Bus petition

[Sorastro]

There seems to be petitions going round about bringing buses back into public ownership, one of these seems to be by "Better buses East Midlands".

The gist of it is people are so fed up with Stagecoach constantly letting them down they want the council to run buses like in the "good" old days.

Don't get me wrong, nothing would give me greater pleasure than to see Stagecoach horsewhipped out of town, but would things ACTUALLY be any better.

Firstly Stagecoach would bu**er off and obviously take their buses with them, leaving the Council {us} with hefty bills to buy or lease new ones.
Secondly you would still have the same drivers you had before with the same staff shortages Stagecoach has/had.
Thirdly anyone thinking the timetables would change dramatically {for the better} obviously doesn't know the Chesterfield council.
They are not going to go into a venture like that with staff shortages, dwindling passenger numbers, and low fares, I know I wouldn't if I were on the council it's too risky as it stands at the moment.

[Old Cruser]

Many people use their own cars these days, so not as much need for buses these days.
That doesn't excuse the shabby treatment passengers gave to put up with though.

[Sorastro]

Caught the bus to town the other day as I needed B&Q. The Idea was I would get off at Bank close house nursing home and walk under the bridge, going down Hasland road I was looking out the window lost in my reverie when the bus made a left onto st. leonards drive obviously intending to go through Spital, it's only because someone had pressed the bell and it stopped just past the corner otherwise I would have had a longer walk.

These drivers are not only making their own timetables up they are choosing the routes as well.