Park and Ride flop

The city’s Christmas Park and Ride bus service has flopped — with usage in the first week down 40% as compared to last year.Bus Éireann, who supply the buses for the service, have laid the blame for the slump on 'clogged up roads’ on the outward peak time evening journeys.Since the start of the City Council promoted service on Monday week last (Dec. 3) the majority of the buses making the trip between the Ballybrit Racecourse car park and Eyre Square have been virtually empty.The decision to impose a €4 charge for the service has also been cited as a reason for its slump this year — in 2006 the charge was €3.50 while in 2005, the service was free.Ray McDonagh, Services Manager with Bus Eireann, said that they had made a strong case for bus priority on the outward route on College Road and on the Monivea Road, but to no avail.“The service is…….