Letter sent to first mainline after an incident last week.

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I am writing to complain about the conduct of one of your drivers.

I have only recently moved and only occasionally use this bus service. The first time I used it, I asked the driver how much the fare was and he said £1.40. Each time I have used the service, I have paid £1.40 (until the fare increase) and never has this been questioned.

I boarded the bus at Manor Top and asked for a £1.50 fare as normal. When we got to Catcliffe the driver stopped at the bus stop and shouted at me to get off. I went towards the driver and explained to him that I normally paid £1.50 and that it was a genuine mistake, one that had come from a previous driver. He said I had to get off or pay again. I said I would not pay again, that I would give him my ticket for a new one that had £1.80 on the fare. He refused to do this, so I said I would not get off the bus. I sat down and he refused to drive, leaving a bus full of angry people wanting to get home. Surely he could have overlooked this mistake adn pointed out to me what the correct fare was for future reference. This he did not do. Once I realised that he would not move the bus and that it wasn't fair on the other passengers, I got off the bus to walk the 2 miles to my new home. All for 30p.

If that wasn't bad enough, a minute later a bus came in the opposite direction and the driver waved at me through the window, did a 'walking' gesture with his hands and was laughing his head off. You must surely imagine that this made me very angry.

Would he have done this to an elderly person, or a schoolchild?? Probably.

The bus then came back in the opposite direction adn I walked in front of it so not to let it past. He opened the doors and I said to him "Was all this really worth it for 30p". He said "remember you still have to catch this bus" as a threat.

At this point, a young girl had seen this incident and said it was the same driver her and her friends had problems with. Sometimes he doesn't let them on at childs rate even when they have got their passes and on one occasion, he even swapped a 50p coin they had given him with another one out of his pocket and said he couldn't accept it because it was fake.

If this is the kind of person you employ then there is no wonder that First Mainline has such a bad reputation amongst South Yorkshire.

I expect a written apology and I want to know how you discipline this Hitler of a driver. No doubt, you will come up with some lame excuse as to why he was within his rights to kick me off a bus miles from home for a genuine mistake and why he felt he had to laugh and joke about it with another driver.

I, for one, can't wait for you to lose the licence for South Yorkshire.

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And the response? "Passengers are requested to state their destination rather than ask for a fare".

Thats great. First Mainline are just complete and utter d***k heads. Id write to the PTE if i were you, they have the power to fine them, or revoke thier licence.

the bus driver's round here are not like that (tm travel) in fact they stop anywere to pick-up drop off passenger's and the drivers are very friendly :D

its just first mainline that are scum. its why noone had any sympathy with them when they were on strike. They knew the job and the pay when they took it, so what gives them the right to complain? they should have sacked the lot nad give the position to people who WANT to work with the public.

Originally posted by Avalon
Thats great. First Mainline are just complete and utter d***k heads. Id write to the PTE if i were you, they have the power to fine them, or revoke their license.

I stand to be corrected on this but as to the revocation of the licence or fine the company only the traffic commissioner has this power.

Originally posted by bhunaboy
its just first mainline that are scum. its why noone had any sympathy with them when they were on strike. They knew the job and the pay when they took it, so what gives them the right to complain? they should have sacked the lot nad give the position to people who WANT to work with the public.

The problem is that not a lot of people want to work with the public in this type of job thats why they cannot get staff or even hang on to the ones they have got.

Originally posted by d71146
The problem is that not a lot of people want to work with the public in this type of job thats why they cannot get staff or even hang on to the ones they have got.

What confuses me with bus drivers is the inconsistency of the service I live at Gleadless Valley and I have no problems with 43 service never late (unless traffic, or football) only been missing once in my knowledge becuase the doors fell off and they didn't have a replacement (First management problem not driver) but the 48 that runs some of the route the same so shares passengers is horrible, - frequently late, missing and rude drivers who do emergency stops for no reason...and when you complain direct to the driver you get a load of shouting and swearing even when you have kids with you.

They both operate from the same garage Olive Grove so do not understand at all the difference in service from the drivers.

I live on the road that a First bus on the Tesco route was clocked doing doing almost 50 miles per hour in a 30 mph zone that has speed reductuon on part of the road, by school children using speed cameras (was in the star)

I think First are just recruiting people that can drive ( use the term losely) and not focus on the Customer Services skills as well, this is a face to face job and CS is just as inportant as to weather they can drive the bus.

If you have a complaint against a bus driver always remember to keep your bus ticket if you pay a cash fare as your ticket has the drivers ID number,route number,where you boarded and how fare your fare will take you.If you have a weekly pass make a note of the bus fleet number which is located inside and outside body workand is usually a six figure number if its a first bus.It all assists in tacking the driver as Sheffild routes are covered by 3 depots ( Olive grove/Halfway/Rotherham).Hope this helps everyone.

Originally posted by bhunaboy

And the response? "Passengers are requested to state their destination rather than ask for a fare".

if thats the case then why does everybody ask for the fare????? surely if thats what ur ment to ask for then it should be reinforced? I always ask for an 85p and not firth park.

Strikes me , reading the above postings that a lot of bus drivers hate the public and in turn a lot of the public hate bus drivers. This seems to be a reflection of life in Britain , today.
There's road rage , air rage , rage in general and increasing violence.
They must bring back the freedom to smoke anywhere and legalise cannabis and then everybody could light up , lean back and chill out.
Has anyone else noticed the correlation between the bans on smokimg and increased rage ?

No but we've noticed how you manage to change every thread into a pro cancer one! :D:hihi: ;)

Why is that there fault?......they can put prices up without telling you there aloud to do things like that, if you asked to see there Terms & Conditions of travel it would say that they can change any prices without notice. Its your fault shoudnt b so tight and carry more money with ya. You wouldnt be bothered if they had decreased the prices without telling ya! :hihi: :hihi:

I get on the 22 to netheredge and when i first moved here i thought it was the funniest thing ever that people say "one ten please" i.e. £1.10. i said to my other half, surely people should say where they are going, rather than telling the driving how much they are going to pay! obviousyl not because eveyone does it on the 22.

I was confused here in Preston , when I first caught the bus into town, I remembered how much the fare was, £2.15 so the next time i caught the bus, I asked for £2.15, and the driver just looked at me funny. I assumed that I'd perhaps forgotten the correct fare or that there had been a price increase.
When I asked for £2.15 again, he smiled at me and said "You're not from round here are you flower".
Turns out you tell the driver where you're going and then he charges you the correct fare.
But my point is that he did it so nicely, I did feel foolish, but I feel like that living here anyway, everyone notices my accent and then tries to guess what part of Yorkshire it is :lol:
But the times you have to deal with surly bus drivers is a thing of the past for me as I don't live in Sheff at the moment.
I'm sure that plenty of us have gripes about the customer service offered by First drivers, and everytime I come up to Sheff I hate having to catch the buses now, if i'm honest I tend to catch taxi's, expensive I know but visiting sheff is like a holiday for me and I don't want it ruined by aggressive, surly and ignorant First drivers.

Originally posted by underground1
Why is that there fault?......they can put prices up without telling you there aloud to do things like that, if you asked to see there Terms & Conditions of travel it would say that they can change any prices without notice. Its your fault shoudnt b so tight and carry more money with ya. You wouldnt be bothered if they had decreased the prices without telling ya! :hihi: :hihi: :confused:

Did you actually read the first post??

what frustrates me is the lack of common sense. I remember getting the 95 last summer (and we get this driver every so often)

the bus was packed full of half students/half workers. Just been held up on West st for 30 mins with traffic and on one of the hottest days of the year.

We get to Crookes Valley Park and he stops the bus, shouts back that someone should be getting off here as they only paid this far. The bus is still crammed full and no one gets off. He refuses to go again for 5 minutes. Then eventually gives up and carries on after telling the whole bus off for being liars (and a hefty rant at students)

what for? 20p

Originally posted by 5_HATS
:confused:

Did you actually read the first post??

no cos i got bored....lol

http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/yorkhumber/southyorkshire/fare_changes/fare_changes.php?item=34

:P

Some of First Mainline's drivers do seem to look for trouble instead of avoiding it.

I have noticed on more than one occasion while stood near the Crucible that they have often almost tried to run cars off the road where the lanes turn in to one and then two again.

Normally I would expect traffic to 'blend' in a left right left right sort of way, but the other month I saw a single decker First bus drive right up the arse of the one in front to try and force a car on to the other side of the road in front of on coming traffic. There was no where else for the car to go and he was already commited to his lane and quite fairly so too. He had allowed the one bus in front of him, the second accelerated and tried to block him out!

This was very dangerous and I was shocked to see such behaviour.

The driver of the car managed to get ahead of him, but the bus driver then spat out the dummy, still not happy to back down from the situation he created and he flashed his lights and beeped at the car.

Rather amusingly the car driver took offence to this drivers attitude and slammed on his breaks in front of the bus which cuased the bus to break sharply. Then he pulled in along side the bus while it was at the stop in front of the crucible and tried to speak to the driver who's attitude suddenly changed from one of agression more towards someone a little panicked.

It ended with the bus driver shutting his door, looking everywhere except where the irate car driver was and then driving off without saying a word back etc.

The car driver looked very p*ssed off and drove off.

Although I don't approve of people attacking each other, I think he was well within his rights (although not legally) to get out and smack the idiot driving the bus. The car driver was trying to get around normally and slowed down to allow the bus next to him to get ahead, the second bus driver acted like a lunatic and his actions could easily have resulted in the car driver being forced against oncoming traffic which could have been very serious. To then continue this idiocy by being abusing towards the car driver instead of realising his actions were stupid and backing off just shows what kind of person this was driving the bus that day.

Anyway, it made my wait by the side of the road more fun to watch and if this person is a member of this forum and needs a witness etc. then I am here, just PM me. :)

Just to make it clear though, not all bus drivers in Sheffield are like this. It's just a few idiots with bad attitudes that seem to stick together etc. Not sure if they use the radio between busses or mobiles or what, but the original post certainly shows they are in contact with each other.

It's a shame the decent bus drivers are let down by the idiot few that work for the same company.

On the rare occasions that I have caught the bus I have come across a couple of very friendly bus drivers. The others I have met also seem fine and not rude in any way.

Also I don't think it's a case of bus drivers hating cars and vice versa, I think it's only a small number like this. When I drive I often help the busses out by letting them pull out etc. and I don't hate them although if the above had happened to me I know I would have definately not left it at that.

To Don_Kiddick
If I were you , Don , I'd light up a Capstan full strength and relax a bit. Your reply illustrates exactly what I meant by "rage" , even if it's an underlying rage.People die for all sorts of reasons and this has been gone into on other threads but there seems something really bitter about the anti-smoking brigade.
They seem to want to outlaw something that makes us relaxed and yet , other things that cause misery and death-----motoring , drinking , gambling , over-eating and mild drugs seem to not carry the same hatred and even seems to be encouraged !
Not "pro-cancer " , just "pro-fairness"

Originally posted by pdrnsf
I get on the 22 to netheredge and when i first moved here i thought it was the funniest thing ever that people say "one ten please" i.e. £1.10. i said to my other half, surely people should say where they are going, rather than telling the driving how much they are going to pay! obviousyl not because eveyone does it on the 22.

Has anyone actually ever tried telling the bus driver where you're going too!? :gag:

They don't have a clue what to charge you if they have to try and work out how much it will cost themselves...

And yet strangely, if you pay the incorrect fare... they seem to know exactly how many stops earlier you should be leaving the bus!! :heyhey:

Originally posted by Fareast
To Don_Kiddick
If I were you , Don , I'd light up a Capstan full strength and relax a bit. Your reply illustrates exactly what I meant by "rage" , even if it's an underlying rage.People die for all sorts of reasons and this has been gone into on other threads but there seems something really bitter about the anti-smoking brigade.
They seem to want to outlaw something that makes us relaxed and yet , other things that cause misery and death-----motoring , drinking , gambling , over-eating and mild drugs seem to not carry the same hatred and even seems to be encouraged !
Not "pro-cancer " , just "pro-fairness"

Seriously, take it out of this thread and go and argue the point where it's appropriate. I'll more than happily destroy your argument in the right thread.

I generally pay by location as I catch a bus so infrequently i'd have no idea how much it should be. This has never been a problem.

Why don't people stand there ground when confronted by an irate driver they are hardly likely to physically attack you are they :loopy:

Originally posted by craigmason
Why don't people stand there ground when confronted by an irate driver they are hardly likely to physically attack you are they :loopy:

Well I saw a bus driver pull a knife on someone once. So yes, they will physically attack you.

Originally posted by x_LoUiSe_x
if thats the case then why does everybody ask for the fare????? surely if thats what ur ment to ask for then it should be reinforced? I always ask for an 85p and not firth park. It's a Sheffield thing, I've only ever heard us lot ask for the price.
Originally posted by craigmason
Why don't people stand there ground when confronted by an irate driver they are hardly likely to physically attack you are they :loopy: If you recognise a driver known to be a bit of tw*t, record him, with a hidden mobile, dictpahone or Digi cam ! A recording of them shouting/swearing/lying is pretty Pwned !

The 95 to Walkey is good for irate, and rubbish bus drivers.

Me: Crookes Valley Road please.
Driver: £1.20
Me: No, Thats Barber Road. I want Crookes Valley Road.
Driver: Thats £1.20.
Me: No, your getting Crookes Valley Road and Crookesmoor Road Confused.
Driver: I don't go along Crookes Valley Road. (yes, he really did say this).
Me (looks shocked): How about Harcourt Road?
Driver: thats 85p.

I then pay.

When getting off the bus I point out that it says Crookes Valley Road on the bus stop.

I've had this repeatedly from Mainline, but never with Yorkshire Terrier.

Yes some bus drivers do not come up to the necessary standard, but calling people scumbags and hitlers does not tend to get you very far, and gives them a fairly good excuse to ignore you.

Originally posted by Yodameister
Yes some bus drivers do not come up to the necessary standard, but calling people scumbags and hitlers does not tend to get you very far, and gives them a fairly good excuse to ignore you. I think that the title of this thread may be a little unfair in a blanket sort of way as not all of their drivers are like this, but I can see how annoyed the person originally posting was.

Also it appears there are many that have had problems with their drivers.

At the end of the day they are their to server customers and if they are giving out abuse or a bad customer service to them then they are failing the basics of their job and should look for other employment.

Originally posted by lalaland
I think that the title of this thread may be a little unfair in a blanket sort of way as not all of their drivers are like this, but I can see how annoyed the person originally posting was.

Also it appears there are many that have had problems with their drivers.

At the end of the day they are their to server customers and if they are giving out abuse or a bad customer service to them then they are failing the basics of their job and should look for other employment.

Yes I agree with you totally.

But as the old phrase goes - "Don't get mad, get even"

He obviously did not read the first post. I did not have a problem with the fare increases, I had a problem with the drivers attitude.

I didn't call him a hitler. I criticised First Mainline for emplying a hitler.

And I only put the word scumbags on this thread as it told me that 'First Mainline' wasn't long enough!

Originally posted by karl101
The 95 to Walkey is good for irate, and rubbish bus drivers.

Me: Crookes Valley Road please.
Driver: £1.20
Me: No, Thats Barber Road. I want Crookes Valley Road.
Driver: Thats £1.20.
Me: No, your getting Crookes Valley Road and Crookesmoor Road Confused.
Driver: I don't go along Crookes Valley Road. (yes, he really did say this).
Me (looks shocked): How about Harcourt Road?
Driver: thats 85p.

I then pay.

When getting off the bus I point out that it says Crookes Valley Road on the bus stop.

I've had this repeatedly from Mainline, but never with Yorkshire Terrier.

Just say 85p please then problem solved. Or Crookes Valley Park then you wont be creating a problem.

Also the reason you may not have a problem with Yorkshire Terrior is maybe they do not use Harcourt road (Crookes valley park!)as a fare stage.

Originally posted by unners
Just say 85p please then problem solved. Or Crookes Valley Park then you wont be creating a problem.

85p please is fine until the fare changes and he gets kicked off 2 stops early, as per the point of the thread.

Originally posted by Cyclone
85p please is fine until the fare changes and he gets kicked off 2 stops early, as per the point of the thread.

I thought the point of the Thread according to the Banner headline was to call First SOUTH YORKSHIRE staff scum bags.

I think the problem is not the fare or the fare change, but more to do with how the First Mainline driver handled the situation.

He was there to provide a service to that customer, but according to the original post he didn't do anything to help the situation and instead seemed to make it worse.

