The dreaded FIRST BUS!

somme1916 · Post by **somme1916** » Tue 19 Jun, 2012 9:55 pm

raveydavey wrote: The 64/65 Aberford / Barwick / Scholes services also used to be limited stop before / after the Highways flats on York Road for the same reason.That stopped long ago though, so now you'll have the splendid sight of a single decker on this service slogging up York Road full to the brim, whilst near empty 56's (with an identical route all the way up York Road to Cross Gates) trundle along behind it. Was unlucky enough to attempt to board the 85 first service,morley-bramley at approx noon today.It's due out at 12.02 in Morley, towards E.Ardsley/Middleton.....it chugged in at 12.20,driver gets off,has a fag 'n says he has a problem-no power in engine.Asks if anybody can smell burning(they are tarmaccing nearby).It has just climbed up Churwell Hill and Morley Bottoms to town hall by the way.So,rings depot up......many minutes pass,then driver sets off on the route.Bus sounds ok,bit sluggish cos it is the usual old banger,but there is some life in the old dear.....driver "milks it" for all he can get(short bursts on accelerator pedal,silly braking manoeuveres,slow pulls from standing start etc).....bus was ok....just an old 'un.Treat 'em fairly,they'll do the job.....guy was a drama queen.Got home 35 mins late.

Post by **chameleon** » Fri 22 Jun, 2012 5:49 pm

A reasonable place to post this courtessy of YEP:Well, the old saying goes, as those used to 'change' are familliar with, 'what goes round comes round' here we go, somewhere near to where we used to be - Plans to put West Yorkshire buses under public control Bus services in West Yorkshire could be brought under public control under proposals announced by the local transport authority.Metro, which funds the area's public transport, said it was considering putting bus services under contract, allowing it to set fares and fine companies that failed to meet targets.If approved, the scheme would be the only one outside London.One bus company said it was "extremely disappointed" at the plan.The chairman of West Yorkshire Metro Councillor James Lewis said the aim was to "drive up standards in public transport".He said: "We invited the bus companies to share their views on how they felt they could do this with us earlier in the year but we felt the deliverability wasn't there."The ability to hold them to a service and hold them to standards wasn't there in the offer they made so that's why we are moving down the route of quality contracts."The Quality Bus Contract (QBC) scheme was introduced in the Transport Act in 2000. It allows local authorities to specify what the local bus network should be and how it should be operated. Under the legislation bus routes and fares can be regulated.Currently, only Transport for London operates such a schemeMetro said that moving to the new system "carries some significant risks". Under a QBC any increased costs, such as fuel rises, will have to be met by the authority.Metro said: "Extra cost would have to be funded either through more public subsidy, fares would have to go up, or services changed".First Bus, which operate services in West Yorkshire, said: "It is a real shame for bus users in West Yorkshire that they have chosen to pursue an expensive, bureaucratic approach, rather than engage with operators on our plans which will quickly deliver benefits for passengers."Quality contracts are completely untried and we believe they will cost council tax payers money they don't have at the moment."The plans will be put out to public consultation.

Post by **tyke bhoy** » Fri 22 Jun, 2012 7:23 pm

chameleon wrote: First Bus, which operate services in West Yorkshire, said: "It is a real shame for bus users in West Yorkshire that they have chosen to pursue an expensive, bureaucratic approach, rather than engage with operators on our plans which will quickly deliver benefits for passengers. Would this be the same First who, as per Big N's post on this page, seem committed to services in Leeds but are undecided about operations in the rest of West Yorkshire

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Fri 22 Jun, 2012 8:24 pm

Worsts hostility to these plans speaks for itself.It's laughable that their sole argument is based on an altruistic desire to "protect council tax payers money".What total rubbish - their only concern is to protect Worst's profits in a city where they've managed to establish a near monopoly on services and have repeatedly ignored the wishes of the very passengers and elected officials they suddenly seem so keen to "work with".The irony, lost on Worst no doubt, is that if they'd paid attention to the needs of their customers and provided a decent service at a sensible cost instead of an all out pursuit of profits regardless of the impact on passengers, then these contracts wouldn't even be getting discussed.For once, it seems like Metro might be about to do the right thing.

somme1916 · Post by **somme1916** » Fri 22 Jun, 2012 8:45 pm

raveydavey wrote: Worsts hostility to these plans speaks for itself.It's laughable that their sole argument is based on an altruistic desire to "protect council tax payers money".What total rubbish - their only concern is to protect Worst's profits in a city where they've managed to establish a near monopoly on services and have repeatedly ignored the wishes of the very passengers and elected officials they suddenly seem so keen to "work with".The irony, lost on Worst no doubt, is that if they'd paid attention to the needs of their customers and provided a decent service at a sensible cost instead of an all out pursuit of profits regardless of the impact on passengers, then these contracts wouldn't even be getting discussed.For once, it seems like Metro might be about to do the right thing. Well put raveydavey......my very sentiments.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Fri 22 Jun, 2012 10:07 pm

