Islanders urged to ‘get on a bus’
Tuesday 30th November 2010, 2:57PM GMT.
Mr Jackson arriving at the States this morning, having taken the bus in to town
ISLANDERS have been urged to give the bus a try as the States begin a major debate which could shape the future of transport in Jersey.
Before stepping aboard the bus to travel to the States Chamber this morning, Transport Minister Mike Jackson said that some of the 12,000 people who travel into town by car every morning should try the bus instead.
The Sustainable Transport Policy that the minister is taking to the States today sets a target of getting 1,800 commuters out of their cars and on to buses, their bikes or walking to work by 2015.
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I always used the bus when I went to college before I passed my test.
Its a very 50/50 arguement.
The bus service is fairly good and is a good price so would save alot of money! But… you loose all freedom that you have when you can roam around in a car.
I admit I use the car now to go to college, but I do pick up friends on the way – doing my part to keep congestion lower as it saves their parents dropping them off!… plus it’s along the route I take so no worries!
However if I am without a car then I am still happy to use the bus or even bike as a backup mode of transport …. It’s Jersey after all… you are never that far away from anything!
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And I thought I read last week that fares are going up I already pay £1.60 from St Aubins to Town this has to addressed before people give up the comfort of their cars to share other people’s winter colds and sweaty armpits on a crowded. Number 15
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Yawn. Haven’t we down this (bus) route quite a few times before? Nothing happened before, and I doubt anything has changed since the last time . . .
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Tell you what, meet me half way, have the bus stop within a mile of my home, within an hour of the time I need to get to work, any provide a service beyond 6pm if I’m working late.
Thought so – car it is.
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I may buy Mike Jackson a dvd for Christmas – Field of Dreams…. (build it and they will come).
If you put the service there then people will use it. The buses need to run at the times people need them even if it means the drivers having to get up earlier or work after dark. Customer service should be driving the business not the staff.
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How many times is this dreary and tired old invocation going to be trotted out…..another display of futility….most people where possible go by Cars…get it…? we like our Cars ..as they are the most convenient and cost effective method of transport…got it yet?…we like our cars…
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Er, how about no? I could take the bus and sit next to stupid people, or people who smell, or who listen to music really loud. I could wait for the bus in the rain, or the freezing cold worrying that the bus might not even come if a few snowflakes fall (As they did this past Saturday).
Or I could go in my car, save time and go when I WANT to go. Besides, why would I listen to someone that lowers speed limits without putting it to a public vote?
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Not when the fair to go 3 miles is going to be put up to £1.70!!!
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Dear Mr Jackson. Why not try removing the dead hand of the civil service from the operation of buses and parking?!
They have failed once, so why more of the same?
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Dear Mr Jackson. The real test will come when you continue to use the bus week in and week out, only then can you hope to understand the real problem.
Lead by example, or step down.
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Aha! This old chestnut. YAWN! YAWN! Enough said….lets move on (down the bus)
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The bus is relatively expensive compared to car if more than one or two of you (eg combined school and work run); The bus is extremely uncomfortable, I am just under six foot and have no legroom (when i can get a seat and not have to stand!!); The heaters are on all the time so its very uncomfortably hot in summer; most of time have to stand (health and safety??).
Why the constant effort to get cars off the road, this is the modern age, cars are the most convenient form of transport, are becoming less polluting, and the only ones inconvenienced by the traffic are the car users so if we are happy to put up with the odd traffic jam SO WHAT!!”!! LEAVE US ALONE
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I use the bus a couple of times a week at least when the missus is out of town. Its not that nice an experience. Bearing in mind that I am only average height( 5’10”) I find the journey a knee rubbing uncomfortable journey on seats designed by dwarfs as pay back for the big people.
Add to that the facts that the bus is either boiling hot or freezing cold, full of chav children, noisy, packed, smelly and full of litter. Oh and Mike, while you’re at it, can I please have a bus service which stops within 1 mile of my house with drivers who converse greater than in grunts and lets me work past 7pm without having to get a taxi home.