I think that driver should think again about what he's employed to do and realise that he's there to serve the customers, not make their journeys more uncomfortable.

In a sitaution like this it wouldn't be hard for the driver to use a little bit of customer care and help the paying passenger out, but instead it appears he went out of his way to do the opposite and then joked with his mate on another bus about it.

The thread has nothing to do with whether or not I think the fare increase is fair, or whether you should state your fare or destination as you board a bus, it's about the tosser that was given a little bit of power driving a bus who then thought he would abuse that power and behave like a complete ******.

is there any wonder that bus drivers get attacked if they carry on like this first mainline should send ALL there driver's on a customer relations course as the other bus companies don't have this problem

Originally posted by unners
Just say 85p please then problem solved. Or Crookes Valley Park then you wont be creating a problem.

I've tried Crookes Valley Park. They still get confused. And 85p doesn't work either, they ask you what stop you want in a suspicious kind of way. Then repeat argument...

The Yorkshire Terrier drivers look at thier chart before asking for the fare.

Originally posted by karl101
I've tried Crookes Valley Park. They still get confused. And 85p doesn't work either, they ask you what stop you want in a suspicious kind of way. Then repeat argument...

The Yorkshire Terrier drivers look at thier chart before asking for the fare.

You do have a point regarding being suspicious,when i was working on the 95 i was always suspicious when asked for an 80p because on most occasions the person would get off at the Hadfield. May be the solution is to get rid of the Hadfield stop!

Also I don't think it's a case of bus drivers hating cars and vice versa, I think it's only a small number like this. When I drive I often help the busses out by letting them pull out etc. and I don't hate them although if the above had happened to me I know I would have definately not left it at that.

I think some do secretly have a vendetta against car drivers... Or maybe it's just me who has a vendetta against bus drivers. Hmm. Anyways, I have seen many a time, cars going up East bank road (V.steep and long hill for those who don't know) travelling at 30mph and all of a sudden the bus pulls out of the bus pull in and on go the breaks, screeching to a hault. Many a time this has happened to me too. It's absolutely ridiculous! It's hard enough to keep at 30 and in a suitible gear without having to perform an emergency stop to let some chokey old bus come out and cover your car in a cloud of fumes and black debris. Not only that, but when I do willingly allow a bus out (when I'm in a good mood, or trying to waste some time) it goes at about 15-20mph and your reduced to 2nd gear which is a huuuge petrol supper.

It's all well and good people saying that we should let buses pull out... But what about when it's the buses who won't let car drivers out? We all pay our road tax, they have absolutely no more of a priority over me whatsoever. Take this for example... It's 8.15am on Friday Morning... I'm driving up Mansfield road and yay the bus lane is in operation. So I take the left lane, so as not to get done off the police, although I do need to be in the right hand lane... So, as I approach the fire station, whereby cars are encouraged to move back across to the right hand lane if thats the one they need, not one single bus would let me through. There were four buses in the lane and about 15-20 cars behind me in the left lane... So on went the indicator and I waited, the lights changed... The buses still kept on coming and not one single bus driver would let me in! So I held up an entire lane of traffic due to their ignorance.
Grrr I was not happy! So in return I ammended by rule of "5 a day" to allow only car drivers to pull out infront of me, instead of allowing buses too. Hmm still cross :mad:

Driving is rather stressful if your in the city centre alot... But its no reason to take it out on passengers and treat them badly. Passengers of First are literally verbal punch bags and it just is not fair. Crikey, they have a worse reputation than ANT Marketing!

I think most fellow Forum members will agree that their is not a dull moment in Sheffield when First buses are on the prowl.

Wow! It seems First Mainline have a bit of a reputation in this town.

Should we chase them out?

Maybe someone at first needs to be made aware of this post and take some positive action??

Anyone know the contact details for first? Care to send a link to this thread to them and invite them to comment or better still why not put First forward as Sheffield Forum's next lot of interviewees?

Should we chase them out?

Yes! IE - stop using them!
They abandoned us and left us to walk when the bus strike was on... If we boycot them, surely they'd be forced to treat us better. That's my theory... It's a shame that the majority of sheffield's peeved off first users won't have the front to do it. Except this ex-first user :)

Originally posted by Briano
Has anyone actually ever tried telling the bus driver where you're going too!? :gag:

Good point! If I ever try to tell the driver the exact stop I want to get off at they always get their little price list out and spend a couple of minutes browsing that (no exaggeration!). Sometimes they even try to charge me too much (I know that because I can actually read, and can see the little price list as well as they can).

I don't use the buses very much. I live up at Longley so there is no tram, but I have been known to walk to the tramstop rather than take a chance on the 97. I can walk into town in just over half an hour. If I went on the bus I could be waiting that long!

What puzzles me at First SY is why some things seem to be top secret yet if you look at the First web site and look at Leeds you can view every Fare table. I'll send an e mail to SY and see what reponse I get. wonder what reply I'll get?

Originally posted by underground1
Why is that there fault?......they can put prices up without telling you there aloud to do things like that, if you asked to see there Terms & Conditions of travel it would say that they can change any prices without notice. Its your fault shoudnt b so tight and carry more money with ya. You wouldnt be bothered if they had decreased the prices without telling ya! :hihi: :hihi:

I only carry what I need in case I am mugged, they only get a small amount not everything. My wife has been mugged and it took us three months to get back on track, finances wise as the money they got was bill money.

Originally posted by pdrnsf
I get on the 22 to netheredge and when i first moved here i thought it was the funniest thing ever that people say "one ten please" i.e. £1.10. i said to my other half, surely people should say where they are going, rather than telling the driving how much they are going to pay! obviousyl not because eveyone does it on the 22.

I used to always ask for blackstock road, and I used to get asked where on there its a long road. Sounds like a fair question but the whole of blackstock road is the same fare stage so its the same price wherever you get off it only changes from where you get on. ie town to BR is more expensive than from olive grove.

Originally posted by craigmason
Why don't people stand there ground when confronted by an irate driver they are hardly likely to physically attack you are they :loopy:

I'll try and find the star report when the teenager was attacked unprevoked by a bus driver if its been discussed here can someone post the link. I would only stand up to a driver if KI feel I could defend myself. I was once phyisicly threatened and it was reported to the police who found out the drivers details fromn first and he was warned.

Originally posted by caprice
I think some do secretly have a vendetta against car drivers... Or maybe it's just me who has a vendetta against bus drivers. Hmm. Anyways, I have seen many a time, cars going up East bank road (V.steep and long hill for those who don't know) travelling at 30mph and all of a sudden the bus pulls out of the bus pull in and on go the breaks, screeching to a hault. Many a time this has happened to me too. It's absolutely ridiculous! It's hard enough to keep at 30 and in a suitible gear without having to perform an emergency stop to let some chokey old bus come out and cover your car in a cloud of fumes and black debris. Not only that, but when I do willingly allow a bus out (when I'm in a good mood, or trying to waste some time) it goes at about 15-20mph and your reduced to 2nd gear which is a huuuge petrol supper.

!
East Bank isn't a problem your not going fast so should be able to see the big bus there (hazard preception) and should be ready in case it needs to pull out. There should be no need to do an emergency stop.!

Of course the bus is gonna go slower up that hill it weighs just slightly more than your little car. I have no problem going up that road a the traffic and conditions allow

I very rarely use the bus all I know about whats happening is through here and in The Star.
Reading most of the post's on here about First Mainline will put me (and probably many others) off public transport in Sheffield for life!!
The thing I have noticed is the attitudes of people on the forum towards mainline have worsend since First took over.
First really must have messed things up badly.

Originally posted by Norton
Well I saw a bus driver pull a knife on someone once. So yes, they will physically attack you.

Now ive seen it all,all these crappy bus threads full of ficticious events made up for the sake of starting a thread.

Granted yes there are some things that need to be corrected,not only on the side of drivers,but the passengers as well.

But...come on,a driver pulling a knife on passengers.

Originally posted by lalaland
Wow! It seems First Mainline have a bit of a reputation in this town.

Should we chase them out?

Maybe someone at first needs to be made aware of this post and take some positive action??

Anyone know the contact details for first? Care to send a link to this thread to them and invite them to comment or better still why not put First forward as Sheffield Forum's next lot of interviewees?

People should be made aware of this thread,in paticular the claim that drivers have pulled a knife on passengers and the claim that this driver swaps coins for fake ones.

Originally posted by tango2
Now ive seen it all,all these crappy bus threads full of ficticious events made up for the sake of starting a thread.I don't think this thread is full of ficticious events at all. Why couldn't a bus driver pull a weapon on someone? It's not impossible, although it would be stupid. I am not saying it happened, but I am certainly not dismissing the chance.

Also what other events are there on here that you are calling ficticious?

Originally posted by tango2 Granted yes there are some things that need to be corrected,not only on the side of drivers,but the passengers as well.[/B]I agree there may be some passengers that behave in a less than desirable manner, but I think this thread highlights the problems with some of the staff currently employed by First Mainline in Sheffield.

There are a lot of people on here posting about some driver's attitude problems, bad manners and poor experiences with them etc. Now I don't think for one minute that these are all made up, but I do think it highlights a problem that maybe First should look in to.

If you want to start a thread about bad behaving passengers you are more than welcome on this forum as it doesn't appear to be against the rules.

Originally posted by tango2 But...come on,a driver pulling a knife on passengers. [/B] It's possible.

Originally posted by lalaland
Some of First Mainline's drivers do seem to look for trouble instead of avoiding it.

I have noticed on more than one occasion while stood near the Crucible that they have often almost tried to run cars off the road where the lanes turn in to one and then two again. Lalaland, I have noticed this too.

Some of the busses seem well driven and quite happily share the road with other users, but I have seen the odd bus trying his hardest to get through no matter what and some even seem to be being driven very agressively towards the other road users.

I am not sure what on earth possesed the council to turn the two lanes in to one and then back again, but they've certainly caused quite a hot spot and I think looking at some of the behaviour on this bit of road it's not going to be too long before there's a smash.

Originally posted by d71146
The problem is that not a lot of people want to work with the public in this type of job thats why they cannot get staff or even hang on to the ones they have got. Some of the staff appear to be great at what they do, but others really should be put in other jobs, far away from the public as they appear to lack the basics in customer care and also a couple of lessons in safe driving wouldn't go amiss either.

Wasn't it recently that the First Mainline drivers went on strike for more money? Well I guess if you pay peanuts........

Originally posted by caprice
Yes! IE - stop using them!
They abandoned us and left us to walk when the bus strike was on... If we boycot them, surely they'd be forced to treat us better. That's my theory... It's a shame that the majority of sheffield's peeved off first users won't have the front to do it. Except this ex-first user :)

I don't regularly use the buses, preferring to walk to work, but on those occasions when i'm feeling particularly lazy (or its raining!) and i want to take the bus, i don't have much alternative to first. I feel fortunate that walking to work is a realistic option for me, if i lived any further than my current 40 minute walk to work then i'd have to rely on the buses much more.

What would you suggest to those who aren't able to drive to work as an alternative? Rely on the more infrequent yorkshire terrier buses?

What do you suggest? Well, I for one, would love to see trams running to all parts of the city and getting rid of buses altogether, or at least First Mainline. There is no excuse for a bus that runs every hour either missing or leaving 5 minutes early. That is not acceptable.

Originally posted by tango2
Now ive seen it all,all these crappy bus threads full of ficticious events made up for the sake of starting a thread.

Granted yes there are some things that need to be corrected,not only on the side of drivers,but the passengers as well.

But...come on,a driver pulling a knife on passengers.

You think I was making it up regarding a bus driver attacking someone. Well I said I would find the report and thank God for the interent and the star keeping arcives on there site

The link for anyone wanting to check if this is real or made up is http://www.sheffieldtoday.net/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=58&ArticleID=865316

Here is the report as reported on 4th October 2004 so not that long ago and it was over a fare price just like the person who started the thread. First did take action as his was dismissed for gross misconduct but it goes to show it can, does and did happen.

Sorry about the length...

Driver hit boy in bus fare dispute

A TEENAGE boy was punched by a Sheffield bus driver because he did not pay the right fare.
Mum Karen Haw says her eldest son Ashley, aged 17, is now scared to use public transport because of the attack by a First bus driver.
The man, who had worked for First for three-and-a-half years, has been sacked for gross misconduct.
Ashley boarded the 57 bus from the Pond Street bus station in the city centre to visit his mum at Wharncliffe Side.
Mum-of-three Karen, 38, said: "He had paid £1.10 but when he tried to get off outside the Blue Ball pub the driver said he needed to pay another £1.70.
"Ashley did not have enough so he offered the driver his last 30 pence and his name and address so he could pay the rest, but the driver would not open the doors to let him out.
"A boy on the bus offered to pay the extra money because he could see what was happening but the driver still would not open the doors.
"Next thing he switched off the ignition, put his hazard lights on and got out of the cabin. He punched Ashley twice in the neck and the jaw and he ended up at the back of the bus.
"It was only when a girl who had been upstairs came down to intervene that Ashley managed to hit the emergency button and open the doors to get off the bus."
When Ashley told his mum what had happened Karen immediately reported the incident to the bus company.
She said: "They told me the man admitted what he had done as soon as he got back to the station. They looked at the CCTV footage and said it showed that Ashley did not raise his hands to the driver.
"They have sacked the driver and offered Ashley a one month free pass and an apology letter."
Brandon Jones, Commercial Director at First, said: "We received a telephone call from Mrs Haw concerning an incident involving her son and a First bus driver.
"The concerns raised by Mrs Haw were of an extremely serious nature and the driver was immediately relieved from duty. Our investigatio n, which included the use of CCTV footage, identified that Mrs Haw's son had been travelling fraudulently, but the driver had not dealt with this matter as we would have expected.
"The driver concerned, who has worked for First for three-and-a-half-years, was subsequently dismissed for gross misconduct.
"We have expressed our apologies to Mrs Haw and assured her this matter has been taken extremely seriously. Unfortunately incidents such as this reflect very badly on the vast majority of our drivers who do a very good job."
Karen says Ashley has not used the buses since he was assaulted. She said: "It is probably shock that has affected him more than anything else
"I would like to express my appreciation to the young lad with the skateboard who offered to pay for Ashley and the girl who came downstairs to help him. Without them who knows what might have happened."
04 October 2004

OMG! That driver seems like an ****hole.

Did you keep your bus ticket? That will tell you exactly who the driver was!

What would you suggest to those who aren't able to drive to work as an alternative? Rely on the more infrequent yorkshire terrier buses?

Ask a friend/colleague for a lift (if its convenient).... pay for a taxi... walk to a tram stop....Hitch hike... (Maybe not!) Just don't use a First Bus!

Fortunatly, I live just within walking distance of the tram, but lika another member, if I am feeling rather lazy, I will cach the Bus into town, this is the 21 and first have been good in changing the service so that they are every 30 mins from an hour (which I personally think is still too long) and the last time I caught it the driver seemed rather rude and unhelpful. I have two Stagecoach services the 50 and the 53 which both run the same route into town, but they are every hour and the same times as the 21.

The problem is that these drivers are even more unhelpful than the first ones. I just cant win, so i have to put up with the much slower tram.

More trams and less buses

A friend of mine who was visiting and doesn't live in Sheffield recently got on the number 30 in town and asked the driver to confirm if it went up Ecclesall Road. The driver said NO!!!!! when it blatantly does! Fortunately my mate knows Sheffield a little and was fairly sure it was the right bus to get.

There are definitely some friendly drivers but they do seem few and far between. I have to use the bus because it takes 50 minutes to walk into town, and I can't drive. Whilst I will walk occasionally, its too far to do it all the time. I certainly can't afford taxis on a regular basis. Otherwise I would consider a boycott- especially with the fairs going up yet again! I only moved to Sheffield 8 years ago and I swear that the price of a single has practically doubled. I could get the coach to London for less!

Originally posted by Netsrik
I only moved to Sheffield 8 years ago and I swear that the price of a single has practically doubled. I could get the coach to London for less!

You probably could, but the problem is that it would be long and rather uncomfortable

Originally posted by Netsrik
I only moved to Sheffield 8 years ago and I swear that the price of a single has practically doubled. I could get the coach to London for less!

You can the Megabus run by Stagecoach is £1 plus a 50p booking fee. Sheffield-London, not sure what route it takes so may be a lot longer than National Express

Well, yesterday I needed to make the same journey again and I soooooo didn't want to give First Mainline any money so,,,, I walked. For 7 miles. And I felt better for it. :-)

Originally posted by bhunaboy
Well, yesterday I needed to make the same journey again and I soooooo didn't want to give First Mainline any money so,,,, I walked. For 7 miles. And I felt better for it. :-)

Goodness they are getting unpopular if a person is prepared to walk that distance.

