The Dublin Community Blog

Big thanks to Matt from The Expeditioner for directing our attention to a video travel guide that he did recently here in Dublin. It’s a well produced mini-documentary with some great iconic shots of our beloved city. (Not to mention some great background tunes from The Walkmen, Bell X1, etc.)

However, our Irish readers will have to forgive a line in “Part II” about Christchurch Cathedral having the largest crypt “in all the UK.” (Ooooo, oh no he did NOT.) Matt, we’ve posted a DVD to your Brooklyn address entitled, Michael Collins, compliments of The Dublin Community Blog. (No worries, mate. You’re not the first to make that mistake.)

Below is Matt’s Dublin travel guide. CLICK HERE for Part II.

It seems like theres a transport strike every second week these days – if its not taxis, its Dublin Bus. Its getting beyond annoying.  The current Dublin Bus strike caused traffic chaos across north Dublin this morning. And there is likely to be further traffic chaos this evening. What I want to know is how 1 employee can cause so much disruption. Note to Dublin Bus drivers, be grateful you have a job!

From RTE:

Commuters are facing further disruption this evening due to unofficial industrial action at Dublin Bus.

Two depots at Clontarf and Harristown have been affected by the action which led to the cancellation of 29 routes this morning.

A number of drivers returned to work this afternoon, however there are still no buses on 23 routes.

Services on a further 14 routes, mostly on the northside of the city, have been curtailed.

Gardaí have advised motorists that all outbound bus lanes in north Dublin will be open to all traffic from 4.30pm until 7pm.

Limited service: 27 – 29a – 31 – 32/b – 37x – 38/a – 38b/c – 39 – 39x – 41 – 41x – 42/a/b – 103 – 130.

Cancelled routes: 4/4a – 13/13a – 17a – 27b – 27x – 31b – 32a – 32x – 33b – 40/a/b/c/d – 42 – 42a – 43 – 53 – 53a – 83 – 102 – 104 – 128 – 140 – 142 – 237 – 238 – 239 – 270.

The dispute follows the suspension of one driver who refused to work a new schedule on the 128 route.

Further information:
Dublin Bus
AA Roadwatch

UPDATE: 29/04/09 at 11:00
Service disruption has escalated to Conyngham Road depot. Further details on services can be found here.

The Minister for Transport confirmed yesterday that congestion charging in some shape or other will be coming to Dublin.

“You can have congestion charges specific to specific areas, you can have them in relation to levies on fossil fuels or on petrol or diesel,” the minister said

Personally I believe congestion charging would be a good idea in any city, but only when the government makes a significant investment in public transport all around that city. For example London has congestion charging yet any time I’ve stayed in the city I have never been charged to drive in the city because I was able to use the underground to get everywhere I needed to go.

Unfortunately as we learned last month the Irish government takes a different approach cutting back public transport while encouraging people to cycle as an alternative. It may be illogical but don’t worry, it’s not going to happen any time soon. As the Minister announced

I would envisage that probably it will be over the next two to three years – once we’ve done the study

So that should keep it tied up in reports, committees, investigations and equipment trials for at least a decade or two. By the way, while explaining congestion charges and cycling to work on the radio last night Minister Dempsey also announced that the e-voting machines were a complete success and that integrating ticketing was on the way after only taking a couple of years to plan. Seriously, I’m not joking, he said that. He might as well have announced there is no traffic congestion in Dublin, that Ireland has achieved 110% employment despite the downturn and that the Irish colonies on Mars were progressing well with the terraforming projects.

Barrier Free Tolling on the M50 has been in place since August 30th last. Judging by reports since then, it appears that its implementation has been quite smooth. Of course, things might be different on the billing side!

If your still wondering how it all works, check out the following sites:

National Roads Authority
eFlow
Tag Compare

How has your experience been? Let us know in comments.

The Luas Red line (Connolly-Tallaght) will only operate to and from Abbey Street from mid-June until early autumn (exact start and end dates unknown!). Work will be carried out during this time on a new three way interchange at Amiens Street to facilitate the Luas extension to the Point. Updates should be posted here as the project progresses – here’s hoping they get it done on schedule!

As of the 1st of this month, Ecocabs are back on the roads in Dublin city centre. Not only are they environmentally friendly, they’re free! Presumably funded by the ‘moving billboard’ nature of each cab, I have a feeling that you’re also handed a large packet of advertisements when you use the service. The cabs are available at designated ‘pick-up points’ in the city centre and cover a radius of approximately 2 km from O’Connell bridge.

So next time you have to walk between Green and Red LUAS lines, grumbling all the way about the fact that the lines don’t connect (okay, so I’m speaking to myself at this point), find an Ecocab and let them do the exercise! If you’ve used the Ecocabs service, tell us about your experience in the comments section.

Also, there are still job openings as Ecocabs riders. So if you want a job that will keep you in shape and give you lots of opportunity to meet people, go to www.ecocabs.ie.

Anyone who commutes to work in and around Dublin will be all to familiar with the traffic jams, crowded trams or trains and delayed buses. They will also know the reason many people choose to drive to work is that there is no reliable, or in many cases simply no, public transport that they can use. The Dept of Transport today released a consultation document asking for input on the future of travel and transport in Ireland with large sections related to the vision of transport in Dublin by 2020. Improved public transport, more emphasis on cycling and walking,  and the possibility of congestion charging.

This document can be downloaded here and will be well worth a read by anyone who sees themselves still facing into the long commute to work in Dublin by 2020.

In case you are not already aware, but there are gonna be some serious disruptions to Dublin Bus services in the morning. I am copying the notice that was posted on Dublin Bus’s webpage earlier. So check and make sure if your bus service is affected that you have other means to get to work.

Due to industrial action by bus drivers in Harristown Bus Garage, services operating from this garage will be disrupted on Monday 12th November 2007.

Dublin Bus wish to apologise for this disruption.

Just back from Paris (and our ill fated rugby match!) and I have to say we were all VERY impressed with the bicycle rental scheme that’s going on there! I had heard something about it on the news here before we left, and we were really looking forward to seeing how it will take off in Dublin.

SO how will they stop the knick-knacks sending them to a watery grave I hear you ask!

The way it works in Paris is: you go to one of the many bicycle stations (situated within a 300 meter radius of each other) pop in your credit card to lay down a deposit of €150 and then you purchase your ticket. You can purchase all manner of subscriptions to suit the length of your visit. The locals use a ‘smart’ card that you just swipe and go! Each journey is free for the first 30 mins, so what they are encouraging you do to do is use the bike to get to your destination and pop it back in the station. It keeps a majority of the bicycles in circulation for people to use.

It made getting around Paris a doddle – from the top of Rue St Denis to the Rive Gauche in jig time!

The bicycles themselves are tamper-proof, un-deflatable tyres with three gears and the essential bell to warn pedestrians of your arrival! We couldn’t find that much information about the Dublin scheme, but it seems like the same company are behind it. JC Decaux are footing the bill in exchange for a number of adverting spots around the city.

It was confirmed today that the Green Luas line will be further extended from the still to be completed terminus in Cherrywood all the way out to Bray. It is hoped that the line will be completed by 2015.

The Bray Chamber are naturally delighted, but, being devils advocate, I have to ask if this is really the best way to extend the Luas? After all Bray is currently served by the Dart, which the Luas will interconnect with in Bray as well as at the new inter-connector to be built at St Stephens Green. I wonder would other parts of Dublin have been better served by a new rail/tram link than Bray? Does anyone feel their area is getting overlooked in the public transport plans?