The Dublin Community Blog

Most times I take the bus in Dublin, I almost always come hurtling down the stairs. On Monday, I was about to descend from the penultimate step, when the bus sharply turned a corner. I grabbed the hand rail like it was a ballet dancer’s bar. I inelegantly extended my right leg to rebalance myself, much to the amusement of the passengers downstairs. I regained my composure and alighted the bus only feet from my house.

I have examined myself for the causes of so many occasions when I have come close to breaking a leg or two. My taste in fancy footwear – that lacks grip – is definitely a contributing factor. As is my severe lack of co-ordination; I am the type of person who trips over his left leg or embarrassingly misses the kerb on a busy street. I am about as graceful as a hippo in a strange animal performance of Swan Lake.

More frequently, I’ve noticed myself tumbling down the stairs of the more modern buses. I am no scientist, but I think it has something to do with the fact the newer buses are bigger, closer to the ground and have a greater acceleration than that of older models. If my theory is correct, and future buses are bigger, lower and accelerate at a faster pace, then I am going to bounce my way down the stairs and ultimately come to my demise on a Dublin Bus.