I hate First Mainl,ine. I have never had anything but a **** service from them. I really do wish they would extend the tram service and get rid of the bus service completely.

Originally posted by Netsrik
A friend of mine who was visiting and doesn't live in Sheffield recently got on the number 30 in town and asked the driver to confirm if it went up Ecclesall Road. The driver said NO!!!!! when it blatantly does! Fortunately my mate knows Sheffield a little and was fairly sure it was the right bus to get.

To be fair this bus goes to Hunters Bar via West Street/Glossop Road rather than Ecclesall Road, although it is Ecclesall Road I think when the bus goes up through Banner Cross.

It would seem that First Mainline are extremely unpopular on here and as this is a Sheffield forum I would suggest it a good idea for them to perhaps take note and address the issues raised here and maybe have a look at some of their drivers too.

A few mystery customers would be a very good idea, but they would have to be quite a well gaurded secret as it appears the bus staff and mainline's staff are all mates and communicate well.

Originally posted by jubby
You think I was making it up regarding a bus driver attacking someone. Well I said I would find the report and thank God for the interent and the star keeping arcives on there site

The link for anyone wanting to check if this is real or made up is http://www.sheffieldtoday.net/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=58&ArticleID=865316

Here is the report as reported on 4th October 2004 so not that long ago and it was over a fare price just like the person who started the thread. First did take action as his was dismissed for gross misconduct but it goes to show it can, does and did happen.

Sorry about the length...

Driver hit boy in bus fare dispute

A TEENAGE boy was punched by a Sheffield bus driver because he did not pay the right fare.
Mum Karen Haw says her eldest son Ashley, aged 17, is now scared to use public transport because of the attack by a First bus driver.
The man, who had worked for First for three-and-a-half years, has been sacked for gross misconduct.
Ashley boarded the 57 bus from the Pond Street bus station in the city centre to visit his mum at Wharncliffe Side.
Mum-of-three Karen, 38, said: "He had paid £1.10 but when he tried to get off outside the Blue Ball pub the driver said he needed to pay another £1.70.
"Ashley did not have enough so he offered the driver his last 30 pence and his name and address so he could pay the rest, but the driver would not open the doors to let him out.
"A boy on the bus offered to pay the extra money because he could see what was happening but the driver still would not open the doors.
"Next thing he switched off the ignition, put his hazard lights on and got out of the cabin. He punched Ashley twice in the neck and the jaw and he ended up at the back of the bus.
"It was only when a girl who had been upstairs came down to intervene that Ashley managed to hit the emergency button and open the doors to get off the bus."
When Ashley told his mum what had happened Karen immediately reported the incident to the bus company.
She said: "They told me the man admitted what he had done as soon as he got back to the station. They looked at the CCTV footage and said it showed that Ashley did not raise his hands to the driver.
"They have sacked the driver and offered Ashley a one month free pass and an apology letter."
Brandon Jones, Commercial Director at First, said: "We received a telephone call from Mrs Haw concerning an incident involving her son and a First bus driver.
"The concerns raised by Mrs Haw were of an extremely serious nature and the driver was immediately relieved from duty. Our investigatio n, which included the use of CCTV footage, identified that Mrs Haw's son had been travelling fraudulently, but the driver had not dealt with this matter as we would have expected.
"The driver concerned, who has worked for First for three-and-a-half-years, was subsequently dismissed for gross misconduct.
"We have expressed our apologies to Mrs Haw and assured her this matter has been taken extremely seriously. Unfortunately incidents such as this reflect very badly on the vast majority of our drivers who do a very good job."
Karen says Ashley has not used the buses since he was assaulted. She said: "It is probably shock that has affected him more than anything else
"I would like to express my appreciation to the young lad with the skateboard who offered to pay for Ashley and the girl who came downstairs to help him. Without them who knows what might have happened."
04 October 2004

No I was refering to a claim made in this thread regarding a someone witnessing a driver pulling out a knife on a passenger and also a passenger witnessing a driver swapping coins for fake ones.

Ive pointed out many times on various threads,its not just the drivers,its the passengers as well.
I work for First and I will agree that there are some total pr***s as drivers.
These are the people that need to be weeded of ouf the system then we will be half way there to having a half decent working relationship.

Then there are the passengers,on a whole the majority are fine,polite and decent people.
On the otherhand there are the ones that are just as bad as some of the drivers,I refer to the ones that board the bus slam a pound on the side and stare at you with a vacant look on their face.
The ones that board the bus and smoke,spit,urinate,rip the seats,scratch their names into the windows and seats.
The ones that board with fake tickets and think they are so hard done to when they are not allowed to travel.
The ones that try to board without the relevant pass for consession fares and again think its there right to have the fare on their say so.

Then there are the ones that are neither passengers or drivers,these are the ones that hang out at bus stops and throw bricks at the bus,throw scaffold poles through the windows,abuse the passengers getting on and off the bus and tamper with bus engines.

"and also a passenger witnessing a driver swapping coins for fake ones."

As hard as you may find it to believe, this DID HAPPEN.

I would like to say that I have relations that work for First and I know a couple of people that are honest, decent folk.

Unfortunately, the actions of the driver which caused me to start this thread completely makes me overlook those facts. And when I go for a bus that is once an hour only to find out it has gone 5 minutes early also makes me hate First Mainline.

Milan are about to be kicked out of Europe. Not just the hundred or so that threw flares, but THE WHOLE CLUB.

See the point I'm making???

Originally posted by tango2
No I was refering to a claim made in this thread regarding a someone witnessing a driver pulling out a knife on a passenger and also a passenger witnessing a driver swapping coins for fake ones.

Ive pointed out many times on various threads,its not just the drivers,its the passengers as well.
I work for First and I will agree that there are some total pr***s as drivers.
These are the people that need to be weeded of ouf the system then we will be half way there to having a half decent working relationship.

Then there are the passengers,on a whole the majority are fine,polite and decent people.
On the otherhand there are the ones that are just as bad as some of the drivers,I refer to the ones that board the bus slam a pound on the side and stare at you with a vacant look on their face.
The ones that board the bus and smoke,spit,urinate,rip the seats,scratch their names into the windows and seats.
The ones that board with fake tickets and think they are so hard done to when they are not allowed to travel.
The ones that try to board without the relevant pass for consession fares and again think its there right to have the fare on their say so.

Then there are the ones that are neither passengers or drivers,these are the ones that hang out at bus stops and throw bricks at the bus,throw scaffold poles through the windows,abuse the passengers getting on and off the bus and tamper with bus engines.

I agree with all contained in the above unhappily some of the people that use First buses when asked to show their pass etc look at one as if you are asking for one of their liver or kidney.

Originally posted by bhunaboy
"and also a passenger witnessing a driver swapping coins for fake ones."

As hard as you may find it to believe, this DID HAPPEN.

I would like to say that I have relations that work for First and I know a couple of people that are honest, decent folk.

Unfortunately, the actions of the driver which caused me to start this thread completely makes me overlook those facts. And when I go for a bus that is once an hour only to find out it has gone 5 minutes early also makes me hate First Mainline.

Milan are about to be kicked out of Europe. Not just the hundred or so that threw flares, but THE WHOLE CLUB.

See the point I'm making???


Dont get me wrong I see your point,however I feel its wrong for the whole system be be judged on the action of a certain few.

I have seen First drivers ask for passes when the passenger is clearly, to anyones eye, about 10 years old, if that.

I have also seen drivers refuse kids on to the bus outside schools when they have had their uniform on, making it blindingly obvious that they are not 16.

If the drivers used a bit more common sense, maybe people would appreciate them more.

I am not judging the whole system on the actions of a few drivers. There are some awful drivers like the one I mkentioned at the start of this thread but the fact that you cannot leave your house for a bus at the time it is supposed to leave your stop is awful. I went for my last bus the other night which is supposed to leave pond street at 11.23.

I got there about 11.15 adn the bus pulled out at 11.20.

Fine I got home a bit earlier but what if I'd got there later?

I should be able to turn up at 11.22 and get on that bus.

Originally posted by bhunaboy
I am not judging the whole system on the actions of a few drivers. There are some awful drivers like the one I mkentioned at the start of this thread but the fact that you cannot leave your house for a bus at the time it is supposed to leave your stop is awful. I went for my last bus the other night which is supposed to leave pond street at 11.23.

I got there about 11.15 adn the bus pulled out at 11.20.

Fine I got home a bit earlier but what if I'd got there later?

I should be able to turn up at 11.22 and get on that bus.

maybe your watch is 3 minutes slow.

my watch was exactly the same as the time on the ticket.

Originally posted by Cyclone
maybe your watch is 3 minutes slow.

That's exactly the kind of response I would expect to get from First! lol :D

"The bus leaving early!? Noooo, doesn't happen here at First!" :heyhey:

Originally posted by bhunaboy
I have seen First drivers ask for passes when the passenger is clearly, to anyones eye, about 10 years old, if that.

I have also seen drivers refuse kids on to the bus outside schools when they have had their uniform on, making it blindingly obvious that they are not 16.

If the drivers used a bit more common sense, maybe people would appreciate them more.


The rule regarding passes is not that of the Bus Operator,but SYPTE so maybe peoples frustrations in relation to not being allowed to travel should be directed towards them.
Sadly its not the drivers choice,if the child has no pass then the full fare for for the journey must be paid.
The same goes for all types,pensioners,disabled and so on and with the introduction of the new inspectors the whole thing becomes worse.
If the inspector boards a vehicle and there are people on the bus without passes but hold a ticket as if the had a pass,who carries the can?,,,the driver.

Would these people be sorry that they had caused such a problem?,,,i doubt it bit im sure they would spend the rest of the day laughing their nuts off about it.

The same applies to students,the vast majority that purchase the week saver at the student rate know they must produce the union card when travelling.
As the saver cannot be transfered,its often the case that people are refused travel due to the fact that they have the saver but no card.

Do they saccept the fact that they cant travel?,,,,no they start showing off and creating a scene and thus delaying the vehicle.

Originally posted by tango2
No I was refering to a claim made in this thread regarding a someone witnessing a driver pulling out a knife on a passenger and also a passenger witnessing a driver swapping coins for fake ones.



So because my claim can be backed up by a news report is alright.

It doesn't matter that a knife wasn't involved, he still attacked and has scared a kid so much he won't use a bus.

Originally posted by tango2
The rule regarding passes is not that of the Bus Operator,but SYPTE so maybe peoples frustrations in relation to not being allowed to travel should be directed towards them.
Sadly its not the drivers choice,if the child has no pass then the full fare for for the journey must be paid.
The same goes for all types,pensioners,disabled and so on and with the introduction of the new inspectors the whole thing becomes worse.
If the inspector boards a vehicle and there are people on the bus without passes but hold a ticket as if the had a pass,who carries the can?,,,the driver.


Before we had the car was made to pay full for my son becuase he didn't have his pass, the problem was he couldn't get one as he was 7 yes 7 ...

We had to claim the fare back of first. SYPTE suggested we carry his passport to prove his age but first said they would accept that as it wasn't a SYPTE pass. And doesn't prove they live in South Yorkshire. The problem is he can not get a pass until he is 10 when he needs to provide one, so what does a parent do who has a child who is under ten but looks 10 or older, can't prove they are entitled to the concession fare :help:

Also I use my passport to travel abroad as in out of the country no to go to town!!!:loopy:

The student saver can be transferred but only to someone with student ID or NUS card

Originally posted by jubby
Before we had the car was made to pay full for my son becuase he didn't have his pass, the problem was he couldn't get one as he was 7 yes 7 ...

We had to claim the fare back of first. SYPTE suggested we carry his passport to prove his age but first said they would accept that as it wasn't a SYPTE pass. And doesn't prove they live in South Yorkshire. The problem is he can not get a pass until he is 10 when he needs to provide one, so what does a parent do who has a child who is under ten but looks 10 or older, can't prove they are entitled to the concession fare :help:

Also I use my passport to travel abroad as in out of the country no to go to town!!!:loopy:

The student saver can be transferred but only to someone with student ID or NUS card

What Im saying about the stdent savers,is the people trying to use thenm not having a union or student ID card,then kicking off as if a great injustice has been commited against them.

The one regarding children,I will admit is a tricky one,in this day and age its very difficult to judge a childs true age.
I have seen children board and ask for a child fare,you look at them and think yeh right,,,then they produce the pass.

Sadly its the section of people that have abused this system to its fullest that have ruined it for genuine travellers.
I personally would not request the full fare from a 7 yr old for not having a pass,,,,abit sad if you ask me.

If First would choose to sack me for making that choice then so be it,I cant see how they can justify charging a 7,8,9 or 10 yr old for that matter the full adult fare for not producing a pass.
Older children on the other hand should by now know better as the pass system is not a new thing.
These youths are fully aware of what they need to do,so anyone not producing one can be veiwed as a person trying to screw the system.

I think it is about time first Mainline got there act together and started charging ALL passengers.
My daughter has the misfortune to have to catch the number 6 bus from college every Friday afternoon and sees Waltheof school pupils board the bus with only 3 or 4 paying all the rest just get on the bus for free. This is not a matter of pupils using free passes it is a matter of them pushing onto the bus without any inclination of wanting to pay.
If the drivers cannot stop this from happening perhaps employing someone like a CONDUCTOR might be able to.
People keep saying the old ways are the best in this case I am tempted to believe them.

Do First SY know about this? Its new team of inspectors are on the buses. I have travelled on three different routes in recent weeks when they have boarded the bus and checked tickets and on one as i was near the driver they also checked and recorded if the bus was running to schedule!!

I am adding this to this thread to prevent a similar thread appearing as the subject is the same as mine would be.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Copy of web contact via First's website sent today.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
FAO: GARY NOLAN
--------------------

Date of incident: 16/04/05
Time of incident: 12:15-12:25
Fleet #: 61203
Service #: 75


Dear Mr Nolan,

I wish to make a strong complaint about one of your bus drivers mainly on the matter of him driving dangerously and for the use of abusive languange. I apoligise for the language used in this contact bus these are direct qoutes of the bus driver concerned.

I was driving up Barnsley Road at 12:20 on Saturday 16th April 2005, when coming in the oppisites direction was a Ambluance displaying his blue falshing lights and sounding his two-tone siren. The ambluance was on the oppisite side of the road overtaking other road users, so therefore my access was blocked, or if I continued I would cause a hazard and block the ambluance. I displayed my hazard warning lights and gave way to the ambluance, when the I hear a horn. The bus that was travelling some distance behind me had almost smashed into my rear. He pulled along side, but couldn't quite squeze past opened his window and said "why the **** have you stopped?" I pointed ahead and said "Can't you see the ambluance?" To which he said "So ****ing what!".

When the ambluance had pased I continued my journey until the next bus stop where I pulled in just ahead so as not to stop the bus from stopping. I got put and asked for his detail as I was going to report him to Gary Nolan. He said "who?" I told him he was First South Yorkhire's Managing Director and he said "you can do what you want mate, he'll do **** all as he needs us". He printed of a test ticket with his details and then went to swing round my car while still looking at me (I was near the entrance to the bus) and with no signal. We hear a horn and a car pull round, stops in the middle of the road, a male gets out and gives the bus driver what can be described as a verbal bashing.

The driver of the bus then continues to pull round me and my car and diliberty came so close I had to raise my hand to prevent the near side mirror from hitting me in the face. The driver than pulls slightly in at an angle blocking both sides of the road and gets out. I locked my doors for my own safety, he shouts from the side of the road " you ****ing n**head, you are just a slilly ****** and you and your little tossers can all go **** yersleves!". He then got back in his cab and sat without moving and still blocking the road for about three minutes he then proceeded to drive down the road at 10mph frequently slamming his brakes on, in what I can only interpreate as a attempt for me to damage my car and your bus in a traffic accident. Becuase I am a safe driver I was always at a safe distance to prevent any collision. This action annoyed the mass of the drivers behind me as a few started to sound their horns at the bus drivers actions. When he pulled into the next bus stop he stopped with half his bus on the wrong side of the road (there was nothing in the road that warrented this action) so to make it difficult for myself and cars behind me to pull round him.

