u/Ornery-Use3910

This is quite literally a rant but I feel like I am going to lose my mind with the transport in Dublin. I’ve posted before and was met with some agreement but also stuff like “well actually the data shows bus use is up 7% etc so the new spine system is actually a success, ensures buses show up and generally on time, and if some people suffer with less direct routes for the greater good that’s just how it is”.

It is literally taking me anywhere from 1hr - 1.5hrs for a roughly 10-12km journey (yes I’m planning to start cycling but that’s not the point - I shouldn’t have to do this as a last resort)

I used to be able to get a bus from Crumlin / kimmage into Dublin in 25-30 mins. It is at minimum ~45 mins with the route changes as nothing is direct. Ok fine, so I try to use the new spine connection system and get off at different stops for different buses. But so many of them are literally not showing up, leaving an extra 10-20 minute wait, or so late you fail to get your connecting bus. I could maybe tolerate this if the buses actually felt like they were fucking moving but I measured the speed they’re going - literally anywhere from 15 - 30km (if you’re lucky) max. Now I’ve seen this fact met with “it’s to keep them on schedule”. Ok sure - but they’re barely ever on time or simply don’t show up. This literally happened today with two separate bus routes.

I am genuinely at my wits end. How are we so shit at the basics in this country. How do we tolerate paying so much for everything and getting this in return. I’m in the office 5 days a week. I’m spending at minimum 80 euro a month for the pleasure of what I can only describe as a social experiment designed to test the point at which I’m going to go absolutely mental.

Surely this cannot go on for the next 5-15 years? What are we doing here? It’s absolutely embarrassing as a country. I’m not asking for perfection here but come on

This is quite literally a rant but I feel like I am going to lose my mind with the transport in Dublin. I’ve posted before and was met with “well actually the data shows bus use is up 7% etc so the new spine system is actually a success, ensures buses show up and generally on time, and if some people suffer with less direct routes for the greater good that’s just how it is”.

It is literally taking me anywhere from 1hr - 1.5hrs for a roughly 10-12km journey (yes I’m planning to start cycling but that’s not the point - I shouldn’t have to do this as a last resort)

I used to be able to get a bus from Crumlin / kimmage into Dublin in 25-30 mins. It is at minimum ~45 mins with the route changes as nothing is direct. Ok fine, so I try to use the new spine connection system and get off at different stops for different buses. But so many of them are literally not showing up, leaving an extra 10-20 minute wait, or so late you fail to get your connecting bus. I could maybe tolerate this if the buses actually felt like they were fucking moving but I measured the speed they’re going - literally anywhere from 15 - 30km (if you’re lucky) max. Now I’ve seen this fact met with “it’s to keep them on schedule”. Ok sure - but they’re barely ever on time or simply don’t show up.

I am genuinely at my wits end. How are we so shit at the basics in this country. How do we tolerate paying so much for everything and getting this in return. I’m in the office 5 days a week. I’m spending at minimum 80 euro a month for the pleasure of what I can only describe as a social experiment designed to test the point at which I’m going to go absolutely mental.

What are we doing here? It surely cannot go on like this for the next 5-15 years? It’s totally embarrassing as a country

I’ve recently returned to Ireland and I am beyond frustrated and angry with the shitshow that is the bus connect system. I’m going into work everyday from the Crumlin / kimmage area - it used to take 25-30 mins to get into the centre of the city. Now it’s taking at minimum 40-45 mins, if not more. If I want a more direct bus (151), I have to walk 15-20 mins to Crumlin hospital - and that is still taking 35-40 mins to get down the Quays. I clocked the average speed the buses were going this week - literally 23km/hr. It’s absolutely mad and driving me crazy. They’ve practically removed direct routes and added so many stops that you move at a snails pace.

I am so exasperated I looked up the guy they hired to design this shitshow. Did anybody think to mention that a “Spine” system of transport doesn’t really work in a city without an underground, and perhaps isn’t suitable for the most congested city in Europe? How about hiring someone who has actually experienced the problems with Dublin, or just brought in a German firm?

Excuse the rant but needed to vent somewhere. Is anyone going to lose their job over this? Accountability please, I beg.