Around Torbay.

Before we had free bus passes for pensioners we had the Devon Wide scheme which allowed holders of Devon Wide passes to travel for half fare after 8:45. As you drove along after 8:30 there would be little groups of old dears stood at the bus stops hoping the driver would let them on a few minutes early. I am a hard sod and never would. Them came the free bus passes and the time they could be used became 9:00 and the little groups of hopeful old dears would start forming at 8:45. I still wouldn't let them on. On pass holder wanted to get on at 10 to nine and when I wouldn't let him on he complained that he would be late for work! He did get invited to get on the bus but only if he actually took some money out of his pocket and bought a ticket. He decide he would sooner be late for work. What an excuse that would be when the boss asked why you were late for work, "The bus driver expected me to pay my fare. I am sorry but I now expect the tax payer to do that for me."

Now under the Around Torbay scheme the time is 9:30. Yesterday I took over a bus on the Strand at 9:33 and the first 20 people who got on the bus were freebies. There was also a comment I heard over the radio from the driver of the 22 service that runs in Brixham that he had a full standing load and was leaving people behind. If I leave behind it isn't much of a problem, there will be an other bus in 7 or 8 minutes. If the 22 leaves behind it is 30 mins before the next bus. It would appear we have two morning rush hours. God knows, but doesn't care, what's going to happen next April when this free bus scheme become Nation Wide.

Around Torbay

There have been one or two, or even more articles and letters in the local paper over the last few days re old dears queueing for hours in the cold and wet to change their bus passes. Indeed I have reported such queues here on this blog. So in the interest of research and empathy with the waiting masses I decided to go down to the Stagecoach Travel Shop on the Harbour Side today with a view to changing my pass. Providing the queue was down to less than 200. I did cheat a little, it was a lovely sunny warm day and instead of turning up at a quarter to nine in the morning, I got there at 3:30. In the afternoon I should point out. I didn't spend several hours in a sleeping bag on the pavement waiting, shivering, for the shop to open. So what was there when I turned up? Massive queue, hours spent reminiscing with 80 year olds about the queues we used to get during the war, Salvation Army Cadets handing out warming cups of Bovril,old dears banging their walking sticks on the windows of the Travel Shop and threatening to write nasty letters to the Editor. No, sorry. I walked into the shop and three charming and very helpful members of staff (see below) waiting to help me fill in the application form, take my photo and give me the above pass. Took about two minutes from start to finish. So now I can travel free round the Bay on any bus that turns up. Aren't Torbay Council wonderful. And Stagecoach Devon for providing the staff and shop to assist in the changes.



Rushed of their feet, aren't they?


I was there for about 20 minutes and in that time they deal with about 5 people, the moral of the story seems to be don't turn up on hour one, day one; wait a few days and it will all calm down.