I expect you to deal with this serious matter yourself, as I feel this driver sould not be a public face for your company. I will be posting this email on the Sheffield Forum website under a thread that is regarding a previous complaint by another user of the forum. The URL for this thread is http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=35959

I would suggest you and Mr Jones take the time out to read this thread and others regarding First South Yorkshire.

I await your prompt reply.

Yours sincerely

Richard Jubb

sorry above should have been posted under my name.

Didn't relise my wife (babycakesuk) was signed in.

Originally posted by tango2
What Im saying about the stdent savers,is the people trying to use thenm not having a union or student ID card,then kicking off as if a great injustice has been commited against them.

The one regarding children,I will admit is a tricky one,in this day and age its very difficult to judge a childs true age.
I have seen children board and ask for a child fare,you look at them and think yeh right,,,then they produce the pass.

Sadly its the section of people that have abused this system to its fullest that have ruined it for genuine travellers.
I personally would not request the full fare from a 7 yr old for not having a pass,,,,abit sad if you ask me.

If First would choose to sack me for making that choice then so be it,I cant see how they can justify charging a 7,8,9 or 10 yr old for that matter the full adult fare for not producing a pass.
Older children on the other hand should by now know better as the pass system is not a new thing.
These youths are fully aware of what they need to do,so anyone not producing one can be veiwed as a person trying to screw the system.

I agree with you regarding the students also about the older teens who should know better.

My son does look older than he is and at the time I could understand the bus drivers request. The problem is the pass structure rules you can't get a proof your age pass until your tenth birthday so if you look 10 or above but aren't you can't proof it and the driver can or rather has to refuse the fare. Yes I can and did claim it back but I shouldn't have to do this potently for every journey I might make.

Originally posted by babycakesuk
I am adding this to this thread to prevent a similar thread appearing as the subject is the same as mine would be.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Copy of web contact via First's website sent today.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
FAO: GARY NOLAN
--------------------

Date of incident: 16/04/05
Time of incident: 12:15-12:25
Fleet #: 61203
Service #: 75


Dear Mr Nolan,

I wish to make a strong complaint ...................................... ...................I would suggest you and Mr Jones take the time out to read this thread and others regarding First South Yorkshire.

I await your prompt reply.

Yours sincerely

Richard Jubb

Hope you get some joy on this one jubby.

Sounds like there's a real nutter out there driving around in several tons of metal. Did he have passengers on board?

Originally posted by saxon51
Hope you get some joy on this one jubby.

Sounds like there's a real nutter out there driving around in several tons of metal. Did he have passengers on board?

Yes and some of them were kids with it being a Saturday.

It has been emailed and we await the reply which I will type up and post here.

I don't really expect a reply from Mr Nolan one of lower managers maybe, but will not accept any letter unless it is signed by Gary Nolan.

We may even get a reponse on the forum.

I say Gary Nolan or the commercial director Brandon Jones sould be on one of the next forum local interviewees. Mr Jones is the one always quoted in the Star

Originally posted by babycakesuk
Yes and some of them were kids with it being a Saturday.



Then with a bit of luck most of these passengers will complain as well if their journey was ruined, or they felt threatened. Fingers crossed for 'the more the merrier'.:thumbsup:

Ps. Who am I corresponding with now? babycakesuk....or jubby? I've lost the plot. :huh:

you should probably proof read the letter again.

Then send a copy to sypte, the star, and your mp (when you have one after may 5th).

He sounds like he needs sacking, a shame no police cars happened to see his antics.

Unbelievable.

2 weeks after the incident that started this post.

I gets on the same bus, this time the last bus from town.

I say "£1.80 please"
He gives me a ticket.
I then do as mainline say we should do and state my destination, so there is no confusion with the fare.
He says "It doesn't matter." and gives me 20p change.

It doesn't matter??? What??????? I'm confused.

So, I looks at my ticket and it says £1.50 and only takes me as far as where I got kicked off a fortnight ago.

30p in his pocket then.

Originally posted by bhunaboy
Unbelievable.

2 weeks after the incident that started this post.

I gets on the same bus, this time the last bus from town.

I say "£1.80 please"
He gives me a ticket.
I then do as mainline say we should do and state my destination, so there is no confusion with the fare.
He says "It doesn't matter." and gives me 20p change.

It doesn't matter??? What??????? I'm confused.

So, I looks at my ticket and it says £1.50 and only takes me as far as where I got kicked off a fortnight ago.

30p in his pocket then. Follow the advice given by another poster earlier then. Save the ticket, make the complaint.

I have only recently moved and only occasionally use this bus service. The first time I used it, I asked the driver how much the fare was and he said £1.40. Each time I have used the service, I have paid £1.40 (until the fare increase) and never has this been questioned.

I boarded the bus at Manor Top and asked for a £1.50 fare as normal. When we got to Catcliffe the driver stopped at the bus stop and shouted at me to get off. I went towards the driver and explained to him that I normally paid £1.50 and that it was a genuine mistake, one that had come from a previous driver. He said I had to get off or pay again. I said I would not pay again, that I would give him my ticket for a new one that had £1.80 on the fare. He refused to do this, so I said I would not get off the bus. I sat down and he refused to drive, leaving a bus full of angry people wanting to get home. Surely he

Originally posted by awhudds1
I have only recently moved and only occasionally use this bus service. The first time I used it, I asked the driver how much the fare was and he said £1.40. Each time I have used the service, I have paid £1.40 (until the fare increase) and never has this been questioned.

I boarded the bus at Manor Top and asked for a £1.50 fare as normal. When we got to Catcliffe the driver stopped at the bus stop and shouted at me to get off. I went towards the driver and explained to him that I normally paid £1.50 and that it was a genuine mistake, one that had come from a previous driver. He said I had to get off or pay again. I said I would not pay again, that I would give him my ticket for a new one that had £1.80 on the fare. He refused to do this, so I said I would not get off the bus. I sat down and he refused to drive, leaving a bus full of angry people wanting to get home. Surely he You appear to have copied some of the first post, am I missing the point here?:confused:

Still waiting for a reply from First, if I don't get a reply by the end of yhis week I will write to the corporate HO as well. I hope iys becuase the MD is on holiday and is going to reply himself as requested.

The latest complaint...

http://www.sheffieldtoday.net/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=58&ArticleID=1062373

First Mainline?

PONY N TRAP!

em...sorry for shouting

:rant: :rant: :rant: I HATE BUS DRIVERS :rant: :rant: :rant:


I had trouble yesterday with one about prams , there was me with a pram and another lady with a buggy but when i got on he said i can only get one on as he already had a small buggy on ...but there was room for both so i said but we can both get on theres room! but he was having none of so the poor woman had to wait for the next bus, last week i saw a poster on a bus saying you can have 2 prams on and if theres room another folded....why wouldnt he let her fold hers!!!!

I must apologise to some of the nice drivers out there as there not all bad...just about 90% of them !!


I wish first would lose there licence, most of the drivers seem to get off on their authority.

It's very rare I use the bus, but if I do it's on the 52 route. And I have to say that i've never had a problem with any of the drivers at all, or witnessed anything like the complaints made on here.

Makes me glad i don't have to rely on the buses to get around!

hi,
what is your opinion regarding mainline bus drivers?--i find them on the whole to be a set of arrogant unhelpful little hitlers!!---while they treat the paying customers like dirt! i have had two rows with two different drivers this afternoon(i myself am a placid person but i really lost it this afternoon and gave both drivers a piece of my mind!!) there are the odd decent ones but they are few and far between!--one of the worst stunts these so called dedicated helpful people pulled was in charging an elderly woman full fare when anyone could see she was in her late 70s to early 80s!---this action was taken because the poor old lady had misplaced her pass!--i could write a book about what ive witnessed over the years on mainline transpoert!--as for the terrier drivers they are kind ,considerate and always helpful oh and yes they know how to smile.i would love to hear other views on this subject.

Hi mikeyspikey,

I can see you;'re new on here from your posts. There's been posts like this plenty of times and i know there s big bus driver thread somewhere which is still active in the last few days. You can post this on the end of that thread

I think many will agree with you that several if not many bus drivers can be rude and ignorant although many are good at what they do considering it's a very difficult job which is not appreciated by some.

The driver imposing the rule on the OAP is really only doing his job. There are ways he should really deal with this and do so in a friendly manner but the rule is no pass, full fare for all concessionary pass holders. Remember to qualify you have to live in South Yorkshire as well as meet the age requirement. Thefore he cant go simply off the age.

No pass, no discount, thats the rules, so whats the problem?

Everyone knows the rules, and being old doesnt excuse you.
Im forever seeing kids who are definitely under 16 being told that have to pay full fare because they havent got their pass, and people are normally on the side of the driver in this situation, so I dont get why people are on the side of the OAP when its the other way round :confused:

spyro2000,
i was talking about the drivers in general not just about old people!!!---there attitude stinks most of the time and i think most people would agree!!:mad:

Originally posted by mikeyspikey
spyro2000,
i was talking about the drivers in general not just about old people!!!---there attitude stinks most of the time and i think most people would agree!!:mad:

Fair enough, point taken.

Ive met a lot of ignorant drivers, but at the same time ive seen some decent ones. So I dont think they can all be tarred with the same brush.

Here we go again another Bus Drivers Thread.:rant:

err yes!!!:confused:

MOD: Threads merged

Originally posted by mikeyspikey
hi,
as for the terrier drivers they are kind ,considerate and always helpful oh and yes they know how to smile.i would love to hear other views on this subject.

terrier drivers are 40-50% ex firstgroup drivers that have been sacked from first for the things you have said about first drivers.they have to be nice to people terrier is last there last chance

i think you wil find its ex first drivers who have dissulusioned with the company

must note 4b seems to have a lot of ethnic minority drivers who are very abusive and some cant even speak could english

Originally posted by d71146
Here we go again another Bus Drivers Thread.:rant:

Yep people obviously have nothing better to do.

Ive got to say I have never witnessed incidents like some that are posted on here.

Yes things do go wrong,passengers do get hacked off,drivers get hacked off,passengers give plenty of attittude so its not all one sided as some claim it to be.

All these threads do is go round and round in circles all the time,then hey presto up pops another bus thread.

We see statements such as drivers are scum,drivers are inbreds and so on,,,obviously a reflection on the mentality of some of the posters,and their attempt to drag a thread and maybe the whole forum down to their own level.

Maybe some people also need lessons in how to behave when catching a bus,,you only have to look at the attitude of some of the posters on this forum to understand why there are such problems,,this doesnt just confine itself to buses.

i have got plenty better things to do and i suppose you have too---ive got it off my chest so why carry it on?

ever since mainline then first took it over the service has been disgracefull another bus thread yes because the service we r getting is one of the worst in the country there are only two other places in britain that first operate are more expensive than sheffield we r all paying fro the strikes last year first are making sure of that

ever since mainline then first took it over the service has been disgracefull another bus thread yes because the service we r getting is one of the worst in the country there are only two other places in britain that first operate are more expensive than sheffield we r all paying fro the strikes last year first are making sure of that

I agree, I've used buses in several different cities and all have been cheaper and more reliable. Why should Sheffield have to put up with this rubbish?

totally agree first think sheffield people are a soft spot thats why they charge so much

Apologies in advance for restarting the bus thread but I was just wondering if anybody who had made a complaint had got a response from First Mainline.

I have had to make one after an incident last night. The driver actually told me to "get off his f******g bus and walk home!" I am still stunned that he was so rude to me. In case he has forgotten, it is his job to take people home!

Originally posted by Kate179
Apologies in advance for restarting the bus thread but I was just wondering if anybody who had made a complaint had got a response from First Mainline.

I have had to make one after an incident last night. The driver actually told me to "get off his f******g bus and walk home!" I am still stunned that he was so rude to me. In case he has forgotten, it is his job to take people home!

Kate, what are the details of the altercation that preceded this heated exchange?

And here was I was thinking everybody was now happy with the bus service in Sheffield these days due to the lack of bus threads lately what this company needs is some real serious competition and far fewer bus managers.

Originally posted by Kate179
Apologies in advance for restarting the bus thread but I was just wondering if anybody who had made a complaint had got a response from First Mainline.

I have had to make one after an incident last night. The driver actually told me to "get off his f******g bus and walk home!" I am still stunned that he was so rude to me. In case he has forgotten, it is his job to take people home! Shocking. I can appreciate they are human and subject to bad moods like the rest of us, but no control like that is disgusting.

Can you keep us updated on this one?

Originally posted by JonJParr
Kate, what are the details of the altercation that preceded this heated exchange?

I was waiting at the bus stop last night for the last bus from town. It pulled up and the person in front of me got on. I was just about to step on and the bus driver shut the doors and started to pull away! It was the last bus so I really wanted to get on. I banged on the doors so the driver knew I was there. He pulled over and gave me the dirtiest look ever! I gave him £5 for 2 fairs (£2.60), he gave me another dirty look and said "do I look like I've got any f*****g change?"

I was a bit taken a back so my boyfriend checked to see if he had any change. We were told "don't bother, just get off my "f*****g" bus and walk home!"

We got off the bus because I was shocked and didn't want to sit on a bus with him anyway. He then accused me of stealing the bus tickets he had printed out for us! Why would I want to steal a bus ticket?

We had to get a taxi home bacause it was the last bus.

Nobody has ever been so rude to me! I wouldn't mind but all I didn't do anything to provoke him! If somebody had spoken to me like that in a shop you wouldn't go back in but you can't do that on a bus. What annoys me the most is that it's his job to take people home!

I have complained to First Mainline this morning so I was wondering if I can expect a reply.

Kate179, he was probably concerned about the tickets as this proves you were on his bus at the stop you say you were at a certain time.

Without the ticket then he can dispute your accusation.

As for Mainline, standard response expected, sorry blah blah blah, will speak to driver, blah blah blah, cannot give you details of what action will be taken etc.

I would keep an eye out and if you see the driver on the road again you know he's still working for them even though with actions like that he shouldn't be.

Here's an idea, why not start using camera phones and record secretly while getting on busses? I know the majority of the drivers are fine, but this will weed out the bad as the video will show them in action. Or you could just take a photo of each driver you have problems with and all bus users can compare photos at the end of each month. We can then award some 'crap driver of the month' award to that driver :D

I don't use the bus, but have seen and had my own trouble with mainline drivers in the past.

Originally posted by lalaland
Kate179, he was probably concerned about the tickets as this proves you were on his bus at the stop you say you were at a certain time.

Without the ticket then he can dispute your accusation.

As for Mainline, standard response expected, sorry blah blah blah, will speak to driver, blah blah blah, cannot give you details of what action will be taken etc.

I would keep an eye out and if you see the driver on the road again you know he's still working for them even though with actions like that he shouldn't be.

Here's an idea, why not start using camera phones and record secretly while getting on busses? I know the majority of the drivers are fine, but this will weed out the bad as the video will show them in action. Or you could just take a photo of each driver you have problems with and all bus users can compare photos at the end of each month. We can then award some 'crap driver of the month' award to that driver :D

I don't use the bus, but have seen and had my own trouble with mainline drivers in the past.

I personally do not think taking photos of bus drivers is a good idea may cost you a shedfull of money if it gets taken to a Court of law and everything goes pearshape for you.

Originally posted by d71146
I personally do not think taking photos of bus drivers is a good idea may cost you a shedfull of money if it gets taken to a Court of law and everything goes pearshape for you. There is that bit, but I would seriously consider recording them. You may be required to inform them though.

I would have taken the driver's photo if I was the person being sworn at though, definately. I would have also let him know I was doing so, not hidden the fact, and sent this with my complaint.

Originally posted by d71146
correct

Surely if we are still having problems with Sheffield Bus drivers then we should still be writing posts about them. If we stop complaining then they will think everything is ok when it clearly isn't. If you are bored by this thread, don't read it!

Originally posted by lalaland
Kate179, he was probably concerned about the tickets as this proves you were on his bus at the stop you say you were at a certain time.

Without the ticket then he can dispute your accusation.

As for Mainline, standard response expected, sorry blah blah blah, will speak to driver, blah blah blah, cannot give you details of what action will be taken etc.

I would keep an eye out and if you see the driver on the road again you know he's still working for them even though with actions like that he shouldn't be.

Here's an idea, why not start using camera phones and record secretly while getting on busses? I know the majority of the drivers are fine, but this will weed out the bad as the video will show them in action. Or you could just take a photo of each driver you have problems with and all bus users can compare photos at the end of each month. We can then award some 'crap driver of the month' award to that driver :D

I don't use the bus, but have seen and had my own trouble with mainline drivers in the past.

I hadn't thought about them using the ticket to track the driver.

