'Council should have more control of bus services'

“"Margaret Thatcher supposedly stating "A man who, beyond the age of 26, finds himself on a bus can count himself as a failure."

She never said it. It's actually attributable to poet and New Statesman journalist Brian Howard (1905-1958).”

“Shock horror, a transport company making profit. If you can show me one that operates purely for the sake of carrying passengers with no profit whatsoever, then i shall bow my head.
Take a look at the companies that provide transport and look at what you are actually offered, a dirty, smelly bus thats older than the majority of First's entire fleet. Bear also in mind that a good number of drivers working for other bus companies (with exception to Abus i believe) are ones that have been sacked by First.
As has been proven, the majority of passengers use the bus service with passes or cards which does indeed work out a lot cheaper. Where the time goes is not just down to the bus company itself, but constant roadworks, the council creating pinchpoints, incidents such as the 2 at the beginning of last week etc. For a city as large as Bristol, we have such a small road network compared to cities of similar size. Sort out the creaking, draconian, ancient road system and the rest will follow.”

“Nice to see our council now starting to talk about improving transport at last, less than 2 MONTHS before our new mayor takes over responsibility for the biggest issue facing the city. It seems as though the ruling Lib Dems are getting ready to snipe from the sidelines when their candidate, who made absolutely no progress during his two and a half dismal years in charge of transport, is unceremoniously dumped by what few of the apathetic electorate actually turn out to vote.

They spent £79 million on bus lanes, with little impact, and want to build the stupid £49 million BRT2 route - good money after bad. People will only take buses when they are clean, frequent, and above all, affordable.”

“When has anything Tim Kent ever done benefited Bristol?”

“I'm not sure anyone gives a hoot what you think Tim, we shall elect a mayor to deal with this sort of thing.”

“"Everyone wanted to get off the buses and into cars – it is one of the reasons car ownership in this city is so high, because the bus company run by Bristol City Council was rubbish," he said. "This really is something that petrifies me." - Councillor Abraham

And they're better now under First? I wonder when was the last time this tory councillor actually used a bus. Dirty, late and expensive can some up First's bus services in this city. Back in 1985 when bus privatisation began, car ownership was something to aspire to with Margaret Thatcher supposedly stating "A man who, beyond the age of 26, finds himself on a bus can count himself as a failure."

Councils can runs successful bus services through arms length companies like those in Cardiff but this isn't what Councillor Kent is offering or aspiring to, quality contracts are quite a different kettle of fish and certainly not renationalisation of the buses if they went ahead.

I do agree with Fuzzhead this is a ploy to get the Lib Dems noticed and winning votes for the Mayoral Election (as well as local ones) but First Bristol has been due it comeuppance for the anti-competitive behaviour, which has led to its monopoly within the city and the resulting poor service and high prices, for quite sometime.”

“'The money would be spent on consultants and compiling a business case for quality contracts in the city.'

Consultants. Great. Does anyone else immediately conjure up images of the incompetent, nonsense-speaking, self-agrandising idiots from The Apprentice?

"Here's £35,000. Have a look at the buses and report back."

"Right. Let's get a bus and put wifi on it first!"

"Yeah! Let's head to Paris for a week, see what they do over there!

"Brilliant idea!"

"Is there any money left?"

"Let's ask for another £35,000!"

I thought we were weeding consultants out of Bristol City Council? But then the Labour Party have got one running for mayor haven't they?”

“"Too little, too late". That'd make a great tag line for the Bristol transport service as a whole, if you ask me.”

“And how long has Tim Kent and his predecessor Lib Dem Transport Executives had to action something like this, continually failing over years to tackle First Bus?

More central control over First Bus (or any public service for that matter) may well prove a good move but it's funny Kent pops up with this now, just as fellow Lib Dem Jon Rogers (another failure in the post of Transport Exec) is up for Mayoral election.

Every day the Lib Dems seem to be getting their mugs in the local press, banging on about how they intend to do this and that on transport in Bristol. I'm personally sick of the sight of the lot of 'em and don't believe a word!

These promises are all a little too late, I'd say.”

“if BCC want to take over the buses expect more bendy buses on the road plus i they on about a flat fare of £1.50 my bus fare will go from £1.80 return to £3 return”