Sir, - I think it a pity that the correspondence on this subject has degenerated into a northside versus southside squabble. For example, K. Roughan (August 23rd) talks about "typical D4 snobbery".
OK, so we Malahidians did not protest loudly enough when the first QBC was foisted upon us. There were two reasons for this. Firstly, we did not foresee how bad it would be. Our main road into Dublin has been reduced to the capacity of a narrow country lane. Progress has been reduced to the speed of the slowest vehicle, and a vehicle attempting a right turn causes chaos.
Occasionally a motorist, seeing a wide empty space on the left, swings into it, makes great progress with impunity (I have never seen the lane policed) and causes aggravation, even road rage, but also much envy.
Secondly, we (foolishly) assumed that a quality bus corridor implied a quality bus service. Not so, Malahidians need to know the bus timetable. For example, there are on average two buses per hour between Malahide and Dublin (outside the peak), but they are not at regular intervals. Hence the deserted bus lane. Nearer town there are more services. I have seen a bus painted "Malahide Road Flyer" but it never reaches Malahide.
I imagine most people from around here use alternative routes (I do), but this solves nothing. Given quality transport service, bus, rail or "park and ride", I believe people will use it. But at two buses an hour, all we get is very inadequate use of a very expensive resource. Good luck to the D4 "snobs" in their campaign! - Yours, etc.,
W.J. Murphy, Malahide, Co Dublin.