Anti-social actions force cutbacks on bus routes
By Aura McMenamin
A number of incidents this summer in Tallaght, Clondalkin and Ballyfermot has forced Dublin Bus to curtail certain routes due to anti-social behaviour.
Anti-social behaviour on the 27 bus route has forced Dublin Bus to curtail the service to Jobstown 15 times since May.
The anti-social behaviour involved youths throwing missiles at the bus, or trying to ‘scut’ a lift off the back of the bus.
In many instances, the bus service terminated at Brookfield in Tallaght, or used the N81 to access Jobstown, avoiding the Brookfield area.
Incidents on routes serving Clondalkin and Ballyfermot have also forced the operator to curtail or divert routes.
On Tuesday last, the operator was forced to curtail the 40 service to Fonthill Road in Clondalkin and last Friday, anti-social behaviour forced the 40 and 76 buses to stop serving Neilstown Road.
On July 5, the 40 route to the Fonthill Rd in Clondalkin was cut again due to anti-social behaviour, and the 79a route was forced to divert to avoid the Cedarbrook area in Cherry Orchard, Ballyfermot.
Later on July 19, the 79/a serving Spiddal Park, Ballyfermot was forced to stop the route for an hour due to anti-social behaviour. Further incidences in Cherry Orchard occurred on June 27 and July 18.
Earlier this month, parents in the area were urged to tackle the issue after the operator threatened to stop the route at The Square, thereby withdrawing the service from the areas of Brookfield, Fettercairn and Jobstown.
Posters were erected in the area explaining that Dublin Bus had threatened to pull the service which would leave commuters to walk from The Square.
