The following represent individual comments and hence are not necessarily
reflective of the experiences of all passengers.
The general pattern of dissatisfaction, is, however, very clear.
Complaints about the Bus Service
- Not keeping to timetable. Buses arriving in bunches.
- Infrequent buses.
- Expensive fares. Needing to pay more than once for a single journey.
- One incident of a bus driving past - ignoring a waiting passenger.
- One incident of a rude and inconsiderate bus driver.
- Bus timetables not available.
Poor Links to Cardiff
One Maerdy resident said she had to leave Cardiff by 5.30PM if travelling
by train and link bus or by 6.00PM if travelling by bus.
She would like to go out in the evening in Cardiff, but this is impossible.
Survey
The following brief survey was carried out at bus stops in the Rhondda.
The summary and tabulation of the results is shown below.
Some of the most surprising observations came not from the responses to the
questions, but what people said spontaneously.
(1) Driver rudeness was mentioned by two people.
(2) All people but one in the survey made only the single journey - i.e.
a single bus covering a single route met their transport needs!
It is tempting to consider whether those surveyed would never travel
beyond the same route if transport possiblities were greater or whether they
have adapted their lives to fit around the available transport.
Questions and summary of responses
1. Approximately how many bus journeys do you make each week?
The number varied between one and ten - see below.
{Answer the following regarding how the service relates to you (not to
anyone else).
(A: Very Satisfied B:Satisfied C:Don't Know:Neither Satisfied nor dissatisfied
D: Dissatisfied E:Very Dissatisfied)}
2. Punctuality
Answers: A=1 B=4 C=0 D=1 E=1
3. Frequency
Answers: A=0 B=3 C=2 D=1 E=1
4. Bus routes
Answers: A=1 B=5 C=1 D=0 E=0
5. Fares
Answers: A=0 B=3 C=0 D=3 E=1
6. Compared to elsewhere in Britain do you think that the standard of Bus
Service is
b=Better s=Same w=Worse d=Don't Know
Answers: b=0 s=1 w=1 d=5
7. Approximately how frequently to you make a bus journey in the evening
(starting after 7PM)?
7a. Explanation for the difference
Answers: Only one respondant mentioned an interest after 7PM. For him the
lack of buses was a factor limiting travel in the evening.
Detailed Responses - Interviews conducted in Tonypandy 18-20 Dec.
Q1 Q2-6 Q7 Comment
6 BCBBS none (1)
5 DBAED 0 (2)
10 BBBBD rare (2)
2 BDCDD 0 (2)
1 ABBDD 0 (2)
2-3 EEBDW rare (3)(4)
2 BCBBD 0 (1)(2)
Notes
(1) Bus pass holder - doesn't pay full fare
(2) Do not need to travel in the evening
(3) Deterred from travelling in evening due to poor service
Other Comments
Some bus drivers rude to old people - two respondants. One describe an
elderly lady becoming flustered and dropping her handbag contents on the
floor while being shouted at by a driver because she could not find her
pass.
Unconfortable buses - "Bustler" not suited for journey from Cardiff (one
respondant)
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Eddy Hunt webmaster@netcymru.co.uk
This page was last updated on 31 December 2000 _________
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