Travelling on the bus

[homealone]

Originally Posted by Paul

Want to quantify that or post proof? The bus route I use is regularly loaded up with professionals using it to get to local stations. These stations then take them on to the city of London. I take it that these are the "poor" "council" people that you talk of?? For the sake of not getting a second infraction warning I won't post what I think of the tripe you posted.

you mustn't say it was tripe - that would imply it took guts


- on another note I'd, personally, like to re-visit the idea of bus conductors, I'd like to see some trials run, comparing a 'with' & 'without' service? ............

[Paul]

Conductors would only make a difference if they were given the "power" and backing to actually do anything. Maybe if kids/ adults were actually punished for anti-social behaviour on buses and were turfed off them and banned from using them for a period if caught breaking the rules the buses wouldn't be in the condition they are in.

[Anonymouse]

Buses are the main reason I got a bike. I was royally brassed-off with the constant fare increases and timetables which could only be described as pure imaginative fiction. In fact, once I followed a bus to my destination - and I got there first. What does that tell you?

[Horace]

If the bus service round here would be improved I'd stop using the car altogether but I tend to work horrible hours and bank holidays/Sundays. I always wished the bus services were re-nationalised and not run for profit but environment and the publics benefit. I'm sure a lot of people would be much happier not having to fork out for parking spaces, tickets, congestion charges as well as the general stress of driving. I don't think I've heard anyone say a good word about the bus service since it was privatised and a good public transport service is a great magnet for investment and tourism. I'd certainly be willing to pay a tax hike to subsidies such a service.

[altis]

It sounds like cycling might be an ideal option. When I worked in Northwich the journey was about 11 miles each way. It used to take me 22 minutes to drive or about 45 to cycle it - which I used to do most of the summer. That's about 45 minutes extra to the day, saves a bit of petrol and is a great way to stay fit.

[Angua]

Until buses are more convenient and cheaper than a car to get about you will not win many converts. However where they are convenient and cheaper it works well.

[Nugget]

Originally Posted by Anonymouse

In fact, once I followed a bus to my destination - and I got there first. What does that tell you? [

It tells me that you obviously didn't follow it very well

[Mr_love_monkey]

Originally Posted by Nugget

It tells me that you obviously didn't follow it very well

Or that he fell down a rift in the space/time continuum

[Escapee]

Originally Posted by altis

It sounds like cycling might be an ideal option. When I worked in Northwich the journey was about 11 miles each way. It used to take me 22 minutes to drive or about 45 to cycle it - which I used to do most of the summer. That's about 45 minutes extra to the day, saves a bit of petrol and is a great way to stay fit.

Not for me though, there is a very long steep hill on my route home. I can manage to reach about 30mph up there in my Trabant but only in I exceed the 30 mph limit at the bottom of the hill. I had thought of an electric car or even an electric bike for the summer but I think they would struggle with the hill.

[Mr_love_monkey]

That's the thing, if you want to travel anywhere by bus, you need to allow an extra 30 minutes, if not more, for a) waiting for the bus, and b) sitting on the bus whilst it drives in a spiral to reach it's destination, rather than a direct route.

I drive to and from the station in the morning, because in the evening I want to be able to get home in time to spend a while with my son. Going by car is the difference between getting home at 6.30 and getting home at 7.30.

[peanutkp]

Originally Posted by scrotnig

Buses are so council.....they are for poor people who can't afford cars.

[homealone]

Originally Posted by Paul

Conductors would only make a difference if they were given the "power" and backing to actually do anything. Maybe if kids/ adults were actually punished for anti-social behaviour on buses and were turfed off them and banned from using them for a period if caught breaking the rules the buses wouldn't be in the condition they are in.

Very true, on both counts.

One sanction that might work is to stop the bus & refuse to continue until the offender(s) got off?

Unfortunately the respect which used to be given to people like bus conductors & park keepers no longer seems to exist, so I can see it would be difficult, which is why I wondered if a trial might be appropriate?

[wwe]

travelling on the bus is great its better then a taxi or a car anyday

[McGraw]

I haven't driven for years but that is because I work in Manchester City.

I spend most of my time at my girlfriends near Oldham. There is a bus stop 1 minutes jog away and the bus takes about 35 minutes to get to manchester and I then have a 5 or so minute walk.

It only costs £3.20 per day and the buses are ok, if a bit chilly in winter.

I can also snooze on the bus.

However, I must admit that my girlfriend has to drive as she is a single parent and needs to be able to collect him from his Dad's and both Nanna's, neither of whom drive. So, when she does, I get in with her. It costs more than £3.20 just to park! I usually go in with her twice a week.

I wish we could both get the bus but it leaves at 7:20 and it's just not feasible to get her 12 year old to school before then or leave him to make his own way on a 2 or 3 mile walk. Instead, he has to be dropped off at his friend's at about 7:45 and they make their way down together.

[superbiatch]

It takes me 25 mins to get from Liverpool to St Helens where i work. The route via public transport would take 1.5 hours and would involve 3 buses or a 15 min walk, 30 min train to Wigan (way out of my way!) and then a 20 min train to St Helens and a 20 min walk - for me using the public transport is not an option

I happily use the bus to get into town at the weekend, especially the renowned 'drunk bus' coming home where every destination is £1.50 hic!