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The Citywest Commuter – Blog – Week 3

By Andrew Sanders, Finance Director at Sage

When I started this experiment, I knew that it would be a rather light-hearted way to raise awareness of the opportunities afforded by a modern day mass transportation system. What I didn’t in fact expect was to enjoy it. I was bet by two un-named people that I wouldn’t last the duration (which technically I haven’t just yet of course) given the weather and time. Of course that made me even more determined.

I actually have found the experience rather uplifting. Instead of being cocooned in a metal box, giving out about all the traffic, I have had my eyes opened to all sorts of things. Form a new perspective on the streets and buildings of Dublin (as an example I never knew there was a plaque on Church Street opposite Father Matthew House – but now I do) – . I’m getting to know some of my fellow passengers on the bus who catch the No. 83 at 7.10 on the Old Finglas Road – the guy with the cool braids who gets on at Phibsborough and gets off at Church Street , the lady with her son who gets off at Phibsborough, the lady she talks to; the four older guys who talk about football – there’s always something interesting going on.

And once on the LUAS – I can read that magazine I subscribe to instead of it going into the recycling – unopened. There was even a day when it was sunny and we came around the Naas Road and I just closed my eyes and felt the sun on my face. Priceless.
OK, so there was a lot of rain this week. And one bus was cancelled. And one bus was crowded. But – you know? Millions of people do this and they don’t have a choice like I do. Who am I to think it would be any hardship – it’s kind of arrogant isn’t it. In fact, it’s no hardship at all.

Oh – I have to say as well that I’m very impressed by the security on the LUAS. At one stop there were a bunch of young lads who got onto the tram and were drinking, making a lot of noise – nothing threatening, but all the same I could tell some of the passengers were nervous. How good it was that by the time we got to Heuston, there were a couple of security guards who quietly ushered them off the tram. Result.

So – will I renew my ticket? Wait and see – next week I will tell all.

 

Related posts:

• The Citywest Commuter Blog, Week 1
• The Citywest Commuter Blog, Week 2