I was on a First Bus today and as it approached a stop another bus was pulling out and away, The driver of the bus I was on simply also then pulled further out into the road. I could see there was someone at the stop and he signalled to the bus driver but the bus did not stop. The bus however had to stop for a traffic light only a few yards away and the man went onto the road waving to the driver and he even tapped on the bus door but still no repsonse from the bus driver who then drove away as the lights changed. I did not hear what the man said to the driver but it was no problem reading his lips of the expletive deleted words he said. OK, if the driver had genuinely not seen the man then he was right to not let him on. Driving straight past a stop when there is another bus there or pulling away is however not an uncommonly seen thing.

somme1916 · Post by **somme1916** » Fri 22 Jun, 2012 11:33 pm

Leodian wrote: I was on a First Bus today and as it approached a stop another bus was pulling out and away, The driver of the bus I was on simply also then pulled further out into the road. I could see there was someone at the stop and he signalled to the bus driver but the bus did not stop. The bus however had to stop for a traffic light only a few yards away and the man went onto the road waving to the driver and he even tapped on the bus door but still no repsonse from the bus driver who then drove away as the lights changed. I did not hear what the man said to the driver but it was no problem reading his lips of the expletive deleted words he said. OK, if the driver had genuinely not seen the man then he was right to not let him on. Driving straight past a stop when there is another bus there or pulling away is however not an uncommonly seen thing. Happens all the time on York St,before woodpecker junction,just up from Northern Ballet place.Driver's just can't be bothered queuing to see who might want their particular bus.Too many buses pass,only 1 smallish shelter so chances of you getting your bus are slim.

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Sat 23 Jun, 2012 9:09 am

somme1916 wrote: Leodian wrote: I was on a First Bus today and as it approached a stop another bus was pulling out and away, The driver of the bus I was on simply also then pulled further out into the road. I could see there was someone at the stop and he signalled to the bus driver but the bus did not stop. The bus however had to stop for a traffic light only a few yards away and the man went onto the road waving to the driver and he even tapped on the bus door but still no repsonse from the bus driver who then drove away as the lights changed. I did not hear what the man said to the driver but it was no problem reading his lips of the expletive deleted words he said. OK, if the driver had genuinely not seen the man then he was right to not let him on. Driving straight past a stop when there is another bus there or pulling away is however not an uncommonly seen thing. Happens all the time on York St,before woodpecker junction,just up from Northern Ballet place.Driver's just can't be bothered queuing to see who might want their particular bus.Too many buses pass,only 1 smallish shelter so chances of you getting your bus are slim. I've seen it there myself - plus the added issue that buses heading up York Rd (rather than towards Burmantofts) want to be in the outside lane at the nearby traffic lights, so many just get straight in that lane if there are already buses at the stop.This is an attitude thing and it will take major work to put it right, regardless of who is calling the shots. More inspectors needed perhaps? Or just genuine action on customer complaints?

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Sat 23 Jun, 2012 11:08 am

raveydavey wrote: [This is an attitude thing and it will take major work to put it right, regardless of who is calling the shots. More inspectors needed perhaps? Or just genuine action on customer complaints? Dream on Sir I'm afraid - the very few remaining inspectors are to be made redundant very soon !!I rang Metro to complain about a two hour gap on Sunday last, and of course no "on site" information, in the already pathetic hourly service from City to Ireland Wood on servcie 19. The patient young lady took all the details and then said "I'll pass this on to First" - I thanked her for this but pointed out that I had rung Metro hoping for some meaningful attention to the problem. I'm still waiting for an answer as to why the "real time" display in Infirmary Street indicated that the 1924 bus was coming and "due" before the failure to arrive at all !!

Riponian · Post by **Riponian** » Sat 23 Jun, 2012 12:32 pm

Blakey, possibly your complaint is precisely why First don't want to sign up to any service quality agreement - because it's going to cost them a packet. One way to bring the "quality" up is either to simply get rid of the means of monitoring it (ie no inspectors - the three monkies approach of see no...) or set their own required standards so low that if a bus comes by once in a blue moon to pick up passengers it gets a tick in the box.I would have thought that getting Mr Alexander in, ex Transdev, might have shaken the bush a bit but it seems they are slipping back into their old ways.As for selling the York operation off - I would suspect that if no-one comes forward then the independents will simply move in to fill in the gaps. First are no good at coping with competition (unless they can buy them out of course).