[Kate!]

Public Transport. Is it a disgrace?

I think it is. Fares go up far too frequently and service is rarely with a smile, I'm mainly bashing the bus companies here, rather than British Rail, just to clarify Drivers are surly and sometimes downright unpleasant, vehicles are dirty and smelly, often strewn with rubbish.

thoughts?

[InOne]

They've also changed the first tickets which I'm not happy about

[MTVN]

Yeah don't think I've ever seen a bus drive smile, although they do normally respond when you thank them getting off, don't find them too expensive either and they get you where you need to be so I can't complain too much

[Marc]

When more people use public transport then I'm sure they'll improve it. The bus I used to get to work last year usually only had like 4 people on it.

[Marc]

Obviously that depends where, london is pretty good with public transport, I don't particularly think the experience on public transport should matter, as long as you there safely

[Vicky.]

Fares are WAY too high, it actually costs me and gav less to share a taxi to get most places than to pay bus fares. They cant really blame the hike in prices on people who avoid paying either like they try to do, because its nearly impossible to get past the driver without paying...I tried it when younger

They rarely come on time. Sometimes they dont come at all, which is ridiculous when you are relying on public transport to get to work. I used to have to go out 3 hours early to go to work, as there was only one bus an hour and probably about half the time they just didnt bother turning up.

Drivers are in general, anti social. I have been on buses with decent drivers before, so I know they exist.

They are nearly always covered in litter and that too.

They have cut off half the bus routes from gateshead to where I live, the buses now stop at 8pm so if I work late I have to get THREE buses to get home...which is ridiculous considering its only like a 20 min drive and they would be much better going through where I live and circling (like they do through the day) than just terminating half way and going back.

I very much dislike buses...if you cant tell

[Kizzy]

Don't get me started! surly bus drivers...smelly busses, cant even see in or out for all the feckin ads on them!
Come on firstbus plough some of your profits into better staff, and more sanitary vehicles please?...

[Kate!]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

Fares are WAY too high, it actually costs me and gav less to share a taxi to get most places than to pay bus fares. They cant really blame the hike in prices on people who avoid paying either like they try to do, because its nearly impossible to get past the driver without paying...I tried it when younger

They rarely come on time. Sometimes they dont come at all, which is ridiculous when you are relying on public transport to get to work. I used to have to go out 3 hours early to go to work, as there was only one bus an hour and probably about half the time they just didnt bother turning up.

Drivers are in general, anti social. I have been on buses with decent drivers before, so I know they exist.

They are nearly always covered in litter and that too.

They have cut off half the bus routes from gateshead to where I live, the buses now stop at 8pm so if I work late I have to get THREE buses to get home...which is ridiculous considering its only like a 20 min drive and they would be much better going through where I live and circling (like they do through the day) than just terminating half way and going back.

I very much dislike buses...if you cant tell

this is absolutely how I feel, and why I made the thread.

It costs a fiver to go to town and back, 3 quid for my son if I have him with me. 8 quid for two 10 minute bus journeys is horrendous.

Buses stink, and I mean badly. The really stale smell like a tramps clothes. It's horrible.

[Jordan.]

Rarely use buses but when I do I have to ask how much the fare is because they go up that often

[Vicky.]

Oh and the drivers act as if you just murdered their puppy if you dare to not have the correct change with you too.

Give them a larger change float ffs. Not everyone will have large amounts of change in their pockets. I even got the deathstare last week for giving a tenner for a £7.00 fare...seriously its not too hard to give me 3 quid change

[Kate!]

I've had that experience numerous times, they look at you in a really horrible way. One particular time, he snatched the 10 pound note from me, and banged the change out, shoving it at me without a word. Another time, a driver held his hands up and said "Can't change it!" then just sat there staring at me. I didn't know what to do, so I just said, well sorry but I have no change. Response was that I should have bloody well got some then. He then pointed down the bus and said "sit down. see me when you get off" Twat.

[arista]

Originally Posted by *Kate*

I've had that experience numerous times, they look at you in a really horrible way. One particular time, he snatched the 10 pound note from me, and banged the change out, shoving it at me without a word. Another time, a driver held his hands up and said "Can't change it!" then just sat there staring at me. I didn't know what to do, so I just said, well sorry but I have no change. Response was that I should have bloody well got some then. He then pointed down the bus and said "sit down. see me when you get off" Twat.

No you are guilty.


Bring near amounts not big notes
that takes all his change - that he needs.


You Bad Customer Kate

[Shanna]

Really I can't complain about the timetable service we have around our local area. Buses are generally on time, if not they are out by maybe 5 mins. Which is nothing really.

