On my way home tonight I saw a small notice on the drivers cash box advising customers of a fares change this Sunday(in other words an increase!) .As the bus was busy I couldn't note everything on the main notice panel which is on the panel behind the driver.
Most single fares go up 5p or 10p. First Day/ Off Peak First Day,
Switcha, Adda, First Month also go up.

After the last price increase in December I now buy the PTE's
TravelMaster as this now gives better options as it now only a few pence more and at least First only get a portion of this!!! from the PTE. Move to the Travelmaster or Busmaster tickets to register your view I say.

They don't give much notice do they?? Next sunday? Also there is nothing on their website about the increases, but yeah i saw the notices as well today.

Me too, I was going to say something on the worst bus route thread. The FirstMonth goes up by £2, the FirstDay by 20p (?). You lot must be so f*cking sick of this! The only fare staying the same is my student one! <Evil cackling>

Yeah I think the only prices staying the same are the weekly passes.

UP!!!!!! Its already more expensive to use a bus in Sheffield than it is in London - and thats leaving aside the appalling service!!!

*cough* Bus companies suck, money grabbing bar stewards! :mad:*cough*

This is exactly I plan on learning to drive ASAP so that I don't have to rely on buses to get around...

where do you buy the PTE travelmaster ?
It seems the bus fares are going up every 3 or 4 months, when will it end?

It does seem as though bus fares increase during or around some holiday/half-term break. I get those weekly savers and they're now £11 - I think I used to get them for £5 or so back in '96.

Does anyone know if the alternative bus services do weekly or monthly deals?

I think Yorkshire Terrier do a weekly one.

Originally posted by Rich


This is exactly I plan on learning to drive ASAP so that I don't have to rely on buses to get around...

so you think running a car is cheaper than a bus?If you get a car than you can fill up with fuel,tax,insure and pay for general upkeep of for £11 a week,let me know the model,and i'll get one

Originally posted by uncleheed
so you think running a car is cheaper than a bus?If you get a car than you can fill up with fuel,tax,insure and pay for general upkeep of for £11 a week,let me know the model,and i'll get one

Nope, I'm just fed up of unreliable buses that don't turn up when they're supposed to etc.

At least with a car you know you're not gonna get stuck if you're in an isolated area with a crap bus service (like the top of Stannington).

For your information,the last time the adult single fares went up,was last April.They go up once a year.The last rise ws October and that was concessionary fares,that are set by STPTE,nothing to do with the bus companies.
You all want to be gratefull they are only going up by 5p.Last Tuesday 7 buses had windows put through by muppets who think it is a laugh to throw at buses.They don't realise what a dangerous practice this is.It is not only dasngerous it is expensive to the operators.Window are non-insurasble items,therefore must be paid for by the company themselves.Each window is a double glazed sealed unit that cost £500 per unit.So Tuesday cost the company £3500.This cost is passed on via fare increases.
So if you are a missile thrower,or you know one,I suggest you get them to stop before you go mouthing off about fare increases.

Fair comment and well said!

I must admit, I either walk or hop in the car. I've not been on a bus for years so have no idea about the cost of bus fares and if they are value for money.

Can anyone give me an example of the price of a short distance journey. For example from Heeley to the city centre.

And a long distance journey, say from the city centre to Meadowhall?

I seem to remember that short distance journeys were really pricey and it was easier to walk (cheaper too), and long distance, although pricey, were more value for money.

heeley to town=75p
town to meadowhall = £1.05

Is the tram cheaper?

It doesn't seem long since the last fares increase. The seem to put them up every few months. I had to laugh at the leaflet on the increase which began:

"From time to time it is necessary to alter [note: 'alter not increase] fares to maintain the high quality of service you expect from First".

What high quality service is this?

Also Yorkshire terrier are putting some of their fares up a couple of days after.

Originally posted by wednesdayowl
where do you buy the PTE travelmaster ?
It seems the bus fares are going up every 3 or 4 months, when will it end?

There are two types. One is £7:75 a week and only available if you are on certain benefits. The other is £15:50 a week and available to everyone. You buy them at PTE shops, such as the bus station or Meadowhall.

Originally posted by Classic Rock
Is the tram cheaper?

No.

In fact it's dearer, £2.40 for a return trip to Meadowhall or even to Town, £1.20 each way.

Thank god I only pay 40p (probably 45p after Sunday) due to having a disabled bus pass, otherwise I'd be permanently skint, unlike my mate who gets most of his travelling costs back on his expenses through work.

The thing that annoys me is that by increasing fares by these odd amounts it makes it harder for people to get the exact change for the bus (e.g. I think someone said a weekly pass was going up by 20p or something - so instead of just getting out a tenner you now need extra change too). So not only is your bus late, but the bus driver is incredibly grumpy as each stop he has to scrabble for change. Even if the extra charges pay for the upkeep of the busses etc. (obvioulsy v important), they definitely don't improve service at the sharp end!!

Won't first bus company pay insurance for the replacement of windows?

Originally posted by wednesdayowl
Won't first bus company pay insurance for the replacement of windows?

They could, but that ain't profitable... so what do they do?! Bump the friggin' fares up, effectively getting their customers to foot the bill.

