Calls for bus stop signage to address confusion in Shannon Banks area

IN RESPONSE to growing concerns over bus stop confusion in the Shannon Banks area, Councillor Patrick O'Gorman is advocating for the installation of added signage.

The councillor highlighted the issue during a recent Shannon Municipal Disctrict council meeting, citing incidents of passengers being unsure of where to board or alight from buses in the housing estate.

"The bus will stop in four different places inside the wall of Shannon Banks, but there is no signage," Councillor O'Gorman expressed. He added that new people who are coming to live in Shannon Banks don't know where the bus is going to stop, and recounted an incident where new bus drivers didn't know where to stop.

"They weren't letting people off where they should let them off, and they weren't collecting them where they should collect them. So, it's an issue".

He added that the majority of people living in Shannon Banks are elderly, and have been residing there for over 50 years. "They use the bus maybe more so than any other housing estate maybe in County Clare," he said.

Shannon Banks, a long-established residential area with a significant elderly population, relies heavily on its bus services. The proximity to Limerick City and the presence of raised crossings make the service crucial for many residents, especially those with limited mobility.

Councillor O'Gorman is proposing a solution that balances the need for clear bus stop information with the aesthetic concerns of a built-up area. "We don't want a big sign up against the wall of a house," he emphasised.

To address the problem, O'Gorman suggests the possibility of installing markers on the footpath to indicate bus stop locations. "Maybe there could be something tethered on the footpath so at least people will know," he suggested.

Councillor Michael Begley echoed the sentiments of Councillor O'Gorman. He stated that markings of stops should be indicated when a new route is being introduced.