Government needs to agree an effective transport model

Given I live where there is no regular bus service and my only option is driving or Shanks’ Mare, it’s easy for me to be philosophical about the current bus strike whether it is official, unofficial or wildcat. So, not having a service means I am not directly affected. However others are, with some being badly and even unfairly affected.

On Tuesday last the Irish Examiner reported on interviews it had with people in a number of affected locations in the south of the country.

In Cork, businesses are reporting a loss in trade of between 30% and 50% with employees potentially having to work reduced hours. There is a genuine fear shoppers will be driven from the city centre to the suburban shopping malls. This is a process already happening as even without the strike it was getting harder and harder to go into the city and park with exorbitant parking charges, one-way systems and bicycle lanes that appear to seldom see any business.