Brighton bus drivers could be "killed by violent passengers" (From The Argus)

Whilst we're talking bus related casualties - drivers need to take a lot more care driving along Western Rd, especially when it's busy. It's so dangerous and I know people who have been clipped by the wing mirrors many times - need to slow down.

For once, and to a point I agree with the media`s friend Roger French.

Assault sheilds do rattle, bang and glare in the windscreen etc but only if they are fitted wrongly or poorly maintained. Regarding them not being ablke to be fitted on older vehicles, thats cobblers! LRT were fitting said devices to MCW Metrobuses over 20 years ago, I was not aware that Brighton and Hovel were running buses that old.

CCTV is a great idea and something that Brighton & Hovel are keen on, not only does it reduce attacks and vand vandalism but also reduces the temptation of drivers to catch fingers in the till.

I used to find a lot of drivers would SOMETIMES look for an argument by becoming self styled inspectors. Drivers are just that, its the inspectors job to get out there and protect revenue. I`m sure as hell I wouldnt put myself at risk for the companies coffers!. It pays NOT to argue with drunken idiots or people fare dodging and by confronting these idiots, you only put yourself and passengers at risk. The drivers job is to drive the bus not uphold the law.

And finally, we need to look at the broad spectrum of customer base that Brighton & Hovel has. Everyone from law abiding commuters through to drunks, crackheads and general lowlife. And you were a drunk high as a kite on heroin, would care about CCTV?

The drivers at B & H are at no more risk than drivers in any other large town or city, abd I should know, I have been there and done it.

The only way to reduce crime on transport is by the following:

More inspectors on the buses
Live CCTV uplinks to the Police
Better training for drivers in relation to passenger situation handling

Do away with giving change and use a system such as AUTOFARE money collection. No cash tray - No loose change - No robbery - No staff theiving!

Years ago you could give the driver a pound and say "keep the ticket" and go anywhere - does this still work?

or have more security guards on higher risk routes and in the evenings - they could double up as inspectors too and be on hand with the stunguns!

security word: busp-unch

Brighton and Hove have changed for the worst. When I lived in that great part of the world in the mid '90s, such a good atmosphere. The lack of protective screens for drivers seemed to be a decent barometer of the town. South London has the screens, and def. needs them. Such a pity Brighton has been blighted by the scum on the streets who ruin decent people's lives. Real pity, that.

drivers aren't paid enough to put up with such grief, they should be afforded all the protection available

Two things, first the CCTV is to protect there cash from being stolen by the staff and two Bus drivers kill and maime more members of the public than the other way round so maybe we need a plastic screen to protect us

wellsyuk wrote:
Whilst we're talking bus related casualties - drivers need to take a lot more care driving along Western Rd, especially when it's busy. It's so dangerous and I know people who have been clipped by the wing mirrors many times - need to slow down.

It is not the bus drivers that have to be careful in Western Road, it is the idiots who walk out without looking. Today I was waiting for a number 5 bus and 2 silly old women just walked from one side of the road to the other without looking. The bus stopped but these idiots did not realise what they had done. Old folk are not safe driving or walking. They would be better off in a home.

Mr French earns enough through overly high fares to pay for facilities e.g. the right screens to protect his drovers.

But he also needs to protect his passengers. Some of these drivers are not fit to drive and need retraining. I'm fed up of being on buses which jump lights, go round roundabout when others have the right of way and then also things from bollards to pavements.

I also want drivers to get help when we're assaulted by other passengers and not just ignore it.

I want to feel safe when I get on board the bus, surely we have the same right to safety as the drivers?

leedsnowfan wrote:
or have more security guards on higher risk routes and in the evenings - they could double up as inspectors too and be on hand with the stunguns! security word: busp-unch

Precisely - they could then enforce the NICE notices that ask people to pipe down with mobiles, keep feet off the seat and MP3 players down, as well as smelly food. If I or indeed anyone else took physical action to enforce this, we'd not be supported by the bus company nor the police. So either put extra security with a licence to roam anywhere on any bus and clean up behaviour on all buses, or stop putting meaningless notices up and moaning about bus drivers being assaulted. I think it is appalling but reflects modern life in the city now.

I will never, repeat, never travel on one of the city buses because of all the drunks and low lifes that inhabit them. What about the safety of the normal passengers from these people?
It's all very well saying that the driver's not paid enough to do anything, etc - but they are NOT supposed to let drunks on, and I'm told they do that regularly.
How are screens going to help the normal traveller?
They are very happy to charge exorbitant fares, but offer little or nothing in return.

Bring back the clippies.
High heels,long legs,short skirts,tight tops and a bit of cleavage will calm the beasts.

Come on jonathon, you'll be old yourself one day if you aren't already doddery.

Osama bin there wrote:
I will never, repeat, never travel on one of the city buses because of all the drunks and low lifes that inhabit them. What about the safety of the normal passengers from these people? It's all very well saying that the driver's not paid enough to do anything, etc - but they are NOT supposed to let drunks on, and I'm told they do that regularly. How are screens going to help the normal traveller? They are very happy to charge exorbitant fares, but offer little or nothing in return.

Speaking as an ex Brighton and Hove bus driver, how easy do you think it is to stop drunks getting on the bus? You are told by the management that if you leave the cab you are provoking them and leaving yourself open to assault! The c.c.t.v. is a load of old bo----ks, half the time it doesn't work efficiently. The so called 'Rapid Response' team of inspectors are always 'somewhere else' or 'unavailable' at the time of any incidents, especially at night when the beers have started talking with the hardcore drunks!
Drug dealers jump on, do the business with a waiting punter or two and then nip off again, all this is possible due to mobile phones and cheap saver tickets! Drivers who report things are told to fill in a form which is usually forgotten about in no time! But, on the other hand, drivers who get reported by an irate member of the public virtually face a Spanish inquisition style grilling by the garage managers! Roger French has one aim in life, to chase the elusive pound for all it's worth, drivers welfare comes very low down his list of priorities, if at all!
There was a poem some time ago that went like this,
A bus drivers life,
is full of strife,
with tears of pain and sorrow,
and if you think today's been bad just wait until tomorrow!
That just about sums it up really, if a driver leaves the company there's alway new cannon fodder ready to step into the breach.

Well, wether they do or don`t drive properly isn`t the question here. They still don`t deserve to get assaulted, they are after all just trying to do a job. I can understand if screens can`t be put on older vehicles, why fit them if they`re being sold in three months.
While there are no new vehicles for any Go-Ahead vehicles outside London in the next 5 years, but the ones which are coming will be from London so will have screens. Having said that I do agree that the company has a duty of care to both its passengers and its drivers. Would you expect a driver to get out of the cab and put themselves at risk? that could make it worse. If something kicks off they have a panic alarm (which many drivers seem to signal to each other with) plus a policeman can remove anyone from the bus for any reason on the request of the driver (if you can find one) At the end of the day they do deserve not to be hit or spat at, so I do agree with the GMB but yes I also agree with JR.

Look at the forum on www.bloodbus.com for other comments from (mainly First group) drivers themselves on the subject

BTW. There is already a new re-training scheme in place, called the Driver CPC. It`s a piece of EU legislation to pick up on below par driving. You have to have a CPC card to drive professionally now.

See this for details:

http://www.transport
office.gov.uk/crt/ve
hicledrivers/driverc
pctrainingforbusandl
orrydrivers/drivercp
cforbuscoachandlorry
drivers.htm

Most driver's are polite,caring and patient.HOWEVER there are many bus drivers (mainly lesbian women and grumpy old men) who deserve a punch in the gob.My husband and I have had soooooo much trouble with these individuals that my husband will not catch a bus now.The main culprits are on the 21 and the 1 routes.Problems as follows::Rude,Impati
ent,Passing you at bus stops (when you are clearly visable),They dont offer to lend a hand when you have 3 kids,shopping,buggie
s,The elderly have no chance of sitting down before the bus speeds off.The good old bus drivers were happy to lend a hand and help.Even letting you off 7p of a fare if its peeing down with rain and you have kids with you.But not the workshy jobsworths ive had to deal with.NOOOOOO that would be too much for them.Ive phoned so many times to complain and am met with indifference and misrable old gits on the other end of the phone.B&H buses have no customer service at all.Roger French sort your drivers out and better still reduce your fares!!!!! Why dont you go incognito and ride on your buses and see what your bus drivers are really like?????

