Bus Journeys for a Pound
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.
Comments (15)
In this age of instant gratification, though, and when people are used to, say, a bus every 20 minutes, there would probably be an outcry if they had just missed one and had to wait an hour ...
What else besides our much needed, but bonkers buses are we getting wrong?
When just a few people own everything and everything becomes too expensive for everyone else, what is the value of the richest person?
As for passing on the good deed, there are infinitely more ways to give than receive, with or without overt appreciation. Every supermarket has a food bank with room for a quid's worth, or two of goodies.
I saw an expensive box of chocolates in a food bank basket recently. We often think in terms of necessities, of three value tins of beans for our £1 donation, but forget the joy, the emotional value of a treat when life is a day to day struggle. I was vicariously thrilled to see that extravagant gift.
You make a good point, however, that we often give in our own best interests. The idea that there is no such thing as true altruism is perhaps altruism's greatest beauty.
That was disappointingly replaced by the swindle-some decimal currency (I was told in Boots the Chemist that two and a half pence change was the same as the old sixpence like I was a muppet of a five-year-old), but the public transport was also replaced by a school minibus-driving, diminutive nun who gave me my first lesson in feminism.
I'll forever mourn the magical thrupence, but that penguin talked some proper sense.
That was disappointingly replaced by the swindle-some decimal currency (I was told in Boots the Chemist that two and a half pence change was the same as the old sixpence like I was a muppet of a five-year-old), but the public transport was also replaced by a school minibus-driving, diminutive nun who gave me my first lesson in feminism.
I'll forever mourn the magical thrupence, but that penguin talked some proper sense.
Three small boys (aged 11, I'd say) were catching the bus home at tea time. One boy paid, but the next found he didn't have enough credit on his wee cash card that the younger kids are using these days.
There was some dithering, the boy who had paid hoping for a refund so he could stay with his mates, all of them looking decidedy fretful. As I was getting out of my seat wallet in hand, I heard the driver getting shirty with them about making a decision because he wanted to depart.
The boys may have forgotten that since the school break ended, the price is no longer a pound, or maybe they just mis-budgetted for the day. They were all relieved and grateful when I paid the two remaining fares. They got off the bus before me, but one boy turned round and looked back. He said something to his two mates, wherepon all three turned and waved and gave me a thumbs up. They were clearly taking their first steps towards independence, messed up a little, but didn't forget their manners, or to look after each other even under stress. I wish I could tell their parents how well they conducted themselves.
When I alighted, I commented to the driver that I thought he wasn't supposed to leave the vulnerable stranded. He replied, only if it's the last bus. Jobsworth arsehole.
I pointed out that he didn't even know if they had the means to call home, and in retrospect they might not have had the money for water on one of the hottest days we've ever had. We haven't evolved to handle a sun in the sky here in Wales and it can be quite dangerous for us. I only survived the day's bus journeys by cuddling freezer blocks, I kid you not.
Potentially, they might have had to have waited until after dark on a boozey Saturday night without food and water, shelter, or being able to contact their parents until they could get the last bus home for free, all because the driver wouldn't accept one child paying £2.80 and the others going for free when 6 days ago the cost would have been £3 for all three of them anyway.
Three small boys (aged 11, I'd say) were catching the bus home at tea time. One boy paid, but the next found he didn't have enough credit on his wee cash card that the younger kids are using these days.
There was some dithering, the boy who had paid hoping for a refund so he could stay with his mates, all of them looking decidedy fretful. As I was getting out of my seat wallet in hand, I heard the driver getting shirty with them about making a decision because he wanted to depart.
The boys may have forgotten that since the school break ended, the price is no longer a pound, or maybe they just mis-budgetted for the day. They were all relieved and grateful when I paid the two remaining fares. They got off the bus before me, but one boy turned round and looked back. He said something to his two mates, wherepon all three turned and waved and gave me a thumbs up. They were clearly taking their first steps towards independence, messed up a little, but didn't forget their manners, or to look after each other even under stress. I wish I could tell their parents how well they conducted themselves.
When I alighted, I commented to the driver that I thought he wasn't supposed to leave the vulnerable stranded. He replied, only if it's the last bus. Jobsworth arsehole.
I pointed out that he didn't even know if they had the means to call home, and in retrospect they might not have had the money for water on one of the hottest days we've ever had. We haven't evolved to handle a sun in the sky here in Wales and it can be quite dangerous for us. I only survived the day's bus journeys by cuddling freezer blocks, I kid you not.
Potentially, they might have had to have waited until after dark on a boozey Saturday night without food and water, shelter, or being able to contact their parents until they could get the last bus home for free, all because the driver wouldn't accept one child paying £2.80 and the others going for free when 6 days ago the cost would have been £3 for all three of them anyway.
Anyways, I'm both surprised and impressed with your kindness
Anyways, I'm both surprised and impressed with your kindness
That'll learn 'em to budget, eh?
That'll learn 'em to budget, eh?
A few harsh words never killed anyone and sometimes to their needed to waken kids up.
A few harsh words never killed anyone and sometimes to their needed to waken kids up.
I don't know what your parenting style was, but I've yet to come across a parent who doesn't tell kids to stick together and never leave a mate alone when out.
As I pointed out to the driver and you already, if they didn't have the means to phone home and ask to be collected, they would have necessarily waited until the last bus to get a freeride: that is at around 11pm on a Saturday night, by which time the bus stop would be pretty much deserted.
Given you seem to struggle to grasp the situation sitting comfortably in front of your device, perhaps your expectations of 11 year old boys' reasoning skills under pressure is a little bit unreasonable.
I don't know what your parenting style was, but I've yet to come across a parent who doesn't tell kids to stick together and never leave a mate alone when out.
As I pointed out to the driver and you already, if they didn't have the means to phone home and ask to be collected, they would have necessarily waited until the last bus to get a freeride: that is at around 11pm on a Saturday night, by which time the bus stop would be pretty much deserted.
Given you seem to struggle to grasp the situation sitting comfortably in front of your device, perhaps your expectations of 11 year old boys' reasoning skills under pressure is a little bit unreasonable.
Not too long ago on another blog you told me I'm not entitled to tell you how you feel, that I had no right... yet here you are for the second time since, telling me how I feel... you're such a hypocrite Jac and maybe practice what you preach, that is... if you can keep up with all the shoite you speak.
You know nothing of my comfort behind the screens so don't dare say other, as if you do.
If you comment to this, know I won't be replying because I've reached my end of tolerating you.
Not too long ago on another blog you told me I'm not entitled to tell you how you feel, that I had no right... yet here you are for the second time since, telling me how I feel... you're such a hypocrite Jac and maybe practice what you preach, that is... if you can keep up with all the shoite you speak.
You know nothing of my comfort behind the screens so don't dare say other, as if you do.
If you comment to this, know I won't be replying because I've reached my end of tolerating you.
I made the point that processing information as an adult from the comfort of your own home is less cognitivey demanding than it is for a small boy in a stressful situation.
If your home life and posting on CS is as stressful as being a stranded child with no resources, then I hope you are able to seek support and create change.
It's notable that you have been in support of the shirty bus driver's behaviour right up until you had no better challenge than to say something xenophobic. Intolerance appears to come naturally to you, except for when someone is being bady treated.