Buc campaigners punch new ticket in conducting efforts to save Dublin Bus
| 04 Aug 2011: posted by the editor - Local, Ireland | |
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Despite the signatures of over 10,000 people for a petition to Save the 19 Bus and the active support of 13 TDs and 24 local councillors in detailed submissions from the Save the 19 Bus Campaign to both Dublin Bus and senior management at the National Transport Authority, Dublin Bus are still pushing ahead regardless in their proposal to axe the 19 Bus. Local residents, commuters and public representatives (from all political parties) have come together to emphatically oppose this proposal and held a joint press conference on Tuesday 2 August at 11am at Dublin's Buswell’s Hotel. Senior citizens will be hardest hit by this proposal. The subvention that Dublin Bus receives from the Department of Social Protection is a flat rate and is not based on the number of OAPs who travel on the bus each day. Thus, even though they have worked for much of their lives and contributed greatly to this economy, Dublin Bus now appears to see our senior citizens as non profitable and therefore disposable. Peadar, an 80 year old commuter from Finglas said ‘I have used this bus since I was 4 years old. I remember the 19 when it was a tram and can’t believe that this route, which is an essential part of our community, is just going to be scrapped. This is discrimination against the many elderly residents and children of this area and it is a disgrace’. For many children across the city, the bus is a significant form of transport to attend local schools. Overall, many parents send their children to particular schools based in part on bus routes serving those schools – changing/axing of these routes is very distressing for both parents and their children. “I get the bus to school every day. I’m really worried about having to get 2 buses if they take our bus away, particularly as I’ll have to bring in my younger sister” said Sarah Lawler, Age 10, South Circular Rd. Cutting the 19 Bus will have a significant effect on access to medical and social services, particularly for older people, pregnant women, new mothers and young children. There are a large number of small businesses which have engaged significantly with the community and rely in part for their local business on people taking the 19 Bus to go to shop, get hair/beauty treatment etc. “The local business community will definitely suffer, but it will also affect our local community spirit” said Tish Curry Owner Salon Rouge. Bulfin Rd. Given the excellent work undertaken in the Botanic Gardens to make it a first class attraction for local visitors and tourists and the recent Themed Entertainment Award (THEA), the Oscar of the themed /attractions industry, to Glasnevin Museum in Glasnevin Cemetry, it is very disappointing that the main public transport option to visit these superb facilities is being axed. Why is Dublin Bus abandoning this community who have been its loyal customers for so many years and insisting on a proposal that will affect children, young mothers, students, working commuters, senior citizens and tourists? Many local communities will be stranded if the decision to scrap the 19 Bus route goes ahead. Local residents, commuters and public representatives from both the north and south sides of the number 19 route are disappointed and extremely angry at the perceived lack of proper public consultation and meaningful dialogue with Dublin Bus in relation to this historic bus route. Since the subvention that is provided by the Government to Dublin Bus is paid for by the public in our taxes, in addition to our bus fares, we, the end user, feel that Dublin Bus should engage in a more constructive way with its customers. We have united in common protest against the proposal from Dublin Bus to scrap the 19 Bus and to this effect helda joint press conference at Buswell’s Hotel Tuesday 2 August. Tags: Dublin Bus 19 |
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