Originally posted by Rich
They could, but that ain't profitable... so what do they do?! Bump the friggin' fares up, effectively getting their customers to foot the bill.

the insurance company want a ridiculous premium to cover the windows because so many get put through

That's a point - on the 53 bus route there's one particular area outside a school where throwing missiles at bus windows is a regular occurrence. Only this Monday the 31 had a window broken on it's way to town. There's also the matter of broken bus shelter windows so I guess the money has got to come from somewhere. Maybe the bus company should send reps into schools to explain where money comes from for repairs and such or at least to post these details up for everyone to read.

good idea about the school thing,but on the bus shelter windows,the bus companies has nothing to do with that,it's SYPTE.The money for replacing that comes out of the dreaded council tax.So as i said earlier in the thread,it's up to everyone to educate the morons who do this mindless damage,as it costs us all in the long run,be it through fare increases,or council tax increases.

The All day ticket on Supertram is £2.40 with a weekly one it costs £7.50. So these work out better valve then paying single fares

One is £7:75 a week and only available if you are on certain benefits. The other is £15:50 a week and available to everyone.

So which buses can you get on with a PTE pass? Can a student get it for £7.75?

Originally posted by uncleheed
good idea about the school thing,but on the bus shelter windows,the bus companies has nothing to do with that,it's SYPTE.The money for replacing that comes out of the dreaded council tax.So as i said earlier in the thread,it's up to everyone to educate the morons who do this mindless damage,as it costs us all in the long run,be it through fare increases,or council tax increases.

There ought to be cameras trianed on the bus shelters in these "target" (no pun intended) locations. hopefuly this would catch the little ****'s who do teh smashing of glass.

Then, if the video evidence was shown, to the "my child would not do a thing like that, s/he's a little angel" brigade of parents, and that the parents were made, by the courts to recompense this criminal damage (because that's what it is) in it's entireity.. from the repalcement glass, to the costs of the staff to replace the glass, the court costs of the case, and the costs of chasing the little ****'s up who have done it... the parents would soon get the message, and keep the gits under control. they's be hit where it hurts, in the pocket, which is almost always an effective deterrant, and a lesson that hits home.

PT

The Pte passes are valid on all services/operators within the county.The £7.75 mention on several threads is only an valid in Off Peak i.e after 9am Mon to Fri and valid all day weekends and bank Holidays. Forms are available at PTE travel shops and proof of low income/photo etc is required.For full details ring Traveline 01709 515151

Originally posted by caprice
So which buses can you get on with a PTE pass? Can a student get it for £7.75?

The £7:75 Travelmaster is valid from 9am Mon-fri and all day at weekends and bank holidays. It can be used on ALL buses, trains and trams in South Yorkshire. (If bus drivers from certain companies try and tell you it is not valid on their bus, they are wrong. It doesn't matter where the bus company is based. If the bus is traveling in South Yorkshire they must accept it.

To buy an off-peak travelmaster (or Bus Master for £6:75) you need to be in receipt of certain benefits such as JSA. The PTE shops will have leaflets giving you more details.

It's now going to cost me £1.40 to get to town.

There was no point in buying a First Day since they were £2.70 before 9am when I got on the bus so I saved nothing.

It only costs me £1.60 to park next to uni for 2 hours. If I'm only going in for a short time I drive.

I wouldn't mind if the increase meant a better service. However again yesterday I was sat waiting for a bus that did not turn up.

I also live about 6 miles from Meadowhall, which is also where I work part time but there is no direct bus. I have no option but to drive.

Originally posted by caprice
So which buses can you get on with a PTE pass? Can a student get it for £7.75?

No not students :(
Unemployed or on a low income?

If so you may qualify for a discount on a weekly off-peak pass.

Off-peak TravelMaster costs £7.75 a week and gives unlimited travel by bus, train or tram throughout South Yorkshire after 0900 on weekdays and all day at weekends and on Bank Holidays.

To purchase an Off-Peak Travelmaster you will need to come in person to any Travel Information Centre bringing some proof of address, proof of your qualifying benefit, and a passport sized photograph. We may ask you to get a form signed by your benefit office if your proof is not up to date.

You may qualify for an off-peak TravelMaster if you are:

Unemployed and available for work
In receipt of Incapacity Benefit
In receipt of Severe Disability Allowance
In receipt of Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit and you qualify for free prescriptions and other NHS services because of your low income
In receipt of Income Support as a lone parent, as a person over 50, or as a carer.
or if your spouse claims Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disability Allowance on your behalf.

http://www.sypte.co.uk/tickets/travel.html#Unemployed

Originally posted by uncleheed
heeley to town=75p
town to meadowhall = £1.05


That makes £3.60 return

And by car; Heeley to town 40p return

Town to Meadowhall 60p return

So from Heeley to Meadowhall it is about £1 return, and a damn sight more convenient. (and costs the same if the car contains 5 people)

Not included wear and tear cos that is negligable on a journey as short as this.

£3.60 gets me and 4 passengers to Barnsley and back!!!!!!

If you look at the new fares quoted you have the cheaper option of a FirstDay (unlimited travel) for £2.90 if you start before 9am Mon to Fri or £2.50 after 9am. Here is one for car owners to think about... How much time do you think your asset is not in use i.e. parked up not in use? Question does not apply to reps!!!

Originally posted by silverknight
Here is one for car owners to think about... How much time do you think your asset is not in use i.e. parked up not in use?

The other side of that though is that a car is always there in your garage whenever you want it, anytime of the day or night. That seems a lot more convenient than having to wait at a bus stop until the bus company decides you can begin to travel. That's assuming the bus turns up at all, which they don't always do.

Also cars are not effected by bus strikes, driver shortages, bank holidays, sunday services and most seem quite capable of getting up Stannington road when a few flakes of snow have fallen.