I have never had a problem with a bus driver before so I wouldn't want to start taking pictures of them. Most of them are friendly and good at their jobs. It's just to odd one that lets everybody else down.

If you know the service number, time and date then they can identify the driver without any difficulty.
Make sure you stick with your complain.

Unners, what exactly does your line of dots mean?

Originally posted by Cyclone
If you know the service number, time and date then they can identify the driver without any difficulty.
Make sure you stick with your complain.

Unners, what exactly does your line of dots mean? Maybe it's morse code?

My solution may not help him, but it will remove the problem.

Originally posted by Kate179
Surely if we are still having problems with Sheffield Bus drivers then we should still be writing posts about them. If we stop complaining then they will think everything is ok when it clearly isn't. If you are bored by this thread, don't read it!

Quite right Kate! Public transport is a service industry that should be driven by customer satisfaction. Unfortunately, there are cases in Sheffield and beyond where bus drivers are not so 'customer friendly'. For most passengers the bus driver will be the only contact point they ever have with First Mainline; this reinforces the point that a bus driver's demeanor and interaction with passengers [paying customers] should be exemplary. If people have altercations or unpleasant experiences of bus drivers then it is their duty to share them and lodge formal complaints. In this particular case I believe the bus driver was being awkward with Kate. If, as she suggests it was the last bus from town then it would have been at the end of a working shift and one would have thought the bus driver would have sufficient change [of a mere £2.40]. Instead the driver concerned chose to be awkward and as a result left Kate and her b/f stranded in the city centre. How anyone can mount an argument in defence of the bus driver's actions is beyond me. He was clearly at fault and should be severely reprimanded for being unhelpful, rude and also bringing the name of the company into disrepute.

Finally, to reiterate Kate's point, if you find the discussion of bad customer service unpalatable or uninteresting then you should steer clear of this thread - after all, we're not forcing you to contribute.

Does anyone remember NTLHell.co.uk?

That was set up my NTL users when they had problems with the service and weren't getting anywhere with NTL.

It had plenty of space for users to talk about their problems and on the whole NTL took notice of it and made some changes.

I think in the end NTL bought the site in the end.

How about mainlinehell.com or sheffieldtransport.com or similar. Somewhere for the bus users to discuss issues in a similar way to NTLHell did and hopefuly get some notice and help from the Mainline management?

Originally posted by JonJParr
Quite right Kate! Public transport is a service industry that should be driven by customer satisfaction. Unfortunately, there are cases in Sheffield and beyond where bus drivers are not so 'customer friendly'. For most passengers the bus driver will be the only contact point they ever have with First Mainline; this reinforces the point that a bus driver's demeanor and interaction with passengers [paying customers] should be exemplary. If people have altercations or unpleasant experiences of bus drivers then it is their duty to share them and lodge formal complaints. In this particular case I believe the bus driver was being awkward with Kate. If, as she suggests it was the last bus from town then it would have been at the end of a working shift and one would have thought the bus driver would have sufficient change [of a mere £2.40]. Instead the driver concerned chose to be awkward and as a result left Kate and her b/f stranded in the city centre. How anyone can mount an argument in defence of the bus driver's actions is beyond me. He was clearly at fault and should be severely reprimanded for being unhelpful, rude and also bringing the name of the company into disrepute.

Finally, to reiterate Kate's point, if you find the discussion of bad customer service unpalatable or uninteresting then you should steer clear of this thread - after all, we're not forcing you to contribute.

Thanks JonJParr! First Mainline need to be told about the issues we have with thier drivers. Unfortunately it's not always possible to boycott the buses!

If people don't have anything intelligent to post they shouldn't bother.

I do not condone this alleged complaint against this particular driver and his actions it must be said that all this will be on the video on the vehicle they simply pull off the section of the journey and re-play it to see what went off.
But at the end of the day good customer service starts at the top and works down enough said.

Originally posted by d71146
I do not condone this alleged complaint against this particular driver and his actions it must be said that all this will be on the video on the vehicle they simply pull off the section of the journey and re-play it to see what went off.
But at the end of the day good customer service starts at the top and works down enough said.

Originally posted by lalaland
Maybe it's morse code?

My solution may not help him, but it will remove the problem.

A few months ago when i wass getting bored with the constant Driver bashing i said that i would answer anymore threads with lots of.............................. as no matter what you say people will always slag of Bus drivers. And as everything has been said many times before about drivers the only thing left to say was nothing or loads of.........................!

I was going to do a blank reply but it wont let me!

Originally posted by unners
A few months ago when i wass getting bored with the constant Driver bashing i said that i would answer anymore threads with lots of.............................. as no matter what you say people will always slag of Bus drivers. And as everything has been said many times before about drivers the only thing left to say was nothing or loads of.........................!

I was going to do a blank reply but it wont let me!

A blank reply would be the most intelligent thing you have written! If the thread is boring you, don't get involved.

We are not slagging off all bus drivers, just one who is giving the company a bad name. As I mentioned previous, most of them are friendly and good at their jobs.

Originally posted by unners
I was going to do a blank reply but it wont let me!

I believe the error message you will have received would be "Only post if you have something constructive that adds 'value' to the topic." A blank reply certainly doesn't. A point of contention however, if "everything has been said many times" why does the problem still exist?

Originally posted by d71146
I do not condone this alleged complaint against this particular driver and his actions it must be said that all this will be on the video on the vehicle they simply pull off the section of the journey and re-play it to see what went off.
But at the end of the day good customer service starts at the top and works down enough said.

you don't condone the complaint, or you don't condone the behaviour?

unners - just don't post if you have nothing to say.

Originally posted by unners
A few months ago when i wass getting bored with the constant Driver bashingThere's obviously a reason that people keep posting about appauling behaviour from some of the drivers, if you get bored of it then why not ignore this thread?
Also many of us have stated that not all drivers behave badly, surely it's in those driver's interest that we make posts like this or complain. That way at least hopefuly one day the bad apples will be removed from the bunch and the service will be better.
Originally posted by unners
i said that i would answer anymore threads with lots of.............................. as no matter what you say people will always slag of Bus drivers.Posting a load of dots because you don't want to hear the truth is surely not worth wasting anyone's time with? Just ignore this thread Originally posted by unners
And as everything has been said many times before about drivers the only thing left to say was nothing or loads of.........................!Well if it's being said over and over again then surely there's still a problem? And to reply with ......... would suggest that you are unable to accept there's a problem or want to do anything about it.

Again, this isn't about all drivers, just the minority that let the rest of them down.
Originally posted by unners
I was going to do a blank reply but it wont let me! How about instead of posting blank replies you just don't post at all?

This is an issue that obviously affects quite a few people and this is the place to discuss it. If you don't agree then post your opinion, but don't waste people's time with .... posts.

Originally posted by d71146
Here we go again another Bus Drivers Thread.:rant:

If you hate bus driver threads.. Don't read or reply to them.. It's really that simple you know.. :loopy: :rant:

that driver was my friend and colleague who normally was the friendliest and most generous guy you could want to know what the boys mother did not point out is her son is a heroin addict 6'3 and has been thrown out of rotherham with an asbo to go with it he actually attacked the driver first by spitting which is a criminal assault. And i dont care what the star says as they hate bus drivers you only have to look at the way they covered the strike i used to be a driver but i left as the people who used the busses as a whole were great but as a driver you also come across the scum of the earth and it is hard to be able seperate how you treat people but the public always see bus drivers as scum so how would you feel knowing that people think of you like that because of your uniform. I left because of the scummy people but the oaps and my regulars i miss but not getting spat at because i would not let people on for free as if inspected it would be my job on the line.

The stupid constant increase in bus fares, makes me wonder when there going to have chip and pin on buses:suspect:

Scummers are a constant problem on buses, (The 17 bus which goes through page hall is the worst i've seen) why not give the driver's tazer's it'd be a much more amuzing ride home to see some scrubber in pain wiggling on the floor p****g themselves:clap:

Originally posted by Simoon
The stupid constant increase in bus fares, makes me wonder when there going to have chip and pin on buses:suspect:

Scummers are a constant problem on buses, (The 17 bus which goes through page hall is the worst i've seen) why not give the driver's tazer's it'd be a much more amuzing ride home to see some scrubber in pain wiggling on the floor p****g themselves:clap:

The 17 is notorious for Chavs & Scummers that why all the old buses are used on the route

:cool: my lad has just landed a job with mainline in good old ROTHERHAM interview went brill starts on monday, smartest person there all the other candidates looked like scruffs, so they don't just employ anybody as people think. nice one son.:thumbsup:

And the response? "Passengers are requested to state their destination rather than ask for a fare".

I was once taking a bus for 3 stops, stating only my destination. The driver asked me for 80p, which is more than what I expected to pay (50p). I then told him I thought my destination was within three stops... and got shouted at for not having said that before he issued the ticket. I'm confused.

Well what would all of you who are complaining about buses do without First mainline?
Would you walk?
Personally, I don't see the problem with the buses.
So a bus is late, or the fare gets put up an extra 10p
So what, you get over it.

Originally posted by x_Sunshine_x
Well what would all of you who are complaining about buses do without First mainline?
Would you walk?
Personally, I don't see the problem with the buses.
So a bus is late, or the fare gets put up an extra 10p
So what, you get over it.

No you are wrong there are problems.

I speak as a First Employee,there are problems that need to be looked at.
These problems dont just stop at the door of First though,there are some good issues raised on this forum.

Issues in relation to First,Traffic,Passengers,Drivers,Fares,Timtables,S .Y.P.T.E,Vandalism,Assaults on Drivers and Passengers by Passengers ect......

The list can be endless,but never the less these are real issues that must be looked at.
However some individuals tend to get a little carried away when posting their thoughts and the real argument gets lost in the childish namecalling and insults that take place.

When reading some of the posts,you can see peoples own selfish attidudes start to shine through so you can see why they think the way they do.

At the end of the day people actualy give little thought to their fellow travellers (although they claim to care very much),they make a post because in someway the feel a great wrong has been done to them as an individual.

These wrong doing may be one incident that is a snapshot of what is a very big picture,but this big picture is overlooked because of the incident in question.
The incident then ovelaps into the bigger picture making a very jaded view of the whole thing.

I will agree that I do see thing that I dont agree with on the part of drivers,and equaly I see things I dont agree with on the part of passengers.

So I think we can agree this is a very two sided argument that is often put across as a one sided one.

It takes two to tango :heyhey: says Tango2:hihi:

I am so glad I can drive now because I had so many problems with first mainline.

One day, on my way to college after Christmas, I caught the bus, on two crutches, I had my 40p and my student pass but didn't realise it had run out at Christmas. The driver told me I had to pay full fare, so I asked how much and it was more than I had.

I told him I didn't have it and that we hadn't been issued new passes at college, but showed him my student card. No, I needed a valid bus pass.
He left me standing on the curb on crutches - after I had shouted 'thanks a lot tw@t, first really are a load of ****e'

Another time, I went to get a student's weekly pass and showed my student bus pass - valid this time - the driver said that no i couldn't get student fares with that, I needed a student card, you know the type with shop discounts etc

I said 'don't be ridiculous - this is a bus pass and I'm on a bus' but he made me pay full fare.

However, I did write to first once when I caught a bus with a fantastic driver. He stopped on the side of the road, no bus stop, and gave this guy directions to where he wanted to go, the guy still wasn't sure so he said 'hop on, I pass it'

He didn't charge the chap and just stopped at the corner where the guy wanted to be. He was also extremely polite, unlike some I've seen who are rude to all the passengers including the elderly if they take a long time to mount the steps to the bus...

Having said that, some passengers attitudes, I can see why bus drivers are grumpy - I might be.

A lot of the passengers I've seen, have been rude, or simply treat the driver like dirt because he's the one providing the service, not using it.

if you get charged full fair, take note of the time and the service (and keep your ticket), make a complaint.

I got several vouchers that way as most drivers wouldn't accept my aston uni card as valid proof of being a student.

A minority of drivers are nice but the great majority of them are awful in Sheffield.

This is coming from someone who used to live in London where stabbings/bombs etc are things to fear on your shift. I've never seen anything like the bad behaviour of bus drivers that happens in Sheffield down in London, which is really saying something as Londoners are hugely rude.

There are two things that get me about them most.

a) The bus drivers who only use their brakes at the last possible moment and then do it really sharply - fun for all the pensioners, do they not know what harm a bad fall can do?

b) In general they treat kids like dirt, I've seen them refuse to let kids on for no apparent reason more times than I can count.

The only thing I can think of is that the bus company doesn't follow up these complaints so they feel they can act with impunity.

something that annoys me i catch the 48 bus to work i have to be in early for a beer delivery in the last three weeks i have been late not my fault but the drivers stopping at olive grove and theres no driver to be found what annoys me is they dont have the common decency to actually tell you whats going on another example of first having utter contempt for the passengers .

Originally posted by Lotti
I told him I didn't have it and that we hadn't been issued new passes at college, but showed him my student card. No, I needed a valid bus pass.
He left me standing on the curb on crutches - after I had shouted 'thanks a lot tw@t, first really are a load of ****e'

Really mature :)

First off, the drivers are told to not accept student cards. The reason being that student cards are valid for one year - bus passes are valid for the first term and the second two (to stop people who've dropped out getting 40p travel for a year).

If you hadn't been issued with your pass, its either SYPTE's fault (although my pass was issued in time) or your colleges fault for not getting you the pass in time.

Why insult the driver when they are just doing their job. Yes, it would be nice if everyone bent the rules for you, but theres a reason they're there.

Originally posted by Lotti

Another time, I went to get a student's weekly pass and showed my student bus pass - valid this time - the driver said that no i couldn't get student fares with that, I needed a student card, you know the type with shop discounts etc

I said 'don't be ridiculous - this is a bus pass and I'm on a bus' but he made me pay full fare.

This is down to first (not the driver) and i'm not sure why its there, but he should have accepted your NUS/student card for this - i'm a bit confused though - he made you pay full fare? as in £1.whatever, or as in 40p?

Originally posted by Alex C.
Really mature :)

First off, the drivers are told to not accept student cards. The reason being that student cards are valid for one year - bus passes are valid for the first term and the second two (to stop people who've dropped out getting 40p travel for a year).

If you hadn't been issued with your pass, its either SYPTE's fault (although my pass was issued in time) or your colleges fault for not getting you the pass in time.

Why insult the driver when they are just doing their job. Yes, it would be nice if everyone bent the rules for you, but theres a reason they're there.



This is down to first (not the driver) and i'm not sure why its there, but he should have accepted your NUS/student card for this - I'm a bit confused though - he made you pay full fare? as in £1.whatever, or as in 40p?

These 40p fares cause more trouble than enough on Sheffield's transport system either certain people haven't got the appropriate pass to give entitlement or can't be bothered to obtain one and then bleat when asked for the full fare do other members know what systems are in operation in other areas?
In the area that I hail from its quite clear produce a pass to get the entitlement or pay full fare end of story.

Originally posted by d71146
These 40p fares cause more trouble than enough on Sheffield's transport system either certain people haven't got the appropriate pass to give entitlement or can't be bothered to obtain one and then bleat when asked for the full fare do other members know what systems are in operation in other areas?
In the area that I hail from its quite clear produce a pass to get the entitlement or pay full fare end of story.


Well Said. People who got on my bus had the option, either have there pass or pay full fare.

Originally posted by exmrbd
Well Said. People who got on my bus had the option, either have there pass or pay full fare.

Cant say fairer than that!!!!!

Once again the genereal public become naive and try and make other people's jobs a nightmare!!!!

At the end of the day, you are issued with a pass to enable you to gain entry on the bus for a discounted price!

If you have'nt got your pass, well then whoopy-doo!!! Its not the drivers fault, you were issued the pass so thats your faults not the drivers!

Originally posted by matt1889
Cant say fairer than that!!!!!

Once again the genereal public become naive and try and make other people's jobs a nightmare!!!!

At the end of the day, you are issued with a pass to enable you to gain entry on the bus for a discounted price!

If you have'nt got your pass, well then whoopy-doo!!! Its not the drivers fault, you were issued the pass so thats your faults not the drivers!


Well said Matt.

However I was not always mean, if an old lady had fogotten her pass then I would let her on but you find that the group aged 10-18 just can not be a*sed to take it with them

Fair play, sometimes a in extreme circumstances a descretion may need to be taken by the driver!!!!!

But people take advantage of this situation, thats how naive they are, everyone expects to be let off just because they've forgot their pass!!!!! Terrible naive people!

