TWO bus companies have been
fined thousands of pounds after a
public inquiry found their services
to be unreliable.
First Hampshire and Dorset buses was hit
with a fine of £25,080, while Solent Blue Line
was ordered to pay £8,500.
The inquiry showed that almost one in seven
of the buses run by the companies was too
early, too late or failed to turn up at all.
Bosses blamed traffic congestion, illegally
parked cars, sick drivers and even slow passengers
for the companies' poor performance.
The companies' excuses were not considered
"reasonable" by the Traffic Commissioner and
First Buses was ordered to pay a penalty of £60
for each of its buses and Solent Blue Line was
ordered to pay £85.
The inquiry was launched after a traffic
monitoring exercise showed that 13.4 per cent
of First buses and 11.3 per cent of Solent Blue
Line buses were turning up at the wrong times
and in some cases not even showing up.
Bus companies are expected to ensure that
their vehicles are on time for at least 95 per
cent of their journeys.
At the public inquiry on May 20, Solent Blue
Line operations director Andrew Wickham
said that council roadworks along Millbrook
Road and around Redbridge, and heavy freight
lorries had caused "critical delays".
Richard Soper, managing director of First,
said: "Southampton roads are running at nearfull
capacity. It only takes the smallest thing to
go wrong and the whole system breaks down."
First commercial director Mark Turner told
the Daily Echo: "While First Hampshire and
Dorset accepts the fine levied on it by the
Traffic Commissioner in respect of the recent
public inquiry, the issues to which the fine
relates have largely been fixed.
"We have made a number of changes to the
bus network over the past year, improving
scheduling and ensuring that buses run to
time more effectively, and we are also making
further changes in September. "
Solent Blue Line's Andrew
Wickham said: "We were disappointed
that we were levied
with a financial
penalty but we have paid it and moved on. The
Traffic Commissioner acknowledged the difficulties
we face on a daily basis running a reliable
service in a city like Southampton.
"We feel the minimum standards we are
expected to achieve are very high but we will
continue to do all we can to meet them and
keep on working to improve the service for our
customers."
Solent Blue Line runs 71 buses while its
Marchwood Motorways operation runs 17
buses and 26 coaches, while First Bus has 373
buses, 127 of which operate in Southampton.
See today's Daily Echo for the full story
8:31am Thursday 7th August 2008
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CommentPosted by: Fred on 8:41am Thu 7 Aug 08
Where do the fines end up being paid to? Follow the money.
It's like when Ofcom fines someone, the money never goes back to the person who actually suffered a loss. The same with PhonePayPlus.
Where do the fines end up being paid to? Follow the money.
It's like when Ofcom fines someone, the money never goes back to the person who actually suffered a loss. The same with PhonePayPlus.
Posted by: Hants & Dorset on 8:41am Thu 7 Aug 08
Maybe now First and Blue Star will get the message and get some decent vehicles with added reliability instead of the pile of crap they normally send out onto the streets. The drivers don't care about the times, the bus I catch every day is always late and sometimes doesn't turn up, so what has changed, [bold]NOTHING[/bold]
Maybe now First and Blue Star will get the message and get some decent vehicles with added reliability instead of the pile of crap they normally send out onto the streets. The drivers don't care about the times, the bus I catch every day is always late and sometimes doesn't turn up, so what has changed,
NOTHING Posted by: mr.southampton, Southampton on 8:46am Thu 7 Aug 08
I used to use first bus to go to work everyday and the service was so unreliable that I'd be late at least 1 day out of 5 as the bus just didn't show up, then the next bus would be so packed it wouldn't pick up anymore passengers. In the end I bought a bike which makes getting around the city much easier.
I used to use first bus to go to work everyday and the service was so unreliable that I'd be late at least 1 day out of 5 as the bus just didn't show up, then the next bus would be so packed it wouldn't pick up anymore passengers. In the end I bought a bike which makes getting around the city much easier.
Posted by: gorf, soton on 9:10am Thu 7 Aug 08
I use a wheelchair and find it very hard to get a bus.
sometimes i have to wait over 1 and a half hours to get a bus....letting many pass me as they are not capable of wheelchair access.
when will all busses be on time and allow wheelchair access??
will anything ever be done?
I use a wheelchair and find it very hard to get a bus.
sometimes i have to wait over 1 and a half hours to get a bus....letting many pass me as they are not capable of wheelchair access.
when will all busses be on time and allow wheelchair access??
will anything ever be done?
Posted by: Iain, Lordshill on 9:35am Thu 7 Aug 08
Buses use roads. Roads have traffic, diversions and slow passengers (note to a certain old lady - spending two minutes haranguing the driver for being a bit late makes the bus later, not earlier). It is therefore not possible for them to be at each stop at exactly the right time as you might expect from a train.
I catch the 5 from Lordshill every morning and in the last two years I can only remember 2 occasions of it being late or not there. At subsequent stops it may be late, but the driver or the company can't be blamed for that.
Buses use roads. Roads have traffic, diversions and slow passengers (note to a certain old lady - spending two minutes haranguing the driver for being a bit late makes the bus later, not earlier). It is therefore not possible for them to be at each stop at exactly the right time as you might expect from a train.
I catch the 5 from Lordshill every morning and in the last two years I can only remember 2 occasions of it being late or not there. At subsequent stops it may be late, but the driver or the company can't be blamed for that.
Posted by: Anon on 9:40am Thu 7 Aug 08
In my opinion depending on where you live depends on the service you get.
Take Botley Road Sholing for instance, the bus is late every morning even though when I get on the bus there's normally just the one passenger on board, also so far this year the bus has failed to turn up at least 11 times.
In my opinion depending on where you live depends on the service you get.
Take Botley Road Sholing for instance, the bus is late every morning even though when I get on the bus there's normally just the one passenger on board, also so far this year the bus has failed to turn up at least 11 times.
Posted by: Fred on 9:55am Thu 7 Aug 08
[quote][bold]gorf[/bold] wrote:
I use a wheelchair and find it very hard to get a bus. sometimes i have to wait over 1 and a half hours to get a bus....letting many pass me as they are not capable of wheelchair access. when will all busses be on time and allow wheelchair access?? will anything ever be done?[/quote] Perhaps you need to move to where Unilink operate?
Seriously you should write to the Echo and get them to launch one of their famous campaigns. Frankly getting all buses fully accessible is better than their anti-knife rubbish.
gorf wrote:
I use a wheelchair and find it very hard to get a bus. sometimes i have to wait over 1 and a half hours to get a bus....letting many pass me as they are not capable of wheelchair access. when will all busses be on time and allow wheelchair access?? will anything ever be done?
Perhaps you need to move to where Unilink operate?
Seriously you should write to the Echo and get them to launch one of their famous campaigns. Frankly getting all buses fully accessible is better than their anti-knife rubbish.
Posted by: Helhod, Bitternpark and Tenerife on 9:58am Thu 7 Aug 08
As a previous bus driver for one of these company's , i would like to say 99% buses always left on time.(i did anyway).You could be stuck in traffic jams,road works,then you could have difficult customers holding up your time.or you could be helping some one on to the bus who has difficulties .So it's not usually the drivers fault for lateness .Diffrent story if the bus does not turn up it could be the bus has broke down or that the driver is sick and the supervisers in the office in eastleigh are refusing to do a trip themselves which i can say 100% has happened.... In my time working for them they would rather be chatting crap and drinking tea or coffe then getting on the bus a doing a trip.so i say sort them out and buses would turn up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!
