When was the last time you went on a bus?
Discussion
GOATever said:
C70GT said:
I hadn't been on a bus for best part of 30 years or so. Then a couple of years ago where I work altered the car parking arrangements and we could no longer park at the office. They introduced park and ride on the edge of town and using the public bus service at a subsidised rate.
First morning I park and wait at the bus stop, bus duly arrives, I get on and all good. At the end of the day I walk to the designated stop, I am the only one standing at the stop, correct bus approaches and drives straight pass. Hmm, what was that all about. I wait for the next bus in about ten minutes and the same thing happens. Sod this, I will walk - 20 mins later I reach the car park .
Get home and b
h to the missus about how crap the drivers are for not stopping and the first thing she said is, 'Did you put your arm out to hail the bus? Me: 'no, why would I do that, I'm standing at the stop and the driver should have stopped to pick me up'. Wife then gives me a lesson in how to hail a bus. I genuinely had no idea.
Next day at work, I sheepishly admit to missing the bus as I did not know how to get it to stop. One of my colleagues admitted that the same had happened to him, as like me, he had not been on a bus for 20 years.
The last time I travelled by train - about 5 years ago. I got on the train and sat down, the train then proceeds and I was struck by how quiet and smooth the ride was. I then realised it was the first time I had travelled on continuous track: the previous time which would be 20 years previous it was 'clickety click clickety click' over the rail joins.
Other than a terminus, they are all ‘request stops’ as you’ve found out First morning I park and wait at the bus stop, bus duly arrives, I get on and all good. At the end of the day I walk to the designated stop, I am the only one standing at the stop, correct bus approaches and drives straight pass. Hmm, what was that all about. I wait for the next bus in about ten minutes and the same thing happens. Sod this, I will walk - 20 mins later I reach the car park .
Get home and b
h to the missus about how crap the drivers are for not stopping and the first thing she said is, 'Did you put your arm out to hail the bus? Me: 'no, why would I do that, I'm standing at the stop and the driver should have stopped to pick me up'. Wife then gives me a lesson in how to hail a bus. I genuinely had no idea.Next day at work, I sheepishly admit to missing the bus as I did not know how to get it to stop. One of my colleagues admitted that the same had happened to him, as like me, he had not been on a bus for 20 years.
The last time I travelled by train - about 5 years ago. I got on the train and sat down, the train then proceeds and I was struck by how quiet and smooth the ride was. I then realised it was the first time I had travelled on continuous track: the previous time which would be 20 years previous it was 'clickety click clickety click' over the rail joins.
One day, after not having used a bus in the capital for a long time, my wife and I came out of a venue in Greenwich, where we’d been attending a party, to look for a bus to Rotherhithe.
Seeing a standard white stop in Blackwall Lane, we stood there and 5 or 6 minutes later a bus swept past and turned right into Trafalgar Road, heading toward Rotherhithe.
I mentioned this to my FIL, a bus driver, he said, “We cba to stop now, unless someone rings the bell, or raises a hand.”
I asked if the public ever reported a bus driver for not stopping, he said that they did occasionally, and the bus drivers just shrug, and say that they never saw them.
HTP99 said:
garyhun said:
HTP99 said:
garyhun said:
Every week.
I live about a mile and a half south of York so every time that Mrs G and I fancy a day in the city or to go in for a meal and a few drinks we typically always take the bus.
The service from our house is every 30 minutes, takes about 15 minutes and costs a total of £8
Busses in the UK just seem so expensive for what they offer.I live about a mile and a half south of York so every time that Mrs G and I fancy a day in the city or to go in for a meal and a few drinks we typically always take the bus.
The service from our house is every 30 minutes, takes about 15 minutes and costs a total of £8
In Krakow last year I seem to remember you paid for time as opposed to journey length but it was something like £1.50 for 90 minutes, in Sardinia a few years ago it was €1 for 90 minutes.
When my daughter had to get the bus for college a couple of years ago, it was frequently late or just didn't show and whilst I can't remember the cost I do know it cost alot especially when compared to what i have experience abroad.
garyhun said:
The only issue is if you just want a standard return, you still have to buy the all day pass as there is no such thing as a standard return.
Have a laugh, an all day pass from my village to work, and a fairly large area costs £8.60.A standard return, village to work and home again costs £9.50 or so.
Almost every year when I'm on holiday. Last three years I've been in Menorca, Croatia, and Corfu. From what I can remember, all had a fixed rate single trip of less than 1.5 Euro(or equivalent in Croatia), Nice clean, regular buses with helpful friendly drivers. Why not?
Over 20 years ago in this country. I've got a 12 mile drive from my house to the nearest bus stop. The last bus which went came anywhere near my house was twice a day, 9am and 4pm but they stopped the service over 10 years ago. If I've got to drive the first 12 miles , why would I then get out of the car and into a bus to complete the journey which would cost me more than the petrol for my car?
Over 20 years ago in this country. I've got a 12 mile drive from my house to the nearest bus stop. The last bus which went came anywhere near my house was twice a day, 9am and 4pm but they stopped the service over 10 years ago. If I've got to drive the first 12 miles , why would I then get out of the car and into a bus to complete the journey which would cost me more than the petrol for my car?
As a passenger, very bloody rarely!
Where I live, public transport is abysmal.
Plus, I drive therm every day (sorry, coaches, sounds more upmarket!)
On the continent on holidays, where public transport is cheap, effective and 24 hours, it just makes sense. Berlin by car is fine, but traffic is heavy and you can't have a drink.