It used to amaze me how when someone would ask for 40p but they had'nt got their pass,you would say that its full fare,then they would say they only have 40p.Thats not my problem id reply then hey presto a £10 note would be produced,Liers.

Originally posted by unners
It used to amaze me how when someone would ask for 40p but they had'nt got their pass,you would say that its full fare,then they would say they only have 40p.Thats not my problem id reply then hey presto a £10 note would be produced,Liers. They probably didn't want to produce the £10 note for a 40p fare due to past experience with some drivers and their attitudes towards those that don't have the right change :D

I do agree with the drivers here though, no pass full fare seems fair to me.

I was coming home by bus on the 95 on Friday afternoon. The bus was stoped at a bus stop at commenside, for quite a while. I was day dreaming and dazing out of the window, when I heard a when I heard a raised womens voice so I looked up.

There was a young lady who had just got of the bus with a pram, she shouted at the driver "you could have helped me, or lowered the bus, or even parked the bus closer to the kerb. To which the driver replied "you had the kid love, it was your choice" She was obviously angered by this and shouted back "you cant speak to me like this." The buse driver dismissed her by saying "your just boring me now" and closed the door in her face and drove off.


Because I was tired I didn't think to get the bus id number untill I got off the bus. I also wish i saw the incedent from the beginning, so could have helped the young lady. But how do the drivers get away with this?

Originally posted by JFKvsNixon
I
Because I was tired I didn't think to get the bus id number untill I got off the bus. I also wish i saw the incedent from the beginning, so could have helped the young lady. But how do the drivers get away with this?

If you have a ticket from the journey, the bus company can identify the culprit from the time, the service number, and the fleet number which are all displayed on the ticket.

if you hav the ticket, get in touch with the bus company, and report the incident

PT

The drivers cannot win here. If they invoke the rule "no pass, no concessionary fare" they get the hard luck stories, sometimes abuse, and sometimes little Johnnys's parents writing to the Star to complain about how wronged they've been. If they make exceptions to the rule they are putting themselves at risk of disciplinary action, by virtue of their employer making a potentially fraudulent claim to the PTE for the difference between the full fare and the concessionary fare, that the passenger is not entitled to.

This appears to be a South Yorkshire problem. A concessionary fare is just that - a concession, not a right. The pass is needed to confirm not only your age, but the fact that you live in South Yorkshire and are therefore entitled to a concession. The public purse pays for these concessionary fares (currently about £11m a year in South Yorkshire), so the administrator of the scheme (SYPTE) is perfectly justified in insisting that a concessionary pass be shown on each occasion. What's so difficult about this?

Similar schemes exist throughout the UK, and to the best of my knowledge no-one has a problem with paying full fare if they forget their pass. So why is it such an issue in South Yorkshire?
I've told my own children not to be surprised if they're charged full fare if they forget their pass.

This issue has been the cause of so much controversy over the years that the PTE launched a campaign to reinforce the policy of "no pass, no concessionary fare". When this policy is universally and unequivocally applied, no-one can then have any complaints.

Simple, innit?




QUOTE]Originally posted by exmrbd
Well said Matt.

However I was not always mean, if an old lady had fogotten her pass then I would let her on but you find that the group aged 10-18 just can not be a*sed to take it with them [/QUOTE]

According to Fridays 4th November Star newspaper the PTE have expressed a vote of no confidence etc,in the local bus company what are the consequences of such a vote if any or is it just a lot of huffing and puffing again.

Originally posted by x_Sunshine_x
Well what would all of you who are complaining about buses do without First mainline?
Would you walk?
Personally, I don't see the problem with the buses.
So a bus is late, or the fare gets put up an extra 10p
So what, you get over it.

If a bus is late it could mean I miss my connection then I would be late for work and that could mean loss of my job, that s a bit hard to get over. Why should I set off 1/2 hour or more earlier than I need to just in case a bus is late or missing?

Also a 10p increase for me would mean £1.00 per week so for just a "measly" 10p would mean an actual increase for me of £52 per annum.

Has anyone had any problem with the "customer service" really security in the Sheffield Transport Interchange giving advice on buses. i asked when the next bus to Heely Green would be and was told the 48 would be there at 27 mins past. To which I said the 48 doesn't go to Heely Green and they looked again and said really snotingly or sorry 47 same difference to which I said its about a 15 minutes walk difference. She then said well if you knew which bus goes there why you asking. I just walked away. Before anyone here asks me the same question I knew the 47 wasn't the only bus and needed to know the next bus not just the the 47 as I know they are every 30 mins and may have just missed one and needed to get to near Carrfield School asap. According to the 'help points' no such school exists so they couldn't advise me and didn't know where Heely Green was.

Originally posted by babycakesuk
If a bus is late it could mean I miss my connection then I would be late for work and that could mean loss of my job, that s a bit hard to get over. Why should I set off 1/2 hour or more earlier than I need to just in case a bus is late or missing?

Also a 10p increase for me would mean £1.00 per week so for just a "measly" 10p would mean an actual increase for me of £52 per annum.

Has anyone had any problem with the "customer service" really security in the Sheffield Transport Interchange giving advice on buses. i asked when the next bus to Heely Green would be and was told the 48 would be there at 27 mins past. To which I said the 48 doesn't go to Heely Green and they looked again and said really snotingly or sorry 47 same difference to which I said its about a 15 minutes walk difference. She then said well if you knew which bus goes there why you asking. I just walked away. Before anyone here asks me the same question I knew the 47 wasn't the only bus and needed to know the next bus not just the the 47 as I know they are every 30 mins and may have just missed one and needed to get to near Carrfield School asap. According to the 'help points' no such school exists so they couldn't advise me and didn't know where Heely Green was.

Sorry above is by jubby it won't let me sign in

Originally posted by ormester
i think you wil find its ex first drivers who have dissulusioned with the company

must note 4b seems to have a lot of ethnic minority drivers who are very abusive and some cant even speak could english

Just like you can type it?

I think you meant (correction in upper case) "some CAN'T even speak GOOD English"

Post by jubby

you get some truly horrible drivers, and you get some great drivers.

but i have seen drivers being overly rude, when the situation didnt require this to be the case.

Maybe if all the drivers could try harder to smile and be cheerful, then maybe when some little chav, does get on the bus and start having a go at the driver, then maybe the people on the bus who like the driver, because of his friendly attitude, will stick up for the driver and help out if the situation got out of hand.

after all the problems with first, and the endless influx of new inexpreinced drivers, who haven't had time to learn their routes, i try and use yorkshire terrier as often as possible, i have to say, overall, they're a friendlier lot of drivers,

one in particular makes everbody smile and enjoy catching his bus, he asks what he can do for you when you board, with a huge smile on his face, he doesn't set off until everybody has sat down.
when you get off he tells you to have a nice day and be careful, he asks people at every stop if they want his bus, all in all, this makes his job easier, as everybody treats him with the respect he shows us
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Originally posted by d71146
According to Fridays 4th November Star newspaper the PTE have expressed a vote of no confidence etc,in the local bus company what are the consequences of such a vote if any or is it just a lot of huffing and puffing again.

Its just a lot of huffing and puffing,the The real gripe with the PTE and the council is,,,they see the profit that First have made,,,,hey presto suddenly they want to control the buses.

take a good look round sheffield,,,and you will see its jan wilson that should resign.

First Fares compared with other areas.

First Week (buy from your driver):

Greater Bristol £21.00
Somerset & Dorset £22.00

Pembrokeshire

Valid on all First local bus services around Haverfordwest and Pembrokeshire

Adult £18.00

South & West Wales

Valid on all First services across South & West Wales except the Swansea-Cardiff Shuttle

Adult £22.00
Neath and Swansea Valley

Valid on all local First bus services in the Swansea Bay area, plus services to Gwaun cae Gurwen, Brynamman, Ystradgynlais and Hirwaun.

Adult £16.80 Child £10.00


so we are by no means the dearest for far fares,but we are not the cheapest,alot of places have cheaper fares but also carry complicated fare structures.

i'd rather compare with leeds, who are closer to home, and whos people get paid similar wages to us here in sheffield

Originally posted by SpeedwayDan
i'd rather compare with leeds, who are closer to home, and whos people get paid similar wages to us here in sheffield

Fair point,but sadly fares have no bearing on a persons income,if this was the case then it would be right to hike the fares up even further for those that live in areas such as Bents Green and Fullwood.

Leeds week saver is 12.00 at the moment.

FirstWeek (GreenZone) - £7.50

The FirstWeek (GreenZone) is valid within the GreenZone


There are many factors that influence the fares,such as fuel,insurance costs,maintainance,vandalism,compensation claims,sickness due to accidents and assaults.

quite clearly it is more expensive to run buses in south yorkshire,but the answer is not just down to First its down to First,The Council,S.Y.P.T.E and the people in general.


What we should have is:

1/Properly enforced Bus Lanes.
2/Cars out of city centre during certain times (as do many other cities).
3/Updated pass system
4/Failing services to be withdrawn,and sypte to not fund failing services.
5/People to be prevented from parking on or near Bus Stops.
6/Reduction in the amount of black cabs(way too many at moment).
7/Low floor buses to on routes that need them.


right heres the one thats going to get me hung,,,,,,
Ecclesall Road....24hr Bus lane.

Scotland street Buses only for the moment and corperation street,,,,,well what more can be said.

Hillsborough is a total shambles and the people that go through it quite clearly cant read and have a blatant disregard for peoples safety.

Originally posted by SpeedwayDan

after all the problems with first, and the endless influx of new inexpreinced drivers, who haven't had time to learn their routes, i try and use yorkshire terrier as often as possible, i have to say, overall, they're a friendlier lot of drivers,

one in particular makes everbody smile and enjoy catching his bus, he asks what he can do for you when you board, with a huge smile on his face, he doesn't set off until everybody has sat down.
when you get off he tells you to have a nice day and be careful, he asks people at every stop if they want his bus, all in all, this makes his job easier, as everybody treats him with the respect he shows us
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
I agree 100%, I always catch the Yorkshire Terrier if I have a choice, and I've never had a bad word to say about any of their drivers - always friendly and helpful in my experience.

there was one particular terrie driver who was a right grumpy old fart, i think he might have retired now, or been sacked, as i haven't seen him for over a year now.

he didnt like to stop to let people on, you would litteraly have to stand in front of the bus sometimes, then hes just grunt at you, and throw your change into the tray, most of the time it would bounce out and land on the floor.

then when you came to get off, he'd moan at you for holding him up, so not much point him being a bus driver if he didnt like people getting on and off his bus:loopy:

i had a fair few arguments with him over the years, especially when he didnt stop to let two school kids off, he slowed down, after they had pressed the bell, he then opened the doors to let them off, but carried on moving, and told them to get out whilst the bus was moving, which of course they didnt, so he then put his foot down and carried on.

so i had a right go at him for that:rant:

have you seen the drivel FM have come out with now? press release 28.11.2005 (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=69610)

Originally posted by tango2
Fair point,but sadly fares have no bearing on a persons income,if this was the case then it would be right to hike the fares up even further for those that live in areas such as Bents Green and Fullwood.

Leeds week saver is 12.00 at the moment.

FirstWeek (GreenZone) - £7.50

The FirstWeek (GreenZone) is valid within the GreenZone


There are many factors that influence the fares,such as fuel,insurance costs,maintainance,vandalism,compensation claims,sickness due to accidents and assaults.

quite clearly it is more expensive to run buses in south yorkshire,but the answer is not just down to First its down to First,The Council,S.Y.P.T.E and the people in general.


What we should have is:

1/Properly enforced Bus Lanes.
2/Cars out of city centre during certain times (as do many other cities).
3/Updated pass system
4/Failing services to be withdrawn,and sypte to not fund failing services.
5/People to be prevented from parking on or near Bus Stops.
6/Reduction in the amount of black cabs(way too many at moment).
7/Low floor buses to on routes that need them.


right heres the one thats going to get me hung,,,,,,
Ecclesall Road....24hr Bus lane.

Scotland street Buses only for the moment and corperation street,,,,,well what more can be said.

Hillsborough is a total shambles and the people that go through it quite clearly cant read and have a blatant disregard for peoples safety.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by d71146
[B]Agree with all of this especially the ridiculous pass system and running of certain routes after around 2100 which mainly benefit the jolly ol chavs.

Letter sent to first mainline after an incident last week.

--------------

I am writing to complain about the conduct of one of your drivers.

I have only recently moved and only occasionally use this bus service. The first time I used it, I asked the driver how much the fare was and he said £1.40. Each time I have used the service, I have paid £1.40 (until the fare increase) and never has this been questioned.

I boarded the bus at Manor Top and asked for a £1.50 fare as normal. When we got to Catcliffe the driver stopped at the bus stop and shouted at me to get off. I went towards the driver and explained to him that I normally paid £1.50 and that it was a genuine mistake, one that had come from a previous driver. He said I had to get off or pay again. I said I would not pay again, that I would give him my ticket for a new one that had £1.80 on the fare. He refused to do this, so I said I would not get off the bus. I sat down and he refused to drive, leaving a bus full of angry people wanting to get home. Surely he could have overlooked this mistake adn pointed out to me what the correct fare was for future reference. This he did not do. Once I realised that he would not move the bus and that it wasn't fair on the other passengers, I got off the bus to walk the 2 miles to my new home. All for 30p.

If that wasn't bad enough, a minute later a bus came in the opposite direction and the driver waved at me through the window, did a 'walking' gesture with his hands and was laughing his head off. You must surely imagine that this made me very angry.

Would he have done this to an elderly person, or a schoolchild?? Probably.

The bus then came back in the opposite direction adn I walked in front of it so not to let it past. He opened the doors and I said to him "Was all this really worth it for 30p". He said "remember you still have to catch this bus" as a threat.

At this point, a young girl had seen this incident and said it was the same driver her and her friends had problems with. Sometimes he doesn't let them on at childs rate even when they have got their passes and on one occasion, he even swapped a 50p coin they had given him with another one out of his pocket and said he couldn't accept it because it was fake.

If this is the kind of person you employ then there is no wonder that First Mainline has such a bad reputation amongst South Yorkshire.

I expect a written apology and I want to know how you discipline this Hitler of a driver. No doubt, you will come up with some lame excuse as to why he was within his rights to kick me off a bus miles from home for a genuine mistake and why he felt he had to laugh and joke about it with another driver.

I, for one, can't wait for you to lose the licence for South Yorkshire.

-----------------------

And the response? "Passengers are requested to state their destination rather than ask for a fare".

I drive for First Group Sheffield and I can say "were not all bad". There are some drivers who think they can be smart with passengers. The ticket is not just a reciept but also insures you between the fare stages that you are allowed to travel in. I have never heard of fake 50p coins although there are quite alot of fake £1 coins in circulation at the moment made from lead. I personally am not really bothered when people over ride their fare stage. It's my job to see you get from A to B safely. It's down to the ticket inspectors to inspect tickets and make the decission. But a driver dose have the write to refuse excess travel. It's called stealing thus being against the law. Always ask if your not sure if the fare.

Wow - thread dredged up from over 5 years ago!!!

is there any wonder that bus drivers get attacked if they carry on like this first mainline should send ALL there driver's on a customer relations course as the other bus companies don't have this problem


exactly right some have no people skills,i feel sorry for the person who posted this topic,how humiliating it must have been for them.it just isnt acceptable conduct for a bus driver.i hope they got his badge number..he needs to be repremanded over this,if he can do this to 1 person he can do it to anyone someone vulnerable like a oap..i think its disgraceful behaviour.:(

Wow - thread dredged up from over 5 years ago!!!

There's another bus thread from 2008 just been resurrected as well.

Seems a bit odd.

Letter sent to first mainline after an incident last week.

--------------

I am writing to complain about the conduct of one of your drivers.

I have only recently moved and only occasionally use this bus service. The first time I used it, I asked the driver how much the fare was and he said £1.40. Each time I have used the service, I have paid £1.40 (until the fare increase) and never has this been questioned.

I boarded the bus at Manor Top and asked for a £1.50 fare as normal. When we got to Catcliffe the driver stopped at the bus stop and shouted at me to get off. I went towards the driver and explained to him that I normally paid £1.50 and that it was a genuine mistake, one that had come from a previous driver. He said I had to get off or pay again. I said I would not pay again, that I would give him my ticket for a new one that had £1.80 on the fare. He refused to do this, so I said I would not get off the bus. I sat down and he refused to drive, leaving a bus full of angry people wanting to get home. Surely he could have overlooked this mistake adn pointed out to me what the correct fare was for future reference. This he did not do. Once I realised that he would not move the bus and that it wasn't fair on the other passengers, I got off the bus to walk the 2 miles to my new home. All for 30p.

