The bus driver mafia rule the streets of Plymouth (Buses in general)

Member Name: bruffyboy

Product:	Buses in general
Date:	12/04/09 (72 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: gets you there

Disadvantages: the perv, the tramp and the single mother

Two things have happened lately that have made me want to write about buses. The first is that our local bus company ran an offer where, for 50p, you got a day's travel anywhere in the city, using as many buses as you liked. Secondly, I got on a new bus yesterday, complete with LCD screen showing adverts, and comfy leatherette chairs. It made me think how times are changing, and I knew I had to write this review.

I imagine all cities have different experiences, but in Plymouth there are two rival bus companies. Citybus is the big one, with bus stops every few hundred metres throughout the city, and buses coming (in busiest places) every five minutes). Then there's Western National, the crappy buses that don't come very often and only go to random places Citybus can't be bothered with.

Bus prices are on the increase, and you're currently looking at around £2.70 for a return ticket. Whilst this is relatively cheap compared to the comparative cost of running a car, or getting a taxi, it doesn't half annoy me the amount of negatives there are with buses:

1) You wait for ages - that old saying is true (and I'm not even going to say it because you know what it is). This isn't so bad if it's a nice day, but in the pouring rain or biting cold wind, or perhaps when you're late for something, the irregularity of buses is a nightmare.

2) The drivers can be wannabe gangsters - what is it about some bus drivers. They get annoyed when you don't have the exact money, they often drive right past, they shout at other drivers and drive dangerously - it's crazy! For many male drivers, the bus seems to be a penis extension!

3) The pervert / the tramp and the single mum with a brat - when you finally get on the bus you tend to be swamped by at least one of these. The perv will sit next to a young woman even if the rest of the bus is empty. The tramp will sit in front of me so I have to stare at his crusty mole covered neck the whole way, or the single mum will sit at the front whilst her kids run and jump on me. Grrrr

Needless to say, it's a sad thing to have to pay for a bad service, but like I said at the beginning, they're getting better. The credit crunch has seemed to make them realize they need to work for our business, and the cheaper fare days and new buses are a step in the right direction; now we just need to ban those single mothers.

Summary: a last resort