Fares ~ Starting to annoy me. They were quite reasonable up until summer last year, and since then there as been a few price increases. Not much at a time...but over all mounted to a fair rise in just under a year. For example ~ We didn't have use of the car at the weekend and we wanted to visit a country park that had special events hosted on Saturday past. For the fares there an back it cost us around £12. For a 15 minute bus journey each way. By husband was furious, kept saying...wouldn't even cost £2 in diesel! lol

As for the state of the buses ~ Always yucky! People just disposing of their litter. And I often find myself thinking, how hard would it be to go pick it up everytime you reach the bus terminus. Not that it should be the case, people shouldn't be leaving it in a mess anyway. And...oef! Always smelly...90% worse in the summer when it's hot.

Bus Drivers ~ Dour faced - So and So's. Even when you ask for your fare most of the time they don't even have the manners to look at you. And as you leave...you politely say thank you as you are let off and get no response, not even so much as a pleasant smile.

But aside from what's already been mentioned...on our buses the drivers NEVER seem to know the fare. I'm constantly being charged different prices. I recently went to my Mother in Laws and was charged £2.60 single fare, the next day £1.80. So a few days later, I paid the cheaper fare as £1.80 and the driver said "Where are you going?", after explaining the destination he said £2.85...

First Group really need to sort out their bus service!

[Jack_]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

for a £7.00 fare

£7?! SEVEN POUNDS?!

For how many people was that?!

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by arista

No you are guilty.


Bring near amounts not big notes
that takes all his change - that he needs.


You Bad Customer Kate

You dont usually know what a 'near amount' is because they change so damn often

If its a journey you dont make often how on earth can you guess how much it will be anyway...it costs us £3.50 to get to chester le street from where we live, chester le street is about 5 mins away from the bus stand. On the other hand it costs only 50p more to get to gateshead, which is 20 mins away. So you cant even estimate based on distances it seems

Its not always practical to have the correct change either. If you were late for work and about to miss a bus (this is assuming the bus turned up )you wouldnt be stopping at a shop on the way to pick up some change. They should have a decent float to deal with people who do not have the right change, like taxis do.

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Jack_

£7?! SEVEN POUNDS?!

For how many people was that?!

2

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

Fares are WAY too high, it actually costs me and gav less to share a taxi to get most places than to pay bus fares. They cant really blame the hike in prices on people who avoid paying either like they try to do, because its nearly impossible to get past the driver without paying...I tried it when younger

They rarely come on time. Sometimes they dont come at all, which is ridiculous when you are relying on public transport to get to work. I used to have to go out 3 hours early to go to work, as there was only one bus an hour and probably about half the time they just didnt bother turning up.

Drivers are in general, anti social. I have been on buses with decent drivers before, so I know they exist.

They are nearly always covered in litter and that too.

They have cut off half the bus routes from gateshead to where I live, the buses now stop at 8pm so if I work late I have to get THREE buses to get home...which is ridiculous considering its only like a 20 min drive and they would be much better going through where I live and circling (like they do through the day) than just terminating half way and going back.

I very much dislike buses...if you cant tell

This is how I feel overall, there are times things go smoothly but I really hate the Drivers attitudes, it is as if you are intruding their work by being a passenger rather than the reason for it.

They are really bad towards schoolchildren, as for giving change,the look is priceless if you have a note in your hand.
You cannot always have the right money.

In fact,I have got on buses than have come really late over their due time, asked for my £2.80 ticket, said thank you, then said thank you again as I got off but never even had a look from the driver never mind a word.

It must be part of most drivers training that they must 'not' be pleasant to travellers.

[Redway]

No. It gets me places and back safely. I fail to see the problem with that system.

[Niamh.]

I can't even remember the last time I took a bus anywhere (obviously I'm not in Britain either but you know) I always found the tube to be a great service though when I lived in London

[Kizzy]

I love being a buswanker.....

[Mrluvaluva]

I think bus services are crap in the main where I live. They generally run every hour and seem to turn up when they feel like it, and then charge you about £3 to go a few stops. If you are lucky enough to get a constant good local service, that generally becomes a lot less frequent after about 6 pm.

Bus services seem to be cut all the time, but fares continue to increase. I'd much rather get the train where possible. Services are more reliable, and fares are not as extortionate for local journeys I find.

[Harry!]

I sometimes use the bus to get to town and I find the prices reasonable and fairly frequent. I find First to be more expensive than Stagecoach but the Stagecoach bus is further away from my home.

[Bollo]

The bus service here is good, the buses are clean and the drivers are pretty friendly except if you try and pay with a fiver or a tenner, then they go mental.... I don't like morning buses as they are too busy and I always end up sat next to the weirdo that talks to themself. I just get a taxi to work in the morning and then a bus back on the way home

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

Oh and the drivers act as if you just murdered their puppy if you dare to not have the correct change with you too.

Give them a larger change float ffs. Not everyone will have large amounts of change in their pockets. I even got the deathstare last week for giving a tenner for a £7.00 fare...seriously its not too hard to give me 3 quid change

This. The looks I get when I give notes to a bus driver, as though paper isn't legal tender.
I remember my stepdad having an argument with a driver after he refused to accept my child fare because I was going to school in my own clothes. lol

[arista]

Originally Posted by kizzy

I love being a buswanker.....

Spiffing