As a previous bus driver for one of these company's , i would like to say 99% buses always left on time.(i did anyway).You could be stuck in traffic jams,road works,then you could have difficult customers holding up your time.or you could be helping some one on to the bus who has difficulties .So it's not usually the drivers fault for lateness .Diffrent story if the bus does not turn up it could be the bus has broke down or that the driver is sick and the supervisers in the office in eastleigh are refusing to do a trip themselves which i can say 100% has happened.... In my time working for them they would rather be chatting crap and drinking tea or coffe then getting on the bus a doing a trip.so i say sort them out and buses would turn up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: bingolover, still wairting at the bus stop on 10:02am Thu 7 Aug 08
I get the 8 every morning and in over a year of using the service, it's turned up on time only a handful of times.
It failed to turn up on Tuesday morning this week, so it doesn't look like the fines are going to make any difference whatsoever. There is not enough competition between bus services, if there was a chance that my money would go to somebody else every morning so that I could get to work on time, you can guarantee that the service would be more reliable.
People using the buses have no choice in many parts of the city about which service they use. The only thing that these fines will do is push the prices up again.....
I get the 8 every morning and in over a year of using the service, it's turned up on time only a handful of times.
It failed to turn up on Tuesday morning this week, so it doesn't look like the fines are going to make any difference whatsoever. There is not enough competition between bus services, if there was a chance that my money would go to somebody else every morning so that I could get to work on time, you can guarantee that the service would be more reliable.
People using the buses have no choice in many parts of the city about which service they use. The only thing that these fines will do is push the prices up again.....
Posted by: I and I on 10:04am Thu 7 Aug 08
well done Traffic Commissioner....more of the same please. These companies have been unfit for purpose for too long and need a kick up the backside.
Definately a step in the right direction (as long as the cost isn't passed onto customers of course!)
well done Traffic Commissioner....more of the same please. These companies have been unfit for purpose for too long and need a kick up the backside.
Definately a step in the right direction (as long as the cost isn't passed onto customers of course!)
Posted by: Im thinking, using my cheesebox on 10:05am Thu 7 Aug 08
Didnt the council (scc) just give them a lovely sum of money to stop them going bust?
Didnt the council (scc) just give them a lovely sum of money to stop them going bust?
Posted by: Anon on 10:08am Thu 7 Aug 08
[quote][bold]I and I[/bold] wrote:
well done Traffic Commissioner....more of the same please. These companies have been unfit for purpose for too long and need a kick up the backside.
Definately a step in the right direction (as long as the cost isn't passed onto customers of course!)[/quote] [bold](as long as the cost isn't passed onto customers of course!)[/bold]
Wouldn't surprise me.
I and I wrote:
well done Traffic Commissioner....more of the same please. These companies have been unfit for purpose for too long and need a kick up the backside.
Definately a step in the right direction (as long as the cost isn't passed onto customers of course!)
(as long as the cost isn't passed onto customers of course!)
Wouldn't surprise me.
Posted by: Stacker, soton on 10:22am Thu 7 Aug 08
[quote][bold]gorf[/bold] wrote:
I use a wheelchair and find it very hard to get a bus. sometimes i have to wait over 1 and a half hours to get a bus....letting many pass me as they are not capable of wheelchair access. when will all busses be on time and allow wheelchair access?? will anything ever be done?[/quote] All buses now have wheelchair access so im not sure why your gripeing!! Anyway i get the 6 every morning and evening to get to work.I am now in a very difficult posistion as i have no way of now getting to work.I dont drive and there is no alternative apart from getting two seperate buses from two seperate companies.This means that i am unable to buy one bus pass and therefore would end up either having to get two seperate monthly passes(which already cost £46 a month!!)or paying individually and that would end up costing about £100 a month!!.Its bad enough the the 6 service is normally late in the evenings and sometimes doesnt show up at all(you wont beleive how many time the bus has alledgedly broken down in totton,according to the bus drivers excuse!!)but now NO SERVICE AT ALL. They have just been given thousands of pounds to improve the service and they have chosen to cancel them instead. UNREAL!!! Oh one more whilst im ranting,how come that the prices continually increase but the service gets worse!!
gorf wrote:
I use a wheelchair and find it very hard to get a bus. sometimes i have to wait over 1 and a half hours to get a bus....letting many pass me as they are not capable of wheelchair access. when will all busses be on time and allow wheelchair access?? will anything ever be done?
All buses now have wheelchair access so im not sure why your gripeing!! Anyway i get the 6 every morning and evening to get to work.I am now in a very difficult posistion as i have no way of now getting to work.I dont drive and there is no alternative apart from getting two seperate buses from two seperate companies.This means that i am unable to buy one bus pass and therefore would end up either having to get two seperate monthly passes(which already cost £46 a month!!)or paying individually and that would end up costing about £100 a month!!.Its bad enough the the 6 service is normally late in the evenings and sometimes doesnt show up at all(you wont beleive how many time the bus has alledgedly broken down in totton,according to the bus drivers excuse!!)but now NO SERVICE AT ALL. They have just been given thousands of pounds to improve the service and they have chosen to cancel them instead. UNREAL!!! Oh one more whilst im ranting,how come that the prices continually increase but the service gets worse!!
Posted by: the vengeful cabbage on 10:24am Thu 7 Aug 08
What they need to improve bus services is an enforced policy that says if a bus is more than say 5 mins late the customer does not have to pay for the trip. If it fails to turn up at all then the customer is refunded double the difference. Basic retail sense plus it would mean that we wouldn't have to foot the bills for public inquirys
What they need to improve bus services is an enforced policy that says if a bus is more than say 5 mins late the customer does not have to pay for the trip. If it fails to turn up at all then the customer is refunded double the difference. Basic retail sense plus it would mean that we wouldn't have to foot the bills for public inquirys
Posted by: Dave, Southampton on 10:47am Thu 7 Aug 08
[quote][bold]Stacker[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]gorf[/bold] wrote: I use a wheelchair and find it very hard to get a bus. sometimes i have to wait over 1 and a half hours to get a bus....letting many pass me as they are not capable of wheelchair access. when will all busses be on time and allow wheelchair access?? will anything ever be done?[/quote] All buses now have wheelchair access so im not sure why your gripeing!! Anyway i get the 6 every morning and evening to get to work.I am now in a very difficult posistion as i have no way of now getting to work.I dont drive and there is no alternative apart from getting two seperate buses from two seperate companies.This means that i am unable to buy one bus pass and therefore would end up either having to get two seperate monthly passes(which already cost £46 a month!!)or paying individually and that would end up costing about £100 a month!!.Its bad enough the the 6 service is normally late in the evenings and sometimes doesnt show up at all(you wont beleive how many time the bus has alledgedly broken down in totton,according to the bus drivers excuse!!)but now NO SERVICE AT ALL. They have just been given thousands of pounds to improve the service and they have chosen to cancel them instead. UNREAL!!! Oh one more whilst im ranting,how come that the prices continually increase but the service gets worse!![/quote] Problem is you can't put your wheelchair on board because its full up with pushchairs
Stacker wrote:
gorf wrote: I use a wheelchair and find it very hard to get a bus. sometimes i have to wait over 1 and a half hours to get a bus....letting many pass me as they are not capable of wheelchair access. when will all busses be on time and allow wheelchair access?? will anything ever be done?
