To think that it is basically impossible to rely on a bus to get to work in these circumstances, and to wonder what people would do if they work and can't drive?

[SharkiraSharkira]

I start usually start work at 7:30am. First bus is at 6:15am but would get me there at 6:45am. I don't have a key and so would be waiting outside in the cold and/or rain until another member of staff shows up at 7:30am. There is nothing else around for me to wait inside, and nothing would be open at that time anyway.

Buses are once an hour so the next one would get me there late.

Even if I start later (like today), bus is due at (for example) 10:15 and I start at 11. It should get me there for 10:45 (bus stop is right outside) but the bus is late 99% of the time. The other day it was 45 minutes late!

Aibu to think that if you work around this area and cannot drive (for medical reasons etc) you are basically screwed? You just can't rely on them to get you anywhere on time. Aibu to also think this isn't ok, jobs are in short supply around here and particularly for young people who can't drive yet or can't afford to run a car yet they just can't afford to lose a job because of constant lateness. Aibu to think that the people who run this crappy public transport don't care because they drive and therefor aren't affected by it? Rant over

what if that is not an option as per my early start explanation
Yes there is, you just don't want to.
Waiting outside for 45 min is not unheard of.
On heavy rain days (so, not every day) you can use a large umbrella, stay next to a building, etc. Are you sure there isn't anywhere covered, like a bike park, or even the car park?

Early bus. Big coat with hood. Flask of tea. Netflix on your phone. What's the problem?

Oh God yes I know what you mean op

I was reliant on buses fir years. Have spent many a time hanging around in all weathers it's miserable.

Luckily I live in a town so there is at least a coffee shop or a bus station or a bus shelter to wait in.

Would be bloody miserable without even a doorway to keep you a bit sheltered.

That sounds like a fucking nightmare for you OP. Not so awful in the summer but certainly this time of year it's miserable.

Could you ride a bike there? A half hour bus ride can't be a very long bicycle ride

You either get up early or you learn how to drive

In many places (hospitals are one), driving doesn't help. You need to arrive ridiculously early for any chance of a parking space. At least you wait in your car, but it still is a waste of time.

Have you spoken to your manager to see if you can arrive slightly late and stay later/take a shorter lunch? It would be very mean not to accommodate you without good reason.
Or is there anyone near you who would give you a lift?
If neither of those are an option then you need to invest in some good waterproof outdoor clothing and either get there early or cycle.
In the long term can you learn to drive or look for a job in a better location/with better hours?
Your current situation sounds inconvenient but not impossible. Plenty of people work outdoors in all weathers.

It's not impossible, it's inconvenient, yes. And it's not that you "really can't" wait outside, you just understandably don't want to. Such is the life of a non-driver. You buy decent waterproofs and suck it up.

It's bloody horrible but when you don't drive it's how it is.

I think drivers consider things impossible that are just everyday life if you don't drive.

Über.

Buy warm waterproof clothing, get the early bus and wait for someone else to arrive.

A lot of car drivers here with screw all idea of reality. Shit badly paid jobs like factory work regularly start at 7.30. And no they don't pay enough for people to afford driving lessons. Also many of us will never be able to drive. So OP we get up an hour earlier and when we get to work we stand outside and wait in the dark and cold. God bless Mumsnet. Totally out of touch as usual.

It's not impossible although it is inconvenient. I used to have to leave home 2 hours and 10 minutes before I started work to get there on public transport - a bus and 2 trains. The total time I spent actually sitting on the bus and train amounted to 37 minutes. The remaining 1 hour and 33 minutes was mostly spent hanging around at bus stops and train stations or walking between the two. TBF, I was able to get into work when I got there so at least I was warm and dry.

I had this situation. Bus would either get me in forty minutes early or five minutes late. Mainly because the later one had traffic the earlier one didn't have to contend with.

They wouldn't let me take five mins off my lunch so I had to just get in really early. Luckily I could go in though.

I don't consider it to be a fabricated story, OP was just pointing out that it's something many people struggle with for various reasons.

It is crap living somewhere with terrible transport. But it's catch 22 because the better the transport links, the more expensive the rent/house prices. A lot of people live in areas with poor transport because they can't afford areas with good transport.

It really isn't as simple as just 'learn to drive' though for some people is it? Case in point; a woman I know has a medical condition that means she cannot and never will be able to drive. She has a job and is completely reliant on her husband to drive her to work, but what if he couldn't? Or the car broke down? There really should be a better option rather than paying £10+ each way for a taxi (she would be unable to cycle due to her medical condition). One bus per hour that is almost certain to be late just isn't good enough.

And yes to the pp that pointed out that the more we expect/assume everyone will/can/is able to drive or learn to drive the less public transport will improve.

Not to mention that long term driving is just screwing the planet faster......

So do something about it instead of posting on mumsnet.

Put together a petition, campaign your local representatives. But you won't, because in a couple of weeks you'll go back to your cozy car and no longer give a shit.

Have you spoken with the managers about this? They may not be aware but I imagine they would be keen to solve it.

Solving it would increase the pool of people they can recruit from or reduce their car park costs if everyone drives.

If the company is big enough they could start a car share system or even run a morning shuttle (with employee contributions).

Just the way it is.. I have a 2 hr commute and just have to desl with it.. can't afford to learn to drive

I don't have a car midnite, I ride a motorbike so not particularly comfy in this weather but it normally gets me from A to B. Fwiw I've been a bus and train user waaaaay longer than I've been riding, it was necessity that forced me to get on the road. But people like my disabled ds won't have the choice of learning to drive. Maybe I will start a campaign!

Just out of interest do you start a campaign about everything that annoys you? Do you ever post about frustrating things on MN? Or do you just berate strangers on the internet Not nice.

I have contacted our local bus company Arriva several times about their rubbish, completely unreliable, ridiculously overpriced service. They don't give a shit and their replies to me make it quite clear. Their main income is from government-subsidised travel for pensioners (Wales) so they don't have to provide routes or a service that attracts paying customers

You need a bike.

Elvira, I got a similar attitude when I phoned them the other day enquiring about the bus that was 45 minutes late. Very obviously was just someone in a call centre reading from a script who had no idea how to help and couldn't even if they wanted to. Not their fault of course but it is very annoying. As I stated earlier these services don't seem to be run with 'real' customers in mind.

I have epilepsy and am not allowed a driving licence. So I have a disabled bus pass.

I left my job last year because I wasn't able to do the school runs during the hours I worked and it wasn't suitable to change shifts. (3 days a week, I do 3 school runs!) but I live in walking distance to that job.

But eldest school, we sometimes get the bus. It should get to us at 8:47 and outside the school at 8:52 which is perfect as doors are open between 8:55-9:00. It's normally late which is very frustrating.

We could get an earlier bus, which would put us outside the school a whole half an hour early. It just isn't worth it. I think we're going to start walking though, it's just over a mile (half hour walk)

Haven't read all the replies, but is cycling an option? I used to have a job (very early 1990's) that was 3 miles away and it took 45 mins by bus and was 15 minutes to cycle!

Is that an option?