Make Bus Fares Fair!

“Well done for you to get over 3500 signatures, me and my girlfriend did the same thing but it was a paper based one in 2010 but know one listened not even our MP at the time (Chris Skidmore), all he wanted to do is to get his name in the paper. if you want another 1500 signatures more added to your campaign (which will be well over 5000 signatures) then please get in touch with us before 12th march 2013 on email adamheard@hotmail.co.uk.

thanks for looking
Adam”

“First Bristol's record on service and fares is shocking, to a large degree because there has not been enough effective protest. This is a good start.....but it's only a start!”

“Re patcrose

Unfortunately the reality is any reduction in fares will only come as a subsidy from BCC. Were already subsidising First Bus both through local Govt (fares, infrastructure) and through central Govt via the rebate on fuel duty (yes believe it or not First Bus get a fuel duty rebate)

As far as I know there is no legal framework to force First Bus to reduce its fares, even though certain Councillors at BCC claimed there was (I have it in writing somewhere) prior to the last round of infrastructure spending.

The majority of Bristolians don't & will never use the bus service so why should they subsidise it? Those who drive, cycle, car share etc don't get help with their travel expenses?”

“DM_Fishponds - You can keep up the pressure by signing my petition directed at Bristol City Council; http://tinyurl.com/coxuc3a”

“DM_Fishponds thank you for your comment! There has been inaction about the bus issue for 20+ years, but with the mayor making a big point about transport, and a political consensus I'm hoping things could really change however I'm not holding my breathe it will.

There was a bus fares report in 2011 comparing providers across the country, the average fare for a 3 mile journey was £1.90, and Firsts were the most expensive in the whole of England at £3.80!

I don't want a London style transport authority as that is massively subsidised, but we could have more integration across transport providers, with Bristol council and the four local authorities regulating the buses more.”

“Daniel, good luck with your campaign.

Bristol City Council has a history of 'fixing' transport-related CONsultations where the public's opinions are mostly disregarded or ignored. For the Fishpond section of GBBN the Justification Document used timings provided by First Bus which showed that only a small proportion of buses were exceeding their travel time through Fishponds by only a maximum of 35 seconds!

When we questioned the need to spend £1.8 MILLION to resolve this BCC declared the data 'commercially sensitive' and the Justification Document 'secret'!

A post-completion report was promised to demonstrate that the £1.8 MILLION was 'money well spent', but we have never been provided with anything like that. We did receive an independent report detailing all the safety problems with the 'improvements'. If you provide an email address I will happily share details of this information with you.

It is disgraceful that BCC have used the loophole that because your original petition was on the No. 10 it does not automatically force a BCC debate. Have you received any feedback from central government regarding your petition? Perhaps central government can put pressure on BCC and First to address this dreadful situation.

Our newly-elected mayor also seems open to suggestions. I'm sure that he could force a debate on the subject if he wanted to!”

“if you are paying £6 a day £36 a week why not buy a weekly ticket its only £22 a week saving £14 a week or a monthly ticket £84 saving £60 a month”

“Pactrose - I'm not asking for more subsidy, but you already subsidize the 'unprofitable routes' First run and for the bus stops they use. I dont want something for nothing. First has amongst the highest fares in the country, and makes huge operating profits. I dont think it's fair I have to pay £6 everyday £36 a week of my wages for the privilege of getting to work when for £6.50 I could travel to Exeter and back which is 70 miles away! The current fares affect the city putting off students exploring and staying in Bristol, after they graduate. Families have told me they pay small fortunes just to send their kids to school by bus. I'm not having a go at OAPs but my bus is half empty apart from them.”

“Fair for who? Will all the residents who don't use buses or get free concessions welcome having to pay more council tax to subsidise those who object to the current fares? You don't get nothing for free.”

“And the winner of the Daftest Post of the Month for February is -

bokkbokk

for his side-splitting

"Bus fares are cheap enough."”