From this week’s Galway City Tribune – A “small number of people” are likely to be unhappy with the changes proposed to the city’s bus network, but the increased frequency and greater reach of routes should be greeted positively by the vast majority of passengers.

That’s the view of the main creator of the draft new bus routes, Michelle Poyourow (pictured), of the American transport design consultancy Jarrett Walker & Associates, who points out that Salthill will go from having essentially one 401 bus service to three. Places like the Westside and Shantalla will now enjoy multiple high-frequency buses which will give them a greater variety of direct destinations.

However, others used to travelling between the Claddagh and Mervue on the 401 route will now have to change buses – but the frequency and times available for the journey will be much greater.

“In a realignment of a bus network it will not be possible to be positive for absolutely everyone, there will be a small number of people who find it harder, but it is on average better for most people,” she explained to the Galway City Tribune.

What was uniquely challenging in Galway was trying to locate bus routes where people could walk to.

“The biggest difficulty was the lack of pedestrian permeability between adjacent areas. Houses would be quite close as the crow flies, but the walk to the nearest bus stop is long. So you have to take the bus route and divide it between two to give access to people, but that means you reduce the frequency.

“That was the case in Ballymoneen Road and Clybaun Road, and Knocknacarra and Circular Road. It’s a thing decided during the development and planning of a city – it’s the most unique challenge for Galway.”

This is a shortened preview version of this story. To read the rest of the article, see the April 28 edition of the Galway City Tribune. You can support our journalism and buy a digital edition HERE.