All buses now have wheelchair access so im not sure why your gripeing!! Anyway i get the 6 every morning and evening to get to work.I am now in a very difficult posistion as i have no way of now getting to work.I dont drive and there is no alternative apart from getting two seperate buses from two seperate companies.This means that i am unable to buy one bus pass and therefore would end up either having to get two seperate monthly passes(which already cost £46 a month!!)or paying individually and that would end up costing about £100 a month!!.Its bad enough the the 6 service is normally late in the evenings and sometimes doesnt show up at all(you wont beleive how many time the bus has alledgedly broken down in totton,according to the bus drivers excuse!!)but now NO SERVICE AT ALL. They have just been given thousands of pounds to improve the service and they have chosen to cancel them instead. UNREAL!!! Oh one more whilst im ranting,how come that the prices continually increase but the service gets worse!!
Problem is you can't put your wheelchair on board because its full up with pushchairs
Posted by: RACHAEL, EASTLEIGH on 11:00am Thu 7 Aug 08
Most of the bloody blue line bus drivers hang around in town smoking fags and chatting to their mates, my bus has been late so many times due to slack bus drivers.
Most of the bloody blue line bus drivers hang around in town smoking fags and chatting to their mates, my bus has been late so many times due to slack bus drivers.
Posted by: Denzil, Chilworth on 11:05am Thu 7 Aug 08
[quote][bold]RACHAEL[/bold] wrote:
Most of the bloody blue line bus drivers hang around in town smoking fags and chatting to their mates, my bus has been late so many times due to slack bus drivers. [/quote] Spot on love, it's the overweight drivers that need a kick up the backside, most of them could do with learning some basic manners aswell.
RACHAEL wrote:
Most of the bloody blue line bus drivers hang around in town smoking fags and chatting to their mates, my bus has been late so many times due to slack bus drivers.
Spot on love, it's the overweight drivers that need a kick up the backside, most of them could do with learning some basic manners aswell.
Posted by: Fred on 11:07am Thu 7 Aug 08
[quote][bold]I and I[/bold] wrote:
well done Traffic Commissioner....more of the same please. These companies have been unfit for purpose for too long and need a kick up the backside. Definately a step in the right direction (as long as the cost isn't passed onto customers of course!)[/quote] I ask again - where does the fine get paid to?
I and I wrote:
well done Traffic Commissioner....more of the same please. These companies have been unfit for purpose for too long and need a kick up the backside. Definately a step in the right direction (as long as the cost isn't passed onto customers of course!)
I ask again - where does the fine get paid to?
Posted by: John, soton on 11:18am Thu 7 Aug 08
I think a target of 95% ism unrealistic. I do not use the bus but doubt very much that the drivers or bus conpany is at fault if they leave the depot on time that is the best they can do. i drive to work, a journey that takes anywhere between 15 mins to 30 mins i leave at the same time every day depending on road works, traffic breakdowns, accidents etc. I am glad no one fines me for my punctuality of journey time. I am not defending the bus companies, but do feel sorry for the drivers and the Criticism they face from the public. perhaps they need to invest in wings for the buses.
I think a target of 95% ism unrealistic. I do not use the bus but doubt very much that the drivers or bus conpany is at fault if they leave the depot on time that is the best they can do. i drive to work, a journey that takes anywhere between 15 mins to 30 mins i leave at the same time every day depending on road works, traffic breakdowns, accidents etc. I am glad no one fines me for my punctuality of journey time. I am not defending the bus companies, but do feel sorry for the drivers and the Criticism they face from the public. perhaps they need to invest in wings for the buses.
Posted by: George on 11:38am Thu 7 Aug 08
[quote][bold]Fred[/bold] wrote:
Where do the fines end up being paid to? Follow the money.
It's like when Ofcom fines someone, the money never goes back to the person who actually suffered a loss. The same with PhonePayPlus.[/quote] Spot on again, Fred. It's tragic, but there's very little point in penalising any enterprise for anything they do wrong any more. The cost is simply passed on to us
Fred wrote:
Where do the fines end up being paid to? Follow the money.
It's like when Ofcom fines someone, the money never goes back to the person who actually suffered a loss. The same with PhonePayPlus.
Spot on again, Fred. It's tragic, but there's very little point in penalising any enterprise for anything they do wrong any more. The cost is simply passed on to us
Posted by: clair, Transport on 11:54am Thu 7 Aug 08
I assume most of the country are deeply concerned at how the we are run. More and more plans to build or destroy everything that enables England to survive. One only has to read the buying up of our national businesses, including our local buses and indeed withdrawal of their goodwill would destroy us. The populace are truly unhappy with the way our country has been 'sold off'. It's not just our area - it is happening all over the country. How many Governments, past and present are responsible for this debacle? Even in Soton, if transport is not efficient, then they hold everyone to ransome what hope have we to get to work? What kind of contract have our local council with them? We are literally owned by these pirates. Alright, I am sure something had to be done about our economic climate, as in the past, but I feel governments have dug a very deep hole for us all to throw ourselves in. BUT any constructive ideas on how to dig ourselves out would be much appreciated. Its not just our 'so called buses' its the whole problem. It's a matter of brinkmanship or blackmail I think?
clair
I assume most of the country are deeply concerned at how the we are run. More and more plans to build or destroy everything that enables England to survive. One only has to read the buying up of our national businesses, including our local buses and indeed withdrawal of their goodwill would destroy us. The populace are truly unhappy with the way our country has been 'sold off'. It's not just our area - it is happening all over the country. How many Governments, past and present are responsible for this debacle? Even in Soton, if transport is not efficient, then they hold everyone to ransome what hope have we to get to work? What kind of contract have our local council with them? We are literally owned by these pirates. Alright, I am sure something had to be done about our economic climate, as in the past, but I feel governments have dug a very deep hole for us all to throw ourselves in. BUT any constructive ideas on how to dig ourselves out would be much appreciated. Its not just our 'so called buses' its the whole problem. It's a matter of brinkmanship or blackmail I think?
clair
Posted by: Beer Monster, Hythe on 12:31pm Thu 7 Aug 08
Good, this is exactly the reason I use the ferry or cycle back to Hythe every day.
Solent Blue Line cut back services so there's only one bus an hour in the evenings, they're just as expensive as the ferry and too many times the bus I've been waiting for doesn't turn up.
In the light of this, I hope things will change for the better.
Good, this is exactly the reason I use the ferry or cycle back to Hythe every day.
Solent Blue Line cut back services so there's only one bus an hour in the evenings, they're just as expensive as the ferry and too many times the bus I've been waiting for doesn't turn up.
In the light of this, I hope things will change for the better.
Posted by: a on 12:56pm Thu 7 Aug 08
[quote][bold]mr.southampton[/bold] wrote:
I used to use first bus to go to work everyday and the service was so unreliable that I'd be late at least 1 day out of 5 as the bus just didn't show up, then the next bus would be so packed it wouldn't pick up anymore passengers. In the end I bought a bike which makes getting around the city much easier.[/quote] Same as, only I take a long walk rather than cycle. I wouldn't go back to using the buses. Shame they turn off many of their potential customers. Anyone who can find an alternative probably does.
mr.southampton wrote:
I used to use first bus to go to work everyday and the service was so unreliable that I'd be late at least 1 day out of 5 as the bus just didn't show up, then the next bus would be so packed it wouldn't pick up anymore passengers. In the end I bought a bike which makes getting around the city much easier.
Same as, only I take a long walk rather than cycle. I wouldn't go back to using the buses. Shame they turn off many of their potential customers. Anyone who can find an alternative probably does.
Posted by: Di H, Southampton on 1:06pm Thu 7 Aug 08
Not only are services non-reliable, but when one does turn up you end up being squashed like sardines in a tin and unable to sit down sometimes! Especially not nice when I was pregnant last year!
