Madam, - An interesting Editorial indeed under the heading "Stuck in traffic" (June 12th). However, I do think it would be useful to add a little more detail about Dublin Bus's performance and its standing with its market and potential customers.
For a start, let us look at its route plan. This is largely based on a series of radial routes crossing the city centre, on the lines of the original 19th-century tram tracks.
Thus we have runs such as Finglas to Rialto (19), Dublin airport to Rathfarnham (16A), Phoenix Park to Donnybrook (10A), Marino to Walkinstown (123) and numerous others. These runs are totally random and do not in any way reflect popular demand.
They are probably great for the tiny percentage of commuters who use them, but, because of the total impossibility of keeping to schedule, they are at the root of the whole system's lack of reliability. One journey into the city centre and back makes a tough demand on scheduling, but link it to another one on the other side and it becomes impossible. Buses should turn around in the city centre and head straight back out.
Next we have the silly slogan "Serving the entire community". Is the thinking behind this the root of such crazy routes as the 103, Clontarf to Santry; 104, Clontarf to Cappagh; 220 Ballymun to Blanchardstown?
What these runs (and no doubt there are many more) have in common is that they go out of their way (literally) to reach as many places adjoining the route as possible. For example, the 103 and 104 head north, south, east and west, in the course of their journey. I do not know how the driver keeps his bearings. But I believe that passengers find this most disconcerting and, judging by the number of people on board, at off-peak anyway, they just make other arrangements and take their cars.
A fairly direct route would be preferable for most people, who would gladly walk a mile in 15 minutes, rather than have to wait that length of time or more at a stop.
Finally, my favourite public transport gripe: the 19th-century idea of the last bus leaving at 11.30 pm. Dublin is now a 24-hour city (even our TV networks recognise this), but it must not have dawned on Dublin Bus just yet. It is utterly preposterous that our liquor-licensing laws could have been relaxed a few years ago to 12.30am at weekends while Dublin Bus drivers are at home, and probably in bed.
If we are serious about curbing drink-driving, this crazy situation should be looked at. There would be no need for extra buses, just thin the services out a bit in the late hours and run until say, 1.30 am. The number of additional customers might be surprising. - Yours, etc,
JOHN NEWMAN, Dublin 11.