Until then, I choose my car thanks !
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The bus I get is over crowded & at limited times! What happens if I want to go home later than 6pm? It’s just not convenient
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When the politicians give up their cars and free parking to stand in the wind and rain next to an unsheltered bus stop getting splashed by cars as they pass, *then* they have a leg to stand on with this argument (and of course the regular ridiculous hikes in parking fees to ‘discourage’ us from using our cars).
The bus service is terrible, and expensive. The bus stops are not policed. Case in point, 2 yobs pushed in front of a friend and two ladies in the bus queue at St. Aubins. When confronted, the yobs became very threatening, looking to start a fight. The bus arrived and they got on, taking the last two seats, and giving everyone the v-signs as they left. The honorary police (stood opposite the entire time) when confronted, said they normally let the queue ‘sort itself out’. There was one bus left that day, an hour later, with no guarantee that there would be space one it. Sod that.
Perhaps a ‘park and ride’ system could work, but the bottom line is, the public transport system is spread too thin, with irregular services for it to be a realistic alternative to the practicality and comfort of a car.
I offer lifts to people stuck on a bus stop when the weather is poor. We’re all heading the same way in the morning & evening. If everyone did this, there’d be no need for buses anyway…
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Seeing as last year it only took a millimetre of snow for Connex to cancel the service, no thanks.
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iv lived in jersey 21 years im been on the bus maybe 5 times i dont like the drivers there rude dont give you any chance to sit down iv even seen them driving with earphones on and i think thats against the law
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Trim the cost of the fares,annual/monthly passes,
Extended the time table,
Stretch the routes,
Talk to the public and find out what we want.
Yawn…..another repeat discussion
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SHJ, please bear in mind. The driver of a bus is stuck in it all day. Complete with Chav kids the smelly food and often the ‘missing link’. At least , well I’ve never seen in Jersey, a pair that the rest of the passengers were pleading with me NOT to let on the bus, because of their smell.
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Does this mean States Members no longer need their private car park spaces?
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Obviously a different Tony B @ #16!
No doubt the usual one will show up soon, or perhaps we’ll get three all at once!
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Tempting fate by travelling on a bus Mr Jackson…Look what happened to the last bloke who was Transport Minister! And he always caught the bus come rain or shine.
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The man’s a dreamer.
If you want people to get buses – ask them why they’re not already and address the issues.
How hard can it be!?
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‘No doubt the usual one will show up soon…’
There you are. He showed up and pulled away before I managed to get on board!
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Karen Trinity (20) Does this mean States Members no longer need their private car park spaces?
Karen, the day States Members lead by example you know they are serious and then we will all follow!
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I thought they were just about to put up the prices?
Anyway I did try the bus. On it there was a ‘gang’ of teenagers causing bother and who the bus driver either didn’t want to, or was too scared to, kick off. No-one should have to endure a bus journey with some spoilt brats shouting, swearing and bullying other young people.
On top of that the bus driver seemed completely oblivious to the fact that there were other vehicles on the road, although I’m unsure how he could miss them.
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instead of looking to get commuters on the bus when they go to work day in day out all year why not get SCHOOL CHILDREN to use buses instead of getting Mummy to take thier little darlings to school.
Jackson wants to get the level of traffic down to school holidays standards, so is he not hitting the wrong group of people.
wake up and stop hitting the people that keep Jersey afloat and get these kids on Bikes, buses and walking…we used to when we were kids and in 10 years of getting myself to school I am still alive to tell the tale……….get off my back Jackson and make more buses for the schools at the right time…..it would be easier to cover the start and finish times of school rather than the start and finishings times of local workers
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non starter for me, poor service along my route.
and need to cart tools and ladders, so car it is.
i am lead to belive that the bus service is propped up by the taxpayer for a fine sum of money.
fares must drop to get people on seats.
