Mayo bus users forced to wait out in the rain
The National Transport Authority (NTA) is not looking after bus users who are being forced to wait for services out in the rain, according to a Claremorris councillor.
Independent Cllr Richard Finn made his comments during a discussion on sustainable transport at last week's meeting of Mayo Co Council's strategic policy committee (SPC) on roads.
“We are talking about EVs and everything but we are not looking after the people who aren’t using cars at all who want to use public transport and who are environmentally friendly but are being left out in the rain.”
Cllr Finn referenced Ballindine “on the main N17 route-way where people are travelling every day and it being so accessible and central, yet they have to stand out in the rain waiting for buses".
“The NTA is not looking after the people who want to travel on public transport. It is Bus Eireann then that is blamed but sure it is not in a position to do anything on that.”
Amid calls for interactive timetable screens to update bus passengers on schedule changes, Cllr Finn suggested an app sending updates directly to users' phones, similar to Uber. He said it would prove more effective and also resolve many timetabling issues.
“I see people at the bus-stops, they look at the timetable that is there, it has changed but the old one is still there and really they don’t know if they are coming or going.”
Cllr Damien Ryan said people in Ballinrobe had contributed to pay and display parking on the expectation that the bus stop would be improved, adding: “I know a number of car parks have been improved but the bus stop still has not, as was promised.”
The council's Acting Head of Roads Conrad Harley said the NTA was working with the local authority on bus shelters and he would ask them to include interactive screens. However, the NTA is changing its maintenance works supplier so it will be next year before it could undertake such works.
Mr Harley noted that the focus with the NTA at the moment was on tying down Local Link bus stops but said it was hoped to include the Ballinrobe bus stop in next year’s programme, adding: “We are trying to get the design type down because new NTA regulations are quite prescriptive; road and footpath levels need to allow wheelchair access onto the bus, which has been done in Castlebar, Westport and Ballina and the plan is also for Ballinrobe to be wheelchair accessible.”
