‘First Bus. Last Bus. No Bus’ – an open letter to the First bosses

DEAR First, I am almost 80 years old and find the reality of being stranded in a whole variety of ways more than distressing. The prevailing farce of how your company operates needs to be exposed for what it is.

For the record I don’t have a problem with one of your so-called services, I have problems with all of your services.

In the last week, my Saturday was ruined by First Bus, the Sunday bus was scrubbed, Monday evening made World War II look like a minor event, my Wednesday was wrecked – both morning and afternoon – and now, this evening, another unmitigated disaster.

I went to catch the 1713 as I had two events to go to this evening. My First Bus App showed it to be a few minutes away. I went to the bus stop... Five minutes away, then 4, then 3, then the bus totally disappeared from the app. I waited but nothing turned up.

Quite apart from this litany of disasters, my bus app stated that, in the immediate two-hour period, no fewer than six buses were cancelled.

Hence, the question became: “If I even manage to get to my destination, would I be able to get back?”.

On Monday, my 76 bus was cancelled, I walked a mile to get a No 2, then this was cancelled, then I got on a No 4. This went two stops, then the driver got out, as his shift had ended. We then all waited ten minutes for another driver to turn up. Then I had to swap to a No 2 bus at Clifton Down, to take the less long way home.

First Bus (in reality, No Bus) is an utter and total disaster, that has made a total disaster of what little is left of my life. How about £1,000 compensation for this gross negligence and outright abuse? I look forward to receiving a cheque in settlement.

All I want is a reliable and reasonable bus service. Does this compute?

My life is, at least in my own estimation, worth more than a thousand pounds. All I, and others want, is a properly run public transport service.

Chris Evans Bristol