Most passengers knew the fares were going up and payed up, except for one gentleman who on hearing the new fare declared that he would never travel on a bus again preferring to walk. He then demonstrated his resolve by getting of the bus and walking. If he is true to his word then he will be a very determined ex-passenger because it is a very long walk from Newton Abbot Rail Station to Kingskerswell.
Most of the conversations with passengers yesterday (Mon 31 March) were about concessionary passes. The first took place while I was waiting to catch a bus to work. One lady was worried that her pass was due to run out on the 31st (which all Around Torbay passes were) and she wouldn't be able to travel the next day. I reassured her that we weren't heartless down at the bus company and we would accept the passes until September. Several other passengers were given the same information during the course of the morning. Then at lunch time a new notice had been prepared in response to the millions of fax messages that had been flying round the country about the rules and regulations and last minute decisions being made due to the fact that almost no one had a proper pass (problems at the printers). We would honor the passes only until 13th April, after that they would have to be accompanied by the cardboard temp pass, and of course the person using the pass for us to honor. But I have been reassured that by then everyone will either have the new pass or a temp pass. As yet I have neither.
Passes from outside Devon will have to be either the new pass or an old pass plus cardboard temp pass. Then a couple got on the bus and the husband told me that just before they left the house to catch the train down for a weeks holiday in Torquay the post had arrived with his wife's new pass but not his. So she can have free bus rides around the Bay but he will have to pay. Sad.
PS Please disregard previous post. I have no idea how it got there. Nothing to do with me. Honest.
PPS And if you are at a loss about what to do with your new bus pass here is an idea.
6 comments:
What a fantastic waste of taxpayers money. Leeds to Penzance....comes to...let me work this one out....400 miles, and buses are roughly £1 per mile - give or take some pennies. Their journey will add £800 to the bill.
Doesn't sound much, but I'd hate to imagine other people following suit..i.e. "Oh, it's free so I might as well take this pointless journey".
Besides, I already know what long distance local bus journeys are like. I can tell you now: Cold, lots of waiting at bus stations, arse numbing, stressful, very tiring. On a good day. Not sure how two pensioners would manage.
I just stumbled across a fantastic clip from the 1950's. It's about travelling by bus in London-the largest city in the world:
Linkie thing
Incase the above link didn't work, copy and paste the following link into your address bar:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBOcLnyMX-M&feature=related
Still got the odd report of people being turned off for the AT pass being out of date.
Drivers are confused - what with different passes being available from different times in different areas (and in some locations there are different passes with different availability to) it is hardly surprising...some local council's haven't helped either by changing their minds about times of availability at the last minute (one that I know of, in the last fortnight!)...
English bureaucracy (from National Government down to District council level) tested and yet again found severely wanting ...regarding funding and proper national conditions, what was wrong with learning a lesson from the scots or welsh? With regard to delayed issue of tickets, yes it's a huge task, but the local authorities have had at least a year to get organised!
Once again, the poor bloody infantry are left to try and pick up the pieces...
watched that you tube clip, my god how not so P.C.
people jumping off buses while moving, amongst other things.
just goes to show, maybe all progress isn't better
Love your blog,and I dont think that one gentleman will be walking, you will see him on a bus. Anyway rising fuel costs and those new passes are contributing to the rise in fares. I dont mind paying extra, not for a fantastic bus service with fantastic drivers. Keep up the good work and the great blog :-D
Adam
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