Unions ruin everything. Maggie Thatcher had the right idea to pull them apart and make them worthless.

wellsyuk wrote:
Whilst we're talking bus related casualties - drivers need to take a lot more care driving along Western Rd, especially when it's busy. It's so dangerous and I know people who have been clipped by the wing mirrors many times - need to slow down.

This only happens when people walk along the kerb. If people use their common sense then they won't get clipped. Buses have to hug the kerb due to narrowness of the road and obstacles such as islands.

In my experience of B & H buses, the drivers have good customer service skills. I travel on buses frequently and have yet to find a rude driver. They have a very demanding job which they do very well. It is the idiots on here who are always complaining about them, that need skills in how to deal with people. They are probably the ones who walk across the road without looking and then have the nerve to complain about bad driving. Could you safely bring a double decker to a halt in yards?
Anyway back to the point of the story about fitting screens and cctv. It is a sad reflection of today's society that this needs to be done, but the drivers should get all the protection they need.

Voice of the silent Majority wrote:
Two things, first the CCTV is to protect there cash from being stolen by the staff and two Bus drivers kill and maime more members of the public than the other way round so maybe we need a plastic screen to protect us

CCTV on buses does not protect cash from being stolen by the staff - it's pointless having CCTV for that purpose - in addition to putting cash in the till/cash machine, drivers put money in their pockets, bag and wallet - wherever is convenient. This does not matter as they take it all with them when they get off and pay it all in later at the office. Obviously anyone who works in a shop putting cash in their pockets IS stealing.
As for the second point, if anyone is killed by a bus, which is very very rare (unlike car drivers and bikers who kill and maim thousands of people a year), then it is probably because they are crossing the road where and when they shouldn't be.

Brap Brap wrote:
Unions ruin everything. Maggie Thatcher had the right idea to pull them apart and make them worthless.

and society, industry and any sense of social values as well...

why not arm the drivers with tasers?

witchy1 wrote:
Most driver's are polite,caring and patient.HOWEVER there are many bus drivers (mainly lesbian women and grumpy old men) who deserve a punch in the gob.My husband and I have had soooooo much trouble with these individuals that my husband will not catch a bus now.The main culprits are on the 21 and the 1 routes.Problems as follows::Rude,Impati

ent,Passing you at bus stops (when you are clearly visable),They dont offer to lend a hand when you have 3 kids,shopping,buggie

s,The elderly have no chance of sitting down before the bus speeds off.The good old bus drivers were happy to lend a hand and help.Even letting you off 7p of a fare if its peeing down with rain and you have kids with you.But not the workshy jobsworths ive had to deal with.NOOOOOO that would be too much for them.Ive phoned so many times to complain and am met with indifference and misrable old gits on the other end of the phone.B&H buses have no customer service at all.Roger French sort your drivers out and better still reduce your fares!!!!! Why dont you go incognito and ride on your buses and see what your bus drivers are really like?????

What an ageist, homophobic woman you are! How can you tell who is a lesbian, and what is wrong with being a lesbian? Nothing!
The company has a dedicated customer serice team, so you are wrong saying there is none.
The fares are already cheap - £1.80 takes you from Shoreham to Rottingdean, which is a huge distance, unlike Stagecoach which charge over £5 for a similar distance, and their fares went up this week.
The next part you are wrong about is Mr French - he does travel on the buses every week.

Well I can see where this is going -

Cuts backs due to old buses and the recession, so cut backs on drivers

And more use of the Oyster card as trialled and used my many of the Go-Ahead group in the country but mainly London.

The end is neigh....

when brighton and hove inherited some stagecoach buses (881 etc)they came with security screens. which the company immediatly stripped out. Why? because they were considered "unfriendly" to passengers.

remluf wrote:

witchy1 wrote: Most driver's are polite,caring and patient.HOWEVER there are many bus drivers (mainly lesbian women and grumpy old men) who deserve a punch in the gob.My husband and I have had soooooo much trouble with these individuals that my husband will not catch a bus now.The main culprits are on the 21 and the 1 routes.Problems as follows::Rude,Impati ent,Passing you at bus stops (when you are clearly visable),They dont offer to lend a hand when you have 3 kids,shopping,buggie s,The elderly have no chance of sitting down before the bus speeds off.The good old bus drivers were happy to lend a hand and help.Even letting you off 7p of a fare if its peeing down with rain and you have kids with you.But not the workshy jobsworths ive had to deal with.NOOOOOO that would be too much for them.Ive phoned so many times to complain and am met with indifference and misrable old gits on the other end of the phone.B&H buses have no customer service at all.Roger French sort your drivers out and better still reduce your fares!!!!! Why dont you go incognito and ride on your buses and see what your bus drivers are really like?????

What an ageist, homophobic woman you are! How can you tell who is a lesbian, and what is wrong with being a lesbian? Nothing! The company has a dedicated customer serice team, so you are wrong saying there is none. The fares are already cheap - £1.80 takes you from Shoreham to Rottingdean, which is a huge distance, unlike Stagecoach which charge over £5 for a similar distance, and their fares went up this week. The next part you are wrong about is Mr French - he does travel on the buses every week.

oooooh someone who works for this terible company me thinks????
Im merely pointing out who has been rude and so on,So dont take that homophobic and ageist pc rubbish with me, Pc brigade out in force again!!!By the way im bi-sexual,so be a love and go stick your head up roger french's a**e and kiss mine while your at it.

remluf wrote:

witchy1 wrote: Most driver's are polite,caring and patient.HOWEVER there are many bus drivers (mainly lesbian women and grumpy old men) who deserve a punch in the gob.My husband and I have had soooooo much trouble with these individuals that my husband will not catch a bus now.The main culprits are on the 21 and the 1 routes.Problems as follows::Rude,Impati ent,Passing you at bus stops (when you are clearly visable),They dont offer to lend a hand when you have 3 kids,shopping,buggie s,The elderly have no chance of sitting down before the bus speeds off.The good old bus drivers were happy to lend a hand and help.Even letting you off 7p of a fare if its peeing down with rain and you have kids with you.But not the workshy jobsworths ive had to deal with.NOOOOOO that would be too much for them.Ive phoned so many times to complain and am met with indifference and misrable old gits on the other end of the phone.B&H buses have no customer service at all.Roger French sort your drivers out and better still reduce your fares!!!!! Why dont you go incognito and ride on your buses and see what your bus drivers are really like?????

What an ageist, homophobic woman you are! How can you tell who is a lesbian, and what is wrong with being a lesbian? Nothing! The company has a dedicated customer serice team, so you are wrong saying there is none. The fares are already cheap - £1.80 takes you from Shoreham to Rottingdean, which is a huge distance, unlike Stagecoach which charge over £5 for a similar distance, and their fares went up this week. The next part you are wrong about is Mr French - he does travel on the buses every week.

As it happens I've personally found the easily recognisable dykes very good at their customer service with people of all ages

From the Argus archive, 5th Mar 2002: He said: "A lot of drivers don't like them because they make them feel claustrophobic." That was GMB representative Gary Smith after the third violent attack in 2 weeks; now 5 years later the GMB wants them?

Of course drivers should be safe from attack (as should passengers, but i think that in general drivers are more likely than passengers to be assaulted) and fail to see why screens can't be fitted in all buses - there must be some way to counteract reflections in this day and age. I wouldn't worry about the screens rattling, no-one will hear it above the rest of the bus rattling.

