How important is punctuality these days?
By howardgem | Tuesday, September 21, 2010, 08:09
I noticed the other morniing several school children still waiting for their bus at 8.25am in Yelland.
I asked a friend who has a son at Park school in Barnstaple and she said that the bus is often late, in fact her son had been late for school at least four times in the first three weeks at school.
On further talking, it turns out that the Pilton bus is no better, actually breaking down and not even turning up at Instow the other morning, leaving several school children totally unaware that their bus was not coming.
What kind of message is this sending out to our youngsters about punctuality - ok a bus breaks down, that is an unforseen circumstance, but surely a bus being late to it's destination, on a regular basis, needs to be reassessed and one of the earlier buses perhaps could continue the run up to Park school from Barnstaple bus station.
They've rebranded themselves from Stagecoach to "The Wave" - if they continue to let people down it could be a wave goodbye!
Comments
Does anyone know what is happening with the school buses in Barnstaple. I heard on the news today that budgets for rural buses and school transport are being cut!
By Barney_Bloggs at 16:59 on 03/02/11
ReportI know we shouldn't tar all bus drivers with the same brush, but I recently had a very distressing ride home on a Wave bus.
The driver was exceeding the speed limit most of the way home and even had a shouting match with somebody stating that it was "my right of way love!" Yes it may have been his right of way, but as far as I could see, this lady had been overtaking a line of parked cars on her side of the road, which the bus driver would have been able to see, and as she had committed herself to the manouvre before she had sight of the bus she continued with the manouvre expecting the bus to give way..... which it did not! The poor lady was forced back by the bully bus driver and in the process knocked a wing mirror of one of the parked cars. This kind of behaviour on the part of the bus driver was totally unacceptable and has really put me off taking the bus again - certainly with this particular driver who had a very unusual face.
If you don't enjoy a job working with the public, go find yourself another one!
By will_barrow at 16:03 on 21/09/10
ReportI think you have missed the point here MAD driver! The only reason people are driving their children into school is because the buses are unreliable and parents cannot rely on them to get their children to school.
My point was, if the buses run late on a constant basis then why doesn't the Wave look into using an earlier bus service to take children up to the Park school? This will encourage children to be punctual instead of just accepting they will be late because of a poor bus service.
By howardgem at 14:36 on 21/09/10
ReportThe main reason these Bus services run late in the morning, is because of the traffic trying to get into Barnstaple, the queue often starts between Fremington and Bickington, and goes all the way to Barnhenge. As a "MAD" bus driver , nearly every morning it comes over the radio that these services are running late because of the traffic.If more children used the service provided instead of being driven to school in their parents car, this problem would be alleviated
By a MAD Driver
By joyjeffrey at 11:59 on 21/09/10
ReportPark School have only recently changed their bus service provider from First to Stagecoach. Surely they knew what they were letting themselves in for. Stagecoach are totally unreliable. However, I do use them as they are far cheaper than First - unless I have a train to catch or important appointment. You get what you pay for and in Stagecoach's case it's broken down buses, mad drivers and disregarded timetables. This shouldn't be inflicted on our schoolchildren!
By mystryshopper at 11:10 on 21/09/10
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