Where I live, public transport is abysmal.
Plus, I drive therm every day (sorry, coaches, sounds more upmarket!)
On the continent on holidays, where public transport is cheap, effective and 24 hours, it just makes sense. Berlin by car is fine, but traffic is heavy and you can't have a drink.
Often when flying into Glasgow or Edinburgh I would take the airport bus into the city. GLA is something like £15 return though for a 15 min bus trip with EDI being less than £5 return. Both busses very nicely finished with the Edinburgh busses having huge pano roofs, charging points etc. GLA has tables and wireless charging. Both fantastic if travelling alone.
Frank7 said:
GOATever said:
C70GT said:
I hadn't been on a bus for best part of 30 years or so. Then a couple of years ago where I work altered the car parking arrangements and we could no longer park at the office. They introduced park and ride on the edge of town and using the public bus service at a subsidised rate.
First morning I park and wait at the bus stop, bus duly arrives, I get on and all good. At the end of the day I walk to the designated stop, I am the only one standing at the stop, correct bus approaches and drives straight pass. Hmm, what was that all about. I wait for the next bus in about ten minutes and the same thing happens. Sod this, I will walk - 20 mins later I reach the car park .
Get home and bh to the missus about how crap the drivers are for not stopping and the first thing she said is, 'Did you put your arm out to hail the bus? Me: 'no, why would I do that, I'm standing at the stop and the driver should have stopped to pick me up'. Wife then gives me a lesson in how to hail a bus. I genuinely had no idea.
Next day at work, I sheepishly admit to missing the bus as I did not know how to get it to stop. One of my colleagues admitted that the same had happened to him, as like me, he had not been on a bus for 20 years.
The last time I travelled by train - about 5 years ago. I got on the train and sat down, the train then proceeds and I was struck by how quiet and smooth the ride was. I then realised it was the first time I had travelled on continuous track: the previous time which would be 20 years previous it was 'clickety click clickety click' over the rail joins.
Other than a terminus, they are all ‘request stops’ as you’ve found out First morning I park and wait at the bus stop, bus duly arrives, I get on and all good. At the end of the day I walk to the designated stop, I am the only one standing at the stop, correct bus approaches and drives straight pass. Hmm, what was that all about. I wait for the next bus in about ten minutes and the same thing happens. Sod this, I will walk - 20 mins later I reach the car park .
Get home and b
h to the missus about how crap the drivers are for not stopping and the first thing she said is, 'Did you put your arm out to hail the bus? Me: 'no, why would I do that, I'm standing at the stop and the driver should have stopped to pick me up'. Wife then gives me a lesson in how to hail a bus. I genuinely had no idea.Next day at work, I sheepishly admit to missing the bus as I did not know how to get it to stop. One of my colleagues admitted that the same had happened to him, as like me, he had not been on a bus for 20 years.
The last time I travelled by train - about 5 years ago. I got on the train and sat down, the train then proceeds and I was struck by how quiet and smooth the ride was. I then realised it was the first time I had travelled on continuous track: the previous time which would be 20 years previous it was 'clickety click clickety click' over the rail joins.
One day, after not having used a bus in the capital for a long time, my wife and I came out of a venue in Greenwich, where we’d been attending a party, to look for a bus to Rotherhithe.
Seeing a standard white stop in Blackwall Lane, we stood there and 5 or 6 minutes later a bus swept past and turned right into Trafalgar Road, heading toward Rotherhithe.
I mentioned this to my FIL, a bus driver, he said, “We cba to stop now, unless someone rings the bell, or raises a hand.”
I asked if the public ever reported a bus driver for not stopping, he said that they did occasionally, and the bus drivers just shrug, and say that they never saw them.
Stuart70 said:
Last weekend to get from Murrayfield back into town after the rugby.
They do tap and go payment, it was not biblically raining inside the bus (unlike outside) and it dropped us directly outside the restaurant we had booked.
So all in all a positive experience for the Lothian bus service.
Before that, maybe 10 years ago...
It is pretty good, the buses set up to work with the crowd rather than just trying to maintain a routine service around the crowd. Dunno how the non-rugby/event public feel about it at either ends of the routes though. They do tap and go payment, it was not biblically raining inside the bus (unlike outside) and it dropped us directly outside the restaurant we had booked.
So all in all a positive experience for the Lothian bus service.
Before that, maybe 10 years ago...
I'm fortunate enough to live on a route that links home to Murrayfield directly. It's a long drag but one single mode of transport door to door for not much cost wins it.
I do get thinking that they could do with thinning out the number of stops, possibly by up to half. That'll make most Lothian services flow better and keep the public fitter. But only if they don't take away my favourite stops
This morning!
I pay £250 a month for a zone 1-6 travel card and I'm just on the edge of zone 6. Rather than drive to the train station, pay £5 a day to park (plus fuel) I just get the bus from the end of my road. It's ten minutes and at the time I get on, pretty much empty.
Seems silly not to use the bus really for the additional cost. Admittedly I wouldn't opt for the bus without a good reason and I would avoid like the plague during peak times.
I pay £250 a month for a zone 1-6 travel card and I'm just on the edge of zone 6. Rather than drive to the train station, pay £5 a day to park (plus fuel) I just get the bus from the end of my road. It's ten minutes and at the time I get on, pretty much empty.
Seems silly not to use the bus really for the additional cost. Admittedly I wouldn't opt for the bus without a good reason and I would avoid like the plague during peak times.
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