Incidentally, does anyone remember last year B&H introduced this text messaging service to report anti-social behaviour? Did anyone ever use it, and if so what happened?

witchy1, brighton says...
8:41pm Wed 18 Mar 09

The good old bus drivers were happy to lend a hand and help.Even letting you off 7p of a fare if its peeing down with rain and you have kids with you.But not the workshy jobsworths ive had to deal with.NOOOOOO that would be too much for them

passing you at bus stops? - then put your hand out, we're not mind readers. and sometimes the bus is full up.

lost track of how many times people have tried to flag me down when i have "not in service" showing on the front. is it really that hard to understand?

as for letting you off part of the fare, any "shorts" get taken out of my wages. why should i personaly subdidise your bus fare? would you expect tesco's to let you off the full price because you dont have enough?

work shy? i think not. i have a job and pay my own way and always have done. its called self respect.

as for calling me a jobsworth HELL YES!! my job pays my mortgage rather than relying on the state to put a roof over my head. And i'm not going to risk it for you or anyone else not issuing a ticket

as for oaps, more than a few ask us to wait till they sit down. then start staggering down the bus while we are still 1/2 mile from their destination !

kkj wrote:
From the Argus archive, 5th Mar 2002: He said: "A lot of drivers don't like them because they make them feel claustrophobic." That was GMB representative Gary Smith after the third violent attack in 2 weeks; now 5 years later the GMB wants them? Of course drivers should be safe from attack (as should passengers, but i think that in general drivers are more likely than passengers to be assaulted) and fail to see why screens can't be fitted in all buses - there must be some way to counteract reflections in this day and age. I wouldn't worry about the screens rattling, no-one will hear it above the rest of the bus rattling. Incidentally, does anyone remember last year B&H introduced this text messaging service to report anti-social behaviour? Did anyone ever use it, and if so what happened?

the text message thing was organized by the council purely to gather data and statistics on anti-social behaviour on buses.

twosugars wrote:
witchy1, brighton says... 8:41pm Wed 18 Mar 09 The good old bus drivers were happy to lend a hand and help.Even letting you off 7p of a fare if its peeing down with rain and you have kids with you.But not the workshy jobsworths ive had to deal with.NOOOOOO that would be too much for them passing you at bus stops? - then put your hand out, we're not mind readers. and sometimes the bus is full up. lost track of how many times people have tried to flag me down when i have "not in service" showing on the front. is it really that hard to understand? as for letting you off part of the fare, any "shorts" get taken out of my wages. why should i personaly subdidise your bus fare? would you expect tesco's to let you off the full price because you dont have enough? work shy? i think not. i have a job and pay my own way and always have done. its called self respect. as for calling me a jobsworth HELL YES!! my job pays my mortgage rather than relying on the state to put a roof over my head. And i'm not going to risk it for you or anyone else not issuing a ticket as for oaps, more than a few ask us to wait till they sit down. then start staggering down the bus while we are still 1/2 mile from their destination !

many many times i have been waiting at the designated bus stop and been passed by even though ive had my hand out,i wouldnt flag down a bus which clearly states NOT IN SERVICE.i also have a job and pay my own way in life and have self respect,so hope thats cleared that up. Also i said "some" not all bus drivers are this way! As for the 7p incident i had £1.73p and a £10 note.The driver wouldnt take my note but wouldnt let me off the 7p!it was peeing it down and my kids were crying and i had shopping. so yes that is a jobsworth and i would be very happy if that a*****e lost her job.a bit of humanity wouldnt go amiss.i wouldnt do that to someone.but saying that ive had nice bus drivers,ones that say hello.do you no how many just stare at you blankly?? i alays say thankyou to the driver at the end of my journey too.even to the misery's.

Guerrero wrote:
Bring back the clippies. High heels,long legs,short skirts,tight tops and a bit of cleavage will calm the beasts.

it might help

It`s the number of people trying to flag down the yellow training vehicles that amuses me...

snerper wrote:

Osama bin there wrote:
I will never, repeat, never travel on one of the city buses because of all the drunks and low lifes that inhabit them. What about the safety of the normal passengers from these people? It's all very well saying that the driver's not paid enough to do anything, etc - but they are NOT supposed to let drunks on, and I'm told they do that regularly. How are screens going to help the normal traveller? They are very happy to charge exorbitant fares, but offer little or nothing in return.

Speaking as an ex Brighton and Hove bus driver, how easy do you think it is to stop drunks getting on the bus? You are told by the management that if you leave the cab you are provoking them and leaving yourself open to assault! The c.c.t.v. is a load of old bo----ks, half the time it doesn't work efficiently. The so called 'Rapid Response' team of inspectors are always 'somewhere else' or 'unavailable' at the time of any incidents, especially at night when the beers have started talking with the hardcore drunks!
Drug dealers jump on, do the business with a waiting punter or two and then nip off again, all this is possible due to mobile phones and cheap saver tickets! Drivers who report things are told to fill in a form which is usually forgotten about in no time! But, on the other hand, drivers who get reported by an irate member of the public virtually face a Spanish inquisition style grilling by the garage managers! Roger French has one aim in life, to chase the elusive pound for all it's worth, drivers welfare comes very low down his list of priorities, if at all!
There was a poem some time ago that went like this,
A bus drivers life,
is full of strife,
with tears of pain and sorrow,
and if you think today's been bad just wait until tomorrow!
That just about sums it up really, if a driver leaves the company there's alway new cannon fodder ready to step into the breach.

"Speaking as an ex Brighton and Hove bus driver, how easy do you think it is to stop drunks getting on the bus? You are told by the management that if you leave the cab you are provoking them and leaving yourself open to assault"

I sympathise, but in some ways it is not the driver's problem either. It's a management problem.
For instance there are no signs on the outside of the bus saying that if you are intoxicated you will be refused entry. That wouldn't look too good, would it?
My point is that if they want me to pay the substantial bus fares they charge, then they have a duty to make sure that the bus is a safe environment.
The actual answer is to bring back conductors - but that isn't going to happen, and I'm never going to travel on a bus.
Incidentally, why is it that the bus service in every other European country I can think of don't have the same problems?

Agree with Osaka-boy. It's one of the most visible signs Brighton is going down the plug-hole when we need this. The swipe card payment system in London stopped a lot of problems on the buses and SPEEDED UP the traffic as no-one has to wait whilst some hobo searches for more coppers. Two good reasons to bring it to Brighton.

Bath also has a version of the Oyster card which made everything quicker and easier so only visitors had to pay - obviously, not everyone has an Oyster card if they don't live in an area or use the buses frequently so a mix between the two would work best.

I'm afraid that I'm one of the people who tries to flag down a 'not in service' bus. No, I'm not thick, just short-sighted so I don't see the actual words until it's too late - sorry!

I find it very sad that screens are needed but, as they clearly are, it's even worse that they're not being fitted - and there is no excuse for that.

I've said it before & I'll say it again: If you get hit by a bus, it's YOUR FAULT. Buses do not go out of their way to hit people. You have to step in front of it or walk in the road or stand too close to the kerb. As for slowing down on Western Road, the buses already voluntarily go slower than the speed limit because of all the brain dead idiots who step out in front of them.

IKDRF wrote:

Brap Brap wrote: Unions ruin everything. Maggie Thatcher had the right idea to pull them apart and make them worthless.

and society, industry and any sense of social values as well...

Surely, according to 'that woman' there is no such thing as society, only individuals and families :)

witchy1, you must be catching a different bus than me. I catch the 1 all the time and I know which "lesbian women" (are there lesbian men, then?) you're talking about. They have never been anything but polite, respectful and helpful to me. Being bisexual doesn't let you off being prejudiced.

Bus drivers are there to do just that, drive the bus. they're not there to make sure you have the right money and wipe your a**e for you. Put on your big-girl knickers and take responsibility for yourself.

RickH wrote:

IKDRF wrote:

Brap Brap wrote: Unions ruin everything. Maggie Thatcher had the right idea to pull them apart and make them worthless.

and society, industry and any sense of social values as well...

Surely, according to 'that woman' there is no such thing as society, only individuals and families :)

Didn't she say something along the lines of "Show me a person who travels by bus, and I'll show you a failure"

remluf wrote:

Voice of the silent Majority wrote:
Two things, first the CCTV is to protect there cash from being stolen by the staff and two Bus drivers kill and maime more members of the public than the other way round so maybe we need a plastic screen to protect us

CCTV on buses does not protect cash from being stolen by the staff - it's pointless having CCTV for that purpose - in addition to putting cash in the till/cash machine, drivers put money in their pockets, bag and wallet - wherever is convenient. This does not matter as they take it all with them when they get off and pay it all in later at the office. Obviously anyone who works in a shop putting cash in their pockets IS stealing.
As for the second point, if anyone is killed by a bus, which is very very rare (unlike car drivers and bikers who kill and maim thousands of people a year), then it is probably because they are crossing the road where and when they shouldn't be.