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At no 27; yes Mummy will put her son on a bus, when
they are fitted with seatbelts. It never fails to amaze me
that we are frowned upon for not wanting to put our
Children on a vehicle which travels quite frequently
At speed with 30 or 40 other kids and no seat belts
One crash on a school bus is all it will take.
Want it to be your child or grandchild ?
Didn’t think so ………
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#26
‘…the bus driver seemed completely oblivious to the fact that there were other vehicles on the road, although I’m unsure how he could miss them.’
Sheer skill, and knowing the bus’s dimensions. What else?
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We live in a democracy and it is our choice in the way that we travel. The mode of transport is relevant to people’s life style and car usage is not as high as TTS would have us believe. So please… STOP trying to dictate to us in the way that we wish to travel.
The car for many people is a cost effective practical solution to travelling. It is not practical to expect someone to walk to a bus stop in the freezing cold, wind & rain & then walk to your work place because the bus won’t drop you off close enough and then look like a drowned rat to attend your next business meeting. The high worth clients that Jersey is trying to entice will not use the buses!
It’s simply not practical.
This is clearly an indication of the busy and personal lives that people lead and is totally impractical to expect people to use the bus service when it does not offer the convenience of car usage. In most cases it would take to long to get to work. Car usage is an integral part of people’s lives TTS should now concentrate on providing the infrastructure for that use. And start to build car parks for people to park in.
Mike Jackson should stop trying to force us on to the over subsidised buses that we don’t want to use. It is quite plain to me that this push to “get us on the buses” is an attempt by TTS to justify the gross mismanagement of public funds in financing public transport. And then tax us more to pay for it. I also feel that indirectly the private car park owners will benefit from the reduction in car parking spaces… TTS have not put a sound alternative to the relocation of the 5-600 car parking spaces at Gas Place.
Revenue from taxation should be ring fenced for our roads and its infrastructure, and NOT given to Connex in increased subsidies. People have now made it perfectly clear to TTS that they will not use the buses anymore now than they did before. So who is Constable Jackson expecting to give up the use of their car first? All States Members get FREE parking so do not have to worry about the stress of commuting and parking in town. Will they be setting an example for everyone else to follow? Giving up their parking spaces and getting the bus to town? I doubt it.
As Constable Jackson is putting forward these proposals will he be announcing that he will be the first States Member to give up the use of his car and commute to work everyday by using the bus? A PR stunt in the JEP tonight does nit make a change in lifestyle for him… its simply PR.
I would certainly like to see some of our States Members waiting in the freezing cold on the bus stops on my way to work. The weather at the time of writing this (Nov 30th 2010) is -2 degrees outside.
The problem is not with commuter traffic it is with school traffic. When the schools are out there are no problems getting to work simply because the schools have been closed. TTS have stated themselves that the schools are the problem and we get a 15% reduction in car usage when they are closed.
My advice….sort out the school bus service first…build some more car parks for commuter traffic and reduce public expenditure.
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So 1800 commuters is the target? So that would be 45 extra buses at peak time based on 40 people per bus.
So that would be an investment of C£300,000 per bus assuming CONNEX or any new operator (it is out to tender) only need an extra 30 buses that is £9 million They also need extra drivers who are unlikely tp be part time positions so salaries would go through the roof.
Also, by removing parking in Gas Place 3 weeks before Xmas is priceless. A complete disservice to the town traders and workers with no alternative parking offered. Maybe Mike is just trying to manipulate supply and demand of parking and bus use in one foul swoop !!
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As long as we don’t start our bus using campaign today or Thursday – highly unlikely they will be running!
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I use the no 15 every day to go home the drivers
with a few exceptions are always miserable and have a job to smile , They do not give you time to sit down or at least grab a rail before driving off . I have heard one driver swearing at a passenger in a foreign language !!
