Sir, – The Nepalese government has recently rescinded the privilege of police being able to stop traffic for ministers. The ministers now have to suffer the traffic jams like the rest of the public.
The Irish Government reintroduces traffic privileges for ministers (“Ministers’ access to bus lanes criticised”, Home News, November 21st).
Is the Third World more advanced than Ireland – a so-called developed country? – Yours, etc,
Sir, – If Ministers wish to drive in bus lanes, then they should do what the rest of us have to do – get on the bus. I had fervently hoped that such self-servicing, Fianna Fáil-isms were a thing of the past.
Apparently not. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Ministerial cars have received authorisation to use bus lanes. Is this the thin edge of the wedge? I gave 25 years to planning public transport on behalf of CIÉ. I recall youthful transportation engineers from Dublin Bus putting forward the idea of QBCs (quality bus corridors, in essence bus lanes) for inclusion in the Dublin Transport Initiative which heralded the QBCs, Port Tunnel, Luas, etc. I remember making presentations with slides that showed our fully laden double-deckers mired in a sea of driver-only cars at Donnybrook Church and the threats of doom when a QBC was proposed for Route No 46A.
I find it hard to believe that the present Cabinet members are not prepared to organise their diaries to accommodate getting from one place to another in our urban centres without programming in the reality of traffic congestion.
Bus lanes provide an incentive for the travelling people to choose the bus.
They are just one of many such policies which were difficult to get acceptance for. Any diminution in the legal instruments controlling access to bus lanes is to be deplored. – Yours, etc,