Remluf-you claim that car drivers and bikers kill and maim thousands of people a year. Although I agree that statistically car drivers do account for thousands of deaths and maimings each year, I've yet to see any evidence that bikers do.

Human Machine wrote:
witchy1, you must be catching a different bus than me. I catch the 1 all the time and I know which "lesbian women" (are there lesbian men, then?) you're talking about. They have never been anything but polite, respectful and helpful to me. Being bisexual doesn't let you off being prejudiced. Bus drivers are there to do just that, drive the bus. they're not there to make sure you have the right money and wipe your a**e for you. Put on your big-girl knickers and take responsibility for yourself.

If you'd read my post you retard then you would see i put the 21 and the 1 route and i also said grumpy old men so get your facts straight,go put your y fronts on and f***off.!! by the way dont i want noone wiping my a**e,ill save that for you!!! lmao. HAVE A NICE JOURNEY.

Witchy1 - are you having a bad day? Human Machine should not be thinking of your bits, v rude of him.

I was on the bus today and we only hit the kerb twice but ground the gears a few times. Very friendly driver, though.

Osama bin there wrote:

snerper wrote:

Osama bin there wrote:
I will never, repeat, never travel on one of the city buses because of all the drunks and low lifes that inhabit them. What about the safety of the normal passengers from these people? It's all very well saying that the driver's not paid enough to do anything, etc - but they are NOT supposed to let drunks on, and I'm told they do that regularly. How are screens going to help the normal traveller? They are very happy to charge exorbitant fares, but offer little or nothing in return.

Speaking as an ex Brighton and Hove bus driver, how easy do you think it is to stop drunks getting on the bus? You are told by the management that if you leave the cab you are provoking them and leaving yourself open to assault! The c.c.t.v. is a load of old bo----ks, half the time it doesn't work efficiently. The so called 'Rapid Response' team of inspectors are always 'somewhere else' or 'unavailable' at the time of any incidents, especially at night when the beers have started talking with the hardcore drunks!
Drug dealers jump on, do the business with a waiting punter or two and then nip off again, all this is possible due to mobile phones and cheap saver tickets! Drivers who report things are told to fill in a form which is usually forgotten about in no time! But, on the other hand, drivers who get reported by an irate member of the public virtually face a Spanish inquisition style grilling by the garage managers! Roger French has one aim in life, to chase the elusive pound for all it's worth, drivers welfare comes very low down his list of priorities, if at all!
There was a poem some time ago that went like this,
A bus drivers life,
is full of strife,
with tears of pain and sorrow,
and if you think today's been bad just wait until tomorrow!
That just about sums it up really, if a driver leaves the company there's alway new cannon fodder ready to step into the breach.

"Speaking as an ex Brighton and Hove bus driver, how easy do you think it is to stop drunks getting on the bus? You are told by the management that if you leave the cab you are provoking them and leaving yourself open to assault"

I sympathise, but in some ways it is not the driver's problem either. It's a management problem.
For instance there are no signs on the outside of the bus saying that if you are intoxicated you will be refused entry. That wouldn't look too good, would it?
My point is that if they want me to pay the substantial bus fares they charge, then they have a duty to make sure that the bus is a safe environment.
The actual answer is to bring back conductors - but that isn't going to happen, and I'm never going to travel on a bus.
Incidentally, why is it that the bus service in every other European country I can think of don't have the same problems?

"Incidentally, why is it that the bus service in every other European country I can think of don't have the same problems?"

Probably because they don`t have the same kind of anti-social attitude to drinking, and proper sanctions to combat it. If the police turn up they are armed, would you trust our police with a gun? Ours are too busy hounding motorists and picking on the easy targets

Jim BB wrote:
Witchy1 - are you having a bad day? Human Machine should not be thinking of your bits, v rude of him.

I was on the bus today and we only hit the kerb twice but ground the gears a few times. Very friendly driver, though.

Ground the gears? I was under the impression that the buses were all automatic.

I too got on a bus today, the 81. Driver was pretty friendly on there too.

witchy1 wrote:

remluf wrote:

witchy1 wrote: Most driver's are polite,caring and patient.HOWEVER there are many bus drivers (mainly lesbian women and grumpy old men) who deserve a punch in the gob.My husband and I have had soooooo much trouble with these individuals that my husband will not catch a bus now.The main culprits are on the 21 and the 1 routes.Problems as follows::Rude,Impati ent,Passing you at bus stops (when you are clearly visable),They dont offer to lend a hand when you have 3 kids,shopping,buggie s,The elderly have no chance of sitting down before the bus speeds off.The good old bus drivers were happy to lend a hand and help.Even letting you off 7p of a fare if its peeing down with rain and you have kids with you.But not the workshy jobsworths ive had to deal with.NOOOOOO that would be too much for them.Ive phoned so many times to complain and am met with indifference and misrable old gits on the other end of the phone.B&H buses have no customer service at all.Roger French sort your drivers out and better still reduce your fares!!!!! Why dont you go incognito and ride on your buses and see what your bus drivers are really like?????

What an ageist, homophobic woman you are! How can you tell who is a lesbian, and what is wrong with being a lesbian? Nothing! The company has a dedicated customer serice team, so you are wrong saying there is none. The fares are already cheap - £1.80 takes you from Shoreham to Rottingdean, which is a huge distance, unlike Stagecoach which charge over £5 for a similar distance, and their fares went up this week. The next part you are wrong about is Mr French - he does travel on the buses every week.

oooooh someone who works for this terible company me thinks????
Im merely pointing out who has been rude and so on,So dont take that homophobic and ageist pc rubbish with me, Pc brigade out in force again!!!By the way im bi-sexual,so be a love and go stick your head up roger french's a**e and kiss mine while your at it.

Listen duckie, it is not a terrible company otherwise I would not work for them. They win awards, which is why I do work for them.

witchy1 wrote:

Human Machine wrote: witchy1, you must be catching a different bus than me. I catch the 1 all the time and I know which "lesbian women" (are there lesbian men, then?) you're talking about. They have never been anything but polite, respectful and helpful to me. Being bisexual doesn't let you off being prejudiced. Bus drivers are there to do just that, drive the bus. they're not there to make sure you have the right money and wipe your a**e for you. Put on your big-girl knickers and take responsibility for yourself.

If you'd read my post you retard then you would see i put the 21 and the 1 route and i also said grumpy old men so get your facts straight,go put your y fronts on and f***off.!! by the way dont i want noone wiping my a**e,ill save that for you!!! lmao. HAVE A NICE JOURNEY.

and with an attitude like this i can understand why drivers dont make the effort to help you.

if you started swearing at me or my passengers on the bus, you would be off right there and then -kids or no kids

security word? pond-life

Mr. Kipling wrote:

Jim BB wrote:
Witchy1 - are you having a bad day? Human Machine should not be thinking of your bits, v rude of him.

I was on the bus today and we only hit the kerb twice but ground the gears a few times. Very friendly driver, though.

Ground the gears? I was under the impression that the buses were all automatic.

I too got on a bus today, the 81. Driver was pretty friendly on there too.

They are all auto gearboxes so we know Jim BB does either not live in the area or never gets a bus..... grinding lmao.

witchy what a nasty piece of work you are, grow up and stop expecting people to fall all over you. LOSER.

