An experience I hope I don't have to repeat too often! (First Group Buses)

Member Name: vickitoria10

Product:	First Group Buses
Date:	02/12/09 (106 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: reasonable frequency on my route and once on the bus does go fairly direct to the destination

Disadvantages: Price, never on time, strikes, cleanliness, old

So, my Husband got a new job and therefore I lost my lift to work, his new work was in completely the opposite direction to where I work. So, until we had the funds to buy a little run around for me I had to get the bus.

On the face of it the bus service from my house isn't too bad on paper - buses at 0708, 0718, 0734, 0739 in a morning and 1559, 1614, 1624, 1644 etc in the afternoon. Also the bus takes exactly the route I would drive and doesn't go round loads of housing estates, so again a positive for the bus. I think this is where the positives end!

I had to get the bus to work for 2 weeks, in those 2 weeks no bus was on time - the excuse given by the bus company was that they had just changed the route and route numbers, passengers were confused so drivers were having to explain which buses to get at the stops and this was causing delays to the service. Why didn't they put better signage at the bus stops?!

I went out every morning to get the 0718 bus, if it was there by 7.25 I was lucky! One morning it didn't turn up at all and I had to get the 7.34 bus - it's a good job I work flexi-time otherwise I'd have been stuck!

The buses in the evening weren't so bad for timing as I caught it from the bus station so at the start of the journey, However I never reached my destination at the time it stated on the timetable! Bad traffic apparently?! If it's everyday why don't they alter the timetables?!

Bus Drivers - well, there are some lovely drivers out there and no doubt it is the minority that give them a bad name! Generally most of the drivers were okay and had manners and were pleasant and on the whole drove sensibly.

However...I did witness one girl being left at the bus stop - the driver had shut the doors at the bus station, the girl came running up and knocked on the door and the driver refused to let her on, saying according to the time the bus had departed, .it was still stood on the stand!! There was no need for it!

Some drivers seem to think they're Jenson Button and forget they're driving a double decker bus!! One tried to overtake a van on hill, needless to say he didn't manage it but he had built up so much speed he nearly didn't stop at a bus stop and everyone on the top deck nearly went flying trough the window!!

Price...well this is one of the main reasons I got a car! £18 for a weekly bus pass or I can park in a car park 5 minutes from work for £7.50 for the week - even with petrol on top for an 8mile run and the convenience of being able to go where I want after work, it's about the same! Where is the incentive to go on a bus?!

All the buses I used were very old buses - I live outside the city centre so we don't get the nice shiny buses they do - they were a disgrace, seats coming off, marks all over them, heating either on full blast or not at all.

Now I'm not a snob and I don't mind using public transport but they really need to sort it out, I know they can't help the sort of people that travel on the bus, but maybe the time has come where they have a conductor or steward type person on them, you get one group of teenagers and they intimidate everyone on the bus, you get
someone who has a grudge against paying the prices of a bus and starts tearing there ticket up and throwing it at everyone on the bus, you get the old guy that really should be in a care home shouting obscenities at all the woman on the bus because they should be at home cooking and cleaning and not out and about having fun! Some
of it has to be seen to be believed!

So, my experience of travelling by bus for 2 weeks wasn't really a very pleasant one, if I have to I don't mind travelling by bus, I certainly don't mind using public transport, the tram and the train set better examples for the buses to follow, but given the choice I would choose my car every time.

Summary: Only travel by bus if you have to!!