It’s 7:00 am, and the rush begins. My goal is simple: get to work on O'Connell Street by 8:30 am. Living in Dublin 6, this should be a straightforward 5km journey, but as always, the reality of public transport complicates things.
I step outside, join the queue at the packed bus stop, and start my timer. The morning traffic is already a nightmare, with buses crawling through congested streets. The first bus arrives—already full. At least I manage to squeeze on board, unlike some unlucky commuters left behind. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder, the ride feels endless as we inch forward. By the next stop, the bus is so packed it doesn’t even stop. Finally, after 45 minutes of shuffling, I’m on O'Connell Street, frazzled and exhausted.