I have been a B@H bus driver for just over 3 years and i have never known a job with such a lack of thanks. All too many people get on the bus and just act as if your not there, treating you just like a scanner to scan thier tickets on. For some reason oap's seem increasingly reluctant to actually show you thier county card and look at you like your the rudest person in the world when you ask to see it,don't they realise we are just doing our job. As for bus drivers killing and maiming people as voice of the silent majority says, when was the last time you saw the headline "bus driver in court over pedestrian death" or "bus driver at fault"? It is VERY rarely the bus drivers fault it is the stupid idiots who think its okay to walk into a bus lane without even a glance. As for letting people off some of thier fares why should we? any money we let people off we have to pay for. you wouldnt go into a supermarket and expect the till person to let you off the final price so why should bus drivers? Also why o why do people think it is okay to have a good old moan at the driver when the fares go up? We have got NOTHING to do with the ticket prices atall. As for jumping red lights believe me you cannot bring a bus of any kind to a sharpish halt without having passengers of thier seats, so sometimes when a bus is approaching a traffic light and it goes to red and there is only a short distance to stop in it is much safer to just nip through quickly than to have to slam on the brakes and have granny on the floor and have whoever is standing down on the deck, you cannot liken stopping a bus to what it feels like stopping a car. People moan when your late they moan when your early they moan when your driving on the fast side to catch up time they moan when you dont stop cos they didnt bother to ring the bell they moan when your all full up on buggies(3 buggies is maximum by law, its our liscenses at the end of the day) people moan when the fares go up they moan when a driver on another bus was rude to them(like thats got anything to do with us)there just seems to be no please in some people. Is it any wonder that bus drivers are notoriously grumpy towards the very people who make our job so stressfull? But before you all start thinking that I'm the most miserable person in the world believe it or not i like my job(most of the time!) its just the people that are like what i have been talking about that make the job a bit crap sometimes. A quick thankyou while i'm at it to all the people that do make the effort to be nice to the driver, acknolegding me when you get on even with a nod goes down a long way in my head and just a quick thankyou or cheers is much appreciated when you get off even if i dont say anything back(you try saying thankyou to an average of 2-300 people a day!)believe me if i new who the friendly ones were before they got on i would be equally as friendly back but as most people arnt very friendly you have to assume that there is no point being friendly hence why most bus drivers are grumpy! Adios

Fatpat I agree with you 100%, you are doing a good and much appreciated job so remember that. Don't listen to these idiots on here, they don't realise how privileged they actually are and how stupid they are making themselves sound by their ignorant remarks.

Jim BB wrote:
Witchy1 - are you having a bad day? Human Machine should not be thinking of your bits, v rude of him. I was on the bus today and we only hit the kerb twice but ground the gears a few times. Very friendly driver, though.

Jim,
'ground the gears'? tell me how the driver could do that with an automatic gearbox?, I suspect that that remark was a bit of a 'porky' there mate!
Coffee can be 'ground' but not automatic gearboxes!

Mr. Kipling wrote:

Jim BB wrote: Witchy1 - are you having a bad day? Human Machine should not be thinking of your bits, v rude of him. I was on the bus today and we only hit the kerb twice but ground the gears a few times. Very friendly driver, though.

Ground the gears? I was under the impression that the buses were all automatic. I too got on a bus today, the 81. Driver was pretty friendly on there too.

The 81? Christ, it must have been an escapee from the 'happy farm' then, because most 81 drivers are so glum they make Buster Keaton look like 'the laughing policeman'!
This will probably go over the heads of the younger generation, no offence meant by this, but old Buster was a comedy actor with a long face, this was long time ago when you could go to the cinema without being mugged on the way home! Oh happy days!

Kendall80 wrote:
witchy what a nasty piece of work you are, grow up and stop expecting people to fall all over you. LOSER.

hahahahaha love it!!!!! no i just want YOU to fall over me and wipe my a**e.x

thankyou to all who have reported my posts.the argus have said that i wasnt being homophobic or ageist and belive that its a well balanced debate.phew!! so it is after all a free country.everyone gets so serious and offended.lighten up,you only get one chance at life and you all on here moaning bout politics and sruff.get out,get a life,have a laugh and stop being so bloody pc all the time.i will say what i want when i want.for ever and ever.that is my right.too much is taken from us and given to others who havent and shouldnt have rights,ie;murderers,
rapists,terrorist and so on.so have fun.coz i am.

Heh. It was that one with the long hair. Looks like he should be in a band or something...

Fatpat wrote:
I have been a B@H bus driver for just over 3 years and i have never known a job with such a lack of thanks. All too many people get on the bus and just act as if your not there, treating you just like a scanner to scan thier tickets on. For some reason oap's seem increasingly reluctant to actually show you thier county card and look at you like your the rudest person in the world when you ask to see it,don't they realise we are just doing our job. As for bus drivers killing and maiming people as voice of the silent majority says, when was the last time you saw the headline "bus driver in court over pedestrian death" or "bus driver at fault"? It is VERY rarely the bus drivers fault it is the stupid idiots who think its okay to walk into a bus lane without even a glance. As for letting people off some of thier fares why should we? any money we let people off we have to pay for. you wouldnt go into a supermarket and expect the till person to let you off the final price so why should bus drivers? Also why o why do people think it is okay to have a good old moan at the driver when the fares go up? We have got NOTHING to do with the ticket prices atall. As for jumping red lights believe me you cannot bring a bus of any kind to a sharpish halt without having passengers of thier seats, so sometimes when a bus is approaching a traffic light and it goes to red and there is only a short distance to stop in it is much safer to just nip through quickly than to have to slam on the brakes and have granny on the floor and have whoever is standing down on the deck, you cannot liken stopping a bus to what it feels like stopping a car. People moan when your late they moan when your early they moan when your driving on the fast side to catch up time they moan when you dont stop cos they didnt bother to ring the bell they moan when your all full up on buggies(3 buggies is maximum by law, its our liscenses at the end of the day) people moan when the fares go up they moan when a driver on another bus was rude to them(like thats got anything to do with us)there just seems to be no please in some people. Is it any wonder that bus drivers are notoriously grumpy towards the very people who make our job so stressfull? But before you all start thinking that I'm the most miserable person in the world believe it or not i like my job(most of the time!) its just the people that are like what i have been talking about that make the job a bit crap sometimes. A quick thankyou while i'm at it to all the people that do make the effort to be nice to the driver, acknolegding me when you get on even with a nod goes down a long way in my head and just a quick thankyou or cheers is much appreciated when you get off even if i dont say anything back(you try saying thankyou to an average of 2-300 people a day!)believe me if i new who the friendly ones were before they got on i would be equally as friendly back but as most people arnt very friendly you have to assume that there is no point being friendly hence why most bus drivers are grumpy! Adios

1. unnecessary bus routes on small roads cause traffic build ups @ peak times. (i.e. Coombe road at school letting out time)

2. You slow traffic down so car drivers waste more fuel at low speeds.

3. The company have a monopoly on the market, so they can charge what they want. All Frenchy-boy cares about is his shareholders.

4. I cannot even count the amount of times I have been wing mirrored while cycling in a shared lane around Lewes Road by one of you.

I appreciate Buses are essential for some, but I would rather travel to work on a 20 year old arthritic Donkey than put up with the stress of public transport.

In reply to Paul skinbach what are you suggesting that at peak times there is no bus service? what about the hundreds of mums with their kids and people going home from work? Where do you think they would be if there was no bus service? As for slowing down traffic are you a bit stupid? Do you really think a 40ft long 8ft wide 15ft high bus carrying upto 95 people can go as fast as normal traffic can? Obviously not. As for you getting wing mirrored i cant comment coz i dont know your personal experiance but i will say that i'm on the road for 40 hours a week and cyclists are generally very irresponsible and dont deserve respect. As for you rather traveling to work on a donkey coz public transport is so stressful, I have to say that i agree with you!

Fatpat wrote:
In reply to Paul skinbach what are you suggesting that at peak times there is no bus service? what about the hundreds of mums with their kids and people going home from work? Where do you think they would be if there was no bus service? As for slowing down traffic are you a bit stupid? Do you really think a 40ft long 8ft wide 15ft high bus carrying upto 95 people can go as fast as normal traffic can? Obviously not. As for you getting wing mirrored i cant comment coz i dont know your personal experiance but i will say that i'm on the road for 40 hours a week and cyclists are generally very irresponsible and dont deserve respect. As for you rather traveling to work on a donkey coz public transport is so stressful, I have to say that i agree with you!

yes i am thick.

i must be to be wasting my time arguing with people i dont know for no real reason in the grand scheme of things.