I work on the outskirts of town so have a 20 minute walk to get to bus station it would be nice if they had a service were you could hop on a bus and just get to station if you had shopping or needed a walking aid or if you had children with you
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I pay £4.00 to travel 6 miles here in the UK, your bus fares are ridiculously cheap !!
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#30 by ‘miss’ I didn’t mean ‘fail to hit them’ I meant ‘fail to see them’. He clearly couldn’t see them since brakes were being slammed on at the last possible minute (every time) and corners were precarious as he took them so fast that it became an issue if a car suddenly appeared trying to get out of the junction we were turning into. My foot went for the imaginary brake more times than I care to remember.
ldj (#34) is right too, forgot about the driving off while you’re still getting to your seat! This was particularly fun while on the airport bus and trying to get my luggage into the luggage hold. I can’t imagine this is an unusual concept on the airport bus?
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29
So you never caught a bus to school? I used to have a 7 mile journey to school on the bus come rain or shine, no seatbelts, usually some misbehaviour of one sort or another. No child ever died, a couple fell over every now and again but they picked themselves back up and never suffered more than a bruised ego. In fact, the bus journey was often my favourite bit of the day, talking to friends and enjoying it. Or, as was often the case, doing some last minute homework on the way in!
Hardly the death traps you seem to imagine they are.
In fact, I would hazard a guess that the roads around the schools are probably far more dangerous in comparison due to all the parents trying to drop off their kids at the same time rather than a single bus offloading 40 odd school kids at once.
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To be honest, the Jersey bus service is fairly good and anyone moaning it is expensive clearly hasn’t been on the bus in many other places!
£1.70 to go three miles someone said above, that really isn’t that expensive. I’m doing teacher training in Exeter currently and here it is £2.20 to go the two miles from my house to the high street, and that’s just one way. Now, I get round this by getting a weekly pass which is £12. That still works out at £2.40 a day (Assuming I only get the bus Mon – Friday). I’m sure you can get weekly passes in Jersey as well, so may be all the Moaning Michaels should look into that!
Ok, the buses her are more regular, but they are not as comfortable as the buses in Jersey, so swings and roundabouts really.
So my suggestion is stop complaining. Jersey bus service isn’t perfect, but it’s not like the service everywhere else in the world is!
Rev
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I bet he caught a taxi home!
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I,d love to get on a bus,if only there was one.
Just walked up to fort regent this morning,as there are no buses going there.
walked back an hour and a half later,only to be caught in the snow did the shopping,walked back home as there are no busses back either.
Why don’t they bring back the hoppa bus for town folk as soon as possible?
I don’t mind walking,am used to it,but when the weather is bad and rain and snow is dripping off your hair and face and the shopping is soaked through and through,is another kettle of fish,so it is.
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C Le verdic. Not at the moment Mon V! Foot of snow around London and more expected Wednesday night. As for cost of fares. London area (TfL) run a fixed price system. For the electronic Oyster Card Pay as you go £1:20 for any journey or part of the journey. Cash fare £2:00 for any journey or part of the journey. A PAYG Oyster never takes more than the cost of a one day travel card, currently about £7:20 per 24 hours.
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no protest from the gas place parkers?
will the users , have a park in?
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No comments from anyone on the #1 route then? Regular buses until pub closing, a pleasant view and even when its busy into town on a Friday evening a great atmosphere….
As for those who claim to be a mile from a bus stop – if you’re that far away do you realistically think the island could support buses past your houses? Buses can only support a proportion of the population – we have 600 miles of roads in Jersey!!
Good for you Mr Jackson, prepared to get a bus. You’ve got my vote.
