Editorial View: Bus Eireann putting obstacles in the way of vulnerable users

It doesn’t seem terribly long ago that Bus Eireann took pride in the fact that if demand for an expressway exceeded capacity even by only a few passengers, a second bus would be deployed. 

Now, we are constantly hearing about people being refused seats on buses despite having bought return tickets, and people with travel passes unable to get a seat. 

Online booking has many merits - it ensures a seat for the passenger and it gives the service provider a good indication of how many passengers to expect. But there are serious flaws in the system.

Among those most affected are passengers with free travel passes. This includes pensioners and people with disabilities. 

For some of these passengers, there is no alternative form of transport. But regardless of where there is another option, these people have been granted a travel pass based on their entitlement and need. 

However, if they are to be sure of getting a seat, they must book online and pay a fee of €2 per trip.

It is well recognised that there are still broadband ‘black holes’ around Donegal. Our mountainous landscape makes this inevitable while the national rollout is as yet incomplete. Add to that the fact that not everyone is up to speed on technology, or that the very need which entitles someone to a free travel pass may make it challenging for them to use a phone or computer.  

While the travel pass should give independence to these people, the current situation is forcing them to rely on others to book buses for shopping, hospital appointments etc. The financial element is also a factor for people surviving on a state pension or disability benefit. 

We are also hearing stories of people who bought a day return ticket - often young people on a shopping trip or outing with their friends - being left high and dry because the bus has been filled by those who booked online. 

And many of us have experienced the sinking feeling of finding our funds depleted or our cards being blocked by our bank because of fraudulent activity, and so cannot engage in any kind of online transactions.

We are told that the discontinuation of a reserve driver pool is at the root of a lot of Bus Eireann’s service problems. 

But the right to be able to get from one town to another is quite fundamental. There is no excuse for putting unnecessary obstacles in the way of the most vulnerable members of society.