Paul Skinnbach wrote:

Fatpat wrote:
I have been a B@H bus driver for just over 3 years and i have never known a job with such a lack of thanks. All too many people get on the bus and just act as if your not there, treating you just like a scanner to scan thier tickets on. For some reason oap's seem increasingly reluctant to actually show you thier county card and look at you like your the rudest person in the world when you ask to see it,don't they realise we are just doing our job. As for bus drivers killing and maiming people as voice of the silent majority says, when was the last time you saw the headline "bus driver in court over pedestrian death" or "bus driver at fault"? It is VERY rarely the bus drivers fault it is the stupid idiots who think its okay to walk into a bus lane without even a glance. As for letting people off some of thier fares why should we? any money we let people off we have to pay for. you wouldnt go into a supermarket and expect the till person to let you off the final price so why should bus drivers? Also why o why do people think it is okay to have a good old moan at the driver when the fares go up? We have got NOTHING to do with the ticket prices atall. As for jumping red lights believe me you cannot bring a bus of any kind to a sharpish halt without having passengers of thier seats, so sometimes when a bus is approaching a traffic light and it goes to red and there is only a short distance to stop in it is much safer to just nip through quickly than to have to slam on the brakes and have granny on the floor and have whoever is standing down on the deck, you cannot liken stopping a bus to what it feels like stopping a car. People moan when your late they moan when your early they moan when your driving on the fast side to catch up time they moan when you dont stop cos they didnt bother to ring the bell they moan when your all full up on buggies(3 buggies is maximum by law, its our liscenses at the end of the day) people moan when the fares go up they moan when a driver on another bus was rude to them(like thats got anything to do with us)there just seems to be no please in some people. Is it any wonder that bus drivers are notoriously grumpy towards the very people who make our job so stressfull? But before you all start thinking that I'm the most miserable person in the world believe it or not i like my job(most of the time!) its just the people that are like what i have been talking about that make the job a bit crap sometimes. A quick thankyou while i'm at it to all the people that do make the effort to be nice to the driver, acknolegding me when you get on even with a nod goes down a long way in my head and just a quick thankyou or cheers is much appreciated when you get off even if i dont say anything back(you try saying thankyou to an average of 2-300 people a day!)believe me if i new who the friendly ones were before they got on i would be equally as friendly back but as most people arnt very friendly you have to assume that there is no point being friendly hence why most bus drivers are grumpy! Adios

1. unnecessary bus routes on small roads cause traffic build ups @ peak times. (i.e. Coombe road at school letting out time)

2. You slow traffic down so car drivers waste more fuel at low speeds.

3. The company have a monopoly on the market, so they can charge what they want. All Frenchy-boy cares about is his shareholders.

4. I cannot even count the amount of times I have been wing mirrored while cycling in a shared lane around Lewes Road by one of you.

I appreciate Buses are essential for some, but I would rather travel to work on a 20 year old arthritic Donkey than put up with the stress of public transport.

1) It's cars which cause traffic problems. They hold up the buses who are trying to get through.

2) Ditto. Buses use up much more fuel becuase they are held up by cars.

3) 'Frenchy boy' does not have any share holders. B&H buses are just one of many companies owned by Go Ahead.

4) Keep left to avoid being wing mirrored.

remluf wrote:

Paul Skinnbach wrote:

Fatpat wrote: I have been a B@H bus driver for just over 3 years and i have never known a job with such a lack of thanks. All too many people get on the bus and just act as if your not there, treating you just like a scanner to scan thier tickets on. For some reason oap's seem increasingly reluctant to actually show you thier county card and look at you like your the rudest person in the world when you ask to see it,don't they realise we are just doing our job. As for bus drivers killing and maiming people as voice of the silent majority says, when was the last time you saw the headline "bus driver in court over pedestrian death" or "bus driver at fault"? It is VERY rarely the bus drivers fault it is the stupid idiots who think its okay to walk into a bus lane without even a glance. As for letting people off some of thier fares why should we? any money we let people off we have to pay for. you wouldnt go into a supermarket and expect the till person to let you off the final price so why should bus drivers? Also why o why do people think it is okay to have a good old moan at the driver when the fares go up? We have got NOTHING to do with the ticket prices atall. As for jumping red lights believe me you cannot bring a bus of any kind to a sharpish halt without having passengers of thier seats, so sometimes when a bus is approaching a traffic light and it goes to red and there is only a short distance to stop in it is much safer to just nip through quickly than to have to slam on the brakes and have granny on the floor and have whoever is standing down on the deck, you cannot liken stopping a bus to what it feels like stopping a car. People moan when your late they moan when your early they moan when your driving on the fast side to catch up time they moan when you dont stop cos they didnt bother to ring the bell they moan when your all full up on buggies(3 buggies is maximum by law, its our liscenses at the end of the day) people moan when the fares go up they moan when a driver on another bus was rude to them(like thats got anything to do with us)there just seems to be no please in some people. Is it any wonder that bus drivers are notoriously grumpy towards the very people who make our job so stressfull? But before you all start thinking that I'm the most miserable person in the world believe it or not i like my job(most of the time!) its just the people that are like what i have been talking about that make the job a bit crap sometimes. A quick thankyou while i'm at it to all the people that do make the effort to be nice to the driver, acknolegding me when you get on even with a nod goes down a long way in my head and just a quick thankyou or cheers is much appreciated when you get off even if i dont say anything back(you try saying thankyou to an average of 2-300 people a day!)believe me if i new who the friendly ones were before they got on i would be equally as friendly back but as most people arnt very friendly you have to assume that there is no point being friendly hence why most bus drivers are grumpy! Adios

1. unnecessary bus routes on small roads cause traffic build ups @ peak times. (i.e. Coombe road at school letting out time) 2. You slow traffic down so car drivers waste more fuel at low speeds. 3. The company have a monopoly on the market, so they can charge what they want. All Frenchy-boy cares about is his shareholders. 4. I cannot even count the amount of times I have been wing mirrored while cycling in a shared lane around Lewes Road by one of you. I appreciate Buses are essential for some, but I would rather travel to work on a 20 year old arthritic Donkey than put up with the stress of public transport.

1) It's cars which cause traffic problems. They hold up the buses who are trying to get through. 2) Ditto. Buses use up much more fuel becuase they are held up by cars. 3) 'Frenchy boy' does not have any share holders. B&H buses are just one of many companies owned by Go Ahead. 4) Keep left to avoid being wing mirrored.

I see we are never going to see eye to eye with each other on the useof buses, but I will say that a subsidiary company is one which is more than 51% owned by another, and that 51% represents the amount of shareholding. Therefore Go-Ahead, a nice big PLC, are the sole shareholder in B&H. Frenchy-boy is obviously prp'd on their profitability, which is why his monopoly on the market is bad for the poor people who have to use his buses.

witchy1 wrote:
thankyou to all who have reported my posts.the argus have said that i wasnt being homophobic or ageist and belive that its a well balanced debate.phew!! so it is after all a free country.everyone gets so serious and offended.lighten up,you only get one chance at life and you all on here moaning bout politics and sruff.get out,get a life,have a laugh and stop being so bloody pc all the time.i will say what i want when i want.for ever and ever.that is my right.too much is taken from us and given to others who havent and shouldnt have rights,ie;murderers,

rapists,terrorist and so on.so have fun.coz i am.

Wow, you have The Argus on your side! You sure showed us.

Get a life.

