(no subject)

[gothwalk]

Dublin Bus are fuckers. They're on strike for part of today, because the Government, in a rare move of good sense, is intending to break up CIE, the monolithic entity that keeps public transport in this country in its current stunted state. However, they gave times for the strike - and then apparently started early, at least on our bus routes, forcing inannajones to walk into town in boots that aren't suitable for walking, but would have been perfectly suitable for taking a bus in.

I'd go into my usual rant about unions being fundamentally untrustworthy here, but I know that in this case, it's not unions as such, it's the imbeciles, troglodytes and morons who staff Dublin Bus and can't read a watch. Fuckers.

Comments

I put it to you sir...

[mr-wombat.livejournal.com]

That while they may be mainly a large mob of otherwise unemployable fucktards, this time they have vaild points. The minister for transport promised to consult them on any privatisation issues and then went straight ahead in typical governmental fashion and ignored those promises.

Also, while privatisation is theoretically a good idea, history has shown that even a GOOD service can be screwed up by it, so you can imagine the half arsed debacle that would result in any attempt by the current government at privatising CIE in this country. If they managed anything more positive than lining their own pockets and completly screwing up the privatisation process, leaving certain routes unserviced, I would be absolutely stunned.

Bottom line, if it were another government doing the privatisation it might have a chance of benefiting the country as a whole, however that's just not going to happen and this time I support the strikers but I certainly don't condone the usual crap by certain members where they decide to sacrifice solidarity in favour of their own selfish wankery.

[caturah.livejournal.com]

And I'm sorry,but I have to support this as well. While the cheaper fares that would result from competition would be nice, it privatisation does come in, then it's very unlikely that buses willcome out as far as rivermeade anymore...and with not having a car, and the airport road too dangerous to cycle on...a five mile walk isn't on :)

[gothwalk.livejournal.com]

And I in turn am sorry, but that's nonsense. It's very cheap to run a bus - not much more than a car, and any idea that outlying areas might not be served by a privatised service is just propaganda on the part of CIE.

1) Any privatisation deal will take the form of a contract, which will include as part of it the continuation of all services Dublin Bus currently undertake. Or "undertake", more accurately.

2) Public transport - particularly bus travel - is privatised in lots of other countries. I've heard that it's good in many if not all of these, and I've experienced Finnish buses myself. Finnish buses run frequently, turn up on time, are comfortable, go where they should, and always stop for passengers. I've never seen one crowded. And this applies all over the country, and it's a big country.

The Dublin Bus employees are just aware that the service they presently provide is abysmal, and they're aware that privatisation and competition will show this up very very fast. They'd have to find new jobs, or actually do some work for their new employers.