Buses in Scotland

[c00ky83]

What's the deal here?  I went to Edinburgh today and got ripped off with your bus system.  Exact money in the box?  What, can't your drivers add up?  My return was worse as I only had a �2 coin for the 80p fare.  Is this common elsewhere?  At least the drivers will get a pint at Christmas...

[Buenchico]

Those who've read my posts in 'Motoring' will know that I used to deliver cars for a living. Once I'd delivered them, however, I had to use public transport to get to my next job, so I've probably used buses in almost every area of the UK.

Based upon my experience, I would estimate that 'exact fare only' applies to well over 50% of all bus routes in the UK. (Knowing this, I always carried plenty of change!).

In some areas, e.g. Ipswich, you can get 'change' in the form of a 'credit ticket' which can either be converted to cash at the bus station or, more usually, used as payment towards your next ticket.

Anyway, if your fare was only 80p, you were lucky. In many parts of the UK the minimum fare (just for one stop) is well above �1. (Hampshire always seemed to have the highest prices to me). If you happen to be travelling near to a main airport, and make the mistake of getting on a bus which serves the airport, you'll probably pay much more. (Hop on the X22 in Essex and you can find yourself paying �5 just to go a couple of miles down the road - It's just because the bus serves Stansted so they charge 'airport prices'!).

Chris

[VINNY100_2]

I was in london a couple of weeks ago and you have to pay a standard fare of �1.20 which you have to put in a machine to get your ticket...before you get on the bus.and you have to use the ticket in about an hour of buying it.or you can buy an all day ticket for �3.50.And some kind folk when they have finished with it, leave it hanging out of the ticket machine by the bus stop.(:)

[Jay70]

And the Government wonder why no one wants to use public transport instead of a car - nuff said.

[don1]

This country's voting dimwits didn't really expect fares to go down after privatisation did they? A route I used to travel when I went out into the country to go hiking used to cost 30 pence it is now �4.80

[c00ky83]

Good knowledge Chris - where I live the buses may be crap, but at least the drivers give us change!  Next time I'll take a bag of 5p coins, give 'em something to count at the end of their shift.

[THECORBYLOON]

Did you not think to ask one of the passengers to change yir �2 coin?

[stevie21]

The service is advertised as "exact fare only" so to use it and then complain afterwards seems odd to me. Didn't you have the option of getting change anywhere or asking someone at the bus stop for two �1 coins (or notes).

Your logic seems to be that it's the driver's fault that you didn't have change for the fare...

[sddsddean]

I was in Vancouver this summer where they also have exact fare buses. At a touristy place we were about to get on the bus (having made sure we had the fare) and a young lady(also a tourist) who was getting on with us said to the driver "I've only got a $5 bill". " Thats OK", he said "you will spend the fare somewhere else in the City" and let her on. What a great atitude. Just can't see that working in Ken's London!!

[c00ky83]

stevie21 - I'd just got some sweets to break into a tenner, thinking that would suffice.  I saw the sign, but still waited for the machine to spit my change out!  Not having a go at the drivers, I was just surprised.

[stevie21]

You're right either way... buses are rubbish!

[Gef]

Buses in Edinburgh are excellent - you can go almost anywhere for �1. Exact fare means that they are also quicker - you don't have to wait ages for people fumbling around for money and waiting to get change.

[ianess]

On "exact fare only" buses drivers have no access to, or responsibility for, the cash collected.  To imply that they somehow manage to spend any "overs" in the pub only slanders a large proportion of hard working,honest men and women who only want to earn a decent wage and feed their families. Same applies where change is given.
In any situation opportunities arise to obtain something dishonestly.  What employee hasn't nicked a pen or a paper clip?
How would you feel being classed as an uncaught thief?
Guilty until proven innocent?