Let's Be Honest Public Transport in Ireland is an Abominaiton Because it is Meant to Be...

The issues around public transport around Ireland are compounded by many factors

An Bord Pleanála

This organization is a huge problem, whether you're planning for a wind farm or an extension on your house you submit planning application to the same entity. This is a problem. Secondly how the organization is run is questionable. There are allegations of serious corruption in ABP (such as a woman from Swords, reviewing/taking on every planning application made for, or relating to Swords....). Thirdly, the decisions they make and things they allow builders to do is very questionable. Such as allowing builders/developers to build right up to the edge of major roads/rail routes, hence eliminating any expansion possibilities (Bus Connect, additional Rail lines ). In fact they allow developers to close a lane of traffic for months on end to facilitate building to the edge of the road and having a drop off area for supplies while construction is underway, this is madness. Clarehall/Malahide road, Raheny Road, Tara Street.... I'm looking at you

Nimby'ism

Genuinely, I feel if you live more that 400m away from a development you should have no right object to planning on it, unless it's extreme circumstances (public land, park, Motorway, Aviation, etc) and we should be able to trust ABP to make the right decisions and let the builders know what they can and cannot build. Viable public transport needs be included in any development seeking planning permission. Case in question: Howth Junction - Howth Line set to be curtailed to feeder service yet, 500 apartments are being constructed in Howth with a view to construction more in Deerpark. So at the moment we don't have that, which I believe is the reason Nimby'ism is so bad (We all know they're just gonna throw it in any old way, so everyone objects.)

Need for a Centralized public transport procurement system

Having Politicians (TD's) talk about Metrolink construction is stupid. Metrolink is not an national issue. It's a North Dublin Issue. Basically we need a system where the government says how much it will give each year to this transport body and the money will be divided out amount the various public transport companies and to procurement, IE TD's have no say on what's built and where. This way TD's can save face when opposition from the Nimby's arises. It would also allow city management and ABP to interact with a main body and work together planning for the future. Instead of panning to some politician who's just gonna kick the can down the road, and might not even get elected next time.

Like I know for a FACT that Irish rail and DCC have basically 0 communication. the same applies for Irish rail and ABP.

Metro in what ever form it was called has been kicked around for 22 years at this stage, next year is make or break for it.

Here's a great example of the kind of NIMBYism that previously has stopped public transport getting prioritised to date, with the new found interest in mobility for older people and people with disabilities (but only the older people and people with disabilities who have cars, of course).

It doesn't look like they're going to succeed this time, with Councillors from FF, FG, Lab and GP all supporting the changes.

Did you mean to say "constituents with cars" there?

Thanks for proving my point on NIMBYism beautifully.

"Did you mean to say "constituents with cars" there?"

Which is most people in Dundrum.

The point is thoiugh that this is nothing to do with commuting, it is about local people being able to get to their local facilities, many of whom are older and no longer commute to work, school, or college.

What's the car ownership rates for Dundrum please?

Did you mean to say 'local people with cars being able...' there? Why do you keep assuming that everyone in Dundrum or visiting Dundrum or passing through Dundrum has a car and wants to use their car and can afford to use their car? So many assumptions there.

Let's be honest, what this is REALLY about is the business owners wanting to keep access for their own personal cars, so they get to drive in and park at their front doors and to hell with everyone else. They've been stirring up a mob for months with exaggerated stories and zero evidence. It's particularly galling to see the doctor and the pharmacist opposing active travel measures, but perhaps it's not in their interest to improve the health of the population.

Where was there concern for the older people who can't drive?

Not an argument for me to be interested in, but it looks from Google maps like Raheny to Swords is around 12km. Would possibly be faster by bike than car tbh. Possibly a bad argument against cycling, if ever you were to pick one.

50 mins if you take the R139/Stockhole Lane.... where you might die.

55 mins by Santry where it's a bit safer.

