General Chat

From here into Norwich city centre there is a bus every half an hour but it goes round the houses a bit and costs quite a lot, coming back the last one to come close to here leaves the city at around 6.10pm so any later ones leave a distance to walk. I think I might use the buses a bit more when I get my free pass next month but not if I have several things to fit in as it is so easy to stop off with a car and then go on to another area and do something else.

Sue I can imagine the difficulties. My aunt lives in a very narrow lane in Somerset and a large bus would be a nightmare there. Does anyone have a Post-Bus in their area? We did a few years ago and it was useful for people living far away from the normal bus route. A Post Office van, fitted with seats would pick you up and take you into town making the return journey about 1 or 2 hours later, combining the journey with a mail delivery and / or collection. I don't know if it still runs....Probably too many rules and regulations to comply with now. Gwyn

What really annoys me are the huge buses they are using in my area around the villages. They are wider than the old ones. They go through the narrow lanes and other vehicles are forced to squeeze into gateways to let them by. Apart from when the kids are using them to get to and from college they are practically empty, Yet in the nearest towns there are little shuttle buses going round and round all the time. Buses of that size would be ideal for village runs. Sue

Jay That sounds a smart idea. I hope it works well to encourage people to travel with you. I can remember in the past taking my then young daughter to Maidstone for girlie days out, ...just the 2 of us while OH minded the other 2 children at home. We got on the bus about a mile from here and got off it in Maidstone town centre. Now it took me 4 and a half hours to get there. It's a vicious circle really, ...because of the time, few people use the service, I'd guess. Then the bus company cuts the frequency through ' lack of demand'. Gwyn

Frosty the bus driver here....I drive the new Fastrack buses, we have our own special made bus roads or lanes and our busses will change the light to stop other vehicals so we can keep going and miss any traffic spots. As this is new and working well we have vips from all over the country having a look to see if it will suit their town.

Gwynneth, Which way did they take you, Via 'Scotch Corner '?. Hal.

Hi Gwynn, I used to live in East Peckham, Kent. Going on the good old Maidstone & District bus from there to Maidstone wadn't bad but takes an hour plus. To Tunbridge Wells in the mornings, it used to take over an hour and a half. Not too bad considering the time your journey took, but it does seem the buses these days go round the earth to meet the sun, if that's the saying(?).

I would use public transport IF I had access to it. Our village has a bus on one morning a week, which makes a return journey to a very small local town. If you want to go anywhere else, it is a five mile walk to reach a bus route. They preach 'leave the car at home' - let 'the powers that be' live with me for a month without a car. I think they might just reconsider their views. Jay

At least they haven't taken the most used bus out of the timetable in the area you live so that they can include a business park in the route. Now we can't get to hospital appointments (well unless you're an hour early on the other bus when it's only a ten minute journey) or visit people by bus.

Speaking from a purely personal point of view.... I live in London and thanks to Ken I cannot fault the transport system within and around the Capital. Jean x.

Our neighbour has a nephew in Aberdeen. She gets a bus to Stansted, a plane to Edinburgh (about £45 return) and a train to Aberdeen. Total cost under £100 return and about 4 hours each way. That's about what it would be to Birmingham by train.

I have just come back from York - I live in Cornwall. National Express would have taken 19 hours - three changes and several hours waiting at each change. Train would have taken 17 hours and two changes - one so tight that I probably would have missed the connection. The train fare was only £10 less than the plane fare. I flew. The airport is an hour's drive from where I live, and I could not get there by public transport, unless I set out the day before! Flying is supposed to be the most 'unfriendly' sort of transport, but I make no excuse for using it. The journey took me three hours from door to door - why would I choose a journey which took 19 hours? OC

I live in Kent and the public transport is not too bad but when I visit myAuntie and Uncle who live in Streatham, London, there are so many buses to choose from and they are so frequent the journey is really quick. Linda

I have the same problem when visiting my mum who only live 30 miles away. I can get a bus to the bus station from my home for 90p but I choose to walk as its only about a half hour walk and I know I will be sitting on buses for a while. I then get a bus at 8.50 which costs me £6 for a return. That bus drops me of at 9.55 and I have a 15 minute wait. I then get of that one just before 11 and have a 10 minute walk to my mums. COming back the last bus leaves her town at 5.45 getting us to the next bus station at 6.10 and we have a 40 minute wait for the next bus then when we get of that one we usually have a wait for the last bus home as I am often to worn out to walk the last bit. So we leave home at 8 in teh morning and get home at 8 at night. So that can work out at £7.80 BUT if I go on my mo-ped I can fill up the tank for £2 and it takes about an hour to go and an hour to come back door to door.

When I was travelling home from uni, it would take 10 hours on National Express. It takes only 5 and half to six by car (altho my brother once did it in 3 and half... >.< ) They'll never get more people to use public transport instead of their cars until they improve services.

...Hello Angel I've no complaint about the drivers and in fact it was quite interesting to call into several of the villages along the route.... but what happened to convenience or getting the bus connections to be better timed.?.... Changing at Ashford, I had to wait nearly an hour for a connection and arrived at Maidstone to find that the return buses are 1 every 2 hours. Good job I set out early. Gwyn

the london to ramsgate takes up to 4 hours but only takes an hour by car but must admit the drivers are more polite and helpful in kent than in the north east

I went to Maidstone today to hand-deliver a letter to Council Offices, travelling by bus from my home a few miles from Folkestone....... I caught the next available bus at each changeover....... I set out just after 9.10 am and arrived home after 6pm....... I could have flown to the Mediterranean quicker....!