If that wasn't bad enough, a minute later a bus came in the opposite direction and the driver waved at me through the window, did a 'walking' gesture with his hands and was laughing his head off. You must surely imagine that this made me very angry.

Would he have done this to an elderly person, or a schoolchild?? Probably.

The bus then came back in the opposite direction adn I walked in front of it so not to let it past. He opened the doors and I said to him "Was all this really worth it for 30p". He said "remember you still have to catch this bus" as a threat.

At this point, a young girl had seen this incident and said it was the same driver her and her friends had problems with. Sometimes he doesn't let them on at childs rate even when they have got their passes and on one occasion, he even swapped a 50p coin they had given him with another one out of his pocket and said he couldn't accept it because it was fake.

If this is the kind of person you employ then there is no wonder that First Mainline has such a bad reputation amongst South Yorkshire.

I expect a written apology and I want to know how you discipline this Hitler of a driver. No doubt, you will come up with some lame excuse as to why he was within his rights to kick me off a bus miles from home for a genuine mistake and why he felt he had to laugh and joke about it with another driver.

I, for one, can't wait for you to lose the licence for South Yorkshire.

-----------------------

And the response? "Passengers are requested to state their destination rather than ask for a fare".

I understand your frustrations with the drivers at First, but please spare a thought for other non-driving staff at First who have lost (or will lose) their jobs due to huge cuts. These kind of comments do not help. And by the way, I am one of the people there who may lose their job next month, with a 3 year old daugher, an unemployed husband and a mortgage.

Someone should try to do something about it .....

why has a thread from 5-6 years since been dragged up?

Maybe if all the drivers could try harder to smile and be cheerful, then maybe when some little chav, does get on the bus and start having a go at the driver, then maybe the people on the bus who like the driver, because of his friendly attitude, will stick up for the driver and help out if the situation got out of hand.



Do you live in the real world, my dad used to be a bus driver and a few of my mates are bus drivers and they are all happy, cheerful and polite. Yet when they have politely asked to see someones pass they have had instances where they have been threatened or spat at and none of the passengers have stuck up for them or wanted to get involved. My dad even had one passenger moaning at him after the situation that she was going to be late and she didnt care that he had just been threatened and spat at.
Also when I was travelling over to visit my grandma at Barnsley, there was an instance where the driver was having bother with a couple of passengers that got on and didnt want to pay and wouldn't get off the bus and they became agressive and abusive towards the driver and out of all the passengers who were travelling on the bus I was the only one to do something and get involved and stick up for the driver.

These days I think it is very rare that the travelling public will actually get involved and help a driver out. Im guessing they are probably scared that a chav maybe carrying a knife or something.

Letter sent to first mainline after an incident last week.

--------------

I am writing to complain about the conduct of one of your drivers.

I have only recently moved and only occasionally use this bus service. The first time I used it, I asked the driver how much the fare was and he said £1.40. Each time I have used the service, I have paid £1.40 (until the fare increase) and never has this been questioned.

I boarded the bus at Manor Top and asked for a £1.50 fare as normal. When we got to Catcliffe the driver stopped at the bus stop and shouted at me to get off. I went towards the driver and explained to him that I normally paid £1.50 and that it was a genuine mistake, one that had come from a previous driver. He said I had to get off or pay again. I said I would not pay again, that I would give him my ticket for a new one that had £1.80 on the fare. He refused to do this, so I said I would not get off the bus. I sat down and he refused to drive, leaving a bus full of angry people wanting to get home. Surely he could have overlooked this mistake adn pointed out to me what the correct fare was for future reference. This he did not do. Once I realised that he would not move the bus and that it wasn't fair on the other passengers, I got off the bus to walk the 2 miles to my new home. All for 30p.

If that wasn't bad enough, a minute later a bus came in the opposite direction and the driver waved at me through the window, did a 'walking' gesture with his hands and was laughing his head off. You must surely imagine that this made me very angry.

Would he have done this to an elderly person, or a schoolchild?? Probably.

The bus then came back in the opposite direction adn I walked in front of it so not to let it past. He opened the doors and I said to him "Was all this really worth it for 30p". He said "remember you still have to catch this bus" as a threat.

At this point, a young girl had seen this incident and said it was the same driver her and her friends had problems with. Sometimes he doesn't let them on at childs rate even when they have got their passes and on one occasion, he even swapped a 50p coin they had given him with another one out of his pocket and said he couldn't accept it because it was fake.

If this is the kind of person you employ then there is no wonder that First Mainline has such a bad reputation amongst South Yorkshire.

I expect a written apology and I want to know how you discipline this Hitler of a driver. No doubt, you will come up with some lame excuse as to why he was within his rights to kick me off a bus miles from home for a genuine mistake and why he felt he had to laugh and joke about it with another driver.

I, for one, can't wait for you to lose the licence for South Yorkshire.

-----------------------

And the response? "Passengers are requested to state their destination rather than ask for a fare".

This response makes it the drivers fault for giving the fare without asking your destination. I catch buses at the weekend, most drivers are fine but every now and then you do get a proper pillock. Guess you got the pillock.

The original thread is dated 2005!

have you seen the drivel FM have come out with now? press release 28.11.2005 (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=69610)

Who are FM or First Mainline?

I know who First South Yorkshire are.:):hihi:

The original thread is dated 2005!

That has already been mentioned in posts 175 and 180.

That has already been mentioned in posts 175 and 180.
so i didn't waste an hour of my time reading the whole 10 pages!

And the response? "Passengers are requested to state their destination rather than ask for a fare".

Perhaps they shouldn't accept requests for fares instead of destinations then, like they currently do.

First are a bunch of jokers. The other day my bus was about 18 inches away from the kerb whilst stuck in traffic, so I tapped on the door to get on, only for the driver to shake his head. Hardly like he was going anywhere seeing as the lights had just changed to red.

Perhaps they shouldn't accept requests for fares instead of destinations then, like they currently do.

First are a bunch of jokers. The other day my bus was about 18 inches away from the kerb whilst stuck in traffic, so I tapped on the door to get on, only for the driver to shake his head. Hardly like he was going anywhere seeing as the lights had just changed to red.

Where was this and what route number was it?

Letter sent to first mainline after an incident last week.

--------------

I am writing to complain about the conduct of one of your drivers.

I have only recently moved and only occasionally use this bus service. The first time I used it, I asked the driver how much the fare was and he said £1.40. Each time I have used the service, I have paid £1.40 (until the fare increase) and never has this been questioned.

I boarded the bus at Manor Top and asked for a £1.50 fare as normal. When we got to Catcliffe the driver stopped at the bus stop and shouted at me to get off. I went towards the driver and explained to him that I normally paid £1.50 and that it was a genuine mistake, one that had come from a previous driver. He said I had to get off or pay again. I said I would not pay again, that I would give him my ticket for a new one that had £1.80 on the fare. He refused to do this, so I said I would not get off the bus. I sat down and he refused to drive, leaving a bus full of angry people wanting to get home. Surely he could have overlooked this mistake adn pointed out to me what the correct fare was for future reference. This he did not do. Once I realised that he would not move the bus and that it wasn't fair on the other passengers, I got off the bus to walk the 2 miles to my new home. All for 30p.

If that wasn't bad enough, a minute later a bus came in the opposite direction and the driver waved at me through the window, did a 'walking' gesture with his hands and was laughing his head off. You must surely imagine that this made me very angry.

Would he have done this to an elderly person, or a schoolchild?? Probably.

The bus then came back in the opposite direction adn I walked in front of it so not to let it past. He opened the doors and I said to him "Was all this really worth it for 30p". He said "remember you still have to catch this bus" as a threat.

At this point, a young girl had seen this incident and said it was the same driver her and her friends had problems with. Sometimes he doesn't let them on at childs rate even when they have got their passes and on one occasion, he even swapped a 50p coin they had given him with another one out of his pocket and said he couldn't accept it because it was fake.

If this is the kind of person you employ then there is no wonder that First Mainline has such a bad reputation amongst South Yorkshire.

I expect a written apology and I want to know how you discipline this Hitler of a driver. No doubt, you will come up with some lame excuse as to why he was within his rights to kick me off a bus miles from home for a genuine mistake and why he felt he had to laugh and joke about it with another driver.

I, for one, can't wait for you to lose the licence for South Yorkshire.

-----------------------

And the response? "Passengers are requested to state their destination rather than ask for a fare".

I've seen this happen before utter jobsworth at worstbus

Perhaps they shouldn't accept requests for fares instead of destinations then, like they currently do.

First are a bunch of jokers. The other day my bus was about 18 inches away from the kerb whilst stuck in traffic, so I tapped on the door to get on, only for the driver to shake his head. Hardly like he was going anywhere seeing as the lights had just changed to red.

Actually on the same route I have seen this happen before too. I then went into a fit of rage and swore at him through the window not professional I know but it made me feel better :)

Perhaps they shouldn't accept requests for fares instead of destinations then, like they currently do.

First are a bunch of jokers. The other day my bus was about 18 inches away from the kerb whilst stuck in traffic, so I tapped on the door to get on, only for the driver to shake his head. Hardly like he was going anywhere seeing as the lights had just changed to red.

Buses cannot make stops to pick up or set down passangers anywhere except their designated stops - to do so is a serious breach of their terms of operation and can lead to serious ramifications for the operator involved (be it First, Stagecoach, TM or who ever).

Similarly, if a bus has already made a stop at a bus stop, once the driver has indicated to pull out and closed his doors, theoretically he cannot re open his doors to allow any more passangers on as this is classed as making multiple stops (which again is in violation of their terms)

It has nothing to do with the driver being a joker or any other insult you want to hurl at him. He's doing his job.

Do you live in the real world, my dad used to be a bus driver and a few of my mates are bus drivers and they are all happy, cheerful and polite. Yet when they have politely asked to see someones pass they have had instances where they have been threatened or spat at and none of the passengers have stuck up for them or wanted to get involved. My dad even had one passenger moaning at him after the situation that she was going to be late and she didnt care that he had just been threatened and spat at.
Also when I was travelling over to visit my grandma at Barnsley, there was an instance where the driver was having bother with a couple of passengers that got on and didnt want to pay and wouldn't get off the bus and they became agressive and abusive towards the driver and out of all the passengers who were travelling on the bus I was the only one to do something and get involved and stick up for the driver.

These days I think it is very rare that the travelling public will actually get involved and help a driver out. Im guessing they are probably scared that a chav maybe carrying a knife or something.

I was driving my bus up Spital Hill when all the bad snow was down. As I approached the stop, I could see there was a bloke in an extreme state of drunkeness. Now My first reaction would have been to drive past the stop and avoid a confrontation, but as there were other passangers at the stop, I had no choice but to stop and pick them up. As the drunken bloke got on the bus, I politely informed him that he couldnt travel as he was way too drunk (he had already slipped and fallen whilst approaching the bus stop). He then became very aggressive, refused to leave the bus whilst cursing at me and threatening to 'stamp on my head' amongst other delightful things.

My bus was about a quarter full of passangers, some of whom were elderly and including a woman with a babe in arms. Whilst the drunken idiot plonked himself down on the backseat (continuing to throw abuse) I pulled up to the next bus stop and contacted the police as I was concerned that his aggression could be directed towards the other passangers. While I was oon the phone, he jumped out of the emergency exit onto the main road and made his way to my unfortunately open window. More abuse followed, and the delightful chap then spat in my face before I had a chance to close the window. He then continued to bang on the window and attempted to rip the mirror from the side of the bus (during all of this, I was still on the phone to the police).

As all this was going off, and immediately following it, not a single passanger tried to intervene or even enquire how I was after - they only asked how long I would be before setting off! I even had one passanger complain that she had lost her ticket as I tried to transfer them on to another bus and practically demanded that I issue another ticket for her!

Buses cannot make stops to pick up or set down passangers anywhere except their designated stops - to do so is a serious breach of their terms of operation and can lead to serious ramifications for the operator involved (be it First, Stagecoach, TM or who ever).

Similarly, if a bus has already made a stop at a bus stop, once the driver has indicated to pull out and closed his doors, theoretically he cannot re open his doors to allow any more passangers on as this is classed as making multiple stops (which again is in violation of their terms)

It has nothing to do with the driver being a joker or any other insult you want to hurl at him. He's doing his job.



I was driving my bus up Spital Hill when all the bad snow was down. As I approached the stop, I could see there was a bloke in an extreme state of drunkeness. Now My first reaction would have been to drive past the stop and avoid a confrontation, but as there were other passangers at the stop, I had no choice but to stop and pick them up. As the drunken bloke got on the bus, I politely informed him that he couldnt travel as he was way too drunk (he had already slipped and fallen whilst approaching the bus stop). He then became very aggressive, refused to leave the bus whilst cursing at me and threatening to 'stamp on my head' amongst other delightful things.

My bus was about a quarter full of passangers, some of whom were elderly and including a woman with a babe in arms. Whilst the drunken idiot plonked himself down on the backseat (continuing to throw abuse) I pulled up to the next bus stop and contacted the police as I was concerned that his aggression could be directed towards the other passangers. While I was oon the phone, he jumped out of the emergency exit onto the main road and made his way to my unfortunately open window. More abuse followed, and the delightful chap then spat in my face before I had a chance to close the window. He then continued to bang on the window and attempted to rip the mirror from the side of the bus (during all of this, I was still on the phone to the police).

As all this was going off, and immediately following it, not a single passanger tried to intervene or even enquire how I was after - they only asked how long I would be before setting off! I even had one passanger complain that she had lost her ticket as I tried to transfer them on to another bus and practically demanded that I issue another ticket for hetr!

That is a very similar experience to what happened to my dad when he got spat at, no one helped, everyone complained about hold up instead. I have intervened on a few ocassions and every time I have been the only passenger to intervene. So much for cameron's big society. :loopy::roll:

I agree with Avalon, Iused to work for PTE write to Pam Horner, she deals with the bus companies. Tell her you want to know exactly who this driver was, and what action will be taken, Threaten to take a civil action against them for verbal abuse

Where was this and what route number was it?

It was a 75 at the bottom of London Road, outside The Scholar (If it's still called that?).

Buses cannot make stops to pick up or set down passangers anywhere except their designated stops - to do so is a serious breach of their terms of operation and can lead to serious ramifications for the operator involved (be it First, Stagecoach, TM or who ever).

But the bus was still at the bus stop pretty much. I'm sure they get a kick out of it. When we had the bad snow I was sat on a bus on Waingate waiting for it to depart, when all of a sudden there's a banging noise on the side of the bus. An old lady is tapping on the bus with her stick whilst she walks along the pavement to let the driver know she is there, and just as she was close to getting on he quickly closes the doors and drives off.

It's appalling behaviour. Everyone knew she was there, even the driver. I saw him look in his mirror.

Similarly, if a bus has already made a stop at a bus stop, once the driver has indicated to pull out and closed his doors, theoretically he cannot re open his doors to allow any more passangers on as this is classed as making multiple stops (which again is in violation of their terms)

Seems to be yet more inconsistency then. Just like they do with accepting fares instead of destinations, plenty of drivers open the doors again after closing them.

Buses cannot make stops to pick up or set down passangers anywhere except their designated stops - to do so is a serious breach of their terms of operation and can lead to serious ramifications for the operator involved (be it First, Stagecoach, TM or who ever).

Similarly, if a bus has already made a stop at a bus stop, once the driver has indicated to pull out and closed his doors, theoretically he cannot re open his doors to allow any more passangers on as this is classed as making multiple stops (which again is in violation of their terms)

It has nothing to do with the driver being a joker or any other insult you want to hurl at him. He's doing his job.

I was driving my bus up Spital Hill when all the bad snow was down. As I approached the stop, I could see there was a bloke in an extreme state of drunkeness. Now My first reaction would have been to drive past the stop and avoid a confrontation, but as there were other passangers at the stop, I had no choice but to stop and pick them up. As the drunken bloke got on the bus, I politely informed him that he couldnt travel as he was way too drunk (he had already slipped and fallen whilst approaching the bus stop). He then became very aggressive, refused to leave the bus whilst cursing at me and threatening to 'stamp on my head' amongst other delightful things.

