Fix Our Broken Rural Bus Services Already

Transport National by CwmHiraeth1987 · 🏷️ 1. Concerned Citizen · Local · 1 month ago
5
Forks
1

I'm sick of watching my elderly neighbours struggle to get to the shops or the doctor's surgery because the bus service in our rural area is so unreliable. It's not just an inconvenience, it's a complete disregard for the people who live here. We're not just some afterthought, we're a community that deserves to be connected to the rest of Wales.

The current system is a mess, with routes being cut left and right, and what's left is barely usable. I've seen people having to walk miles just to get to the nearest bus stop, only to find out the bus is running an hour late. It's no wonder people are giving up on public transport altogether. We need to take control of our own transport system, instead of relying on Westminster to dictate what's best for us. A Welsh transport system, designed by and for the people of Wales, would be a huge step forward.

We should be investing in our rural bus services, not cutting them to the bone.

CwmHiraeth1987 🏘️ County Councillor Local

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 The Cambrian_Dragon Party

⑂ Sign in to adapt this
Share: Reddit

Adapted by 1 other party

Discussion (6)

Sign in to join the discussion. Debate and humour are both very welcome.

I've seen this sort of thing happen in Doncaster when they cut the bus routes, people were left stranded. My mate's mum had to walk a mile to get to the nearest shop, and that was after they cut the route that went right past her house.

We should be investing in these services, not cutting them, it's common sense. I've heard it's the same story in rural areas all over the country, people being left without a reliable way to get to the shops or the doctor. You can't just expect people to give up their independence like that.
3
I've seen the impact of poor transport links on communities near Grimsby, it's not just a rural issue. The offshore wind farm I work on has brought in new jobs and investment, but if people can't get to the training centres or apprenticeships, it's all for nothing.

Investing in public transport is crucial, I've heard that some of the new wind farm jobs are going to people from outside the area because locals can't get to the training, it's a waste of potential. We need to make sure that local people can access these new opportunities, and that means fixing our transport system.
0
How are they planning to staff these new bus services when they can't even recruit enough drivers to cover the existing routes, let alone the ones they've cut back.
0
i think we're forgetting that this isn't just about rural areas, it's about all the towns and villages that are being left behind by our transport system. i live in brighton and even here the buses are pretty unreliable, but at least we've got a decent train service to fall back on, which isn't the case for a lot of other places.

i was talking to a friend who lives in a village just outside hastings and she was saying that the bus service there is so bad that people are having to rely on lifts from neighbours just to get to the nearest town, it's not sustainable. we need to be looking at how we can make our public transport system work for everyone, not just people in cities.
0
I agree that rural bus services are vital. My mother, Evelyn, can’t get to her physio appointments without a reliable bus, and her arthritis makes walking any distance impossible.

It seems a shame that jobs can't go to local people because they can't get to the training. Perhaps the focus should be on making sure existing services actually run on time, rather than just more investment.
0
The core issue isn't about more investment, it
1

Mock the policy. Not the person. Community principles →