Bus union to visit schools in bid to stop attacks

THE bus drivers’ union has begun school visits in Cork in an effort to combat vandalism and stone attacks on buses.

Members of the National Bus and Railworkers Union (NBRU) recruited members of the public to help in the new campaign during a public meeting on the city’s northside.

The meeting was organised by Socialist Party Councillor Mick Barry following a wave of complaints from the public about the poor bus service to the city’s northside.

The service on the number three route from Ballyphehane, through St Patrick’s Street and on to Farranree, was singled out for particular criticism.

It does not run to certain parts of the northside after dark because of the problems caused by repeated stone attacks.

Traffic congestion in the city centre has also caused delays on its daytime timetable.

The meeting heard that:

* One man who had never been late for work a day in his life has been late on 15 occasions since he started living on the No 3 route.

* A woman in Parklands Estate has to pay e8 every night out of her nightly e30 wage packet for a taxi home from her part-time job because the bus doesn’t run to her estate at night.

* Pensioners from Fair Hill said they have to wait for a bus for up to an hour on occasions.

NBRU members told the meeting that their members were fearful for their safety from stone throwing youths targeting certain routes.

Drivers are also becoming increasingly frustrated with traffic congestion in the city centre, they said.

Talks with Bus Éireann management about ways the No 3 buses could avoid city centre congestion are planned.

The introduction of a South Mall to Merchant’s Quay route to replace the Grand Parade to St Patrick’s Street route will be among the suggestions.

Mr Barry was asked to write to the garda authorities seeking a meeting with a delegation of union representatives, bus users and councillors to discuss a strategy to tackle the vandalism.

Councillors were also asked to push for the introduction of a bus, taxi, delivery and bike-only zone on St Patrick’s Street in the early morning.