Not only are services non-reliable, but when one does turn up you end up being squashed like sardines in a tin and unable to sit down sometimes! Especially not nice when I was pregnant last year!
Posted by: the vengeful cabbage on 1:19pm Thu 7 Aug 08
[quote][bold]Di H[/bold] wrote:
Not only are services non-reliable, but when one does turn up you end up being squashed like sardines in a tin and unable to sit down sometimes! Especially not nice when I was pregnant last year![/quote] Wouldn't have been nice for the people arround you either!
Di H wrote:
Not only are services non-reliable, but when one does turn up you end up being squashed like sardines in a tin and unable to sit down sometimes! Especially not nice when I was pregnant last year!
Wouldn't have been nice for the people arround you either!
Posted by: Reg Varney, Walking-bus never turned up-again on 1:26pm Thu 7 Aug 08
All the fines in the world won't stop the bus companies dolling out a disgusting service. I suggested years ago 'take away their subsidies for bad service'. Let them take the losses on the chin like other companies have to do. (Losses, that's a joke. Google the bus companies and see what massive profits they make!) And another thing, am I right in saying that Southampton City Council actually gave about £10Million (Yes, million) to assist in the building of the Portswood Bus Depot? If so then First should re-imburse the Council (i.e. Taxpayers) for the proposed move to new premises. First Busses should NOT profit from the sale of the land and have NO financial help with the new premises. And finally, ALL bus services are c.rap services. Late, non-existant, early, filthy, smelly, diesel fumed belching exhausts and miserable drivers. End of rant...............
All the fines in the world won't stop the bus companies dolling out a disgusting service. I suggested years ago 'take away their subsidies for bad service'. Let them take the losses on the chin like other companies have to do. (Losses, that's a joke. Google the bus companies and see what massive profits they make!) And another thing, am I right in saying that Southampton City Council actually gave about £10Million (Yes, million) to assist in the building of the Portswood Bus Depot? If so then First should re-imburse the Council (i.e. Taxpayers) for the proposed move to new premises. First Busses should NOT profit from the sale of the land and have NO financial help with the new premises. And finally, ALL bus services are c.rap services. Late, non-existant, early, filthy, smelly, diesel fumed belching exhausts and miserable drivers. End of rant...............
Posted by: Stacker, soton on 1:28pm Thu 7 Aug 08
[quote][bold]Dave[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Stacker[/bold] wrote: [quote][bold]gorf[/bold] wrote: I use a wheelchair and find it very hard to get a bus. sometimes i have to wait over 1 and a half hours to get a bus....letting many pass me as they are not capable of wheelchair access. when will all busses be on time and allow wheelchair access?? will anything ever be done?[/quote] All buses now have wheelchair access so im not sure why your gripeing!! Anyway i get the 6 every morning and evening to get to work.I am now in a very difficult posistion as i have no way of now getting to work.I dont drive and there is no alternative apart from getting two seperate buses from two seperate companies.This means that i am unable to buy one bus pass and therefore would end up either having to get two seperate monthly passes(which already cost £46 a month!!)or paying individually and that would end up costing about £100 a month!!.Its bad enough the the 6 service is normally late in the evenings and sometimes doesnt show up at all(you wont beleive how many time the bus has alledgedly broken down in totton,according to the bus drivers excuse!!)but now NO SERVICE AT ALL. They have just been given thousands of pounds to improve the service and they have chosen to cancel them instead. UNREAL!!! Oh one more whilst im ranting,how come that the prices continually increase but the service gets worse!![/quote] Problem is you can't put your wheelchair on board because its full up with pushchairs[/quote] There are spaces on the bus for both and your original point was that the bus does not have access not that the space is taken for wheelchairs.
Dave wrote:
Stacker wrote: gorf wrote: I use a wheelchair and find it very hard to get a bus. sometimes i have to wait over 1 and a half hours to get a bus....letting many pass me as they are not capable of wheelchair access. when will all busses be on time and allow wheelchair access?? will anything ever be done?
All buses now have wheelchair access so im not sure why your gripeing!! Anyway i get the 6 every morning and evening to get to work.I am now in a very difficult posistion as i have no way of now getting to work.I dont drive and there is no alternative apart from getting two seperate buses from two seperate companies.This means that i am unable to buy one bus pass and therefore would end up either having to get two seperate monthly passes(which already cost £46 a month!!)or paying individually and that would end up costing about £100 a month!!.Its bad enough the the 6 service is normally late in the evenings and sometimes doesnt show up at all(you wont beleive how many time the bus has alledgedly broken down in totton,according to the bus drivers excuse!!)but now NO SERVICE AT ALL. They have just been given thousands of pounds to improve the service and they have chosen to cancel them instead. UNREAL!!! Oh one more whilst im ranting,how come that the prices continually increase but the service gets worse!!
Problem is you can't put your wheelchair on board because its full up with pushchairs
There are spaces on the bus for both and your original point was that the bus does not have access not that the space is taken for wheelchairs.
Posted by: Di H, Southampton on 1:29pm Thu 7 Aug 08
[quote][bold]the vengeful cabbage[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Di H[/bold] wrote: Not only are services non-reliable, but when one does turn up you end up being squashed like sardines in a tin and unable to sit down sometimes! Especially not nice when I was pregnant last year![/quote] Wouldn't have been nice for the people arround you either![/quote] Why's that vengeful cabbage? On the wind up then are we?!?!?!?!?
the vengeful cabbage wrote:
Di H wrote: Not only are services non-reliable, but when one does turn up you end up being squashed like sardines in a tin and unable to sit down sometimes! Especially not nice when I was pregnant last year!
Wouldn't have been nice for the people arround you either!
Why's that vengeful cabbage? On the wind up then are we?!?!?!?!?
Posted by: Anon on 1:32pm Thu 7 Aug 08
[quote][bold]Stacker[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]gorf[/bold] wrote:
I use a wheelchair and find it very hard to get a bus. sometimes i have to wait over 1 and a half hours to get a bus....letting many pass me as they are not capable of wheelchair access. when will all busses be on time and allow wheelchair access?? will anything ever be done?[/quote] All buses now have wheelchair access so im not sure why your gripeing!! Anyway i get the 6 every morning and evening to get to work.I am now in a very difficult posistion as i have no way of now getting to work.I dont drive and there is no alternative apart from getting two seperate buses from two seperate companies.This means that i am unable to buy one bus pass and therefore would end up either having to get two seperate monthly passes(which already cost £46 a month!!)or paying individually and that would end up costing about £100 a month!!.Its bad enough the the 6 service is normally late in the evenings and sometimes doesnt show up at all(you wont beleive how many time the bus has alledgedly broken down in totton,according to the bus drivers excuse!!)but now NO SERVICE AT ALL. They have just been given thousands of pounds to improve the service and they have chosen to cancel them instead. UNREAL!!! Oh one more whilst im ranting,how come that the prices continually increase but the service gets worse!![/quote] Not all buses, I got on a double decker Tuesday evening and it wasn't wheelchair accessible.
Stacker wrote:
gorf wrote:
I use a wheelchair and find it very hard to get a bus. sometimes i have to wait over 1 and a half hours to get a bus....letting many pass me as they are not capable of wheelchair access. when will all busses be on time and allow wheelchair access?? will anything ever be done?