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I have started using the bus and yes it is cheaper but and it’s a big but – they are really overcrowded, seating is limited to someone under 5 ft 6″ and of course there is the snow. one millimetre and the majority grind to a halt. I waited for over an hour today only to learn from another passenger that the route (amongst many) had been cancelled. No warning, no member of staff walking up and down informing people. When I asked on the enquiries desk why they did not update the screen at the designated bus routes I was told ” oh that is done my the mainland” WHAT!!! The roads were not bad enough to stop the buses – ridiculous way to run a company who has such a responsibility to so many people. Mr Jackson get your act together then maybe people will use your buses.
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I don’t think the bus fares are that cheap.
Regardles of whether they are or aren’t. Connex still get 4 million from the tax payers every year. That works out at about 80 quid a head for every tax payer. I don’t think I’m getting my monies worth. I don’t think anyone is. It’s a total farce.
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They are overpriced and don’t travel at night. I have never used one and don’t intend to.
Also they don’t have an island wide coverage. They are fine if you live on the Airport run and maybe on the way to Gorey but try outlying areas and it is a different matter.
Bring back the JMT as they cost the tax payer less.
If they are really interested in getting more bums on seats then make it free or say 50p a trip. People aren’t going to bother if they can get in with more convenience and possibly save money by using their cars.
As per saving on parking just use a seaside car park, near to town, to park, and walk or cycle in from there. This saves even more money and helps keep you fit.
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Although this weeks weather is rather bizarre for Jersey, it highlights the lack of bus shelters along routes… does the “minister” really expect people to wait in the rain/wind/dark/snow/hail etc for a bus when they can drive in the comfort of their own car? i think not.
Towns & cities in England have Park & Ride systems in place – whereas you park your car away from the main town for free & you pay a reduced fayre for this system – thus taking away more needless queing… maybe areas such as St Aubin, Beaumont Hill,Queens Road & St Clement (which are the main bottlenecks) would be applicable areas to reduce the overcrowing of traffic & have designated car parks for this?
The buses are cramped & overcrowded on certain routes – what happened to the hilarious “test” of double-deckers? surely that was a no-brainer to use them in the first place, especially on routes 1 & 15 which seem to be the most used.
Lastly & certainly not least – if the states are going to be seen to achieve this, then surely each & every states employee (yes that include the muppets in “government”) to relinquish their free parking & use public transport as well…..
“gentlemen & ladies” we unfortuneatly voted in, it is time you realise you cannot tell the public of jersey to do anything if you are not prepared to do it yourselves….. so get on yer bike (or bus!!)
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29 Just me
very fair comment to make……………
so if Buses had seat belts you are happy to put your child on………problem solved..I am surprised that HnS and the DVS have not demanded them as a standard requirement
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Jackson urged “on yer bike”
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I have used the bus for 12 years now but admit to living on the No 1 route. The bus saves me a fortune compared to driving. The bus is very popular to the extent that some have to stand for a few minutes whilst those who live closer into town get off. Connex put on extra buses at peak times to cater for the numbers. We need even more.
I do however feel sorry for those who live ‘in the sticks’ and i totally understand why they drive. Maybe Connex could use the samller buses similar to those they use for the school bus service to cater for the less popular routes?
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#44 So true. Today summed it up. What do you do if the buses are running so you can get to work but then stop running and you can’t get home again? Why should a taxi get an extortionate fare when I could just have driven in the first place?
#38 Guess it depends if it works out cheaper than your petrol would. Prices may be comparable to some parts of the mainland but I’ve only used a bus on the mainland when there was a benefit to doing so. Jersey traffic is negligible so it wouldn’t put me off driving, and using the car probably still works out cheaper.
There has to be some positive aspect to using the bus otherwise people just won’t use it.
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Urged to get on a bus?? All good & proper coming up with that idea, but most of the times the buses are full. I have seen countless amounts of buses that drive straight past bus stops because they are full to the brim.
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… and what about those of us who are not strong enough, for reasons of health, to catch buses and try to carry shopping home the same way?
There are plenty of people who just cannot catch buses or ride a bike or walk.
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BUS !
You don’t know how lucky you are !
