Just don’t get this - waiting for the bus

[Auburngal]

My dad who is in his 70s had a hospital appointment this morning at 9:50am. So he had to pay for the outward journey as got bus about 8:55am. He goes on bus to that hospital as parking is a nightmare.

When he got to the bus stop 7-10 mins earlier, there were 3 elderly people - none of them were together. Bus pulled up and dad offered the 3 to board before him. “We are waiting for the first bus after 9:30am” - that’s when travel is free for pensioners. Dad gets his return trip free as it’s always after 9:30am when he leaves hospital.

Why on earth are people standing outside waiting for a bus at least 45 minutes before they can get free travel? The bus stop is in a wind tunnel. This happens every time my dad goes to hospital for that department as his appts are more/less same time.

Bit strange. Maybe they just want to wait and chat to each other.

Always a bit of a mystery though with pensioners. I know some who shop at the weekend and are always complaining how busy it is, even though they could shop in the week when it is empty.

I think the brain gets so used to doing things, we shop on a Friday for example, that the idea of changing it simply does not compute, and the possibility of shopping on any other day is not something the brain can comprehend.

Everyone thinks their exception is a "good" reason though. Both my current house and my old one are/were next to primary schools and there are loads of cars parked up all over the street the school is on and all the neighbouring ones up to an hour before. It's unlikely that ALL those children have autism and need a car in a specific place. I'm sure all the other early parkers have good reasons for doing it as well, but doesn't mean people living nearby can't find it annoying/odd.

Yes we knew the primary school was there when they bought the house but I thought that would mean twenty minutes of the street being busy c. 8.45-9.05 and 3.10-3.30. Not the street being almost inaccessible with cars parked either side of the road and parents blocking drives for up to three hours every day!

Tbh it doesn't hugely affect me as I wfh so can largely avoid those times but on the rare occasions I do need to drive past its an absolute nightmare!

The whole point of the post is that these are the people who aren't doing any of those things.

You can pretend all you like but it happens a lot.

Hi there. I have a Smart Pass to use in NI. It seems to me that the Smart Pass you will get can be used on all forms of public transport in Ireland. I am not sure if you have to present the card to the reader on bus/Luas, but once you have it on you and have some form of ID with your name on it, all will be fine I'm sure.

The LUAS is free for you too obviously, and its website just says you must have the Smart Pass with you to prove entitlement to All Ireland free travel. Here is some info from the LUAS website which might help you.

Luas | FAQ's

If you are in doubt, I'm sure an email to LUAS customer services will reassure you. Same for the buses, although I'm not sure if you can "ping" the Smart Pass at the reader, or need to present it to the driver.

Enjoy your trips to the shopping megaliths. I think Dundrum is great, but very very very BIG. I prefer Liffey Valley myself, it's all on the flat and there aren't millions of escalators and maps to figure out! All the best my friend from NI.

Because they hope that bus drivers will take pity on them and let them on. They're called Twirlies where I live - tyhey'll flag down the bus anyway (this delatying id for those of us TRYING TO GET TO WORK -and ask "am I too early???".

Bus driver on my regular route takes no end of pleasure in telling them, unless youu're willing to pay, then you'll have to wait.

They're retired. They literally have time to burn. Let those os us working get to work, to pay our taxes, to fund their free bus travel, and stop delaying the buses for us trying to do so.

If I'm that entitled and ignorant when I'm older, I'll end myself.

@MyCosyDuck that's an awful lot of rubbish you've put, in more ways than one!

I have loads of twirlies on my bus route! There’s a few brave ones who pretend they can’t hear the driver and make a dash to sit up the back while the driver goes bananas

Had one today. Got the bus at 10:20am. This woman was going on and on about why the bus is 5 mins late. Everyone was thinking STFU.

Well you have made the bus an extra 2-3 mins later.

It’s call selected hearing. Only hear positive things.

They're retired. They literally have time to burn. They have less time than you, assuming both you and the hypothetical pensioner have average expected lifespans.