‘Ban free bus pass holders in rush hour’
A BAN on using free bus passes on public transport during rush hour has been floated by Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe’s leading official.
The head of Mr Donohoe’s spending department has called for a debate on free travel access at peak times in our cities.
A ban would hit the over-66s – but would mean more space for workers and commuters to get on to packed buses.
But any attempt to remove travel rights for the 911,000 people who hold a pass is likely to be bitterly resisted.
Secretary general of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Robert Watt said there was a need to debate how infrastructure, including public transport, was “priced” and “used”.
He said if he left for work between 7.45am and 8.25am, buses were “increasingly full” and could not collect more passengers.
Citing the example of a 82-year-old friend, he said that ‘Paddy’ was travelling into the city before 8.30am and “got on the bus for free, when all the mortgage slaves paid...”
The call comes as the public transport system in Dublin struggles to accommodate growing passenger numbers – with buses, Luas and trains full at morning and evening peaks.
A BAN on using free travel passes on public transport during rush hour has been floated by Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe’s leading official.
The head of Mr Donohoe’s spending department has called for a debate on free travel access at peak times in our cities.
Any such ban would hit the over-66s but would mean more space for workers and commuters to get on to packed buses.
The call comes as the public transport system in Dublin struggles to accommodate growing passenger numbers – with buses, Luas and trains full at morning and evening peaks.
Any attempt to remove travel rights for the 911,000 people who hold a pass is likely to be bitterly resisted.
Secretary general of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Robert Watt said there was a need to debate how infrastructure, including public transport, was “priced” and “used”.
He said if he left for work between 7.45am and 8.25am, buses were “increasingly full” and could not collect more passengers. Citing the example of his 82-year-old friend ‘Paddy’, he said that ‘Paddy’ was travelling into the city before 8.30am to shop and meet a friend for brunch.
“Paddy is 82 and Paddy has his free bus pass,” Mr Watt said.
“He got on the bus for free, when all the mortgage slaves paid… this isn’t a criticism of existing policies because I’m not allowed to criticise Government policy since I’m a civil servant, but there are issues about enabling people to access public transport for free at peak times.
“There are things around how we price and how we use infrastructure. There’s an issue about the pricing of the Port Tunnel, could you price it in a different way to incentivise people to use that infrastructure more generally?”
Pricing
Speaking at the Institute of International and European Affairs, he added: “We always focus on the need to increase capacity on the networks, but there’s a significant issue around how we manage demand, and manage demand at peak and the role of pricing.”
Between 8pc and 10pc of all trips at peak times are on the free travel scheme, which equates to between 8,500 and 10,700 journeys in Dublin’s morning peak. Restrictions in place on Dublin bus services were removed in 2006.
Age Action said it would have “grave concerns” around any attempt to remove the right to travel at peak times.
“It’s a vital entitlement for older people, many of whom don’t drive, and assists them in accessing their medical appointments. It’s also a valuable and essential support to keep in touch with family and friends,” policy officer Corona Joyce said.
Mr Watt also said there was a need for a public discussion around introducing a possible limit on city boundaries, where development would be restricted beyond a certain geographical point in order to encourage high density development.
He said that Ireland’s record around land use had not been “very good”, and that the State faced a “simple choice” – allow cities to expand, or make them compact. Land on public transport corridors should be utilised for housing, and not industry or low-density uses.
“There’s a wider issue for debate around the need for putting a boundary around cities, a limit or green belt... to stop development outside that and encourage development within that boundary. That’s a controversial issue. It’s something we need to discuss and debate. In London it’s been there since the late 30s, and broadly is seen as successful. It’s certainly an issue we need to address.”