Dublin Bus has been diligently battling in recent years to get motorists to abandon their cars and use public transport. They have been spreading the message that to travel by bus is faster, more comfortable and stress-free. But is the company's practice of advertising cars on the back of its tickets the way to do it?
A bemused commuter rang The Irish Times to say that on the back of the company's value-for-money ticket called "Two Easy" there is an advertisement for Fiat cars.
"If they are trying to encourage people to use public transport, why are they plugging cars in advertisements on the back of bus tickets? It doesn't make sense," said the caller.
However, a spokesman for Dublin Bus said he did not see anything contradictory about this. "The thing is cars are being advertised everywhere. Many of Dublin Bus customers are car owners. They use buses as it suits them."
Asked if the Fiat advertisements were defeating the purpose of trying to get people out of their cars, he said their low-cost tickets were proving very successful and were getting more people to use buses. They were satisfied the tickets were being bought.
It was not in the least bit strange that on the back of the tickets there was advertising for a motor company. "People are going to buy cars whether they are advertised on the back of Dublin Bus tickets or not."