All buses now have wheelchair access so im not sure why your gripeing!! Anyway i get the 6 every morning and evening to get to work.I am now in a very difficult posistion as i have no way of now getting to work.I dont drive and there is no alternative apart from getting two seperate buses from two seperate companies.This means that i am unable to buy one bus pass and therefore would end up either having to get two seperate monthly passes(which already cost £46 a month!!)or paying individually and that would end up costing about £100 a month!!.Its bad enough the the 6 service is normally late in the evenings and sometimes doesnt show up at all(you wont beleive how many time the bus has alledgedly broken down in totton,according to the bus drivers excuse!!)but now NO SERVICE AT ALL. They have just been given thousands of pounds to improve the service and they have chosen to cancel them instead. UNREAL!!! Oh one more whilst im ranting,how come that the prices continually increase but the service gets worse!!
Not all buses, I got on a double decker Tuesday evening and it wasn't wheelchair accessible.
Posted by: the vengeful cabbage on 1:38pm Thu 7 Aug 08
[quote][bold]Di H[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]the vengeful cabbage[/bold] wrote: [quote][bold]Di H[/bold] wrote: Not only are services non-reliable, but when one does turn up you end up being squashed like sardines in a tin and unable to sit down sometimes! Especially not nice when I was pregnant last year![/quote] Wouldn't have been nice for the people arround you either![/quote] Why's that vengeful cabbage? On the wind up then are we?!?!?!?!?[/quote] Whats with the funny punctuation afterwards?!?!?!?!?!
?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?
!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Di H wrote:
the vengeful cabbage wrote: Di H wrote: Not only are services non-reliable, but when one does turn up you end up being squashed like sardines in a tin and unable to sit down sometimes! Especially not nice when I was pregnant last year!
Wouldn't have been nice for the people arround you either!
Why's that vengeful cabbage? On the wind up then are we?!?!?!?!?
Whats with the funny punctuation afterwards?!?!?!?!?!
?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?
!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Posted by: Uni Mike, Bassett/Freemantle on 1:56pm Thu 7 Aug 08
Nobodys mentioned Uni Link. Excellent time keeping. would guess at 99%. But wait for it....On 1st Oct Uni Link is being taken over by the Go Ahead group.. who also own Blue Star... OHH Noo...
Nobodys mentioned Uni Link. Excellent time keeping. would guess at 99%. But wait for it....On 1st Oct Uni Link is being taken over by the Go Ahead group.. who also own Blue Star... OHH Noo...
Posted by: Fred on 2:02pm Thu 7 Aug 08
[quote][bold]Uni Mike[/bold] wrote:
Nobodys mentioned Uni Link. Excellent time keeping. would guess at 99%. But wait for it....On 1st Oct Uni Link is being taken over by the Go Ahead group.. who also own Blue Star... OHH Noo... [/quote] I did - but your news is terrible. Didn't know Unilink is to change owner. Doesn't look good.
Uni Mike wrote:
Nobodys mentioned Uni Link. Excellent time keeping. would guess at 99%. But wait for it....On 1st Oct Uni Link is being taken over by the Go Ahead group.. who also own Blue Star... OHH Noo...
I did - but your news is terrible. Didn't know Unilink is to change owner. Doesn't look good.
Posted by: Stuart, At Work on 2:28pm Thu 7 Aug 08
When I use to catch the bus a few years back they were just as unreliable, as they are nowadays. They would never turn up, sometimes on saturday nights, so then I'd have to resort to getting a taxi into town costing me nearly 10 times as much. The service never improves and the bus drivers are so lazy and rude. It's about time something was done about improving the bus service around Southampton.
When I use to catch the bus a few years back they were just as unreliable, as they are nowadays. They would never turn up, sometimes on saturday nights, so then I'd have to resort to getting a taxi into town costing me nearly 10 times as much. The service never improves and the bus drivers are so lazy and rude. It's about time something was done about improving the bus service around Southampton.
Posted by: Fat Man, Mcdonalds on 2:38pm Thu 7 Aug 08
Im 34 stone and disability benifits for it, i cannot go to the dole office on most busses as the aisle are two small and i take up to much seat room, surely with humans evolving into blobs of lard we should install fat man chairs??
Im 34 stone and disability benifits for it, i cannot go to the dole office on most busses as the aisle are two small and i take up to much seat room, surely with humans evolving into blobs of lard we should install fat man chairs??
Posted by: Dave, Eastleigh on 3:13pm Thu 7 Aug 08
Buses should be numerous during rush hour and alot less during the day when very few people use them. But instead you get a small bus 40 minutes late crammed with people and a snappy bus driver and nowhere to sit after standing in the rain. During the day you get double deckers with about 4 people on it!
Buses should be numerous during rush hour and alot less during the day when very few people use them. But instead you get a small bus 40 minutes late crammed with people and a snappy bus driver and nowhere to sit after standing in the rain. During the day you get double deckers with about 4 people on it!
Posted by: The Train Set, Eastleigh on 3:31pm Thu 7 Aug 08
[quote][bold]Dave[/bold] wrote:
Buses should be numerous during rush hour and alot less during the day when very few people use them. But instead you get a small bus 40 minutes late crammed with people and a snappy bus driver and nowhere to sit after standing in the rain. During the day you get double deckers with about 4 people on it![/quote] Try travelling on Velvet their drivers are always very helpful & polite & they use Double Deckers during the peak times.
Dave wrote:
Buses should be numerous during rush hour and alot less during the day when very few people use them. But instead you get a small bus 40 minutes late crammed with people and a snappy bus driver and nowhere to sit after standing in the rain. During the day you get double deckers with about 4 people on it!
Try travelling on Velvet their drivers are always very helpful & polite & they use Double Deckers during the peak times.
Posted by: clair, Buses in Soton on 3:34pm Thu 7 Aug 08
Do not fret 'Fat Man'. However one looks at it the transport system is a disgrace. Its not just Soton - there are many towns with an infrastructure that is much like our own. I wonder what is on our Councillors minds - are they puppets on a string with big business people pulling their strings? - with a bit of tug to keep us happy - whatever is happening it is literally shark -v- planctum. Swallow us up and buy up more of the english coast.
Do we all deserve such a 'take over' of our shores without a shot fired? Who do we turn to for help?
clair
Do not fret 'Fat Man'. However one looks at it the transport system is a disgrace. Its not just Soton - there are many towns with an infrastructure that is much like our own. I wonder what is on our Councillors minds - are they puppets on a string with big business people pulling their strings? - with a bit of tug to keep us happy - whatever is happening it is literally shark -v- planctum. Swallow us up and buy up more of the english coast.
Do we all deserve such a 'take over' of our shores without a shot fired? Who do we turn to for help?
clair
Posted by: the vengeful cabbage on 3:55pm Thu 7 Aug 08
[quote]Bosses blamed traffic congestion, illegally parked cars, sick drivers and even slow passengers for the companies' poor performance.[/quote] Everybody but themselves then. Now how big a christmas bonus do they get for comming up with so many excuses. They forgot one though "leaves on the road"!
Bosses blamed traffic congestion, illegally parked cars, sick drivers and even slow passengers for the companies' poor performance.
Everybody but themselves then. Now how big a christmas bonus do they get for comming up with so many excuses. They forgot one though "leaves on the road"!
Posted by: Eastleighboy on 3:57pm Thu 7 Aug 08
[quote][bold]The Train Set[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Dave[/bold] wrote: Buses should be numerous during rush hour and alot less during the day when very few people use them. But instead you get a small bus 40 minutes late crammed with people and a snappy bus driver and nowhere to sit after standing in the rain. During the day you get double deckers with about 4 people on it![/quote] Try travelling on Velvet their drivers are always very helpful & polite & they use Double Deckers during the peak times. [/quote] Or go to the isle of wight they really know how to run bus services over there. As long as you don't mind paying through the nose for it of course.
