. gob****e. if the gob****e had been knocked down the bus and all it's passengers would be going nowhere for the rest of the evening.

Ol' Donie wrote: »

And, while I'm at it, f*ck all regulations

Ol' Donie

Alright, look, it's not worth continuing this.

Some fella opening the door himself is clearly quite different to the scenario I described at the start.

The various defences thrown up in this thread clearly show that people's minds are made up, and there is no room for discussion, irrespective of circumstance.

So, myself and the other scumbags that make up 99% of the population will just carry on. I am sorry for Dublin Bus as a business that they can't afford to open the doors for one person, for fear of being inundated with an endless string of lone passengers. It's a tough and very real situation.

I have learned, though, that there are many reasons not to let a passenger (in my work, we call them "customers") onto the bus. Which is a bit of a shame, for a company that literally has only one purpose, which is of course bringing passengers around the city on the bus.

dirtynosebeps

Ol' Donie wrote: »

I am sorry for Dublin Bus as a business that they can't afford to open the doors for one person, for fear of being inundated with an endless string of lone passengers. It's a tough and very real situation.

this is reality and this is why drivers wont open doors again at busy city centre stops. they have a service to provide for hundreds and thousands of passengers everyday and not one individual.

Ol' Donie wrote: »

So, myself and the other scumbags that make up 99% of the population will just carry on.

nobody said you or 99% of the population that dublin bus carry are scumbags. just because passengers dont get their own way they think thats what bus drivers think of them. your just one of the many of hundreds of pissed off passengers that drivers have to deal with everyday.you'll get your bus today, tomorrow, next day and just go about your merry way. the real scum is where drivers have a problem with. they have to deal with the same faces,same abuse, same chancers and so on and so forth ,on a daily basis.

RayM

I almost missed a bus yesterday morning. It was running around three or four minutes early (although in fairness, that's mainly the result of an over-generous timetable, rather than the driver leaving the terminus ahead of schedule). The bus had left the bus stop and was stopped at a mini-roundabout. The driver saw me running and opened the door. I looked right before stepping onto the road, got on the bus and thanked him.

Nobody died.

Ol' Donie

Evidence again that there are plenty of sound ones out there. A nice story.

Tarabuses

RayM wrote: »

I almost missed a bus yesterday morning. It was running around three or four minutes early (although in fairness, that's mainly the result of an over-generous timetable, rather than the driver leaving the terminus ahead of schedule). The bus had left the bus stop and was stopped at a mini-roundabout. The driver saw me running and opened the door. I looked right before stepping onto the road, got on the bus and thanked him.

Nobody died.

Yes but, unfortunately, if you had died in these circumstances the driver could have been held responsible.

LXFlyer

RayM wrote: »

I almost missed a bus yesterday morning. It was running around three or four minutes early (although in fairness, that's mainly the result of an over-generous timetable, rather than the driver leaving the terminus ahead of schedule). The bus had left the bus stop and was stopped at a mini-roundabout. The driver saw me running and opened the door. I looked right before stepping onto the road, got on the bus and thanked him.

Nobody died.

I appreciate your point, but being fair about it the company instructs drivers not to pick people up once they have closed the doors. From that point onwards, they are supposed to focus on driving and the road.

If they do open the doors, that is totally at their own discretion, and if something goes wrong, they're liable for it.

I don't see why people are, frankly, excoriating drivers for following company procedures. I've lost track of the number of times I've seen people making rude gestures at the driver of buses that I've been on for not opening doors between stops. But ultimately it's not a case of drivers being uncaring or rude, they are just following the procedures that they have been issued with.

end of the road

Ol' Donie wrote: »

I'm not saying it should wait at the stop until it's full. I didn't say anything remotely like that. I'm saying where it's reasonable and safe a commuter & paying customer should be helped out, rather than ignored.

Yes, as it happens, I do work for a living. In fact I was trying to get home from work on the day the original incident I mentioned happened. What's the relevance?

in your case it wasn't reasonable or safe to let you on, so you didn't get on.

cdebru

Ol' Donie wrote: »

Does that apply if, say, someone wanted to get off the stationary bus at the bus stop? Would they be told to sit down until the next stop?

Anyway, not worth getting wound up about. Whatever the cause, Dublin Bus had a very dissatisfied customer that day.

Who now drives a Carolla, and if he has to, gets the Luas.

Does the LUAS operator open the doors again for you if s/he is waiting on lights ? If not why does this not annoy you ?

Funny thing is that a lot of complaints about DB is that they can't/won't do things properly but when they do things properly that is complained about as well. Doors are closed you missed the bus no matter how close it is or how heavy the traffic is, IF a driver ever reopens them or lets you board away from the stop s/he are not doing what they are supposed to do, but you should say a big THANK YOU, they just did you a favour, it is not something you are entitled to nor something you should get pissed about when it doesn't happen.

cdebru

RayM wrote: »

I almost missed a bus yesterday morning. It was running around three or four minutes early (although in fairness, that's mainly the result of an over-generous timetable, rather than the driver leaving the terminus ahead of schedule). The bus had left the bus stop and was stopped at a mini-roundabout. The driver saw me running and opened the door. I looked right before stepping onto the road, got on the bus and thanked him.

Nobody died.

If you had tripped or fallen whilst boarding, would you have mentioned it to your solicitor that you were boarding at an undesignated stop ? Would your solicitor then have used that information to show the driver was unprofessional and had put your safety in jeopardy by allowing and encouraging you to board at an undesignated stop ?

Maybe you are a decent person, and would have kept it to yourself, or maybe you just think you are but when the euro signs started flashing maybe you might think differently.



I remember hearing a story about a BE driver same route for years, knew all the passengers by name etc etc, used to let people off near their houses at the top of the lane they lived down etc, had been doing it for years. Then one day one of his regulars tripped getting off the bus at one of these undesignated stops a woman he knew for years, didn't stop her from bringing a claim and pointing out that the driver was at fault for allowing her to alight from an undesignated stop.

cdebru

lxflyer wrote: »

I think it is pretty obvious - there would likely be a shortfall in farebox revenue for the company. All of this boils down to who funds the operation of our bus services. While people might not like to hear it, someone has to pay for the buses to operate, and at the moment our government is not too keen to do that any more than necessary. So it's down to the passengers.

Dublin has some very long bus routes, and the reality is that with a flat fare you would end up with a fare that is too expensive for most people making short trips, and probably would be a major discount over the current fare for those making longer trips. That would contribute to a drop in farebox revenue, and in the current financial situation that is unaffordable.

As I said above, London has a congestion charge, and the additional revenue from that helps fund the flat fare operation there.

I don't think there would necessarily be any shortfall, if it is set at a rate that takes account of total revenue of fare paying passengers divided by number of fare paying passengers. You may have a fall in shorter journeys less than current 3 stages but you may also have an increase in cheaper longer journeys, it may also encourage more people to travel if they don't have to concern themselves with the mind boggling current stage system.