The fairly extortionate bus prices in my area increased recently, which was no great surprise.
I used to pay £6.50 for a 20-25 minute return journey from my village to my daughter's. It's now gone up to £7.10, but a Rhondda Rider ticket (as many rides in Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough as you want in a day) has bizarrely remained at the lower cost of £7.
In March of this year, for some unspecified reason, the buses were free for the whole month. It may have been something to do with introducing the new, efficient, electronic payment system. Instead of requesting a specific ticket and paying the driver with cash, or card, we now have a tap on/tap off system for card users - you scan your debit card/phone when embarking and alighting and within three days the cost of your journey(s) are calculated and debited from your account. The trouble is, if you forget to tap off, an amount that could cancel a developing country's deficit is whipped from your coffers without so much as humanitarian award, or a polite round of applause.
Having been forgetful struggling off the bus with groceries, or small children, I have gone back to asking for a specific ticket and paying with cash, two things the public transport company was clearly trying to move beyond.
However, the free buses during the month-long hiatus were well used, despite the inconvenience of long bumpy journeys and buses simply not turning up. Traversing our Valleys terrain by bus is like a cross between a roller coaster and Brands Hatch and if they're running late they take a short cut missing out stops. Also, if the vacancies advertised are anything to go by, they're sometimes too short staffed since Brexit to run the full timetable.
As a consequence of the freebie enthusiasm, the bus company has trialled a £1 per bus ride cost over the school summer break. Very often when I'm paying £7, I have the bus to myself for at least a part of my journey and there are always way more seats that people. Over the summer, the buses have been so packed, passengers fill the aisle as well as the seats. So, one person paying £7 versus 40+ people paying £1.
I don't understand why public transport has priced itself to the point of making a loss. We are under threat of losing our unprofitable buses which could be profitable if they were only affordable for the demographics most likely to use them off peak, or were a cheaper option than driving in the rush hours.
On a less whiny note, I embarked on a bus yesterday morning with a £10 note in my hot, sticky palm, having used up all the pound coins I had on previous journeys. The driver commented that I was going to wipe out all the change he had left, at which point a passenger jumped up, paid for my journey and said, "Pass it on!" with a big smile. I'm looking forward to the opportunity to do just that, in whatever shape, or form that it presents itself. We are endemically community minded here in Wales, but it's nice to have the luxury of being able to act on that will without having to hesitate due to foolishly excessive costs.
jac_the_gripper Blog (20)