“In my day, we made do with cardboard box in middle of road”!
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53Sue B ..Spot on the poor or frail or anyone not mainstream healthy and active are getting abandoned by this outrageous transport policy…we never had as taxpayers to fork out such vast amounts to subsidise the J.M.T and it was a sorry day indeed that it was finished..another brilliant piece of Govt policy, we used also to have other private buses..Joe’s bus service was one I remember..why not encourage the cab companies to expand their minibus services…if you live in darkest St.John or St. lawrence outside the ringroad basically you may not go to the cinema and return by bus for there is no service for you ..you are being urged to use something that does not exist,,,because they are embarrased by the subsidies they are giving away..your tax quids
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#7: Totaly agree. BUT…
Anybody opting to keep using your cars…
1 person = 1 car. How often it happens? Is it a cause for a heavy traffic in the morning? You know the answer.
OK. Bus service in Jersey is not the best one… overcrowded, early finish on most of routes, expensive, etc. Maybe it’s time to bring a competition? Maybe Connex must feel somebody’s breath on their backs to rethink fares, timetable, puctuality, size of the busses?
Cars are not a cure. Both sides should take a step back and look into that problem from distance a bit.
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JEP hard copy tells us that Mike Jackson and department have carried out consultation process and are doing what people want by getting us out of our cars.
If the JEP has quoted correctly, then Minister Jackson should be given three options.
1) Learn to read comments and listen to, ordinary people, and not just those of your departmental officers.
2) Ask his department who were party to the consultation, which country this had consultation had actually taken place in, and see the written proof ?
3) Apologies for reading the wrong document about the wrong place, because people from all walks of life write on blogs.The great majority over several different articles on the same subject, are voicing the opposite view, of the Minister Mike Jackson, by telling him straight that he and his advisors are just plain and simply wrong. Some views read that I agree with below.
The bus service is expensive and is not convenient for the majority who may need to visit more than one destination.
Car parking charge increases, are just a stealth tax
Closing the gas place car park without providing alternative car parking will result in more parking fines for innocent people lacking a slot to park their car on returning from work.
The arrogance shown, in closing this important car park, is breathtaking and shows a desperately poor lack of understanding of peoples needs in Jersey today.
Private parking place costs will increase, town business will be left high and dry, as customers cannot park in St. Helier. A policy, brought in by a handful of States members and officers, which strangles not only commerce but quality of life for town residents.
Davey West
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Jackson doesn’t half look pleased with himself. That look worries me, to be quite honest.
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I refuse to use Connex until they install seatbelts on their buses..
Shoddy service too and over priced.
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My situation…. bus from St Clement to bus depot 15mins, wait 15mins then another bus from depot to Chestnut Lea 15mins = 45mins. But wait if i catch the first bus at 07:00 i’ll be 45mins late for work! Drive in 15mins. No contest!
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Bet he didn’t take this bus this morning!
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#53 As long as they don’t physically have to see us they can pretend we don’t exist!
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This is just a whole raft of new stealth taxes that will hit everyone in the pocket very hard indeed.
It will destroy whatever business is left in town and is being targeted at totally the wrong people. TTS have stated that the school traffic is the problem….. so why are the cummuters being hit the hardest? Because they are an easy target. Sort the schools out and you sort the problem out.
As we have just seen with the closing of schools in the snow the traffic was deadlock… not commuters…schools.
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#63 Maybe we should have an island-wide protest to get a decent school bus service and have it be used by the vast majority?
