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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

That they are cancelling my bus and I am really pissed off

111 replies

RedBlu · 17/09/2015 21:24

We moved to this area last year, it's sort of semi rural but I ensured before moving here it had a good bus route as I work in the city and I don't drive.

Been using the bus service for months with no issues and then today, look in the local paper and the bus company are going to stop serving our area as its not "viable".

I am FUMING! They will be going as far as the next village, which is a 15 minute walk. Not an issue in the summer months, but now it's getting cold, dark and wet, it's not something I want to do.

There is a train station a bit closer but I can't afford it, even buying yearly pass through work would mean paying back £90 a month.

I am currently paying the bus company £45!

I am actually really upset about it as its has totally fucked me up as I don't know what to do. Obviously walking is the only option it maybe getting a bike and cycling to the next village.

Either way, I am really fed up. I know I should learn to drive, but it's expensive and I don't have the spare money to spend on it at the moment.

Sad
OP posts:
LunchpackOfNotreDame · 17/09/2015 21:25

Can you cycle to the bus stop?

StealthPolarBear · 17/09/2015 21:26

A 15 minute walk is nothing really. It will be an extra chance for some exercise.

Original poster
RedBlu · 17/09/2015 21:26

It's more the fact of in winter when is chucking it down and freezing cold.... Not so nice

OP posts:
Scarydinosaurs · 17/09/2015 21:27

Would a bike be an option? Left locked near the bus stop?

ceeveebee · 17/09/2015 21:27

I can see why that would be irritating but really a 15 minute walk is nothing, pretty normal distance from house to station? I walk 20 minutes to nursery every morning then another 15 to get to the station.

BrandNewAndImproved · 17/09/2015 21:28

15 minutes at the end of a long day in the dark when it's pissing down with rain isn't nothing.

I'd be fuming to, shit like this is what made me learn to drive. Is there anyone in work you could perhaps offer money to on a weekly basis to get a lift in with them?

Original poster
RedBlu · 17/09/2015 21:29

I think I am also really annoyed because since moving further out, I have to leave the house a lot earlier as the bus takes twice as long (my choice to move here, just saying).

The walk adds another 15/20 minutes meaning to get into work for say 8am, I will need to be out of the house by 6am....

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 17/09/2015 21:29

Yes I agree about rain that's a bit of a pain. Or snow on the ground.

summerainbow · 17/09/2015 21:30

Sadly this what happens when move to rural area . Bus company are private profit company's. So most people ended up driving . 15 is not long a walk. I expect lots of people have to walk that far.
You should write to local councillors and see if they get the council to fund the bus. Might take few years though.

londonrach · 17/09/2015 21:30

Id walk. By tye time you get the bike out etc its easier to walk. I walk 20 mins to the train station at the mo and 15 mins other side to work. I think of it as my exercise for the day.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 17/09/2015 21:32

Whilst I sympathise and you moved there under false pretences of a great bus journey, a 15 minute walk is nothing, and sympathies lessen a little.

Bakeoffcake · 17/09/2015 21:41

Is there a pavement to walk on? If so, 15 mins is really nothing. We live rurally and it's a 15 min walk to the pubWink I also take the dog for a 30min walk every day. DD lives on a city. It takes her 30mins each way to get to work so it isn't just rural people who walk.

Get a good waterproof coat, good shoes and a brolly. You'll and 30mins brisk walking 5days a week will be great for you.

Bakeoffcake · 17/09/2015 21:42

Sorry that should say "You'll be fine"

RachelZoe · 17/09/2015 21:45

While ultimately it will be alright and 15 mins is fine, I sympathize, this exact thing happened to me years back and it infuriated me. It really does fuck you up if you're relying on the bus and have no other option, might seem trivial but it's very annoying.

I would think about a bike, make sure you get lights and reflective stuff and all of that.

Backforthis · 17/09/2015 21:46

There's a difference between walking for 15 minutes on a pavement with streetlights and walking 15 minutes along country roads which may have no pavement or lighting and include stretches of national speed limit.

Konserve · 17/09/2015 21:48

yanbu to be disapointed but get nice boots and a comfortable hiking coat.
a backpack for the work shoes.

OneDay103 · 17/09/2015 21:49

15min is nothing but I agree in horrible bad weather it's awful. You can be fuming, but moving somewhere where you are so very dependent on something which leaves you screwed otherwise is just crazy.

Binkybix · 17/09/2015 21:52

It is annoying but unless your route would be dangerous, walking 15 minutes really isn't much.

Not so good for elderly etc people in the village, though, who would be less able to walk it.

definiteissues · 17/09/2015 21:52

Well in horrible weather it isn't nice, but in the grand scheme of things 15 minutes isn't long really.

Pseudonym99 · 17/09/2015 22:04

Trouble is, County Councils keep cutting back their spending, and bus subsidies are one of the things that keep getting cut back on. So you have my sympathies there, but 15 minutes walk is nothing, even if it is raining or snowing. You had just better hope that in the next round of cuts, it doesn't get cut back again from the village you will be catching it from... You will need to keep checking the County Council's website for public consultations on bus services.

AlmaMartyr · 17/09/2015 22:18

This has just happened in my area, and is affecting some peopld, and I've been asked (is my job) to write to the council and companies to try to change it back. Apparently, people have been told that if the case is argued early enough that it may have an effect; especially since other nearby villages aren't affected.

Sorry if that's a bit vague, but might be worth a try? Numbers might help anyway.

itsbetterthanabox · 17/09/2015 22:29

This is why as a non driver I live in the city in a useful location by a station and many buses.

FishWithABicycle · 17/09/2015 22:34

Massive changes to the viability of a place can happen with all sorts of facilities. I once moved to a place that had a post office, library, cafe, petrol station with kwik-i-mart and cash point all with a stones throw. Within a couple of years the petrol station/mart/cashpoint were gone, so was the post office, and the library, whilst it didn't shut, changed it its opening hours so it was never open when I wasn't at work. It's annoying but I don't think anything can be done about it.

BarbarianMum · 17/09/2015 22:39

A 15 minute walk is a 5 min cycle ride. Is there somewhere to lock up a bike near the bus stop?

AsTimeGoesBy · 17/09/2015 22:44

Get protesting, this has just happened here and there were such howls of protest that they caved in and said they'll give it another year before deciding. There must be other people affected, get onto the local paper, local FB pages etc.

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