Bristol bus driver refused to continue journey & told passengers to find other way home
A BUS driver stunned passengers when he refused to continue his journey and told them they would have to find another way home.
About ten people were still on the number 73 bus, operated by First, which was meant to go from Bristol city centre to Bradley Stoke and Patchway on Friday.
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It was the last bus running for those who had been out for the night and was already about 25 minutes late when it drew up on the Centre at about midnight.
Among those waiting were George Pointing and his girlfriend, Corina Stanton, both of Bradley Stoke, who had been to see Thriller Live at the Hippodrome.
But Mr Pointing, 22, an electrician, said when the bus driver reached Parkway station, he announced to his passengers that he was going no further.
Mr Pointing said: "The driver just said 'That's it, you can all get off now'. We refused and said we'd paid for our tickets to be taken home. People were becoming upset and most stayed on the bus.
"Some lads got off because they only had another stop to go and said it was just as easy to walk but one woman, who looked a bit lost, got off and disappeared.
"The driver said we could get a taxi but there were people who didn't have the money for that.
"When we continued to complain to him, the driver said he was too stressed to carry on and we couldn't force him to do anything."
Mr Pointing said the stand-off lasted for about 30 minutes, during which time First was contacted and someone, believed to be a supervisor, arrived in a van.
Mr Pointing said: "He asked the driver what he was doing. The driver told him he had permission to terminate the journey at Parkway.
"The supervisor told the driver to get his stuff and drive home in the van. He then got behind the wheel of the bus himself and took over to complete the journey.
"My girlfriend and I finally got to her home at about 1.30am."
Some passengers said they had noticed the destination on the front of the bus said Parkway but because there were no more buses, they had no option and hoped it was just a mistake.
Passenger Nigel Gardiner, 46, of Lapwing Close, Bradley Stoke, said: "I don't know if it was First's decision or the driver's to terminate the journey but in all the time spent arguing, he could have driven the rest of the route twice.
"Some people had two to three miles further to go and there were some women on the bus who were concerned about having to walk at that time of night. It was all so unnecessary and ridiculous."
Colin Edwards, 72, of Little Stoke Lane, Little Stoke, said: "I regularly catch that bus and usually it's excellent but it was late arriving and we were astonished when the driver said he was only going to go as far as Parkway.
"The other passengers told us the driver said he was late and wanted to go home."
The bus operator's commercial director, Simon Cursio, said: "We are currently investigating the issues surrounding the events of the night of April 8 in relation to service 73 and apologise for any inconvenience and distress caused to our customers on the journey in question.
"We confirm that action was taken as soon as possible to ensure all customers who were on the bus at Parkway were taken to their intended destination."
10 Comments
by phil, clifton
Tuesday, April 12 2011, 6:31PM
“I think i would probably be suffwring with stress/a mental breakdown if I had to work for first and deal with the public all day!”
by Scott, Bristol
Tuesday, April 12 2011, 3:53PM
“Why can't unreliable and expensive First just be banned from operating any services in this city? The Bristol travel smartcard was meant to be launched last month. But due to First, it hasn't been.
This driver stopping the bus, it's not the 'first' time. I knew someone who was on the 45 service which stops near Sainsbury's on the centre - however, the Driver decided to get off the bus at Rupert Street. Not very far from the Centre, but there were elderly passengers on the route, and he should have completed the route...
phoned up First and reported him. I've been told by First, that you don't have to get the Drivers name to report them. On First bus tickets, there is a 6 digit number somewhere on ticket starting with a 2 - it's the bus driver's number so First can track who it is driving the bus.
Personally, I think that Bristol should have it's own independent bus company, like Newport & Cardiff have 'Newport Bus' & 'Cardiff Bus'.
In Cardiff, it's only £3 for a day ticket (known as a 'day to go'). You may think "only £1", but in a month, that could be around £20 something you'd be saving (if you work everyday but weekends). Their bus services don't give out change either - you need to have the exact fare. This doesn't allow for time to be wasted for the driver trying to get your change, or print silly 'no change' tickets.
First seem to be advertising the Hop-stop ticket a lot too. Go along 3 stops for £1. That is a RIP-OFF.
I still don't understand why Bristol hasn't got a ticket you can use on ALL buses too. I asked a Wessex Connect driver why you couldn't use a First/Wessex day ticket on a Wessex/First Bus - "Oh, we've had big fights with First". It seems First are the ones who are the money grabbers in this.
Get rid of First, and the transport in this city would be a lot better.”
by Draenog, Caebrwnt
Tuesday, April 12 2011, 2:26PM
“I see that the Bristol Omnibus Charm School is still turning them out :(
Most of the drivers I meet are at least civil, but there' s minority that would be drummed out of the Waffen SS for their bad manners.”
by Morrissey, Montpelier
Tuesday, April 12 2011, 1:58PM
“Odd, the bus said Parkway on it, surely something should have been said when they saw this, or at least entered the bus and said "Bradley Stoke please".
Good on them for staging a sit-in, and the manager who came out in a van seemed to resolve things quite nicely. i think the driver will think twice about doing something like this in future...”
by Paul, Bristol
Tuesday, April 12 2011, 1:50PM
“Yet again proof that it would have been cheaper, quicker, easier, less stressful and more convenient to use a car.”
by Dog Walker, Bristol
Tuesday, April 12 2011, 1:42PM
“Good old FirstBus strikes again.
That said, I'm not sure if I'd want to stay on a bus when the driver admits he is too stressed to drive. :(”
by For Teresa from, Bradley Stoke
Tuesday, April 12 2011, 11:20AM
“!http://www.freelancecopywriting.biz/USERIMAGES/angryflower.gif!”
by Alice Judge, Clifton
Tuesday, April 12 2011, 10:54AM
“I'm sure you do Theresa...”
by Teresa, Bradley Stoke
Tuesday, April 12 2011, 10:47AM
“Not the first time this has happened..Leaving passenger's to walk home late evening...People are vunerable to attack even in well lit area's these day's..And as was stated not everyone has the money for a cab..I hope he is now washing the buses...We dont complain enough..!”
by Tim, Bristol
Tuesday, April 12 2011, 9:48AM
“It's a private bus service, not a public one.
They are there to create profit for shareholders and that is the priority.”