Taxi Driver Online

London's 'rude' bus drivers - report
By Martina Smit

Complaints by London bus passengers have almost quadrupled in the last four years, a special inquiry report shows.

About 80% of the more than 43,000 complaints made in the last year were about "rude" and "reckless" drivers.

These include drivers who trap passengers in the doors, stop too far from the curb and pull away too fast.

A London Assembly transport committee report says the number of cases per passenger kilometre has nearly trebled since 2001. There were 6.3 complaints for every million kilometres London buses drove in the past year.

Age Concern told the committee of cases where passengers have become stuck in the doors as the driver closed them too soon.

Transport for All said such driving "diminishes the confidence of older and disabled people when using buses."

Yet London Buses (LB) said "for every complaint received during the course of the year, there were around 40,000 journeys made about which no complaints were received."

Yesterday Stagecoach managing director Barry Arnold told the committee new design requirements of double doors, wheelchair space and straight stairs on double-deckers limited the number of seats. Although standing passengers could fall easier, there were more bars to hold onto, he said.

LB performance manager Andrew Thompson added that the rise in complaints was largely due to an easier complaints procedure. Since 2002 passengers can phone a single 0845 local rate phone number to complain.

To solve the problem, Transport for London (TfL) said it increased driver wages, shortened their work week, and improved security with CCTV.

LB said the amount of services that were disrupted due to staff reasons was at an all time low of 0.17%.

But the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) pointed out that up to 70 bus crews were assaulted each week in London. In the last six months, drivers of one company suffered 253 assaults, of which only three were prosecuted.

The union also claimed that "scores of toilets have been closed" recently at the route ends, causing problems for the 7% female drivers in particular.

TGWU regional secretary Eddie McDermott blamed local councils that were "very resistant" to grant planning permission for new toilets.

1:49pm today




And thats just the ones that could be bothered putting pen to paper, or finger to keyboard.

Are they the buses that can only pick up in the suburbs?

That aside, not a fan of bus drivers myself.

_________________
IDFIMH

I can't believe I gave you a post that mentioned TGWU several times, and you did'nt pick out anything? You must be mellowing as time goes on.

Oh, and whilst I remember, no washing your car with a hose.

All the time they are bunnying on about buses I couldn't give a monkeys. It's when they try and talk about the taxi/PH trade my old ears [edited by admin] up.

_________________
IDFIMH