Buses in and around Bristol - merged posts

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

Talking about what?

Not much info, man. 

[JayMac]

The West of England Combined Authority have announced that bus users can apply for a pass valid for free bus travel in the WECA^» (West of England Combined Authority - about) area during the month of their birthday. The scheme starts on 1st July 2023.

WECA covers Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire. Anyone living in those areas can apply for the pass for the month of their birthday, by providing proof of address and date of birth. A 'Birthday Bus' website is due to go live soon.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-65690176

[Bmblbzzz]

What a fun idea to promote bus travel. Although I suppose the cakes in the photo do not actually come with the pass.

[infoman]

1. Why do buses frequently just disappear from the display at bus stops? @Janneruk4

“This is something often referred to as ghost buses, where they appear on the app or on display screens and then suddenly disappear. There are a number of reasons this may happen; buses may suffer a fault which means they suddenly need to be taken out of service or a driver may have reported sick at short notice.

“Whatever the reason, we know how annoying this can be and we are taking steps to reduce the times that this occurs; we have hired additional staff to update the screens live and we are looking at how we can improve our technology to get information to customers as quickly as possible. But in some cases, having to take buses out of service can be very sudden and unexpected.”

2. Why is St Anne’s so poorly served by First? @PourMeAGin

“It’s sad to hear that some people think there is a poor service in this area. St Anne’s has its own dedicated service, the number 36, which offers a journey in and out of the city centre every half hour, and hourly on Sundays.”

3. How did one of your buses recently get stolen and driven all the way to Wiltshire? @char1iewatts

“That incident is currently being investigated by the police and, while I’m not trying to dodge the question, we’re restricted in what we can say while that investigation is ongoing.”

4. You’ve cut some services on the outskirts of Bristol that have meant older people have lost some independence. Do you understand what it means to them? @JaneConway18

“I completely understand how important transport routes are for those who rely on them. But, at the same time, we have to juggle the funding available to us with providing services where they are needed and will be used.

“It’s simply impossible for us to provide a bus in every neighbourhood across our area and, with limited funding coupled with lower passenger numbers post the pandemic, making decisions on routes is becoming harder.

“That said, our recent changes in the West of England, which included increasing a number of services and extending the 73 service in the north of the city after discussions with the local community, shows that we are listening and doing all we can to save routes, even if that means slightly adjusting services.

“But I have to stress that in order for these new and existing routes to work, the public has to use them to save them.”

5. Why do bus drivers think they own the road? @f19_dan

“The question sounds like it’s from someone who has had a bad experience with one of our drivers, and I apologise if that’s the case. Thankfully, complaints about our drivers are in the minority. Our drivers go on extensive training before taking to the roads in buses, and we have good processes in place to monitor how they’re doing. That said, it is important to recognise that buses are on our roads to help those who don’t have access to other modes of transport, to encourage people out of their cars, especially in cities where congestion can be a problem, and to help our natural environment by reducing our carbon footprint. It’s therefore important that motorists recognise this and, where they can, give way to bus drivers to allow them to carry out this important service.”

6. How much are you paid? @florenz0

“With the fear of sounding like a stereotypical politician, while I won’t go into the detail of my pay, let’s just say that pay for my role as a managing director, which is in charge of a £200m business, is benchmarked against other similar roles.”

7. Why is the Airport Flyer ticket so expensive? @smythonian1

“The Airport Flyer is one that is provided for and managed by the airport and we provide the bus and driver to deliver the service, so any decision on ticket prices is down to the airport.”

8. How do you get to work and what sort of car do you drive? @ranger1uk

“Like many others in this post-Covid world, some of my work can be done from home. However, because of the nature of our work and the fact I live just north of Bristol, I take the bus or train as much as I can. Like many of my colleagues, who also use our buses, this is why making changes to services or seeing buses running late or not showing up can also have a real personal effect, so we’re very often walking in our customers’ shoes.”

9. What is your favourite bus route and why? Anna Vines via email

“It has to be the 376 service, which is a great trip out to Wells, Glastonbury and Street, where there is lots to do and very scenic – in fact, it was named one of the country’s most picturesque bus routes. I’d recommend it for anyone who wants to escape the city for a bit. And also, don’t forget to take advantage of the £2 fare – the 376 is our longest route at about 30 miles, so you’d be getting the best value out of your £2, which works out at about 7p per mile.”