The Train Set wrote:
Dave wrote: Buses should be numerous during rush hour and alot less during the day when very few people use them. But instead you get a small bus 40 minutes late crammed with people and a snappy bus driver and nowhere to sit after standing in the rain. During the day you get double deckers with about 4 people on it!
Try travelling on Velvet their drivers are always very helpful & polite & they use Double Deckers during the peak times.
Or go to the isle of wight they really know how to run bus services over there. As long as you don't mind paying through the nose for it of course.
Posted by: Rock and roll on 4:03pm Thu 7 Aug 08
[quote]Iain, Lordshill on 9:35am today
Buses use roads. Roads have traffic, diversions and slow passengers (note to a certain old lady - spending two minutes haranguing the driver for being a bit late makes the bus later, not earlier). It is therefore not possible for them to be at each stop at exactly the right time as you might expect from a train. I catch the 5 from Lordshill every morning and in the last two years I can only remember 2 occasions of it being late or not there. At subsequent stops it may be late, but the driver or the company can't be blamed for that.
[/quote]
So they can be on time, or they can't?
The first part of your post leans towards it not being possible, yet you follow up with it is possibe.
I don't want to sound negative here, but;
Get your sorry low down good for nothing flea bitten ar$e, off your thread-bare nit ingrained sofa, out of that cockroach infested council house that you may or may not have bought with the proceeds of illicit moonlighting and probable crack dealing, down the vomit and blood stained streets of one of the worst ghettos in the South, and f"ckin see for yourself what an absolute pile of junk is driving round this city.
The bus companies could be excused for using the worst of the old puffers, to drag you cr@p out of that hole, but they should not come in to the more prestigious areas.
The truth is in society today, you have two areas that divide the people and areas, affluent and effluent, you obviously the latter.
I'd lastly like to know what someone from Lordshill is doing travelling out of that t"rdhole every morning for the last two years?
It certainly won't be to work!!
Iain, Lordshill on 9:35am today
Buses use roads. Roads have traffic, diversions and slow passengers (note to a certain old lady - spending two minutes haranguing the driver for being a bit late makes the bus later, not earlier). It is therefore not possible for them to be at each stop at exactly the right time as you might expect from a train. I catch the 5 from Lordshill every morning and in the last two years I can only remember 2 occasions of it being late or not there. At subsequent stops it may be late, but the driver or the company can't be blamed for that.
So they can be on time, or they can't?
The first part of your post leans towards it not being possible, yet you follow up with it is possibe.
I don't want to sound negative here, but;
Get your sorry low down good for nothing flea bitten ar$e, off your thread-bare nit ingrained sofa, out of that cockroach infested council house that you may or may not have bought with the proceeds of illicit moonlighting and probable crack dealing, down the vomit and blood stained streets of one of the worst ghettos in the South, and f"ckin see for yourself what an absolute pile of junk is driving round this city.
The bus companies could be excused for using the worst of the old puffers, to drag you cr@p out of that hole, but they should not come in to the more prestigious areas.
The truth is in society today, you have two areas that divide the people and areas, affluent and effluent, you obviously the latter.
I'd lastly like to know what someone from Lordshill is doing travelling out of that t"rdhole every morning for the last two years?
It certainly won't be to work!!
Posted by: Iain, Lordshill on 4:16pm Thu 7 Aug 08
Sorry, should have made it clearer, I'm at the first stop on the route, so it leaves on time. What happens afterwards is down to circumstances beyond the drivers' control.
Incidentally, you appear to have mild rage issues.
Sorry, should have made it clearer, I'm at the first stop on the route, so it leaves on time. What happens afterwards is down to circumstances beyond the drivers' control.
Incidentally, you appear to have mild rage issues.
Posted by: Bambi on 4:17pm Thu 7 Aug 08
[quote][bold]Eastleighboy[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]The Train Set[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Dave[/bold] wrote: Buses should be numerous during rush hour and alot less during the day when very few people use them. But instead you get a small bus 40 minutes late crammed with people and a snappy bus driver and nowhere to sit after standing in the rain. During the day you get double deckers with about 4 people on it![/quote] Try travelling on Velvet their drivers are always very helpful & polite & they use Double Deckers during the peak times. [/quote] Or go to the isle of wight they really know how to run bus services over there. As long as you don't mind paying through the nose for it of course.[/quote] That's a brilliant idea! I'll do that tomorrow, instead of getting the bus to Eastleigh where I work, like I normally do. Thanks!
Eastleighboy wrote:
The Train Set wrote:
Dave wrote: Buses should be numerous during rush hour and alot less during the day when very few people use them. But instead you get a small bus 40 minutes late crammed with people and a snappy bus driver and nowhere to sit after standing in the rain. During the day you get double deckers with about 4 people on it!
Try travelling on Velvet their drivers are always very helpful & polite & they use Double Deckers during the peak times.
Or go to the isle of wight they really know how to run bus services over there. As long as you don't mind paying through the nose for it of course.
That's a brilliant idea! I'll do that tomorrow, instead of getting the bus to Eastleigh where I work, like I normally do. Thanks!
Posted by: Rock and roll on 4:28pm Thu 7 Aug 08
[quote]Iain, Lordshill on 4:16pm today
Sorry, should have made it clearer, I'm at the first stop on the route, so it leaves on time. What happens afterwards is down to circumstances beyond the drivers' control. Incidentally, you appear to have mild rage issues.
[/quote]
Rage? F"CKIN RAGE????
I'll tell about rage, 20 sc"m losers, who come from Lordshill that drag some poor bus driver out of his seat and batter him.
Every decent person that lives in these hell holes, should get up and leave.
You'd end up with ghost towns, where the sc"m can fight, kill and abuse each other until the last of their poisonous breath, exhales.
Rage? You live in that world, so know no different, the rest of society are fighting with rage to have it contained.
Iain, Lordshill on 4:16pm today
Sorry, should have made it clearer, I'm at the first stop on the route, so it leaves on time. What happens afterwards is down to circumstances beyond the drivers' control. Incidentally, you appear to have mild rage issues.
Rage? F"CKIN RAGE????
I'll tell about rage, 20 sc"m losers, who come from Lordshill that drag some poor bus driver out of his seat and batter him.
Every decent person that lives in these hell holes, should get up and leave.
You'd end up with ghost towns, where the sc"m can fight, kill and abuse each other until the last of their poisonous breath, exhales.
Rage? You live in that world, so know no different, the rest of society are fighting with rage to have it contained.
Posted by: Gnomalarta, Southampton on 4:35pm Thu 7 Aug 08
I just hope none of you voted for Thatcher, because it's her privatisation polices that have created the mess we have to call a bus service. If you did vote for her then you deserve the crap bus service!
The only solution to this nation-wide mess is to put local government back in charge of the bus services. (And get all the army surplus buses off the road!)
I just hope none of you voted for Thatcher, because it's her privatisation polices that have created the mess we have to call a bus service. If you did vote for her then you deserve the crap bus service!
The only solution to this nation-wide mess is to put local government back in charge of the bus services. (And get all the army surplus buses off the road!)
Posted by: lol on 4:42pm Thu 7 Aug 08
Rock and roll is bloody halirous!
Rock and roll is bloody halirous!
Posted by: Jackie, Netley on 4:55pm Thu 7 Aug 08
[quote]lol on 4:42pm today
Rock and roll is bloody halirous![/quote]
Yep but bleedin dangerous too. His rants about innercity living are normally correct. I just don't know what were dealing with.
lol on 4:42pm today
Rock and roll is bloody halirous!
