Dear Editor,
Picture the scene: a miserable Friday morning, pouring heavy rain, unbearable morning traffic. A Galway Road, bus approaching, three school kids, soaked to the bones running towards a bus stop, circa 100 to 200 metres away. On sensing the bus, they turn their heads, but keep running forward and waving.

Even a blind person could see them begging for mercy. And yes, the bus pulls at the bus stop, loads two or three people waiting there and... shuts the door and off he goes.

Poor kids? Don't care; they should be at the bus stop anyway. A few seconds waiting could make everyone happy. Obviously not the driver.

That was the attitude of Mr Driver. I felt like shouting but didn't. I just couldn't let it go and asked him later, 'Why you didn't wait for those poor kids?' 'I didn't know what they are waving for? Anyway, they should wait at the bus stop! It's not my problem,' was his ignorant answer.

I do sympathise with bus drivers and envy them their patience considering the atrocious state of Galway's roads and rush-hour traffic, but they are serving people and should act accordingly. Sometime we feel they are racing, not moving people around the city.

These kids are using the bus on a daily basis. Brave mother of theirs; I wish to see more mothers sending kids to school with public transport. But what would their caring mother do seeing this incident? She would curse and drive them herself the next time.

With such an unreliable service (city/county authorities are to blame for the ancient state of roads and poor public transport services) and no bus shelters, is it humane to let these kids wait another 20 to 30 minutes for the next bus in that awful weather? Also, I would advise Bus Éireann to look abroad at how public transport operates anywhere else in the world.

Flexibility is the key. During the rush hour, buses are overloaded with passengers (what about health and safety?); outside of this time they are half-empty. What about optimising schedules, Mister Inspectors?

If this country is serious about tackling congestion on the roads, no bypasses will solve it. Don't be naive. Taking cars off roads is the only reasonable approach. D'you know what I mean?

Yours,
Marek
(full name and address with the editor)

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