10. What are your thoughts on bus franchising for the South West? @Aden_Harris_

“Like my colleagues, I’m passionate about getting more people to use buses. First Bus has years of experience of running buses, so we have a deep understanding of what customers want, where routes are best placed to attract the most people and how we can get even more people to use public transport. Whichever way the authorities decide to go in the South West, we’ll use our decades of experience delivering high quality bus services to support them. In the meantime, I’ll continue working closely with local authorities and communities and remain flexible so we can meet the changing needs of our local areas.”

T

[TonyK]

St Anne’s has its own dedicated service, the number 36, which offers a journey in and out of the city centre every half hour, and hourly on Sundays.

I made the mistake once of using the number 36 to get to a hospital appointment in Hengrove, for which I was advised against using the car. I arrived 45 minutes late. They were very understanding - "Happens all the time". Going home, I took a bus to the centre then one back to Brislington, which was much quicker. Half-hourly isn't what I would think appropriate for a bus service within a city, and the question isn't answered. Unless the answer is "You get what you're given, so shut up."

[TaplowGreen]

I like his reticence on point 6 re: his salary - ironically the salaries of politicians, stereotypical or otherwise, are a matter of public record!

[LiskeardRich]

5. Sounds like it’s come from a car driver who lacks patience. As a bus driver elsewhere a percentage of car drivers seem to have the mentality they must be in front of the bus at any cost. The amount of times I see cars recklessly overtake or obstruct passage along a bus lane by straddling the line is unbelievable
Highway Code 223 stipulates you should give way to buses, coaches and trams, another item many car drivers fail to do.

[TonyK]

A question I would have liked to have asked is what is the company's strategy for electric buses, given the recent planning application for Hengrove depot. Is that it, are buses on order, will other depots convert, plus when will the first First electric (proper, not the UWE trial) run.

[Red Squirrel]

Good question. I’ve ridden a few electric buses and from the passenger viewpoint they’re much better than diesel - much quieter, and without the vibration. I was disappointed when Bristol plumped for gas-powered buses a few years ago.

[TonyK]

Good question. I’ve ridden a few electric buses and from the passenger viewpoint they’re much better than diesel - much quieter, and without the vibration. I was disappointed when Bristol plumped for gas-powered buses a few years ago.

To be honest, I think that may have been a lucky delay. Bus, battery, and charging technology all seem to have taken a leap forward in the past few years, and electric buses are not the niche product they were when First introduced their early virtue-signalling vehicles in 2016. Those were basically plug-in hybrids,, and had a half-hour charge stop at UWE after each gruelling 15-mile round trip. Newer electric buses are pure electric with a 200-mile range, making it a good thing that they waited. I would imagine that the financial side of buying 130 new buses to replace 130 perfectly serviceable buses takes a bit of doing too, probably involving talking to DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) and lots of councils to try to get some cash and willing customers for cascaded kit.

The worst thing about the gas buses is the constant banging on about them being the "poo buses" running on gas from the sewage plant, as though the gas produced by said plant was being fed directly into the buses rather than pumped into the gas grid. It is good that the waste product of our collective waste product is being used, but it still would be if First didn't renew the contract when it expires. It's like those 100% renewable electricity contracts - an accounting trick, enabling power that would be used anyway to be sold at a premium in some cases. The other bad thing about the gas bus is that it still emits the dreaded CO₂, although not so much of the other rubbish pumped out by diesel engines. At least they weren't gullible enough to buy hydrogen buses.

[johnneyw]

A scrutiny report for WECA^» (West of England Combined Authority - about) concludes that the scheme has benefited the better off more than less well off.
Other aspects of the Metro Mayor's bus initiatives are also questioned. 

I suppose there's always some element of trial and error with new initiatives and it remains to be seen what's going to be changed and what's to be abandoned.

The Beeb's report on it below:


https://www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-68068983.amp?amp_gsa=1&amp_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQGsAEggAID#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17064711141357&csi=1&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com

[infoman]

https://www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/news/big-choices-citizens-panel-on-bus-services/

[Edit: - Subject changed to clarify the topic - Red Squirrel]

[Red Squirrel]

To, erhem, expand on this a little:

Big Choices: Citizens’ Panel on bus services

A Citizens’ Panel of 40 local residents is being set up to help the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority make tough decisions about how to fund buses in the current economic climate.

To understand more about what the panel will be doing and why it is so crucial, some of the key information is outlined below.

So, why a Citizens’ Panel?


We face big choices. Difficult choices. With a limited pot of money being constantly stretched, which bus services do we fund? What criteria should be used to choose? This is where the Citizens’ Panel comes in. A cross section of local residents are being asked to help create a formula which will guide how decisions are made in the future.