Yep but bleedin dangerous too. His rants about innercity living are normally correct. I just don't know what were dealing with.
Posted by: Bambi on 4:57pm Thu 7 Aug 08
[quote][bold]Gnomalarta[/bold] wrote:
I just hope none of you voted for Thatcher, because it's her privatisation polices that have created the mess we have to call a bus service. If you did vote for her then you deserve the crap bus service!
The only solution to this nation-wide mess is to put local government back in charge of the bus services. (And get all the army surplus buses off the road!)[/quote] Are you suggesting there be a separate, p!ss-poor bus service just for Thatcherites?
Gnomalarta wrote:
I just hope none of you voted for Thatcher, because it's her privatisation polices that have created the mess we have to call a bus service. If you did vote for her then you deserve the crap bus service!
The only solution to this nation-wide mess is to put local government back in charge of the bus services. (And get all the army surplus buses off the road!)
Are you suggesting there be a separate, p!ss-poor bus service just for Thatcherites?
Posted by: Dave, Eastleigh on 5:27pm Thu 7 Aug 08
Maybe the bus driver could apologize for being late. That would help as well. It might not be totally there fault, but just to acknowledge that you have been waiting in the rain for 40minutes and that he/she is sorry for keeping you would be nice.
Maybe the bus driver could apologize for being late. That would help as well. It might not be totally there fault, but just to acknowledge that you have been waiting in the rain for 40minutes and that he/she is sorry for keeping you would be nice.
Posted by: first bus driver, southampton on 5:43pm Thu 7 Aug 08
first thing they dont have to be low floor and that one who going on about buying to tickets no u dont u need a solent travel card the us are late coz southampton ity council make them late with there road works how are first and bluestar going to run a service with roads closed all the time it is stupid and for who wants to no there will be new bus coming later in ther year 4 brand new 1s at that
first thing they dont have to be low floor and that one who going on about buying to tickets no u dont u need a solent travel card the us are late coz southampton ity council make them late with there road works how are first and bluestar going to run a service with roads closed all the time it is stupid and for who wants to no there will be new bus coming later in ther year 4 brand new 1s at that
Posted by: Charlie, Peartree Green on 8:27pm Thu 7 Aug 08
<QUOTE>Are you suggesting there be a separate, p!ss-poor bus service just for Thatcherites?</QUOTE
>
No, they can have the one we have. We can have a new one!
<QUOTE>Are you suggesting there be a separate, p!ss-poor bus service just for Thatcherites?</QUOTE
>
No, they can have the one we have. We can have a new one!
Posted by: Mr Smooth, In front of my computer. on 9:09pm Thu 7 Aug 08
[quote][bold]Dave[/bold] wrote:
Maybe the bus driver could apologize for being late. That would help as well. It might not be totally there fault, but just to acknowledge that you have been waiting in the rain for 40minutes and that he/she is sorry for keeping you would be nice.[/quote] If the bus driver apologized for being late to every passenger that got on you would be moaning about the bus being 2 hours late.
Dave wrote:
Maybe the bus driver could apologize for being late. That would help as well. It might not be totally there fault, but just to acknowledge that you have been waiting in the rain for 40minutes and that he/she is sorry for keeping you would be nice.
If the bus driver apologized for being late to every passenger that got on you would be moaning about the bus being 2 hours late.
Posted by: Di H, Southampton on 9:38pm Thu 7 Aug 08
[quote][bold]the vengeful cabbage[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Di H[/bold] wrote: [quote][bold]the vengeful cabbage[/bold] wrote: [quote][bold]Di H[/bold] wrote: Not only are services non-reliable, but when one does turn up you end up being squashed like sardines in a tin and unable to sit down sometimes! Especially not nice when I was pregnant last year![/quote] Wouldn't have been nice for the people arround you either![/quote] Why's that vengeful cabbage? On the wind up then are we?!?!?!?!?[/quote] Whats with the funny punctuation afterwards?!?!?!?!?! ?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!? !?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? !??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! ?!?!?!?!?!?!?[/quote] ! - I'm not getting wound up by you, ? - as I am asking you a question. What is so bad about pregnant women on buses - particularly me? You don't know me, so what right have you got to say it wouldn't have been nice for people around me?
the vengeful cabbage wrote:
Di H wrote: the vengeful cabbage wrote: Di H wrote: Not only are services non-reliable, but when one does turn up you end up being squashed like sardines in a tin and unable to sit down sometimes! Especially not nice when I was pregnant last year!
Wouldn't have been nice for the people arround you either!
Why's that vengeful cabbage? On the wind up then are we?!?!?!?!?
Whats with the funny punctuation afterwards?!?!?!?!?! ?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!? !?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? !??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! ?!?!?!?!?!?!?
! - I'm not getting wound up by you, ? - as I am asking you a question. What is so bad about pregnant women on buses - particularly me? You don't know me, so what right have you got to say it wouldn't have been nice for people around me?
Posted by: So'ton Road User, Southampton on 9:55pm Thu 7 Aug 08
[quote][bold]bingolover[/bold] wrote:
I get the 8 every morning and in over a year of using the service, it's turned up on time only a handful of times. It failed to turn up on Tuesday morning this week, so it doesn't look like the fines are going to make any difference whatsoever. There is not enough competition between bus services, if there was a chance that my money would go to somebody else every morning so that I could get to work on time, you can guarantee that the service would be more reliable. People using the buses have no choice in many parts of the city about which service they use. The only thing that these fines will do is push the prices up again.....[/quote] Try Driving a bus where the council seem to divert buses of main routes because they have a windful of cash and decide to dig up the road and resurface it, Or Scattish and Southern Gas want to dig up just about every main route into the city. Utility companies and the council should be held responsible just as much as the Bus companies. Sort out the the large volumes of traffic into So'ton with a Park & Ride Like winchester or Fareham have a proper bus Station where Passengers can find their Bus etc.
The traffic commisioner should check into these these thing's [bold](The Road Network is Chaos)[/bold] before handing out fines to the bus compainies which in turn will just put the fares up to cover cost's Any motorist with a brain will know Southampton is a Crap place to travel or shop .... And so should you lot reading the post's how many have you been effected by the recent trend in road closures etc Shirley - Portswood - Bitterne to name a few .....
bingolover wrote:
I get the 8 every morning and in over a year of using the service, it's turned up on time only a handful of times. It failed to turn up on Tuesday morning this week, so it doesn't look like the fines are going to make any difference whatsoever. There is not enough competition between bus services, if there was a chance that my money would go to somebody else every morning so that I could get to work on time, you can guarantee that the service would be more reliable. People using the buses have no choice in many parts of the city about which service they use. The only thing that these fines will do is push the prices up again.....
Try Driving a bus where the council seem to divert buses of main routes because they have a windful of cash and decide to dig up the road and resurface it, Or Scattish and Southern Gas want to dig up just about every main route into the city. Utility companies and the council should be held responsible just as much as the Bus companies. Sort out the the large volumes of traffic into So'ton with a Park & Ride Like winchester or Fareham have a proper bus Station where Passengers can find their Bus etc.
The traffic commisioner should check into these these thing's
(The Road Network is Chaos) before handing out fines to the bus compainies which in turn will just put the fares up to cover cost's Any motorist with a brain will know Southampton is a Crap place to travel or shop .... And so should you lot reading the post's how many have you been effected by the recent trend in road closures etc Shirley - Portswood - Bitterne to name a few .....
Posted by: bob the builder on 11:42pm Thu 7 Aug 08
What's wrong with digging up roads?
