Talk on the streets of Glengormley is largely in favour of extending the Glider as far as the North Belfast suburb.
Department for Infrastructure chiefs are still weighing up their options on extending the Belfast Rapid Transport 2 scheme to the north and south of the city.
With a decision still pending, we headed to Glengormley to see what just some of its 20,000 residents thought.
Cecil Torrens and his daughter Donna Wilson said they would welcome the move for ease of travel.
“It would be handy especially for people who are disabled so it would be handy for getting about,” Donna told us.
“Where we live you have to walk a distance before you would get to a bus stop.
“You want to bring the bus right down the road, right down as far as Mossley,” added Cecil.
“Most definitely the Glider should come up to Glengormley,” said a public transport user who asked us not to share his name.
“If the rumours are true and it’s being stopped down the road a bit, about 10 minutes, then logistically that doesn’t work out at all.
“It’s more sensible, especially for people my age, who will have to get off the bus 10 minutes earlier and then we have to walk on up - or is there going to be a connection?
“It doesn’t seem any sense and I don’t know whether it’s for money purposes or for any other reason but it definitely does not make sense.”
A local lady, who also asked not to be named, said: “I don’t think it’s a good idea for them to stop it down there - what’s the point?
“Most people won’t use it then who get off here at the Carnmoney Road.
“There’s loads of houses round here and for two stops, or one stop, or whatever it is – it’s not worth it.
“What’s the point having a bus that stops down there when nobody gets off there.”
Three of the four people we interviewed were in favour of extending BRT2 as far as their area.
Mark Hay told us: “I don’t really know much about it.
“I’ve seen it in Belfast but I drive myself so I don’t really get the buses.
“I think finding the space on the roads down here would be the only thing because they are single lanes mostly - so it might make a bit of a problem there.
“I prefer my car so I probably wouldn’t use it.”
Green Party North Belfast representative Malachi O’Hara told us the party is “emphatically in support of the Glider coming to Glengormley”.
“We think it’s key in terms of addressing moving people to more sustainable forms of transport.
“I shaped Belfast City Council’s response to the Glider consultation with six proposals.
“They were extending out to Carryduff, obviously extending to Glengormley, to have bus priority on the considered routes, to have living roofs on all the infrastructure and to have residents parking schemes in the areas that are going to be affected.
“It must come to Glengormley and serve over 20,000 people that live here.”
Speaking to concerns about the loss of road space, Mr O’Hara said he feels residents parking should be rolled in areas included in the extension plans out to protect that.
“It’s a real opportunity [and] this can be a real positive for the local community.”
The Department for Infrastructure says it’s still considering feedback received through its public consultation on the development of BRT2, which has so far cost £400,000.
“This work is well advanced and Minister Nichola Mallon has asked that it includes an assessment of alternative route proposals,” a spokesperson said.
“A Public Consultation Report detailing these considerations and assessments will be published when ready.
“Following this, the Department will further develop the Outline Business Case, which will inform the selection of the preferred route. At this stage, it is too early to provide a timeline for the preferred route announcement.”
Video: Dylan Hegarty