The panel is not looking at any specific services.

Who pays for bus services in the West of England?

Most bus services in the West of England are run ‘commercially’ by bus operators. This means they must make a profit to run and do not receive any public funding. A smaller number of services which are not commercially viable need a subsidy to run.

These loss-making services are known as “Supported Services”.

How exactly are supported services funded?

Funding for supported services in the West of England mainly comes from your council tax. Each of the local councils (Bristol, Bath, South Gloucestershire) agree how much they will pay into something called the “Transport Levy”. This levy is passed to the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority - which can’t collect taxes direct - and is used to fund supported services.

However, there is simply not enough money to subsidise all of the bus services people want. This has become even more of a problem recently due to rapid inflation.

Fuel costs, driver wages, maintenance, parts and materials have all gone up in price dramatically – meaning it is much more expensive to run bus services. In one case last year, the cost had risen by almost 60%.

There just isn’t enough money to go around in the West of England. The reality is that demand for bus services will always outstrip the funding available.

How is the Citizens’ Panel being selected?

12,000 households across the West of England were sent an invitation earlier this year. 40 people have been independently selected based on demographic data to ensure the panel contains a representative cross-section of residents.

When will it take place, and how will the process work?

The Citizens’ Panel will meet in two sessions in February. The panel is being asked to create a formula or set of recommendations about what criteria should be considered when deciding which bus services to fund. This is not related to any specific service.

They will talk about issues generally, discuss them with one another, and then make recommendations about how we should evaluate bus services.

A number of speakers including experts on buses, local organisations, community groups and businesses will talk so that the panel understand the issues fully. They will explain how the bus industry works, and how bus services can be vital for education, employment, leisure and tourism as well as individuals. There will be discussion, questions and tasks to make sure many points of view are considered.

Source: West of England COmbineed Aithority

[infoman]

https://www.firstbus.co.uk/bristol-bath-and-west/plan-journey/get-out-and-about/travel-free-m2-metrobus

Edit - changed Subject for clarity (Red Squirrel)

[Red Squirrel]

If you can take advantage of this, do. if nothing else, you'll see at first hand what happens when local transport decisions are shaped by the need to bid for prescribed government funding.

Travel for free on the m2 metrobus

Want free parking & travel to Bristol City Centre? Travel for free on the m2 metrobus service from Long Ashton Park & Ride on Thursday 4th, Friday 5th and Saturday 6th April.

No tickets or voucher codes required – simply hop on and off the m2 metrobus as much as you like on these dates!

The m2 runs up to every 15 minutes from Long Ashton Park & Ride to the City Centre via Ashton Vale, Ashton Gate, Cumberland Basin, Spike Island, Redcliff Hill, Temple Meads, Cabot Circus and Broadmead.

So, whether you’re visiting Brunel’s SS Great Britain, grabbing lunch at Wapping Wharf, or having a drink at the harbourside, get there for free with m2 metrobus.

Special Offers & Attractions
Not sure how to make the most of you free travel? Don't worry, we've got you covered with all the best places to visit & some special offers during the free travel days:

Brunel's SS Great Britain
Address: Great Western Dockyard, Gas Ferry Rd, Bristol BS1 6TY
Closest m2 bus stop: SS Great Britain
Special Offer: SS Great Britain Shop - 15% discount on in-store purchases over £30. The shop is open to everyone and has a selection of unique and artisan gifts, crafts and local products including a specialist bookstore.
Special Offer 2: Half-price lunch for children during the Easter holidays at Harbour Kitchen. Purchase the popular ‘Docker’s Lunch’ for just £3 between 29th March and 14th April (usually £6). Choose from a range of lunch items including children’s sandwiches. Harbourside Kitchen is open to everyone, located beside the SS Great Britain and with great harbour views.
 
Coffee Club
Address: Hanover Pl, Bristol BS1 6UH
Closest m2 bus stop: SS Great Britain
Offer: Get FREE babyccino or kids hot chocolate with any coffee purchase when you travel on our metrobus m2 service during our m2 free travel days (Thu 4th - Sat 6th April). Make sure to quote 'the wheels on the bus go round and round’ to claim!
Wapping Wharf

Closest m2 bus stop: Wapping Wharf
Harbourside

Closest m2 bus stop: Wapping Wharf
Temple Meads Station

Closest m2 bus stop: Temple Meads Station (T3)
Cabot Circus

Closest m2 bus stop: Cabot Circus
Ahh Toots Bakery

Closest m2 bus stop: The Centre

Source (with more details, and map): First Bus