What's wrong with digging up roads?
Posted by: Bus Driver, Southampton on 8:17am Fri 8 Aug 08
[quote][bold]RACHAEL[/bold] wrote:
Most of the bloody blue line bus drivers hang around in town smoking fags and chatting to their mates, my bus has been late so many times due to slack bus drivers. [/quote] I see what you mean,,,,, BUT
There is a slight problem to your arguement.
There is a law about driving hours and breaktimes.
Mostly us drivers hang about hang a smoke and chantting,,, while waiting for the last few minutes of the compulsary LEGAL BREAK to click away before we can drive again.
It's unfortunate and can look bad to have drivers hanging around, but no-one driving,,, but thats the way in which the law has been laid out by the government.. FOR a very good reason...
There are maximum hours in which anyone one driver can actually drive for,, and a MINIMUM period of time that we must take time away from the wheel.. To provent driver fatigue, one of the biggest causes of accidents.
Breaking these rules can cost a driver his licence, and the Company £10,000's of in fines from VOSA the regulating body.
If you doubt these fact try looking up VOSA and Tacho hours on the internet....
RACHAEL wrote:
Most of the bloody blue line bus drivers hang around in town smoking fags and chatting to their mates, my bus has been late so many times due to slack bus drivers.
I see what you mean,,,,, BUT
There is a slight problem to your arguement.
There is a law about driving hours and breaktimes.
Mostly us drivers hang about hang a smoke and chantting,,, while waiting for the last few minutes of the compulsary LEGAL BREAK to click away before we can drive again.
It's unfortunate and can look bad to have drivers hanging around, but no-one driving,,, but thats the way in which the law has been laid out by the government.. FOR a very good reason...
There are maximum hours in which anyone one driver can actually drive for,, and a MINIMUM period of time that we must take time away from the wheel.. To provent driver fatigue, one of the biggest causes of accidents.
Breaking these rules can cost a driver his licence, and the Company £10,000's of in fines from VOSA the regulating body.
If you doubt these fact try looking up VOSA and Tacho hours on the internet....
Posted by: Robert, Southamton on 10:20am Fri 8 Aug 08
As from Sept Uni-Link will now be run by Bluestar! So I expect the service to go down hill. Or if it stays the same then surely Bluestar passengers (of which I am one) should have a cause of complaint
As from Sept Uni-Link will now be run by Bluestar! So I expect the service to go down hill. Or if it stays the same then surely Bluestar passengers (of which I am one) should have a cause of complaint
Posted by: clair, Transport on 11:30am Fri 8 Aug 08
On reading the above one can see there is something seriously wrong with the infrastructure and the companies running them - when, oh when, will some sensible council say 'enough is enough' we are all being taken for a ride?
clair
On reading the above one can see there is something seriously wrong with the infrastructure and the companies running them - when, oh when, will some sensible council say 'enough is enough' we are all being taken for a ride?
clair
Posted by: Tim Talbot, West End on 1:22pm Fri 8 Aug 08
I have recently moved to Southampton for my work, I can honestly say that 'First Bus' here is the worst service I've ever had! Both my wife & I was soley relient on the 8A service, what a shambles late buses or even dropping a bus, rude drivers! i dont just mean rude but arrogant...some of the worst driving i've ever had to experience(being a trained Fire Service driver). The route is so busy at peak times they 'overload' single decker buses.After 3 months of this chaos we have resorted to buying a car, so both my wife & I can actually get to work in one piece!Please First Bus Hampshire - No1 Retrain drivers! No2 Get some modern Buses No3 Get some managers out on the routes rather than sat in their offices!PS: Please Dont Just use the roadworks at shirley as an excuse! I have to use the same diversions in my car.
I have recently moved to Southampton for my work, I can honestly say that 'First Bus' here is the worst service I've ever had! Both my wife & I was soley relient on the 8A service, what a shambles late buses or even dropping a bus, rude drivers! i dont just mean rude but arrogant...some of the worst driving i've ever had to experience(being a trained Fire Service driver). The route is so busy at peak times they 'overload' single decker buses.After 3 months of this chaos we have resorted to buying a car, so both my wife & I can actually get to work in one piece!Please First Bus Hampshire - No1 Retrain drivers! No2 Get some modern Buses No3 Get some managers out on the routes rather than sat in their offices!PS: Please Dont Just use the roadworks at shirley as an excuse! I have to use the same diversions in my car.
Posted by: Blue Star Driver, Hants on 1:09am Sat 9 Aug 08
[quote][bold]Bus Driver[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]RACHAEL[/bold] wrote: Most of the bloody blue line bus drivers hang around in town smoking fags and chatting to their mates, my bus has been late so many times due to slack bus drivers. [/quote] I see what you mean,,,,, BUT There is a slight problem to your arguement. There is a law about driving hours and breaktimes. Mostly us drivers hang about hang a smoke and chantting,,, while waiting for the last few minutes of the compulsary LEGAL BREAK to click away before we can drive again. It's unfortunate and can look bad to have drivers hanging around, but no-one driving,,, but thats the way in which the law has been laid out by the government.. FOR a very good reason... There are maximum hours in which anyone one driver can actually drive for,, and a MINIMUM period of time that we must take time away from the wheel.. To provent driver fatigue, one of the biggest causes of accidents. Breaking these rules can cost a driver his licence, and the Company £10,000's of in fines from VOSA the regulating body. If you doubt these fact try looking up VOSA and Tacho hours on the internet....[/quote] There are no proper facilities for Blue Star drivers in Southampton due to lack of bus station etc, we do not like having to stand around during breaks WHICH WE ARE ENTITLED TOO. we'd rather have proper rest facilities where we can go and wind down from people that don't appreciate what we have too put up with. We also get asked questions through out are break periods by joe public regarding times and stops etc , we are polite as best we can regardless of having are break interupted. The Majority of are shifts are between 10 and 13 hours a day. I treat people how they treat me everyone that gives respect deserves respect in my book. Don't tar all drivers with the same brush. Like passengers there are good and bad!!!
Bus Driver wrote:
RACHAEL wrote: Most of the bloody blue line bus drivers hang around in town smoking fags and chatting to their mates, my bus has been late so many times due to slack bus drivers.
I see what you mean,,,,, BUT There is a slight problem to your arguement. There is a law about driving hours and breaktimes. Mostly us drivers hang about hang a smoke and chantting,,, while waiting for the last few minutes of the compulsary LEGAL BREAK to click away before we can drive again. It's unfortunate and can look bad to have drivers hanging around, but no-one driving,,, but thats the way in which the law has been laid out by the government.. FOR a very good reason... There are maximum hours in which anyone one driver can actually drive for,, and a MINIMUM period of time that we must take time away from the wheel.. To provent driver fatigue, one of the biggest causes of accidents. Breaking these rules can cost a driver his licence, and the Company £10,000's of in fines from VOSA the regulating body. If you doubt these fact try looking up VOSA and Tacho hours on the internet....
There are no proper facilities for Blue Star drivers in Southampton due to lack of bus station etc, we do not like having to stand around during breaks WHICH WE ARE ENTITLED TOO. we'd rather have proper rest facilities where we can go and wind down from people that don't appreciate what we have too put up with. We also get asked questions through out are break periods by joe public regarding times and stops etc , we are polite as best we can regardless of having are break interupted. The Majority of are shifts are between 10 and 13 hours a day. I treat people how they treat me everyone that gives respect deserves respect in my book. Don't tar all drivers with the same brush. Like passengers there are good and bad!!!
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