A new solution to overcrowding on the morning commuter buses was revealed today.
I boarded the 0737 A at Station Road, St Ives. The bus already had people standing when it arrived. More boarded at the Park & Ride. The driver announced that he was allowed to have 30 people standing. He then asked the people sitting in the tip-up seats to stand so that the full 30 standing passengers could be squeezed into that space.
Is it me or has the overcrowding got worse again? I sat at the St.Ives P&R for about 15 minutes this morning waiting for a bus to come along that I could comfortably get a seat on (which was one at 08:20). I know Tuesday is always busy but today was no better.
ReplyDeleteOn a more positive note (although it could have been coincidence) I also notice a single decker "B" service going to Huntingdon. This seems a much better use of the bus fleet given that the "B"s Huntingdon bound are empty in the morning run.
Phil
Hi Phil. I think it's getting busier in the morning. The 0722 and 0737 both used to have seats and now they're standing room only. Not sure why this should be happening, though.
ReplyDeleteI had noticed the single decker B going the other way. It would be nice to have a double decker A around 07.35.
Andrew,
ReplyDeleteIf things don't improve over the next week, I'll be making further complaints, now that I have direct contact details at StageCoach.
Maybe another letter to the Hunts post as well?
Phil
Look forward to seeing your letter in the HP. Meanwhile I am waiting for a reply from Stagecoach about the Michaelmas Fair diversions. Tomorrow I shall cycle to work. At least that way I'll get a seat!
ReplyDeleteHope the wind was with you....
DeleteIncidentally, some friends at the CU engineering dept are studying the busway - since you seem to live out that way, and are riding along the busway, would you be able to say whether the cracking mid-beam that is evident on many parts of the busway is also present between Swavesey and St Ives? (This bit is supported on deep piles, rather than on simple concrete 'pads')? Thanks!
Hi Stephen. The wind is never with me on that busway!
DeleteI haven't studied the mid beams recently, and I will take a closer look next time I am along there on the bike, but if my memory is correct, they've been cracked along the whole length of the busway since the beginning.
In fact, I have a couple of pictures of beam cracking taken in October 2011. I'll post them in a new post.
DeletePresumably the half-term break has reduced morning overcrowding problems?
ReplyDeleteIndeed it has! Yesterday the 07.37 had empty seats when it left St Ives Park & Ride. In fact, there was an extra double-decker A running just ahead of the 07.37, and it appeared to have plenty of space.
ReplyDeleteToday I caught the 07.22 which was full, with only a small number of people standing for part of the journey.
The Double-decker A buses - do they run to Cambridge rail station only, or do they continue to the Hospital on ordinary roads?
DeleteHi Stephen,
DeleteAll the double decker As I've seen have been to/from Cambridge Rail station only.
Does the guided bus still suffer from overcrowding in the mornings?
ReplyDelete