My bus was about a quarter full of passangers, some of whom were elderly and including a woman with a babe in arms. Whilst the drunken idiot plonked himself down on the backseat (continuing to throw abuse) I pulled up to the next bus stop and contacted the police as I was concerned that his aggression could be directed towards the other passangers. While I was oon the phone, he jumped out of the emergency exit onto the main road and made his way to my unfortunately open window. More abuse followed, and the delightful chap then spat in my face before I had a chance to close the window. He then continued to bang on the window and attempted to rip the mirror from the side of the bus (during all of this, I was still on the phone to the police).

As all this was going off, and immediately following it, not a single passanger tried to intervene or even enquire how I was after - they only asked how long I would be before setting off! I even had one passanger complain that she had lost her ticket as I tried to transfer them on to another bus and practically demanded that I issue another ticket for her!

This is utter madness. You stated that you saw him walking up spital hill obviously very drunk. Stopped just to tell him he couldnt get on the bus as he was too drunk. That is first teasing a drunk so what do you expect. Secondly if he was too drunk to get on the bus why did you stop in the first place???? I cannot understand your logic

This is utter madness. You stated that you saw him walking up spital hill obviously very drunk. Stopped just to tell him he couldnt get on the bus as he was too drunk. That is first teasing a drunk so what do you expect. Secondly if he was too drunk to get on the bus why did you stop in the first place???? I cannot understand your logic

He clearly states in his post that he would not have stopped if it wasnt for the other passengers at the bus stop waiting to get on! Can't you read?:loopy:

This is utter madness. You stated that you saw him walking up spital hill obviously very drunk. Stopped just to tell him he couldnt get on the bus as he was too drunk. That is first teasing a drunk so what do you expect. Secondly if he was too drunk to get on the bus why did you stop in the first place???? I cannot understand your logic

Because he had other passengers waiting to get on, he wrote that clearly enough, did you only read what you wanted to read. You would have soon being moaning if you were one of the passengers waiting and he didnt stop.:loopy:

We have the worst bus service in the Country an Drivers as well,the Drivers just Love making people late for work an show they are not commited to showing the are really helpful,there are road works in Ecclesfield an you can only go one way now,but instead of driving the 75 bus a little bit faster they still stop at Firth Park while 5.47 am an then going through Ecclesfield village an getting to the Travellers on the corner at about 5.58 it makes me late for work,no use ringing First because they never change anything,as the 48 from Herdings to the City Centre is always late as people have to catch another bus to work as they all leave town at 5.30a.m,but never change the times to help people out,Why? are they not bothered about helping the Public is totally disgusting an shows why there are more cars in Sheffield because of the Rubbish bus service we have

We have the worst bus service in the Country an Drivers as well,the Drivers just Love making people late for work an show they are not commited to showing the are really helpful,there are road works in Ecclesfield an you can only go one way now,but instead of driving the 75 bus a little bit faster they still stop at Firth Park while 5.47 am an then going through Ecclesfield village an getting to the Travellers on the corner at about 5.58 it makes me late for work,no use ringing First because they never change anything,as the 48 from Herdings to the City Centre is always late as people have to catch another bus to work as they all leave town at 5.30a.m,but never change the times to help people out,Why? are they not bothered about helping the Public is totally disgusting an shows why there are more cars in Sheffield because of the Rubbish bus service we haveits not the bus company or drivers fault theres roadworks allover ecclesfield, try setting off earlier, you might get to your destination in time;)

Mod Note

Threads merged, please use the search function before starting a new thread.

We already have lots of bus service complaint threads.

but instead of driving the 75 bus a little bit faster they still stop at Firth Park while 5.47 am

Oh goody, another bus thread.

I would hazard a guess that the stop you mention is a timing point. If a bus driver leaves a timing point early it's registered with the on-board monitoring system and they will get into trouble.

They used to sack people who did that persistently, but according to my mate (a First driver) they've cut back on that of late.

I'll give you an example of how inflexible the system is. My mate was mentoring a new driver (supervising him for the first 2 weeks or so). He'd parked just short of a stop in town and so started up again to move the bus a few feet closer in order to be correctly parked. This registered with the on-board system as him having left the stop ten minutes early. He was apparently quite worried about how this would go down with the management. This is how ridiculous things have got.

So if a bus seems to stay at a stop for an unusually long time, now you know why, the driver can't leave that stop early. Olive Grove is a timing point, as is Newfield Green (heading into town) and the Punch Bowl pub at Gleadless.

So the driver can't do anything about it, if you don't like it, complain to the First management, they're the ones who have introduced this system.

These Drivers are the Worst in this Country an never seem to want to help the Sheffield public at All,some Drive that slow an love making people late for work an just want something to Laugh at,wish First Mainline would make it easier to Report bad drivers,but its a waste of time contacting them because they never do anything to improve the service,as i have emailed them an then get a letter of apology an then nothing as changed at All,just hope Stage Coach do not do the same now

But the bus was still at the bus stop pretty much. I'm sure they get a kick out of it.

And as I said in my first post, it doesnt matter if he is still at the bus stop. If he had stopped, opened his doors, closed them and indicated to pull away from the bus stop, he has made his stop and cant re-open the doors for the reasons I gave.


Seems to be yet more inconsistency then. Just like they do with accepting fares instead of destinations, plenty of drivers open the doors again after closing them.

Surprise, surprise sometimes bus drivers act inconsistantly - could be because guess what (whisper this quietly) bus drivers are people too. I'm sure there are times in your work when you dont strictly stick to the rules?

Oh goody, another bus thread.

I would hazard a guess that the stop you mention is a timing point. If a bus driver leaves a timing point early it's registered with the on-board monitoring system and they will get into trouble.

They used to sack people who did that persistently, but according to my mate (a First driver) they've cut back on that of late.

I'll give you an example of how inflexible the system is. My mate was mentoring a new driver (supervising him for the first 2 weeks or so). He'd parked just short of a stop in town and so started up again to move the bus a few feet closer in order to be correctly parked. This registered with the on-board system as him having left the stop ten minutes early. He was apparently quite worried about how this would go down with the management. This is how ridiculous things have got.

So if a bus seems to stay at a stop for an unusually long time, now you know why, the driver can't leave that stop early. Olive Grove is a timing point, as is Newfield Green (heading into town) and the Punch Bowl pub at Gleadless.

So the driver can't do anything about it, if you don't like it, complain to the First management, they're the ones who have introduced this system.

I'm not a first driver, but we've had drivers disciplined for leaving timing points a minute early.

He clearly states in his post that he would not have stopped if it wasnt for the other passengers at the bus stop waiting to get on! Can't you read?:loopy:

Because he had other passengers waiting to get on, he wrote that clearly enough, did you only read what you wanted to read. You would have soon being moaning if you were one of the passengers waiting and he didnt stop.:loopy:

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

What they said

We have the worst bus service in the Country an Drivers as well,the Drivers just Love making people late for work an show they are not commited to showing the are really helpful,there are road works in Ecclesfield an you can only go one way now,but instead of driving the 75 bus a little bit faster they still stop at Firth Park while 5.47 am an then going through Ecclesfield village an getting to the Travellers on the corner at about 5.58 it makes me late for work,no use ringing First because they never change anything,as the 48 from Herdings to the City Centre is always late as people have to catch another bus to work as they all leave town at 5.30a.m,but never change the times to help people out,Why? are they not bothered about helping the Public is totally disgusting an shows why there are more cars in Sheffield because of the Rubbish bus service we have

get an earlier bus then. like it or not there are time points on routes, we can't leave early or it's classed as gross misconduct, sackable offence. i drove from ecclesfield to town once doing about 15mph all the way but got to the timepoints with only a few seconds to have to wait. when i reach town a woman gets off and asks if it's a drive slow day, we just can't win. i don't drive for first but it's the same with any bus company

Interesting post re timing points from Vague Boy. I get annoyed by buses stopping on Abbeydale Road opposite the junction with Carterknowle Road apparently for no reason. Now I know it's likely to be a timing point. This is a very busy junction and means you have to overtake the bus with traffic coming at you from 3 or 4 directions. It's a stupid place for vehicles as big as buses to be stationary for minutes at a time at rush hour.

Interesting post re timing points from Vague Boy. I get annoyed by buses stopping on Abbeydale Road opposite the junction with Carterknowle Road apparently for no reason. Now I know it's likely to be a timing point. This is a very busy junction and means you have to overtake the bus with traffic coming at you from 3 or 4 directions. It's a stupid place for vehicles as big as buses to be stationary for minutes at a time at rush hour.

there is a timepoint on one of our routes there so yes that is probably why there is a bus there waiting sometimes. we had a driver that had to wait 6 minutes there, the passengers werent happy but it was keep the passengers happy and risk getting caught or stay and have unhapy passengers. i hate having to wait at timepoints but sometime difficult to time the run so your not having to

The ansswer is simple.

Don't wait at timing points and then listen to all the ninnies moaning because they missed the bus due to it being early and all bus drivers being worse than the illegitimate spawn of Clegg & Thatcher

ahh, i gave up reading through this thread, its HUUUUUUUGGGGGGEEEEEEEEEEEE, but First bus drivers are awful.

my girlfriend had her little sister in a pushchair, and the driver was completely out of line, apparently disagreeing with her having the kid. after being as awkward as possible getting on the bus and throughout the journey, at the stop she got off, he parked too far from the kerb, and refused to lower the bus, (this one could lower for access), causing her to injure herself catching the sister as the chair wheel fell into the gap.

shes had problems plenty of times, and i now use stagecoach where possible, but i remember getting in quite a few stand-offs with the drivers. one even attempted to hit me as he was driving back after turning round, missed narrowly.

and they used to serve my old school. one particular driver we had most of the time actually just drove off route because a kid stood up to him about not letting him off at his stop for no reason. they need to get sorted out.

First buses- Disgraceful. its not acceptible to behave like this, or to swear at children in pushchairs and their older sisters just because the kid is too young to need a fare and you were proven to be wrong.

We have the worst bus service in the Country an Drivers as well,the Drivers just Love making people late for work an show they are not commited to showing the are really helpful,there are road works in Ecclesfield an you can only go one way now,but instead of driving the 75 bus a little bit faster they still stop at Firth Park while 5.47 am an then going through Ecclesfield village an getting to the Travellers on the corner at about 5.58 it makes me late for work,no use ringing First because they never change anything,as the 48 from Herdings to the City Centre is always late as people have to catch another bus to work as they all leave town at 5.30a.m,but never change the times to help people out,Why? are they not bothered about helping the Public is totally disgusting an shows why there are more cars in Sheffield because of the Rubbish bus service we have

And just who the hell do you think you are to make comments like that? Leave earlier for work if you are going to cry about it. And by the way, the 75 doesn't go anywhere near the travellers. So get your facts right. And your spelling.

My pregnant missus was waiting for the no. 17 bus to Norton Lees outside the university on Wednesday and when the half empty bus arrived they put their hand out and th bus went straight past. A couple of quid extra got them a taxi home but wanting to do their bit of the environment they thought the bus would be the better option. From now on they'll be getting a taxi, buses are over priced and a waste of time.

I had a similar experience to the "op" but a few years ago, i had caught a bus from carterknowle road to town, i got on and paid the same fare i had always paid then went and sat upstairs, but when the bus got to hunters bar it stopped and the driver shouted up to me to get off the bus i refused and we got into an argument he was saying the fare had gone up about a week before and it was sufficiently advertised and i should know about it. i asked him where it was advertised and if it was advertised well enough i agreed that i should have seen the notice, he said there was an advert in the star and some on buses and that was it.
i had not caught a bus for weeks and i don't get the star so i argued that it was not sufficiently advertised, regardless of the change in fare and putting aside whose mistake it was, the manner in which he conducted himself was appalling he was accusing me of trying to defraud him by paying 20-40p less and doing it infront of a bus of other people and to be honest it was a bit embarrassing.

i've had more than a few run in's with first bus drivers, one would not let me on the last bus with a bag of beers that were in a bag unopened from spar hunters bar that were intended for consumption at home i had got them from spar because there were no shops near my house open at that time.

what puzzles me most about first bus drivers is that they seem to take everything personally as if its their company and we are doing them wrong i think they all need training in how to shut up take peoples fares and drive them where they need to go and just be glad they even have a job, i for one am amazed they have a job how did they get past interview?????

i catch stagecoach and tm when i can these days and most of the time would rather walk than catch a bus anyway its usually quicker.

stockers i agree. we got a bus last night and it cost us £3.90! we then got a taxi back home later and it cost £3 and we got dropped off outside our house.

We have the worst bus service in the Country an Drivers as well,the Drivers just Love making people late for work an show they are not commited to showing the are really helpful,there are road works in Ecclesfield an you can only go one way now,but instead of driving the 75 bus a little bit faster they still stop at Firth Park while 5.47 am an then going through Ecclesfield village an getting to the Travellers on the corner at about 5.58 it makes me late for work,no use ringing First because they never change anything,as the 48 from Herdings to the City Centre is always late as people have to catch another bus to work as they all leave town at 5.30a.m,but never change the times to help people out,Why? are they not bothered about helping the Public is totally disgusting an shows why there are more cars in Sheffield because of the Rubbish bus service we have

get an earlier bus then. like it or not there are time points on routes, we can't leave early or it's classed as gross misconduct, sackable offence. i drove from ecclesfield to town once doing about 15mph all the way but got to the timepoints with only a few seconds to have to wait. when i reach town a woman gets off and asks if it's a drive slow day, we just can't win. i don't drive for first but it's the same with any bus company

You know about the roadworks, Andy Burgin... You are obviously aware that said roadworks are going to cause delays... So the sensible option, surely, is to catch an earlier bus? (As the other responders have said above?)

once again people moaning about bus drivers,all i can say is find some other transport,u dont have to use buses.Drivers treat the public like they are treat

They both operate from the same garage Olive Grove

No they don't. TM are based at Stavely (Chesterfield) and at Halfway garage. And has already been said previously on SF:

RMEMBER FIRST DO NOT AND HAVE NEVER OWNED HALWAY it is rented . (To the best of my knowledge and my belief the only depot that first own in SY is Olive Grove)



a First bus on the Tesco route

What is the "Tesco route"? If you mean the Tesco free bus, that isn't operated by First.


...they can put prices up without telling you

No they can't.


Has anyone actually ever tried telling the bus driver where you're going too!?

I always ask for a destination rather than a fare. If the driver doesn't know it off hand, they look it up.


Well I saw a bus driver pull a knife on someone once. So yes, they will physically attack you.

Right, that's it. This thread has now officially entered the "Twilight Zone" of unreality.

There are just too many factual inaccuracies for even me to deal with in a finite time.

They both operate from the same garage Olive Grove

No they don't. TM are based at Stavely (Chesterfield) and at Halfway garage.

RMEMBER FIRST DO NOT AND HAVE NEVER OWNED HALWAY it is rented . (To the best of my knowledge and my belief the only depot that first own in SY is Olive Grove)



a First bus on the Tesco route

What is the "Tesco route"? If you mean the Tesco free bus, that isn't operated by First but by TM Travel.


...they can put prices up without telling you

No they can't.


Has anyone actually ever tried telling the bus driver where you're going too!?

I always ask for a destination rather than a fare. If the driver doesn't know it off hand, they look it up.


Well I saw a bus driver pull a knife on someone once. So yes, they will physically attack you.

Right, that's it. This thread has now officially entered the "Twilight Zone" of unreality.

There are just too many factual inaccuracies for even me to deal with in a finite time.

Why has this thread started 6 years ago been brought back to discuss again??:loopy:

I have just had a baby so now have a pram with me when getting the bus. I have found most first drivers dont lower the bus or even attempt to get close enough to the kerb. This is very annoying and unsafe for the baby. I got the pram stuck between the bus and kerb last week because he hadnt pulled in close enough. And when they dont lower the bus the pram bangs (and it is a big bang) onto the floor from the bus and it really upsets my baby! From now on I wont be getting off the bus until they lower it, why do some drivers think they can treat us this way when we pay their wages?

Does anybody realise this thread dates from 2005

Does anybody realize this thread dates from 2005

By eck I do love reading these travellers tales.

I get all this time points and not leaving before hand, but, my bus (97) was a total of 59 minutes late across last week, 20 mins two days.....

No apologies and way later than the time points that the stops on the timetable show.

This still gets me to work on time so it's not bad but why don't stupid bus company just readjust the timetable saying the bus will have a later time point, then i can have that extra 10/15 mins in bed rather than getting to the stop on the marginal chance that it might be on time.

Does anybody realise this thread dates from 2005

Just go's to prove the standards of First South Yorkshire Buses have remained the same :hihi::hihi::hihi: