Protesters to target First Bus fares
A PROTEST against First Bus fares is set to take place at the beginning of next month.
Organisers are hoping to put pressure on the company - operating nearly all bus routes in Bristol - over their prices which, they say, do not reflect the qualtity of service.
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The protest aims to highlight the company's high fares
The protest is coupled with an e-petition which has gathered over 1,000 signatures.
Daniel Farr, 33, a graphic designer who set up the petition and is organising the protest, told the Post he is fed up with the operators.
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He said: "I have been using the bus service for a number of years now and the prices just keep going up while the service doesn't improve. The two just don't seem to relate."
He added that a reduction in fares would encourage people onto buses which could impact on the environment.
He said: "At the moment it's much more expensive than any other city, including London, and the buses are currently half empty.
"If they were cheaper then it could reduce congestion and have a knock on effect on the environment.
"At the moment the company has a monopoly so they can effectively charge what they want."
Rob Telford, Green Party candidate for Ashley ward, has thrown his support behind the petition and protest. He told the Post: "I saw an advert for a bus to London today for £7 and we are still paying £4 to get around Bristol. That's part of the reason why I am getting involved."If you look at the service First Buses offer, it doesn't match up with their prices; they are often late and unreliable. There needs to be action."The protest will take place outside Malborough Street Bus Station on February 2 from 12pm until 2pm.
To sign the petition visit: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/43134.
Comments
by Tiny_Steve
Saturday, January 12 2013, 10:14AM
“@GREASYRON, @PJB_1972
Good points both. But it does seem as though we would rather complain than do anything about it. Look at how often negative stories about First get dozens of comments, compared to virtually no comments when things are improved, eg http://tinyurl.com/b7x6edx”
by dboy2013
Monday, January 07 2013, 11:55PM
“Don't worry we don't want and won't let it be hijacked by the far left.”
by A_E_M
Monday, January 07 2013, 10:25PM
“Nice,a bus photo from 1999 Evening Post. What was the article about...........”
by GREASYRON
Monday, January 07 2013, 9:18PM
“Yes, concerning Abus they are tightly reined in by First. I used to use them to travel from Keynsham to the centre. Good service and price but shared with First, who get get to cherry-pick the best bits of the timetable.
As for the protest, I've been to such things before and they always get hijacked by the far left and get turned into something else. I don't wish to ally myself with smelly Socialist Worker sellers. I'm anti-Firstbus, not anti-capitalist.”
by dboy2013
Monday, January 07 2013, 8:56PM
“If you wish to attend the protest you can get more info here https://http://tinyurl.com/a2z2tca”
by dboy2013
Monday, January 07 2013, 8:53PM
“Thank you for signing the petition katachua we really appreciate it, and thanks to the article the e-petition has risen to 1,346 signatures. Not bad for three weeks work!”
by SCHRIS
Monday, January 07 2013, 7:33PM
“1,000 signatures on the petition is equal to 120,000 if it had been nationwide. ABUS bus service is not available everywhere in Bristol. It is outrageous that it is £ 1.70 for the cheapest single - it is the single fares that need reviewing. Not everyone wants a £ 4.00 first day ticket!”
by bokbok
Monday, January 07 2013, 5:45PM
“Surely Rob Telford should be using a bicycle and not buses.”
by PJB_1972
Monday, January 07 2013, 5:33PM
“I can't help but wonder why people don't use the alternatives more. I use a route on which ABUS operate an excellent service which is far cheaper than First yet people still cram into an over crowded First bus rather than wait a few minutes for the ABUS. I wonder if they even know there is another bus service.”
by katachua
Monday, January 07 2013, 2:25PM
“Signed the petition, FWIW. First will, of course, pay exactly as much notice as the Government. Want to guess how many Government ministers are First shareholders?”