Paul Skinnbach wrote:

remluf wrote:

Paul Skinnbach wrote:

Fatpat wrote: I have been a B@H bus driver for just over 3 years and i have never known a job with such a lack of thanks. All too many people get on the bus and just act as if your not there, treating you just like a scanner to scan thier tickets on. For some reason oap's seem increasingly reluctant to actually show you thier county card and look at you like your the rudest person in the world when you ask to see it,don't they realise we are just doing our job. As for bus drivers killing and maiming people as voice of the silent majority says, when was the last time you saw the headline "bus driver in court over pedestrian death" or "bus driver at fault"? It is VERY rarely the bus drivers fault it is the stupid idiots who think its okay to walk into a bus lane without even a glance. As for letting people off some of thier fares why should we? any money we let people off we have to pay for. you wouldnt go into a supermarket and expect the till person to let you off the final price so why should bus drivers? Also why o why do people think it is okay to have a good old moan at the driver when the fares go up? We have got NOTHING to do with the ticket prices atall. As for jumping red lights believe me you cannot bring a bus of any kind to a sharpish halt without having passengers of thier seats, so sometimes when a bus is approaching a traffic light and it goes to red and there is only a short distance to stop in it is much safer to just nip through quickly than to have to slam on the brakes and have granny on the floor and have whoever is standing down on the deck, you cannot liken stopping a bus to what it feels like stopping a car. People moan when your late they moan when your early they moan when your driving on the fast side to catch up time they moan when you dont stop cos they didnt bother to ring the bell they moan when your all full up on buggies(3 buggies is maximum by law, its our liscenses at the end of the day) people moan when the fares go up they moan when a driver on another bus was rude to them(like thats got anything to do with us)there just seems to be no please in some people. Is it any wonder that bus drivers are notoriously grumpy towards the very people who make our job so stressfull? But before you all start thinking that I'm the most miserable person in the world believe it or not i like my job(most of the time!) its just the people that are like what i have been talking about that make the job a bit crap sometimes. A quick thankyou while i'm at it to all the people that do make the effort to be nice to the driver, acknolegding me when you get on even with a nod goes down a long way in my head and just a quick thankyou or cheers is much appreciated when you get off even if i dont say anything back(you try saying thankyou to an average of 2-300 people a day!)believe me if i new who the friendly ones were before they got on i would be equally as friendly back but as most people arnt very friendly you have to assume that there is no point being friendly hence why most bus drivers are grumpy! Adios

1. unnecessary bus routes on small roads cause traffic build ups @ peak times. (i.e. Coombe road at school letting out time) 2. You slow traffic down so car drivers waste more fuel at low speeds. 3. The company have a monopoly on the market, so they can charge what they want. All Frenchy-boy cares about is his shareholders. 4. I cannot even count the amount of times I have been wing mirrored while cycling in a shared lane around Lewes Road by one of you. I appreciate Buses are essential for some, but I would rather travel to work on a 20 year old arthritic Donkey than put up with the stress of public transport.

1) It's cars which cause traffic problems. They hold up the buses who are trying to get through. 2) Ditto. Buses use up much more fuel becuase they are held up by cars. 3) 'Frenchy boy' does not have any share holders. B&H buses are just one of many companies owned by Go Ahead. 4) Keep left to avoid being wing mirrored.

I see we are never going to see eye to eye with each other on the useof buses, but I will say that a subsidiary company is one which is more than 51% owned by another, and that 51% represents the amount of shareholding. Therefore Go-Ahead, a nice big PLC, are the sole shareholder in B&H. Frenchy-boy is obviously prp'd on their profitability, which is why his monopoly on the market is bad for the poor people who have to use his buses.

Total crap. Why are you making out that B&H are so huge, dominate & profiteering? They are tiny in the UK, unlike Stagecoach, who are the dominate company in nearly every other town & city.

jonathon wrote:

wellsyuk wrote:
Whilst we're talking bus related casualties - drivers need to take a lot more care driving along Western Rd, especially when it's busy. It's so dangerous and I know people who have been clipped by the wing mirrors many times - need to slow down.

It is not the bus drivers that have to be careful in Western Road, it is the idiots who walk out without looking. Today I was waiting for a number 5 bus and 2 silly old women just walked from one side of the road to the other without looking. The bus stopped but these idiots did not realise what they had done. Old folk are not safe driving or walking. They would be better off in a home.

You're obviously about 14,otherwise you wouldn't be talking like that,right?Other than that,you're a plank.

remluf wrote:

Paul Skinnbach wrote:

remluf wrote:

Paul Skinnbach wrote:

Fatpat wrote: I have been a B@H bus driver for just over 3 years and i have never known a job with such a lack of thanks. All too many people get on the bus and just act as if your not there, treating you just like a scanner to scan thier tickets on. For some reason oap's seem increasingly reluctant to actually show you thier county card and look at you like your the rudest person in the world when you ask to see it,don't they realise we are just doing our job. As for bus drivers killing and maiming people as voice of the silent majority says, when was the last time you saw the headline "bus driver in court over pedestrian death" or "bus driver at fault"? It is VERY rarely the bus drivers fault it is the stupid idiots who think its okay to walk into a bus lane without even a glance. As for letting people off some of thier fares why should we? any money we let people off we have to pay for. you wouldnt go into a supermarket and expect the till person to let you off the final price so why should bus drivers? Also why o why do people think it is okay to have a good old moan at the driver when the fares go up? We have got NOTHING to do with the ticket prices atall. As for jumping red lights believe me you cannot bring a bus of any kind to a sharpish halt without having passengers of thier seats, so sometimes when a bus is approaching a traffic light and it goes to red and there is only a short distance to stop in it is much safer to just nip through quickly than to have to slam on the brakes and have granny on the floor and have whoever is standing down on the deck, you cannot liken stopping a bus to what it feels like stopping a car. People moan when your late they moan when your early they moan when your driving on the fast side to catch up time they moan when you dont stop cos they didnt bother to ring the bell they moan when your all full up on buggies(3 buggies is maximum by law, its our liscenses at the end of the day) people moan when the fares go up they moan when a driver on another bus was rude to them(like thats got anything to do with us)there just seems to be no please in some people. Is it any wonder that bus drivers are notoriously grumpy towards the very people who make our job so stressfull? But before you all start thinking that I'm the most miserable person in the world believe it or not i like my job(most of the time!) its just the people that are like what i have been talking about that make the job a bit crap sometimes. A quick thankyou while i'm at it to all the people that do make the effort to be nice to the driver, acknolegding me when you get on even with a nod goes down a long way in my head and just a quick thankyou or cheers is much appreciated when you get off even if i dont say anything back(you try saying thankyou to an average of 2-300 people a day!)believe me if i new who the friendly ones were before they got on i would be equally as friendly back but as most people arnt very friendly you have to assume that there is no point being friendly hence why most bus drivers are grumpy! Adios

1. unnecessary bus routes on small roads cause traffic build ups @ peak times. (i.e. Coombe road at school letting out time) 2. You slow traffic down so car drivers waste more fuel at low speeds. 3. The company have a monopoly on the market, so they can charge what they want. All Frenchy-boy cares about is his shareholders. 4. I cannot even count the amount of times I have been wing mirrored while cycling in a shared lane around Lewes Road by one of you. I appreciate Buses are essential for some, but I would rather travel to work on a 20 year old arthritic Donkey than put up with the stress of public transport.

1) It's cars which cause traffic problems. They hold up the buses who are trying to get through. 2) Ditto. Buses use up much more fuel becuase they are held up by cars. 3) 'Frenchy boy' does not have any share holders. B&H buses are just one of many companies owned by Go Ahead. 4) Keep left to avoid being wing mirrored.

I see we are never going to see eye to eye with each other on the useof buses, but I will say that a subsidiary company is one which is more than 51% owned by another, and that 51% represents the amount of shareholding. Therefore Go-Ahead, a nice big PLC, are the sole shareholder in B&H. Frenchy-boy is obviously prp'd on their profitability, which is why his monopoly on the market is bad for the poor people who have to use his buses.

Total crap. Why are you making out that B&H are so huge, dominate & profiteering? They are tiny in the UK, unlike Stagecoach, who are the dominate company in nearly every other town & city.

First bus are bigger. And more domineering, although they tried to get Brighton Blue Bus in 1997, Roger French had bankrolled Blue bus management so B&H would have owned 40% of the shares in a rival company, hence First pulled out. No loss really as First are even worse than Stagecoach. How different it would have been if they`d succeeded.

Paul Skinnbach wrote:

Fatpat wrote:
In reply to Paul skinbach what are you suggesting that at peak times there is no bus service? what about the hundreds of mums with their kids and people going home from work? Where do you think they would be if there was no bus service? As for slowing down traffic are you a bit stupid? Do you really think a 40ft long 8ft wide 15ft high bus carrying upto 95 people can go as fast as normal traffic can? Obviously not. As for you getting wing mirrored i cant comment coz i dont know your personal experiance but i will say that i'm on the road for 40 hours a week and cyclists are generally very irresponsible and dont deserve respect. As for you rather traveling to work on a donkey coz public transport is so stressful, I have to say that i agree with you!

yes i am thick.

i must be to be wasting my time arguing with people i dont know for no real reason in the grand scheme of things.

Yes you are thick.

