Sir, – Una Mullally (“Lessons must be learned from grubby Uber files”, Opinion & Analysis, July 18th) invites political leaders who are enthusiastic about radical innovations in the world of transport to allow her to introduce them to public transport.
Whatever about the arguments for or against public transport in Ireland, your columnist overlooks the situation of people who are older, disabled or otherwise mobility compromised.
As an above-knee amputee who is approaching 70, I tick the above boxes.
Whereas I can access buses and trains with some difficulty, when travelling by train I have to make sure there is ramp assistance available.
In this regard, station staff are most polite and helpful and generally go the extra mile.
However, I returned to driving, having been off the road for nine years, following the loss of my leg because taxis in Dublin where I lived until recently are unreliable and expensive.
But the big elephant in the room with bus and train travel is anti-social behaviour and the apparent belief of the authorities that it has nothing to do with them.
There are regularly people drinking on trains or taking drugs and behaving in a menacing way. During fine weather periods gangs of youths travel to beaches where they are allowed to drink in contravention of the bylaws. They return on the Dart in the late afternoon and terrorise mothers with young children and elderly or vulnerable people.
On one of these occasions, my attempts to leave the train with assistance were loudly jeered.
When I complained to Irish Rail, I got a stock reply containing unrealistic suggestions and feigned regret for my situation.
There is no security on trains other than the revenue protection staff who are interested only in fare evasion. They never seem to be in evidence when the drunken youths are on the rampage.
On one occasion, having ascended the train at Greystones, these gentlemen issued me with a fine for fare evasion. My Leap card had opened the barrier for me but did not deduct my fare, unbeknownst to me. The fine was withdrawn when I complained, with a “We’ll let you off this time” letter, but nothing approaching an apology. I now have free travel but public transport contains only hostile memories for me and accordingly is a no-go area.
Una Mullally’s blueprint may work for some younger people but not so for people like myself. – Yours, etc,
SEAN O’DONNELL,
Ardee,
Co Louth.
Sir, – Fintan O’Toole musing upon whether Ireland is a developed nation resonated with me (Opinion & Analysis, July 16th).
My wife returned to her office in recent weeks, and in so doing re-entered her multidecade public transport hell.
I’ve watched her mood plummet and stress levels skyrocket as any given bus simply doesn’t turn up, or worse, is (according to the Dublin Bus app) five minutes away, four minutes, three ... then gone! The alternate dimension into which these vehicles are being abruptly sucked must be littered with double-deckers.
Obviously buses should turn up, but surely the least customers deserve deep into the 21st century is that Dublin Bus accurately relay the whereabouts of buses, and whether they are coming at all. – Yours, etc,
ALAN MURPHY,
Knocklyon,
Dublin 16.