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“Buses are way too expensive in Bath. I walk as much as I can and encourage my 6 yr old to do the same. After a 30 minute stroll into town, park trip and shopping, it's reasonable to get the bus back up the hill. It is actually cheaper for me to drive into town and park for 3 hours than it is to buy a SINGLE ticket for an adult and child. This unfortunately adds to the terrible congestion and promotes a more sedentary lifestyle. Where is the sense in that?!

Aren't we encouraged to be as active as possible and leave the car at home? Such high bus fares are having the opposite effect and what is Bath actually doing to combat this? In London, children travel for free on all London transport and 11-16 year olds pay £10/year. I would be really interested to know what the council are planning to do to sort out the congestion problem and how they are encouraging people to leave their cars at home? Park and ride is not enough.””

By mrsmint Posted: April 13, 2012


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  • Viscount_V  |  April 13 2012, 11:19PM

    I agree Mrs Mint. Someone needs to take on "First". But alas our Council Leaders, while attempting to make the city as car un-friendly as possible and promoting cycle routes etc have failed to show the mettle to take on First Bus in its virtual monopoly. For years First have been able to call all shots and under some manner of transport blackmail have been able to do as they please. Lets have an elected mayor to sort out Baths public transport travesty, they seem far more effective than our insipid, virtually ineffective council. The ultimate exploitative rip off being the school bus fare.

  • wheelie_bin  |  April 14 2012, 3:01PM

    for what it is worth Somerbus do a £1 fare up Wellsway (alas only Mon - Fri and hourly at that) http://tinyurl.com/boxr3qv Nevertheless, we use that if possible, but still prefer to walk if not rather than get exploited by First. I'm happy to spend some of the savings on chocolate for my daughter. At the risk of playing into Anil's hands London is wonderful in comparison if you have kids.

  • mrsmint  |  April 15 2012, 8:19AM

    I never knew about the Somerbus - thanks for the info and I'll spread the word!

  • radstockjeff  |  April 15 2012, 6:12PM

    Public transport in Melbourne, until last month when the fare system was modified, allowed daily travel within their Zone 1 on buses, trams and the metro rail system for AUD$ 7.6 (approx £4.25) . Zone 1 extends probably 15 miles each way beyond the CBD (City Centre).Public transport is well patronised and generally runs to time (in our experience although some locals might dispute that). Concessionary fares are available for Seniors and with free weekend travel throughout the system. On our recent trip down under we used the public transport system a lot and a weekly Zone 1 ticket cost just £10. Perhaps "First" should take a look down under! radstockjeff

  • MoeXXX  |  April 16 2012, 12:33AM

    Agree. Of all the places I've visited in my time on this planet, Bath has the absolute worst public transport network. But ... I don't blame First. I blame Thatcher. First do what any other commercial venture would do under the circumstances - maximise shareholder profit whilst minimising the cost of provision of service and claiming whatever they can demonstrate to be outside the terms of their contract as state subsidy. That's their job. If they didn't do it, they'd just be replaced by someone who would. Since deregulation apparently we're not allowed to have a proper state-run public transport system like London's (which was too important to be privatised) but why can't we have a state-owned but self-financing system like Edinburgh? (£1.20 for any single fare; £2.60 for a day ticket; no taxpayer subsidy required). B&NES - get your act together and stop wasting money on little incentives that make First's life even easier.

  • grumbles1  |  April 16 2012, 5:04AM

    I agree with MoeXXX, First are a business, their function is to make as large a profit as they can. I have worked for them and they are a typically heartless conglomeration who care very little about their staff or customers. Therefore, I guess you could say that they are a successful business. The best way to fix the transport services is for all the relevant government bodies to do the job that they were elected to do. This doesn't mean selling off the management rights to public services (eg. transport, power, gas, water etc.) Taxpayers have paid for the infrastructure over the years and then the government sell it off to companies who despite their claims of concern for the customer, are going to squeeze as much money as they can from them. It's time for BANES to take back control of the public transport system. The cynic in me can't help but believe that there is money changing hands on a different level somewhere.

  • deniro2010  |  April 16 2012, 5:43PM

    Well said MoeXXX. I'm with you on this matter.

  • bath1946  |  April 16 2012, 9:54PM

    "B&NES, get your act together". I agree that First is a rip off, but is anyone really suggesting we revert to overcrowded, dirty, unreliable, uncomfortable Badgerline ? or what is being proposed ?

  • MoeXXX  |  April 18 2012, 12:20AM

    What I would propose is very simple - public services should be run by the public sector for the public good and according to public need, not simply for the lowest common denominator of profit. This might mean a certain level of subsidy - but we're paying that already for a wholly substandard service, and at present, that money just goes to anonymous shareholders who contribute nothing. First (or any other private company) are never going to provide us with a decent system because it is not their interests to do so. For example - why would First use profits from successful route A to subsidise unprofitable route B when they could declare route B to be financially unviable and demand state subsidy to continue to run it? Why would First bother to run a competitive service when they know their only customers have no choice? I used the examples of London and Edinburgh (familiar with both) but I would challenge anyone to come up with an example of a successful urban public transport system that is not controlled by the local authority in some way.

  • deniro2010  |  April 18 2012, 11:56AM

    I would propose Wessex Connect be reinstated! Their buses are new and clean, their drivers deal with people properly and don't drive off before you have taken your seat (especially when a disabled person has got on the bus - First drivers do it all the time!) Are on time and courteous basically! First are a bunch of .......................................... Lose them and lose them quickly please BANES.

  • Bill62  |  July 14 2012, 9:51PM

    The motor car replaced the Bus as the preferred transport in the 1960s, we cannot turn back time but we CAN introduce a congestion charge (as in the Capital). If Park & Ride services (and busses in general) could be subsidised by such a charge, it could be made to pay for improvement to the Bus Service. I personally abandondoned my car in 2006, I have used a number of motor scooters since to travel the 7 miles into Bath. (free parking; and car jams don't hold me up.) Works in India, don't it?

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