Recently
the new style Chelmsford Bus service was launched. Air conditioning,
double glazing, security video and lots more gizmo's not to mention the
pretty new paint scheme. But at what price? The Essex Chronicle had
reported that Mr. Steve Smith, general manager of First Chelmsford, had said
that more wardens, higher parking penalties and higher car parking charges
will be aimed at encouraging more bus use.
Are the Bus companies going to set parking charges and penalties?
I wonder how many empty car-park spaces there are at First Chelmsford?
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This months letters on the
subject of public transport
From Andy
Champ
andy.champ@virgin.net
I work in the centre of Chelmsford
and have lived in Writtle for just over 8 years now. I have tried all
methods of travel into Chelmsford and gave the buses up as the worst method
ages ago. Too many mornings waiting and waiting at bus stops both to and
from Chelmsford for a service that is too expensive. I am fortunate enough
to still be fit enough to be able to cycle and have found that cycling to
Chelmsford is by far the best way of travelling, it's virtually cost free,
it's pollution free and it keeps you fit (provided I don't get knocked of my
bike again when travelling past Hylands School) When oh when is there going
to be a cycle path ???? But I suppose that's another story
From Mike Collins
Sir
Not only are the local buses unreliable (waits of 20 minutes plus seem
common) and very expensive, they are an organisational nightmare once you
are lucky enough to board one.
No travel cards seem valid for them so for each journey you have to present
cash to the driver - OK in principle but useless in practice. No one seems
to have the right change and the drivers (mainly good blokes and girls on
the customer interface level) seem to be selected for their inability to
count, pick coins effectively from a tray and pass them on to passengers.
Further, as the bus gets nearer to Chelmsford, the average age of the
passengers attempting to board the vehicle rises steeply to the high 80s/low
90s level and although we owe these citizens much for their courage and
fortitude during the war etc., an average wait of 10 minutes per stop as
they fish myopically through their pouches and purses for groats, doubloons
and thru' penny bits does get a tad frustrating.
The other main irritation of the buses is that tribe of people who think
that the seat next to them is for use as their personal luggage rack. On
boarding at Chelmsford's state-of-the-art bus station, for example, your
first impression may be that the bus is full of people. But look again. Only
HALF the bus is full of people because the other HALF of the seating is full
of carrier bags, brief cases, rucksacks and other portable paraphernalia.
The main culprits tend to be middle class women whom I fully realise are
NEVER in the wrong about anything at all and who glare inimically at you if
you attempt to take a seat next to them. Ladies, please, have some
consideration (although, of course, you're not in the wrong).
These, esteemed sir, are my observations on the 45 bus route through our
delightful hamlet.
I remain your disgruntled servant.
0.
Michael Collins
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