Changing our bus route for students is so inconvenient

ON Wednesday, October 31, I caught the no. 4 bus that left the Quadrant at 9.50am.

As usual, “Singleton” was shown on the front. However, the bus did not turn right into the hospital but continued up the road and did a U-turn at the mini-roundabout.

It then drove back onto the main road and into Singleton Campus. When the bus failed to turn right as usual into the hospital, a number of passengers were alarmed and asked the driver what was happening. He made no reply.

When the bus eventually stopped inside Singleton Campus, passengers asked him again what had happened and he still refused to speak to anyone.

There was an old blind man who was a passenger on this bus and needed the hospital. He was confused when he alighted at the campus and had no idea how to get to the hospital, or where he was.

When he queried where he should catch the return bus, no passengers could advise him as we did not know ourselves.

I have since been informed by a resident that this change of route is to “assist students”.

The no. 4 bus is used by local residents (many needing walking aids) to visit the hospital and they simply cannot manage to walk there from campus.

The no. 8 service is widely used (almost exclusively) by students and is a frequent service.

There is absolutely no need for local residents to be inconvenienced in this way.

Students are merely temporary residents and are very well catered for by public transport.

A MARINA RESIDENT