I'm in Edmonton, Get Me Out Of Here! (Arriva)

Member Name: thecompaqguy

Product:	Arriva
Date:	18/05/05 (167 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Regular service, Investing in newer buses, If I think of a third advantage, I'll let u know...

Disadvantages: More scary rides than Alton Towers , If you live on an Arriva route, fold your car mirrors in!, Keep some spare top-up paint for that offside wing!

Here's a good idea for a Hollywood film: a pregnant woman trapped on an Arriva bus because the driver has switched off the engine and refused to open the doors!

This was an experience my wife had whilst travelling home on Arriva London's 491 service last week. She told me that she had left work early and got on Arriva's 149, which then decided to terminate without warning next to its depot (how convenient), so everyone had to fight their way onto a single-decker 'Hopper' bus (slightly bigger than a Transit van). And there was no seats left. You would think the populace of Edmonton would offer a pregnant woman a seat, wouldnt you?

Anywayz, she makes her journey home (less than half a mile), but halfway, the driver has a dispute with some school kids who were ringing the bell, just for jokes, but not getting off the bus. Now the driver, in his broken English (they'll employ anyone, it seems) wants to find out who the culprit is. Meanwhile, he's shut off the engine and has got out of his cab, and is trying to fight his way thru the crowd to find who's ringing the bell! Of course, no one owned up.

This fracas goes on for 30 minutes while everyone, including my wife, is getting irritated, hot and bothered. People deciding to use alternative transport (their feet!) tried to open the doors using the emergency button, but it wasnt working...:)

The driver concedes defeat and the 'journey' can continue.

Interestingly enough, Arriva London has the most complaints out of all the London bus operators, for rudeness, dangerous driving and damaging peoples cars.... I have personally witnessed an Arriva driver attack my Toyota Avensis with his extendible wheelchair ramp, because I'd parked in a bus stop to answer a phone call. He then denounced me in Hindi and took off. You couldn't make it up...

I'm sure if they spent longer than nine weeks in their Training College and then were supervised when they start on the road (preferably by a policeman!), all this nonsense wouldnt be an issue.

So other than dangerous driving, aggressive vigilante drivers prepared to take risks, I think they are pretty good!! They have invested in new vehicles (though 05-plate buses still come along in threes, like C-reg ones) to their credit. This, and my hospital incident after going on their 149, the £700 damage to my car, and surprise detention of my wife along with other passengers, I'm sure were just one-offs... :)

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