30 mins by car (But only because I can leverage the north bound M1, distance is actually longer again at 18.5km, but higher speeds reduce the journey time), plus I've to got to bring some tools with me.

Heading to Applewood at the back swords.

Everyone has a reason why they're not using a Public transport, most of the time it's "It's not good enough", the fact I use the DART everyday rather than my motorcycle to get to work is testament to that. IE If it's good, people will use.

As mentioned I'm going to the back of Swords. It's a 30 min from the centre of the Town. Where the 1 hour 4 min bus drops you

You can't get further to the back end of Swords than Applewood and it is currently 1 hr 7 minutes by public transport, 50 minutes by bicycle and 25 minutes by car from Raheny.

International experience suggests that this doesn't get people out of their cars onto public transport.

Lots of loose talk about "free" public transport. It won't be free as you will pay for it as taxpayers, and likely pay a lot more as capacity is expanded to cope with the increased demand.

Also is this advocated for Dublin local public transport only? If so, whare do you draw the limit? The farther out you draw it the bigger the cliff-edge : I can see huge complaints from Kilcock if the "free" zone ends at Maynooth. Maybe some people are foolish enough to advocate free nationwide public transport - so no-one loses out (!!!).

One of the headacches for any public transport operator is the uneven level of demand - at peak versus non-peak hours. A zero price for peak-hour travel would be total madness. (I remember that the "free" travel for pensioners did not apply during peak hours, until a populist minister relaxed the rules, and no-one said a word against him)

What leap forward?

Yes,

but in Copenhagen there exists one of the best metros..modern, clean, efficient, integrated…

Lines : 4

Opened : 2002

Operations : 24 / 7 , 365 days a year

Stations : 20 plus others under construction..

I’ve made 3 visits to that city and it’s always been evident how much investment in that country they made for their city, citizens, etc…

What have we managed in a similar timeframe ? We have not even managed to put a shovel in the ground in this godforsaken kip.. An absolute dump… with inadequates lining their pockets in positions of responsibility….

my mother said about 7 years ago, in her early 70’s then… “ knowing this country, as I do, we’ll ( her and my Dad ) never see it in our lifetime….” I thought she was talking hokey and I scoffed at the notion, but as it stands, she’s possibly or probably very right….

which is sad…. Worked all her life, paid tax all their lives, both spent much of their time as public servants or semi state employees…

bus stop outside her door that would take her to a station in 4 minutes…

we can find multiple millions at the absolute drop of a hat for everyone else’s problems in the world but we can’t over years, get a single fûcking metro line built….. absolute nutsville backwards backarse kip of a place.

So I'm not going exactly from the centre of the village, I'm going from my house which is about a 15 min walk from the village.

All this needs to be factored in with public transport. The walk to and wait at the Bus stop or train station is often one of the slowest bits.

"Issue is not the price"

I'd disagree there when it comes to trains. Stupid prices to go to Dublin from anywhere.

Eg Limerick to Dublin for an adult - 50 euro return - bear in mind that is on a train with no security or conductor or even a guarantee you would get a seat even if you prebook and select a seat.

Other rail services then are now generally much slower then a car since the motorways so not ideal for anyone working.

Nevermind the larger towns and cities. Where I am you need a car. There isn't a decent local bus service. The cherry on top? You have to then pay for parking (if you can find any) in town. In their wisdom the local council installed pay as you go bikes. A decent bus service? No. Pay as you go bikes that are dotted around the place like someone with a bike litter fetish? Yes! Not a whole lot of use to anyone in the bucketing down rain, trying to get to a meeting or anything else half useful and you get to pay per minute to use them. Wow!

Ah yes, the problems of our planning system, allowing people to build and live in houses away from towns and cities. They complain if you won't let them build because of the lack of services, and they complain about the lack of services if you let them build.

All of those ideas are 30-50 year ideas. We need better public transport now, this year. The only immediate option is more buses on the road, and giving buses priority over private car traffic.