Dublin Bus Schools Programme - Henry McKean Reports

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

The Hard Shoulder, with Ciara Kelly and Shane Colman.

SPEAKER_2 (0:04)

On Newstalk, with Ciara.

Jackson (0:08)

Hello, my name's Jackson.

Henry McKean (0:11)

So Jackson, what's happening today on this school's Dublin Bus programme?

Jackson (0:16)

So today is about the safeties of Dublin Bus and how you would behave on a bus, and supporting our community pretty much. And our community does things for Dublin Bus. They help a lot of people, and there could be assigned seats on the chairs.

Say someone's in a wheelchair or has a buggy, there's always going to be assigned seats for them, probably on a bus and all, normally. And you need to show respect on a bus. Don't kick other people's chairs. Don't have your phone full of volume.

Stay calm. You can have a little chat with your friends. Don't show anything inappropriate. Don't be pushing people. Don't be hanging out with the parents on the bus. You need to not do them things.

Billy-Anne (1:04)

Billy-Anne, Chief Executive of Dublin Bus.

Henry McKean (1:07)

When we take this programme, this school programme, what are you trying to achieve?

Billy-Anne (1:11)

In simple terms, we're trying to reach out to the younger children, in the primary school age, around ages 7 to 11, to engage with them in a fun and active way around the importance of the bus to the community, the importance of safety and respect and kindness on the bus. So people just have a more pleasant journey when they're using the bus system.

Gerda Gerhard Keller (1:28)

So my name is Gerda Gerhard Keller. I'm a member of Community Policing based in Koolock Garda Station. And today is kind of all about Dublin Bus and Gary Sheeckana, like that football team here, Sport and all the different stakeholders in the community coming together to kind of promote this collaborative piece about ensuring that people in the community respect the buses and ensure that things can run smoothly so everyone in the community can benefit from them and like that. We're starting with St Finbarr here today because of the young people, that's the way to get involved with them and have that engagement. And then when we have this education piece, they can kind of sow the seed that everyone can kind of understand and benefit from the use of the buses. And again, that's respecting everyone from the drivers to the other patrons that are using the buses.

And then we can all come together to avail of this fantastic service that is across the city.

Henry McKean (2:20)

So it's about respect, it's about getting the next generation to understand, respect the bus.

Gerda Gerhard Keller (2:24)

Yeah, that's exactly it. So like that, if we can all respect the bus, things can kind of flourish and go forward from there.

But if there is negative impacts towards the bus, whether it be criminal damage, assaults or any social behaviour, it does have a negative impact across the wider community and that's something we want to stamp out.

Billy-Anne (2:42)

And it's not just about the kindness and respect, it is about the safety as well. So holding on to the handrail when you're coming down the stairs, don't be throwing a bag in the middle of the aisle so somebody will trip over it. But also that kindness and respect is important as well, that thank you to the driver that you just mentioned and also giving up a seat to an elderly person or somebody who might need the seat a little bit more than you do.

Henry McKean (3:00)

And 99.9% of people do behave on Dublin Bus. We're trying to get that 0.1% to behave as well, aren't we?

Billy-Anne (3:06)

We are and it's not just about antisocial behaviour, it is about a broader sort of message around kindness and respect for every individual that's using the bus.

Jackson (3:14)

The bus is for deportation thing, to get all the people, people in general, just to get around on the bus, say they can't drive far, they can't have enough money to buy a car, they want the bus to get around a lot and all.

Leanne Delaney (3:34)

I am Leanne Delaney and I am from Donnybrook Garage and I am a bus driver.

Keith Ardeyman (3:38)

I am Keith Ardeyman and I am a bus driver from Clontarf Garage.

Leanne Delaney (3:42)

Basically trying to get through to the kids, dignity and respect and safety on board all of our buses. Yeah, it is nice to be like, please and thank you. It's like me as a bus driver, I like to smile at every single passenger in the morning, hello, and then it is nice when they say thank you at the end of it.