Letter: I Agree With the More Critical View of Bus Services

Published on: 5 Oct, 2024
Updated on: 4 Oct, 2024

From Tom Saunders

In response to: Let’s Hear It for Our Bus Services

I am genuinely glad to hear the bus services are delivering for Mr Worley in Guildford. However, I imagine one’s view depends on which route is used and at what time. As a regular user of the No 6 service between Burpham and the town centre for work, I would be inclined to agree with the critical, social media view.

It’s all well and good claiming buses are scheduled every 20 minutes, but in reality this is increasingly the exception rather than the norm. No buses turning up at all or, as in the old cliché, two turning up at once, leading to the embarrassing sight of a full bus being immediately tailed by an empty one, can result in waits of well over an hour. I can only state my admiration for parents I have witnessed trying to entertain young children for this length of time; not an easy task.

Although congestion and unexpected issues can understandably crop up, the information provided to passengers simply isn’t good enough. Better forecasting on the time of the next available bus at any given stop should be made available, so passengers can make more informed decisions on whether to keep waiting, or seek alternative arrangements.

I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve walked the route home having become fed up of the wait and no reliable information. More often than not, the bus does not pass by on the 45-50 minute walk, only retrospectively justifying the decision. Some people with lower mobility may not be as fortunate to take this action, so I dread to think how long they may have been stranded (unless they fork out for a taxi). As we move further toward freezing temperatures, this inconvenience only becomes more acute.

I think people can weather the situation if it is a once in a blue moon event, but the frequent inadequacies compound over time, drain the will to live. A new bus station is unlikely to help, but pedestrianisation of the town centre might if inevitably discontented motorists can be appeased (with an incentivise Park & Ride again maybe?). Reducing the scheduled frequency back to every 30 minutes may also be preferable if this provides more confidence in buses actually turning up. At least people could plan better if reliability was improved.

Fares may seem good value, but is it enough to dissuade people from the convenience of cars? Anecdotally, it would seem not, so greater incentives for bus use are needed.