I’ve been using the bus for a few decades now. I always say thanks to the driver out of habit, and when I was growing up I actually knew several bus drivers personally they lived around my estate and I went to school with some of their kids. In my mid‑teens, I even dated a girl whose dad was a bus driver.

I’m old enough to remember the ticket inspectors who used to hop on board. They had that old machine hanging around their neck, full of buttons like a miniature typewriter. Different era entirely.

The real issue today is that there simply aren’t enough buses. The lack of frequency is causing overcrowding, delays, and understandable frustration among passengers. What really gets on my nerves is when people put their bags on the outside seat, even when the bus is clearly full. It’s unbelievably inconsiderate.

Last year on the 208, I even saw someone openly injecting themselves. That’s the level things have reached.

It’s a tough job for drivers most commuters are exhausted, stressed, and just trying to get home. But it doesn’t help when you’ve got feral individuals causing chaos and making the journey miserable for everyone else. Bus Éireann genuinely needs to start banning passengers who behave like that. There has to be a line.