An example of why we don¡¦t want to use public transport

[blearyeyedboy]

Minemapper said:

Could be worse though, you could be in the US. They make us look like a paragon of efficiency and availability on this front.

It does depend on where you go. LA is pathetic. Seattle has a remarkably integrated bus and underground service that's excellent; on a par with Austria's (since the OP mentioned it). Amtrack trains were punctual and clean though jolly expensive.

[vixen1700]

sday12 said:

Epping is in Essex.

Yes I know, I'm from London. But it was still on the London tube network.

[sleep envy]

DanDC5 said:

Agree mostly with this, the few times I've used it I've found the tube to be pretty good though.

The tube is good (when it runs) however the people you have to share it with are truly awful.

These days I cycle into work, getting soaked to the skin on days such as this is more than worthwhile.

[Dr G]

I drive almost everywhere (or walk/cycle locally). Doesn't even cost me more money as soft drinks are cheap.

Public transport is not even close to being good enough.

[Deluded]

Just recently started using the bus myself. Makes sence rather than spending £70 on a tank of petrol for the CR-V every week and a half when it costs me £70 for a months worth of travel on the bus.

First week worked great. leave the house at 7:50. Walk to the bus stop (15mins) to get the 8:15 bus. Gets me to the city centre for 8:45. 5 min walk to work. Ready to open for 9:00 no probs.

Then the kids went back to school. 8:15 bus now gets me in for 9:20. Traffic everywhere and bus full of kids. Phoned ahead, boss fine with it as it's a one off...

Next day I make an effort and get the 7:50 bus instead. Gets me to city centre for 8:45. Open on time. Sorted.

Next few days are fine. Earlier bus is kid free and the traffic eases. Tend to be getting into work for 8:30 but not the end of the world as I can just open slowly and laze around a bit.

All fine until one morning the 7:50 bus doesnt turn up. FFS. I got to the stop at 7:40 so didn't just miss it etc. Stay at the stop just incase it turns up. 8:15 comes so expecting the next bus to turn up. Nope. 8:35 comes when the next bus should be there. Nope that doesnt turn up either... FFS 3 busses missed!. I walk home, get the car and am in for 9:15 thankfully. Boss a bit more bothered this time as it's the second late in a week.

Asked the driver the following day why they didn't turn up... "oh, busses were avoiding that stop as there were road works that were tricky to get around"... fk OFF! There were no roadworks the whole length of the high street and surely if they were avoiding a stop, they should put a sign up. Myself and around 20 people waiting at the stop by the time I had walked off were all let down by the st service.

I'm still getting the bus. I did um and ahh over just forgetting my venture on the busses but I'm going to stick it out a bit more... Any more fk ups and I will just call it a day.

[Mr Gear]

Deluded said:

Just recently started using the bus myself. Makes sence rather than spending £70 on a tank of petrol for the CR-V every week and a half when it costs me £70 for a months worth of travel on the bus.

First week worked great. leave the house at 7:50. Walk to the bus stop (15mins) to get the 8:15 bus. Gets me to the city centre for 8:45. 5 min walk to work. Ready to open for 9:00 no probs.

Then the kids went back to school. 8:15 bus now gets me in for 9:20. Traffic everywhere and bus full of kids. Phoned ahead, boss fine with it as it's a one off...

Next day I make an effort and get the 7:50 bus instead. Gets me to city centre for 8:45. Open on time. Sorted.

Next few days are fine. Earlier bus is kid free and the traffic eases. Tend to be getting into work for 8:30 but not the end of the world as I can just open slowly and laze around a bit.

All fine until one morning the 7:50 bus doesnt turn up. FFS. I got to the stop at 7:40 so didn't just miss it etc. Stay at the stop just incase it turns up. 8:15 comes so expecting the next bus to turn up. Nope. 8:35 comes when the next bus should be there. Nope that doesnt turn up either... FFS 3 busses missed!. I walk home, get the car and am in for 9:15 thankfully. Boss a bit more bothered this time as it's the second late in a week.

Asked the driver the following day why they didn't turn up... "oh, busses were avoiding that stop as there were road works that were tricky to get around"... fk OFF! There were no roadworks the whole length of the high street and surely if they were avoiding a stop, they should put a sign up. Myself and around 20 people waiting at the stop by the time I had walked off were all let down by the st service.

I'm still getting the bus. I did um and ahh over just forgetting my venture on the busses but I'm going to stick it out a bit more... Any more fk ups and I will just call it a day.

Time for a bike.

[TomN94]

The "Zone" Scheme is also in play up here in Inverness, and I have yet to have a late bus in nearly 7 months of living here. It works well up north. I can say that, back down in Yorkshire however, its st.

[CK_N4S]

jatinder said:

I pay over £1600 a year for this service.

And you still consider it to be a service?

