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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:
DoJo · 17/09/2015 22:47

How many people are usually on the bus? Could you rally some support for the route from those who use it and see if you can prove that it is viable?

ComposHatComesBack · 17/09/2015 22:59

Assuming there is a pavement and you don't have any disabilities, then you are being a bit of a wuss over this. I am on my feet all day and my walk to work is double that.

A coat with a hood or a brolly and sensible shoes are all you need for bad weather. I'd be more worried by the fact you find a 15 minute walk tiring than bus provision or lack thereof.

Mitzi50 · 17/09/2015 23:02

This, in my opinion is why some public transport needs to be council run as not all routes can be profit making. These rural services are essential - my NDN's son cannot drive for medical reasons but is finding difficult to get a job because of the extremely limited public transport in our village. I've posted on another thread about elderly people continuing to drive because their are no buses that go to the local doctors or supermarket.

Lilaclily · 17/09/2015 23:07

I walk 15 minutes to school and 15 minutes from school to work
You get used to it
With the appropriate clothing

ouryve · 17/09/2015 23:07

If it's a council secured service, as many rural services are, it's worth contacting your council to register your displeasure and find out wtf they chose to cancel your service.

We lost one of our Sunday services, temporarily, but enough people kicked up a stink because they couldn't get to work anymore with the timings of the other, very infrequent, bus, plus it would take 4 times as long and cost twice as much to get there. It was re-instated and the bus company have actually invested in the route, since then, to improve it vastly on weekdays, too, with the result that it is much more viable because more people have confidence in it.

A brolly is bloody useless when it's howling a gale, Compo. It's a 15 minute walk to DS2's school and, days like Tuesday, if I only wore a coat with a hood, some sensible shoes and used a brolly, my legs would have been soaked and the brolly knackered.

ComposHatComesBack · 17/09/2015 23:12

I agree ourvye that why I said a coat with a hood or a brolly. Believe it or not I've managed to walk half an hour to work and half an hour back (in Scotland) without dissolving like sugar.

Ta1kinPeace · 17/09/2015 23:12

Start a campaign in your area for the rest of the country to have the same security over bus routes that Londoners enjoy.

Its working in other parts of the country

Londoners have NO IDEA how shitty bus services are in the deregulated parts of the country.

Floralnomad · 17/09/2015 23:14

It's nothing to do with being rural , my MIL lives in an urban area and they've just rerouted the bus from her local stop which is on a main road and it is now a 20 minute walk to and from the nearest stop , she is in her 80s and it's just too far to walk . The locals have petitioned the bus company and they have put on a service going to the stop but it only runs once a day so you still have to do the long walk to either catch the bus or to come home .

lorelei9 · 17/09/2015 23:22

just to say, I love walking and hate public transport - but I hate the cold weather so much I minimise walking when it's cold - or raining. So I get why you are annoyed. I have asthma and no matter how well covered I am, I can't avoid breathing cold air in so I have to be really careful as cold weather sets it off big time. And cold weather is just pants, I wear the warmest stuff imaginable and my eyes still water and piss me off!!

I would campaign wherever you can - there must be lots of others in your situation and effects on house prices etc?

Meantime, you probably need to find a nice minicab company for the really cold days - and possibly lift-share? Can anyone at work help if you pay them a bit?

Spartans · 18/09/2015 06:37

I would be annoyed. However I wouldn't mind a 15 minute walk either. Yes even in the cold/ rain. Our nearest bus stop has always been just over 10 minutes brisk walk (over 15 mins if I have the kids). So don't see it as a huge issue.

Maybe try a petition? Is it a heavily used bus?

MackerelOfFact · 18/09/2015 06:45

I live in London and it's 15 minutes walk to any useful transport connection! I'm surprised it was ever less than that in a rural location.

I understand it's annoying though, and will be especially isolating for the elderly and disabled who can't walk to the next village.

