Ms Andrea Keane:

I thank the committee for the invitation to appear before it. I am joined by Mr. Gareth Quinn, central area planning manager. I have submitted a longer opening statement but in the interest of time, I will read a shorter version. However I am happy to take questions on any of the other issues.

We welcome the opportunity to set out the company’s views on the enforcement of road traffic offences. Given the nature of our operations, this submission will focus on bus lane enforcement and potential deterrents and solutions to this issue. Dublin Bus is the largest public transport provider in the State. Our services reflect the full spectrum of public transport connectivity in the capital, ranging from orbital and radial routes to 24-hour services and Nitelink services. This gives Dublin Bus a keen insight into the needs of the city, its businesses and the wider community. My opening statement will focus on the importance of bus lanes in maintaining frequency, reliability and consistency of journey times; the importance of bus lanes to the overall customer experience; and how bus lanes have helped and continue to help make the bus a more attractive option. It will also highlight technological solutions that could aid enforcement and some examples of cities which have utilised same; practical solutions which could be implemented almost immediately; and how Dublin Bus would like to facilitate the implementation of these items.

Of the many causes of delays to bus services, few seem more inherently unjust than drivers who illegally park or drive in a dedicated bus lane, triggering a slowdown for the dozens of customers stuck behind. While improved bus lane enforcement is only one piece of the puzzle, it is nevertheless an important one. Dublin Bus is a solutions provider and it is in this spirit that we put forward these options. The four options I would like to mention are renewing the focus on bus lane enforcement; simplifying bus lane designation by moving all bus lanes to 24-hour; examining the technological solutions that could potentially assist both the National Transport Authority, NTA, and customers; and increasing fines for driving or parking in bus lanes.

On the importance of bus lane enforcement, buses can help reduce traffic congestion and air pollution as they provide a more efficient way of moving people from one point to another. However, private vehicles travelling and parking in bus lanes reduces the efficiency of buses and creates unnecessary congestion. Pre-Covid-19, our network speed at peak times was in the region of 14 km/h, with substantial variations across all transport corridors. While some gains have been made due to priority and changes to travel patterns, private transport remains extremely competitive in terms of journey times to the city.