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well, use the bus eh, where i live our bus service is terrible, we have a choice of the 1b or the 2c…the 1b finishes at 4pm???? and our last bus for the 2c is 6pm???? obviously we dont want to catch the bus any later do we!!…our first bus in the morning is the 2c, this should arrive at 7.50am but the drivers are never on time so what should be a say 30 min journey into town turns into a nightmare of sitting on the bus sometimes for nearly 45mins,you should try this Mr Jackson, its so much fun….i start work at 8am as do alot of people up at grouville/st clements way so why dont we have an earlier bus?…also, why dont we have any buses on a sunday, do we not want to go to town then either?, ive lived up here for 11 years and the bus service hasnt got any better really, it costs too much and the times are not what i would say very helpful…what i dont understand is that also when i get the 4.50, the 2c bus home, why is there 3 number 1 buses before that, puzzles me really as we have limited bus use out our way but the coast road has plenty?…well ive had my say, not sure it will do any good but its always good to have a rant and rave about stuff that goes on in this island but come lets face facts, you can rant and rave all you like but nothing will ever get done…..bye…
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As many people have commented the distance between the seats is too narrow. On the rare occasions that I have taken a bus the journey has been excrutiating. I am 6ft 1 – so not particularly tall these days. As a sixth former I often took a bus – I was the same height then and don’t remember sitting on the bus being an issue then.
It is not that I don’t want to take the bus – I physically can’t.
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God’s Mentor wrote:
‘As many people have commented the distance between the seats is too narrow.’
Time to introduce Business Class? This could effectively subsidise Tourist/Economy.
I’m surprised that this idea hasn’t been thought up for other forms of travel!
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Public transport is for use by the general public. The general public includes chavs, bad-mannered children, rude adults, noisy drunks and individuals who think that a “shower” is a celestial event in which meteors can be seen in the night sky (and has nothing to do with personal hygiene…hence the smelly armpits). So, grunts from bus drivers, although wrong are understandable.
However, these are not the reasons why the car addicts of Jersey have no desire to use the bus service. The real reason is, they simply don’t like the idea of shared transportation and the loss of freedom it entails.
So no matter how far the network sprawls (in an effort to embrace low-demand destinations) and no matter how many buses are provided, public transport will never be a private-door-to-door service. Therefore, it will always be boycotted by the “public-transport snobs”, many of whom have never set foot on a bus in Jersey, yet whinge about the “scum” who travel by public transport.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for “public transport snobbery”…the fact that in most cases it is more practical and greener to travel on buses simply doesn’t count.
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Needs to be cheaper and more buses running to more parts of the island (St Marys and St John). Does the bus service honestly think that no one in Jersey works past 6pm from October to May? What happens if you need to work later than 6/ go shopping/ go to the gym or have a drink after work? There should be a late service that people can use, even if only one bus between 8-10pm during winter months that people can use to get home. Jersey needs to get with the times….
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#69 Do you really think it’s wrong that people should avoid travelling with rude and/or noisy people (whether drunk or not)? These people shouldn’t be allowed on the bus in the first place!
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I have been using the bus service and station for 3 months now and will continue to do so until my connection arrives…………. lol
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Come on now Constable Jackson..show your hand ,is it to be launch more Taxis on the road as urged…or get people out of cars and on the naff bus service which is it to be can’t have it both ways….?
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Leah Holmes 70.
As I said, public transport is for use by the general public. Furthermore, bus drivers must follow strict guidelines. Unfortunately, their hands are tied when it comes to “just how far they can go” when dealing with unruly people.
But, let’s face it, the presence of a noisy drunk or any other kind of incredibly disgusting individual on a peak-period bus is more unique than rare…but you wouldn’t know that, would you?
Maybe you don’t use public transport simply because the bus timetable is not designed with “you” in mind. Or, maybe you find it too unreliable to use on a regular basis. If the latter is the case, you might ask yourself why buses arrive late.
Do you think it is because bus drivers stop for a coffee or snooze?
Or, could it be that the buses (like all the other vehicles) are stuck in the heavy traffic, caused by all those drivers who unthinkingly use their cars during peak periods (and I’m not talking about people who struggle with disabilities or live out in the wilds, etc.)?
You must admit, public transport is better for the environment, can work out cheaper and doesn’t involve the hassle of finding a parking space. Therefore, the only real reason why so many people shun the bus service is that they enjoy driving.