Kendall80 wrote:

Paul Skinnbach wrote:

Fatpat wrote: In reply to Paul skinbach what are you suggesting that at peak times there is no bus service? what about the hundreds of mums with their kids and people going home from work? Where do you think they would be if there was no bus service? As for slowing down traffic are you a bit stupid? Do you really think a 40ft long 8ft wide 15ft high bus carrying upto 95 people can go as fast as normal traffic can? Obviously not. As for you getting wing mirrored i cant comment coz i dont know your personal experiance but i will say that i'm on the road for 40 hours a week and cyclists are generally very irresponsible and dont deserve respect. As for you rather traveling to work on a donkey coz public transport is so stressful, I have to say that i agree with you!

yes i am thick. i must be to be wasting my time arguing with people i dont know for no real reason in the grand scheme of things.

Yes you are thick.

and your a ****..... get over yourself kendal.sad sad sad.pathetic.

Witchy1 you say that bus drivers are impatiant and unwilling to lend a hand when you have got 3 kids buggies etc.What are we your f*****g slaves. If you kept your legs shut you wouldnt be lumbered with 3 kids. As for driving past you at bus stops i'm not suprised, the drivers probably remember what a pain in the arse you are and dont want to let you on coz you think they should let you off some of your fare which they have to pay for.

Well said, fatpat.
Witchy you need to grow up and take responsibility for your actions instead of expecting everyone else to carry you for the rest of your life.
And seriously, is "sad sad sad pathetic" the best insults you can think up to insult me? Playground jibes to say the least. Do you really think I care if someone calls me those things on a website? Oh dear. To be fair, you must be slightly retarded if you seriously expect a bus driver to pay some of your fare for you, why the hell should he?? As for driving past you, ever heard of a bus being full up, maybe? There are laws against carrying too many people on buses. So sometimes a bus will drive past you. And you will have to wait for the next one. Boo hoo! Its called life. It happens. Stop your whinging and go out and get a job instead of expecting everyone to support you!!

Voice of the silent Majority wrote:
Two things, first the CCTV is to protect there cash from being stolen by the staff and two Bus drivers kill and maime more members of the public than the other way round so maybe we need a plastic screen to protect us

i realise i am late in on this subject, having been off-line for 3 weeks, but as a bus driver myself, i can only say that the majority of drivers i know personally have had no trouble at all. some unfortunately create their own trouble by getting involved when it is not their problem. if there is trouble, then the correct procedure is to call for assistance via the radio. security screens and cctv prevent confrontation. cctv is NOT to stop theiving, and bus drivers have no more accidents than anyone else per mile driven.you are clearly an idiot for thinking otherwise. the reason you think this is because if a bus is involved then the papers are straight there. if you were to read the actual statistics you will find that the bus drivers are rarely the ones at fault, but the people who walk outin front of them.

Mr. Kipling wrote:

remluf wrote:

Paul Skinnbach wrote:

remluf wrote:

Paul Skinnbach wrote:

Fatpat wrote: I have been a B@H bus driver for just over 3 years and i have never known a job with such a lack of thanks. All too many people get on the bus and just act as if your not there, treating you just like a scanner to scan thier tickets on. For some reason oap's seem increasingly reluctant to actually show you thier county card and look at you like your the rudest person in the world when you ask to see it,don't they realise we are just doing our job. As for bus drivers killing and maiming people as voice of the silent majority says, when was the last time you saw the headline "bus driver in court over pedestrian death" or "bus driver at fault"? It is VERY rarely the bus drivers fault it is the stupid idiots who think its okay to walk into a bus lane without even a glance. As for letting people off some of thier fares why should we? any money we let people off we have to pay for. you wouldnt go into a supermarket and expect the till person to let you off the final price so why should bus drivers? Also why o why do people think it is okay to have a good old moan at the driver when the fares go up? We have got NOTHING to do with the ticket prices atall. As for jumping red lights believe me you cannot bring a bus of any kind to a sharpish halt without having passengers of thier seats, so sometimes when a bus is approaching a traffic light and it goes to red and there is only a short distance to stop in it is much safer to just nip through quickly than to have to slam on the brakes and have granny on the floor and have whoever is standing down on the deck, you cannot liken stopping a bus to what it feels like stopping a car. People moan when your late they moan when your early they moan when your driving on the fast side to catch up time they moan when you dont stop cos they didnt bother to ring the bell they moan when your all full up on buggies(3 buggies is maximum by law, its our liscenses at the end of the day) people moan when the fares go up they moan when a driver on another bus was rude to them(like thats got anything to do with us)there just seems to be no please in some people. Is it any wonder that bus drivers are notoriously grumpy towards the very people who make our job so stressfull? But before you all start thinking that I'm the most miserable person in the world believe it or not i like my job(most of the time!) its just the people that are like what i have been talking about that make the job a bit crap sometimes. A quick thankyou while i'm at it to all the people that do make the effort to be nice to the driver, acknolegding me when you get on even with a nod goes down a long way in my head and just a quick thankyou or cheers is much appreciated when you get off even if i dont say anything back(you try saying thankyou to an average of 2-300 people a day!)believe me if i new who the friendly ones were before they got on i would be equally as friendly back but as most people arnt very friendly you have to assume that there is no point being friendly hence why most bus drivers are grumpy! Adios

1. unnecessary bus routes on small roads cause traffic build ups @ peak times. (i.e. Coombe road at school letting out time) 2. You slow traffic down so car drivers waste more fuel at low speeds. 3. The company have a monopoly on the market, so they can charge what they want. All Frenchy-boy cares about is his shareholders. 4. I cannot even count the amount of times I have been wing mirrored while cycling in a shared lane around Lewes Road by one of you. I appreciate Buses are essential for some, but I would rather travel to work on a 20 year old arthritic Donkey than put up with the stress of public transport.

1) It's cars which cause traffic problems. They hold up the buses who are trying to get through. 2) Ditto. Buses use up much more fuel becuase they are held up by cars. 3) 'Frenchy boy' does not have any share holders. B&H buses are just one of many companies owned by Go Ahead. 4) Keep left to avoid being wing mirrored.

I see we are never going to see eye to eye with each other on the useof buses, but I will say that a subsidiary company is one which is more than 51% owned by another, and that 51% represents the amount of shareholding. Therefore Go-Ahead, a nice big PLC, are the sole shareholder in B&H. Frenchy-boy is obviously prp'd on their profitability, which is why his monopoly on the market is bad for the poor people who have to use his buses.

Total crap. Why are you making out that B&H are so huge, dominate & profiteering? They are tiny in the UK, unlike Stagecoach, who are the dominate company in nearly every other town & city.

First bus are bigger. And more domineering, although they tried to get Brighton Blue Bus in 1997, Roger French had bankrolled Blue bus management so B&H would have owned 40% of the shares in a rival company, hence First pulled out. No loss really as First are even worse than Stagecoach. How different it would have been if they`d succeeded.

yes you would have had a really crap bus service then. i work in oxford, with stagecoach as the competition, and there is actually a friendly rivalry between the 2 companies. it can work, but rarely does.

Kendall80 wrote:

Paul Skinnbach wrote:

Fatpat wrote: In reply to Paul skinbach what are you suggesting that at peak times there is no bus service? what about the hundreds of mums with their kids and people going home from work? Where do you think they would be if there was no bus service? As for slowing down traffic are you a bit stupid? Do you really think a 40ft long 8ft wide 15ft high bus carrying upto 95 people can go as fast as normal traffic can? Obviously not. As for you getting wing mirrored i cant comment coz i dont know your personal experiance but i will say that i'm on the road for 40 hours a week and cyclists are generally very irresponsible and dont deserve respect. As for you rather traveling to work on a donkey coz public transport is so stressful, I have to say that i agree with you!

yes i am thick. i must be to be wasting my time arguing with people i dont know for no real reason in the grand scheme of things.

Yes you are thick.

FAT PAT - you clearly are an asset to your company with a customer friendly demeanour such as that. Are you skilled to do anything else like all of the other bus drivers, i.e. sit in cafes and moan about asylum seekers?

Kendall80 - thanks for restating my point, I really appreciate your input on this matter. Word of advice though, in my experience of the Kendall families of Brighton, I wouldnt be calling anyone else thick. Are you related to Lloyd?

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