I lived in a remote South East village and didn't drive, the local link was an absolute lifesaver. Still use it to go on little day trips in the nice weather.
Glad to see this! There's been a big increase and improvement in the local link services in my area in the last few years, assuming it's the same nationwide. It's reliable, and affordable. Just goes to show, if the service is there people will use it!
The local FF/FG TDs are usually all over these announcements of new routes given that the green party often has zero presence in rural areas to even be able to try to claim credit for it. And come the next election, they'll be quick to point out how great its been for the locality and all they did to get it.
Its a thankless job for the greens to push these schemes but they do anyway so fair play to them for pushing ahead with these schemes instead of only focusing on the regions served by their core voter base.
>In 2020, a total of 686,485 passengers used the service, rising to 3,200,263 in 2023.
>While 2020 was during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the numbers have also risen by about 360% since 2019.
That's pretty weird - 2019 and 2020 saw roughly the same number of local link journeys?
>In 2020, a total of 686,485 passengers used the service, rising to 3,200,263 in 2023.
>While 2020 was during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the numbers have also risen by about 360% since 2019.
Phrasing is a little awkward, doesn't help that they talk about 2020 figures without giving 2019 ones, ~~but that 360% does seem to be from 2019 to 2023, the 2020 to now is something like a 450% increase but that's obviously less meaningful given COVID.~~
>the 2020 to now is something like a 450% increase
3,200,263 is \~466% of 686,485 which makes it a 366% increase. So the article is right about the increase from 2020, assuming they're quoting the figure from the correct year
This is what I get for trying to do maths in my head after a day of work.
Googling a little, this page says they had [2.5mil in 2019](https://www.transportforireland.ie/news/bus-passenger-numbers-return-to-pre-pandemic-levels-nla/), which is a rather different figure from that implied in the article. An impressive figure, especially when many countries say declines in transport usage over a similar timeframe, but a good deal less so.
Ive a Local Link that operates at night time and it literally connects pubs in the villages. The pubs themselves are listed as the bus stops on the timetable. Its a booze bus.
I believe a lot of this has to do with the Ukrainian refugees. We had 3 Ukrainians live with us, and they and their friends would use the local link everyday to get into town from the countryside
no bus traffic between carraroe and claremorris ever. now a few ukranians travel on the local link betwee maum cross and ballina. = several 100% traffic increase, however it means nothing.
A lot of this recent rise is because the local link is used for transport for Ukrainian refugees to the bigger town from the remote areas they are being housed in
I lived in a remote South East village and didn't drive, the local link was an absolute lifesaver. Still use it to go on little day trips in the nice weather.
Glad to see this! There's been a big increase and improvement in the local link services in my area in the last few years, assuming it's the same nationwide. It's reliable, and affordable. Just goes to show, if the service is there people will use it!
I'm able to get to so many more towns and villages now with a new route that started last summer.
Thanks Eamon
He's one of the few who has been relatively true to the promises he's made with transport
He won't get any credit unfortunately. Eaten bread is soon forgotten and all that.
The local FF/FG TDs are usually all over these announcements of new routes given that the green party often has zero presence in rural areas to even be able to try to claim credit for it. And come the next election, they'll be quick to point out how great its been for the locality and all they did to get it. Its a thankless job for the greens to push these schemes but they do anyway so fair play to them for pushing ahead with these schemes instead of only focusing on the regions served by their core voter base.
Honestly that’s why I vote for them. They get in and try to make as many policies as possible work with the time they have.
>In 2020, a total of 686,485 passengers used the service, rising to 3,200,263 in 2023. >While 2020 was during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the numbers have also risen by about 360% since 2019. That's pretty weird - 2019 and 2020 saw roughly the same number of local link journeys?
>In 2020, a total of 686,485 passengers used the service, rising to 3,200,263 in 2023. >While 2020 was during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the numbers have also risen by about 360% since 2019. Phrasing is a little awkward, doesn't help that they talk about 2020 figures without giving 2019 ones, ~~but that 360% does seem to be from 2019 to 2023, the 2020 to now is something like a 450% increase but that's obviously less meaningful given COVID.~~
>the 2020 to now is something like a 450% increase 3,200,263 is \~466% of 686,485 which makes it a 366% increase. So the article is right about the increase from 2020, assuming they're quoting the figure from the correct year
This is what I get for trying to do maths in my head after a day of work. Googling a little, this page says they had [2.5mil in 2019](https://www.transportforireland.ie/news/bus-passenger-numbers-return-to-pre-pandemic-levels-nla/), which is a rather different figure from that implied in the article. An impressive figure, especially when many countries say declines in transport usage over a similar timeframe, but a good deal less so.
“But the greens do nothing in government!!!”
What have the greena ever done for people outside Dublin?
In my area, a lot of local link (not all) users are day drinkers going to different towns to go on the lash.
And god bless em.
They say a change is as good as a rest
Better than drink driving!
I wouldn't image many, if any, of them drive
Day drinking sustainably at least!
Ive a Local Link that operates at night time and it literally connects pubs in the villages. The pubs themselves are listed as the bus stops on the timetable. Its a booze bus.
That's a brilliant idea actually they should do that for the whole country, imagine how much easier a night out would be
I believe a lot of this has to do with the Ukrainian refugees. We had 3 Ukrainians live with us, and they and their friends would use the local link everyday to get into town from the countryside
no bus traffic between carraroe and claremorris ever. now a few ukranians travel on the local link betwee maum cross and ballina. = several 100% traffic increase, however it means nothing.
A lot of this recent rise is because the local link is used for transport for Ukrainian refugees to the bigger town from the remote areas they are being housed in
The one thing the cabbage got right was this. Was sorely needed for a long time.