Fuckitfay · 18/09/2015 06:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

VivienneO · 18/09/2015 06:48

I am not seeing the problem - pair of wellies, umbrella and a good coat - 15 minutes is nothing! Hmm In fact a 15 minute walk to the station from their homes is entirely normal for most people.

HeteronormativeHaybales · 18/09/2015 06:48

It's annoying, and I despair of cuts to public transport when we are in the environmental mess we are in, but OTOH I agree with those who say a 15 min walk is nothing at all. My kids have done that to school and back since starting primary. Especially if you do a sedentary job and have little time for exercise otherwise, it will be good for you and probably even improve your wellbeing. The school run bores me to death (I WFH) but I needthat walk.

Mistigri · 18/09/2015 06:59

A 15 min walk along safe paths is nothing, although it depends on the roads. I wouldn't want to walk in the dark around where my sister lives, near Bristol - narrow roads with huge 4x4s barrelling along them too fast. It would be suicidal.

Anyway there will be elderly people for whom a 15 min walk isn't possible, so I would consider getting local people together to campaign for the bus to be reinstated.

Could you also canvas other bus users, before the route closes?

araiba · 18/09/2015 07:02

only a 15 minute walk? i have lived in urban areas with a longer walk than that to public ransport

swimmerforlife · 18/09/2015 07:10

The OP said semi rural so I don't think we are talking about narrow country lanes in the arse end of nowhere (correct me if I'm mistaken).

I did have sympathy for you OP but it's only 15 minuet walk, I do that everyday to walk to my station in the rain, hail and whatever else British weather throws at me. Plenty of people do, it won't seem as bad once you get into routine.

It's not if they have cut you off completely and if you live rurally you should get use to shit public transport. Just buy a decent umbrella, hat, gloves, scarf and waterproof.

Notasinglefuckwasgiven · 18/09/2015 07:19

Ok. I work for a large bus company ( pulls on hard hat ) and this is happening everywhere. We have pulled Sunday services and an evening service from a local coastal town due to it not being profitable. It is annoying and we sympathise with everyone affected but running a service at a constant loss risked our wee rural depot closing altogether. All the local services were being looked at as possibly being scrapped and us sent to a Glasgow depot to run just the busy city end. By scrapping the failing route we saved the other 3 IYSWIM. The local council and governing body for transportation in your area can run funded services to replace the commercial routes during busy periods. Campaign is worth it but not with the bus company. Sounds like they've had to cut their losses sadly.

CalebHadToSplit · 18/09/2015 07:20

Whilst I have a similar walk both sides of the railway station, I would be infuriated in your position to have your routine changed.

I second PP about starting a campaign. You could even just argue for limited hours to your village, like 6.00-9.00 and 16:00-19:00. If there are lots of commuters at that time, they may find it financially viable.

Mrsjayy · 18/09/2015 07:25

Urgh thats a pain in the arse walk 15 minutes back if you have shopping or there early in the morning . Could you get a petitition going to keep the service ? Local councillor might help too

OddBoots · 18/09/2015 07:26

Are there any others on your bus to and from your village at the same time as you? If there are a few of you could you all write and ask them if they would consider one or two buses a day going to and from your village as a 'commuter service' even if the other buses for that service stop at the other village. There are a few of those around here.

Mrsjayy · 18/09/2015 07:28

We had a bus that went round our streets bus company pulled it elderly people used it mainly so a private company took it over it doesnt run as regular but least it runs,

Notasinglefuckwasgiven · 18/09/2015 07:29

Camping to the governing body. No business will run a failing service. They can't. Council and equivalent to our SPT are the people who replace them. Talk to them to get a plan in action. It will be faster than appealing to a business.

SinglePringle · 18/09/2015 07:34

Eh?! I walk 2 x 15 mins every day to the station and back before jumping on the train into town. It's entirely standard.

Notasinglefuckwasgiven · 18/09/2015 07:36

Campaign not camping. Though camping in their offices would have an impact Grin