Description
Siobhan Wilkinson
Today I was waiting at the bus stop outside the Urbis in Manchester city centre at approximately 13:15 to catch the 98 for what should have been a door to door, 40 minute journey on the 13:31 bus. After 14:00 a bus arrived but I'm not sure if this was the late 13:31 service or the 14:01 service. The bus driver was immediately antagonistic towards his customers, informing them in a rude tone, after several had already boarded and sat down, that after an hour wait it was likely that most of them would not get to where they wanted to go. When asked if he would be stopping at Radcliffe, Prestwich or Whitefield he didn't seem to know but continued to be rude as if asking the question was inappropriate. He finally decided he would be going as far as Whitefield but possibly not Radcliffe and would definitely bypass Prestwich Village. He was no more specific than this which was not useful to anyone. I asked what route he was taking to find out if he would be going to a road near my destination. He mentioned what I thought was Stowe Lane (it turned out to be Scholes Lane) and asked me in a rude, condescending tone if I knew where that was. I thought that was inappropriate and irrelevant but as he then mentioned Bury Old Road which was as close as an alternative would get me I boarded and we set off. Throughout the journey, as customers boarded he was rude to each one and very reluctant to give reasons for the diversion. At one point I heard him say, "It's not my fault people have decided to crash their cars." This seems an insensitive thing to say and, as the diversion was because of a parade, inaccurate. As we reached the diversion he pointed at the blocked off road and said, as if gloating, "There, for all of you who didn't believe me." I hadn't heard anyone express disbelief, just annoyance at the long wait (1hr+), his rudeness and the fact that he didn't know if he could get them to their destination.
Why did First buses seem unprepared for this parade which would surely have needed some kind of permit? Was there not enough notice for them to put up signage at bus stops warning of the diversion? Also if the diversion was due to the parade why did the bus driver not continue into Radcliffe once we were back on the usual route? I understand that there may be reasonable explanations but without them I am going to seriously consider using the tram in the future.
Thank you,
Siobhan W
Problem History
- 1 Siobhan Wilkinson reported the issue on FixMyTransport. close 19:21 17 Jun 2012 #
-
2
Siobhan Wilkinson wrote to First Manchester
close
19:21 17 Jun 2012
#
Here is the letter that Siobhan Wilkinson wrote.
Diversion for parade in Prestwich
Today I was waiting at the bus stop outside the Urbis in Manchester city centre at approximately 13:15 to catch the 98 for what should have been a door to door, 40 minute journey on the 13:31 bus. After 14:00 a bus arrived but I'm not sure if this was the late 13:31 service or the 14:01 service. The bus driver was immediately antagonistic towards his customers, informing them in a rude tone, after several had already boarded and sat down, that after an hour wait it was likely that most of them would not get to where they wanted to go. When asked if he would be stopping at Radcliffe, Prestwich or Whitefield he didn't seem to know but continued to be rude as if asking the question was inappropriate. He finally decided he would be going as far as Whitefield but possibly not Radcliffe and would definitely bypass Prestwich Village. He was no more specific than this which was not useful to anyone. I asked what route he was taking to find out if he would be going to a road near my destination. He mentioned what I thought was Stowe Lane (it turned out to be Scholes Lane) and asked me in a rude, condescending tone if I knew where that was. I thought that was inappropriate and irrelevant but as he then mentioned Bury Old Road which was as close as an alternative would get me I boarded and we set off. Throughout the journey, as customers boarded he was rude to each one and very reluctant to give reasons for the diversion. At one point I heard him say, "It's not my fault people have decided to crash their cars." This seems an insensitive thing to say and, as the diversion was because of a parade, inaccurate. As we reached the diversion he pointed at the blocked off road and said, as if gloating, "There, for all of you who didn't believe me." I hadn't heard anyone express disbelief, just annoyance at the long wait (1hr+), his rudeness and the fact that he didn't know if he could get them to their destination.
Why did First buses seem unprepared for this parade which would surely have needed some kind of permit? Was there not enough notice for them to put up signage at bus stops warning of the diversion? Also if the diversion was due to the parade why did the bus driver not continue into Radcliffe once we were back on the usual route? I understand that there may be reasonable explanations but without them I am going to seriously consider using the tram in the future.
Thank you,
Siobhan W
-
Good morning,
I am writing following receipt of your recent comments.
This incident is currently under investigation and the details
of your complaint have been passed on to our Customer Service
Team.
We are looking into the matter and as soon as we have finished
the investigation a response will be sent within 10 working
days.
Thank you for your continued patience.
Kind Regards
First in Manchester
Website Team
Siobhan Wilkinson To [First Manchester problem reporting email]
<[explain why they were unprepared email]> cc
Subject Diversion for parade in
17/06/2012 19:25 Prestwich
Dear First Manchester,
Today I was waiting at the bus stop outside the Urbis in
Manchester
city centre at approximately 13:15 to catch the 98 for what
should
have been a door to door, 40 minute journey on the 13:31
bus. After
14:00 a bus arrived but I'm not sure if this was the late
13:31
service or the 14:01 service. The bus driver was immediately
antagonistic towards his customers, informing them in a rude
tone,
after several had already boarded and sat down, that after
an hour
wait it was likely that most of them would not get to where
they
wanted to go. When asked if he would be stopping at
Radcliffe,
Prestwich or Whitefield he didn't seem to know but continued
to be
rude as if asking the question was inappropriate. He finally
decided he would be going as far as Whitefield but possibly
not
Radcliffe and would definitely bypass Prestwich Village. He
was no
more specific than this which was not useful to anyone. I
asked
what route he was taking to find out if he would be going to
a road
near my destination. He mentioned what I thought was Stowe
Lane (it
turned out to be Scholes Lane) and asked me in a rude,
condescending tone if I knew where that was. I thought that
was
inappropriate and irrelevant but as he then mentioned Bury
Old Road
which was as close as an alternative would get me I boarded
and we
set off. Throughout the journey, as customers boarded he was
rude
to each one and very reluctant to give reasons for the
diversion.
At one point I heard him say, "It's not my fault people have
decided to crash their cars." This seems an insensitive
thing to
say and, as the diversion was because of a parade,
inaccurate. As
we reached the diversion he pointed at the blocked off road
and
said, as if gloating, "There, for all of you who didn't
believe
me." I hadn't heard anyone express disbelief, just annoyance
at the
long wait (1hr+), his rudeness and the fact that he didn't
know if
he could get them to their destination.
Why did First buses seem unprepared for this parade which
would
surely have needed some kind of permit? Was there not enough
notice
for them to put up signage at bus stops warning of the
diversion?
Also if the diversion was due to the parade why did the bus
driver
not continue into Radcliffe once we were back on the usual
route? I
understand that there may be reasonable explanations but
without
them I am going to seriously consider using the tram in the
future.
Thank you, Siobhan W
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