Madam, - Billy Fleming (January 3rd) made some very pertinent observations about improving the traffic flow in central Dublin. Inter alia he stresses that excessive dwell times at bus stops are a major contributor to the traffic chaos at O'Connell Street. These are mainly due to complex boarding and fare- paying procedures.
There is, in my view, a potentially simple solution - bring back bus conductors. The results: the public would board en bloc.The conductor would sell or examine tickets as appropriate.
Fare dodgers would be virtually eliminated and the resultant additional revenue, which I understand could be significant, could go a long way towards the cost of additional personnel.
Engine efficiency would be improved with attendant fuel savings and to the benefit of the environment.
An experimental study would draw the correlation between income and expenditure, but above all, it would show the potential for improving the traffic flow.
Fanciful? The cost of such a study would be minimal and, if the will is there, it could be completed within weeks. - Yours, etc,
ALAN J COOK, Foxrock, Dublin 18.