CK

[jatinder]

CK_N4S said:

And you still consider it to be a service?

CK

Sorry not "service" I mean a "raping"

[MarkRSi]

I call BS.

ghibbett said:

The first encounter of this was at our local bus stop, no timetable to be seen and a bus that finally turns up 20 minutes late.

If there was no timetable, how did you know it was 20 minutes late?

[sday12]

vixen1700 said:

sday12 said:

Epping is in Essex.

Yes I know, I'm from London. But it was still on the London tube network.

I thought you said you moved out of London?

[chris182]

Yep, completely agree, public transport is terrible. Every time I have used it during the last 5 years I have turned up late, irritated, poor and with a disease. I can't see what possible reason anyone would have for using public transport outside of big cities as whenever I have looked it is always cheaper to drive (by myself, in a not hugely economical car). When I drive I get there on time, disease free and in a good mood, so it's a win/win really.

[Deluded]

It may be cheaper as a one off journey but I'm easily saving 100-150 a month getting the bus.

[ruz316]

Deluded said:

Just recently started using the bus myself. Makes sence rather than spending £70 on a tank of petrol for the CR-V every week and a half when it costs me £70 for a months worth of travel on the bus.

First week worked great. leave the house at 7:50. Walk to the bus stop (15mins) to get the 8:15 bus. Gets me to the city centre for 8:45. 5 min walk to work. Ready to open for 9:00 no probs.

Then the kids went back to school. 8:15 bus now gets me in for 9:20. Traffic everywhere and bus full of kids. Phoned ahead, boss fine with it as it's a one off...

Next day I make an effort and get the 7:50 bus instead. Gets me to city centre for 8:45. Open on time. Sorted.

Next few days are fine. Earlier bus is kid free and the traffic eases. Tend to be getting into work for 8:30 but not the end of the world as I can just open slowly and laze around a bit.

All fine until one morning the 7:50 bus doesnt turn up. FFS. I got to the stop at 7:40 so didn't just miss it etc. Stay at the stop just incase it turns up. 8:15 comes so expecting the next bus to turn up. Nope. 8:35 comes when the next bus should be there. Nope that doesnt turn up either... FFS 3 busses missed!. I walk home, get the car and am in for 9:15 thankfully. Boss a bit more bothered this time as it's the second late in a week.

Asked the driver the following day why they didn't turn up... "oh, busses were avoiding that stop as there were road works that were tricky to get around"... fk OFF! There were no roadworks the whole length of the high street and surely if they were avoiding a stop, they should put a sign up. Myself and around 20 people waiting at the stop by the time I had walked off were all let down by the st service.

I'm still getting the bus. I did um and ahh over just forgetting my venture on the busses but I'm going to stick it out a bit more... Any more fk ups and I will just call it a day.

my friend you are not the only one in this exact situation

late buses, disappearing buses, early buses,

getting to work early, getting to work late, its all happened to me

its not worth the stress standing at the bus stop wondering if you will make it into work on time every day

i guarantee you will be back in your car very soon

[Deluded]

Haha maybe. We shall see. Luckily I only have to get one bus so no messing around with changes etc. I've always got the car to fall back on though so will always be able to get in.

[frosted]

I have just got a £260 100cc piaggio fly , £120 CBT, £160 insurance, £15 Road tax, free parking , 100 MPG and NO traffic. I know its pissing down now but in last 2 years on average has been quite dry.

Car only used in the evening and when I have to move stuff about, happy days

[CampDavid]

I live in Bedford, I stand most mornings

I pay £4000 a year to get to the city

I'm perminantly in a bad mood

[miniman]

It was Third Rate Western, wasn't it?

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

Reminds me of my 'great idea' of going from the South Coast by train and tube to a concert at the O2 one Saturday night. I convinced my other 2 mates that it would be much easier.

Got to the train Station in plenty of time. The train we wanted was advertised as turning up on time. No announcements to tell us otherwise. No written information, nothing. Basically one would assume the train would arrive, depart and get us to Waterloo at the advertised time.

Wrong.

Unbelievably, it wasn't until we got over halway to Woking, that the guard casually came on the tannoy to announce that due to engineering works, we would be diverting to Waterloo round branch lines through Surrey. A one hour journey turned into nearly two hours

But it wasn't the end of the world, it just meant we'd miss the support acts.

Until we got to Waterloo. Off we trotted across the concourse to the Jubilee line that would take us to the O2.

All closed, with a hand written sign saying the Jubilee line would be closed all weekend for engineering works! fking arrrrggghhh!

In the end we got a cab that cost us Christ knows what, and got to the O2 so late, all we saw was the last hour of the headline act.

Public transport in the UK? Bunch of arse.

[SuperHangOn]

My local train station is just a hang out for pissed chavs, chancing it after about 8 usually results in being bottled.