Having to sit near coarse or boisterous people is a weak excuse, as is having to accomodate “Extra-long legs” on a 30 minute journey (let’s be honest, a bus journey isn’t exactly a long-haul flight in an economy seat).
However, I agree that the bus service needs to improve from “awful to adequate” but, I also believe that it cannot happen until “Jersey’s car addicts” realize that they are their own worst enemies.
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Dear Mr Jackson
It is not as simple as walking to the bus stop and jumping on the next bus over here as sometimes the next bus is the next day.
The bus is just not convenient. I would need to be at the bustop at 8:02am if i miss that I am stuck. To come home I would need to either leave work bang on the dot and run to the station (leaving on time is very rare) or wait approx 14 hours for the next bus. Also even if i wanted to use the bus on a weekend the service is so spaced out nothing would be done at lesuire and sunday there is no service. Oh and also there is not bus shelter so the chances of me standing in the pooring rain waiting for a bus when I have a nice car, heating and a cd player are slim to none.
So i’ll stick with my car thank you Mr Jackson as last time I used a bus I did not look as happy or as smug as you but I was very happy in my car this morning with the radio on, with the heating on and plenty of leg room and a nice comfy seat.
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#73 I don’t use it (save for rare occasions) because I have mobility problems, I need to be able to get to the bus in the first place if I want to use it. Still, I’ve used it 3 times now and each time has been dreadful. Also, each time has had some really nasty teenagers causing a disruption, being loud and aggressive. That’s 3 out of 3, doesn’t sound that rare to me.
Nor do I think avoiding such people is a pathetic excuse. People have a hard day’s work ahead of them, they have the right to start it without being put in a bad mood from the offset!
Better for the environment? Only to a point, a better way to help the environment would be to lower the population!
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I’d love to know how they think more cyclists will help traffic congestion. As it is, all it takes is a couple of cyclists to create a traffic jam all along St Peter’s Valley (just to use one example – there must be dozens of similar busy roads where cyclists delay traffic during rush hour).
Don’t get me wrong – I’m not blaming the cyclists (I appreciate their right to use the roads as much as anybody else) but there should be proper cycle lanes so cyclists are safe from lunatic drivers trying to overtake on blind bends and so that decent drivers can travel to work/school at a reasonable speed without being delayed.
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Perhaps there should be a compromise for the States members on their perks – they could have their car parking revoked and replaced with a free annual bus pass. This has a number of benefits and reinforces the behaviours they want Islanders to adopt.
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Leah Holmes
Re: “…a better way to help the environment would be to lower the population!”
What are you planning on Leah…culling a few chavs?
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#78 After tonight’s youth incidents that actually sounds like a good idea
There are at least 7 kids out there whose parents must wish they’d never gone through with the pregnancy. St Helier residents certainly wish they’d thought twice about it.
But seriously Born Warrior, the States claim it’s about the environment but openly support (and encourage) population growth. You can see the issue I take it?
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Leah Holmes
I see the issue and, although I believe that the influx of immigrants to Jersey must be curtailed in some “acceptable” way, I also believe that immigration control would only have a marginal effect on future traffic-problems.
Obviously, there is no doubt that less people means less cars, however, less cars in the future is certainly no cure for Jersey’s current car-dependent population.
We should also remember that individual support for environmental protection and energy efficiency is extremely low in Jersey. I mean, take a look at the high number of large passenger-free vehicles that drive in and out of town during peak periods…has no-one heard of environment-friendly city cars or even carpooling?
Unfortunately, Jersey’s population is addicted to “selfish” car travel. Therefore, before embarking on pioneering transport initiatives, the States must first discourage people from driving their cars at peak times. This can be done by means of road congestion charges, a town-entrance fee, higher parking fees, etc. Such policies would certainly be met with public outrage, but they would result in rewarding consequences for all.
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