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We are all supposed to try and do our bit for the environment by switching from the car to the bus, but in some cases the bus service makes that choice seem pretty unappealing.
The worst bus service I have ever come across...
I’m referring mainly to the No. 181 bus service that operates between Downham and Lewisham in South London. This is quite easily the worst bus service I have ever come across. More often than not, there is a very large lynch mob at each bus stop waiting for the bus to arrive.
The drivers are notoriously horrible and inept. There is not a single driver on this route who actually cares about their passengers. They are just reckless, rude nasty horrible pond life. Here are some examples of how horrible they are.
The bus is hardly full, yet they don’t stop to pick up people. All they need to do is ask people to move back a bit. I have seen old ladies left waiting at the bus stop several times.
Once they close the doors, they never open. This is true even if there is a frail looking old lady desperately knocking at the door. They never open the doors when the bus is at the stop, but stuck behind traffic and it can't go anywhere anyway. Why do they do that? It’s not exactly going to hold the bus up is it?
Sometimes buses are late and that’s a fact of life. However, the 181 buses are nearly ALWAYS late and to me this is completely unacceptable. I have yet to actually see one of these buses arrive on time!
By: Yardoflager
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I recently had to get a 181 for work a couple of weeks ago on a Sunday morning.
Not bad, but it seeems a long journey from Lewisham Station to Grove Park.
I come from Dartford, had to get rail replacement from Dartford -Lewisham station then a 181 to the building site which was a school in a residential area.
Didn't have to wait too long considering that most people would say Sunday is a worse then usual service for most public transport.
Worse coming home though.
Got a 124 from near the site to Eltham, had to walk all the way back down Eltham High Street to McDonalds on the corner then down the hill to station.
As I got there a rail replacement for Dartford was leaving and I had to wait at least an hour or more in the wet windy and by then dark at the station.
This country's a joke with public transport at the weekends.
Do they think no one works or has to be anywhere at a set time?
26/09/13 ahforfoulkessake
Not bad, but it seeems a long journey from Lewisham Station to Grove Park.
I come from Dartford, had to get rail replacement from Dartford -Lewisham station then a 181 to the building site which was a school in a residential area.
Didn't have to wait too long considering that most people would say Sunday is a worse then usual service for most public transport.
Worse coming home though.
Got a 124 from near the site to Eltham, had to walk all the way back down Eltham High Street to McDonalds on the corner then down the hill to station.
As I got there a rail replacement for Dartford was leaving and I had to wait at least an hour or more in the wet windy and by then dark at the station.
This country's a joke with public transport at the weekends.
Do they think no one works or has to be anywhere at a set time?
-1
Hey, subtle must be your mdidle name. Great post!
04/01/12 Hey, subtle must be your mdidle name. Great post!
-14
I agree with those comments about bad driving. I have a bit of a gammy knee from being thrown down the stairs on a bus. I have also seen an elderly lady being thrown full length downstirs because
the driver hasn't a clue how to drive, let alone considerately . It's no longer safe to take the bus but some us have no choice! By the way the buses I mostly refer to are the 295, 28,319and C3 .
20/01/11 battersea ( or battered) passe
the driver hasn't a clue how to drive, let alone considerately . It's no longer safe to take the bus but some us have no choice! By the way the buses I mostly refer to are the 295, 28,319and C3 .
-13
It has close competition from the 123 route between Wood Green and Ilford. This is a route with few buses. long waiting gaps and old clapped out and shabby buses. Wait at Tottenham Hale Station at any time of day or night and you will see an average ratio of 4 or 5 buses on other routes to every 123. After 6 o clock thay virtually disappear. Its run like a loss leading sink service yet it spans a long route right across some of the most populous residential areas in London and is always crowded. This has been the case for years. What are they playing at?
19/07/10 Joe
-3
I take the 181 every week day to school and it is always on time with my, and just today when I go on the bus the bus driver said god mourning to me so some of them are nice. but there are alot of people at the bus stop thats just because the bus drives past 3 schools. and the bus even came when I snowed.:-)
06/01/10 181person:-)
-11
Most bus drivers got their driving licence from a xmas cracker and their ignorance also. If you think that your day time ride is bad, try the night buses.
09/11/09 i'd rather walk
-7
I had the same problem with a No. 15 at City Thameslink. I opening the door by pressing the button in the - then he threw everyone off the bus! Great!
02/10/09 Hl
-6
I agree...one time a bus driver left me out even if I was knocking at the bus door to come in...
21/08/09 cococu
-7
225 (Hither Green to Canada Water) is driven by ex dragster racers, as they seem to know only two speed: full acceleration and parachute out to stop. Drivers' friends travel free, never seen an inspector in 15 years. And now they have introduced the bus stop announcement system inside the vehicles that keep repeating the same stop over and over again. Highway Code does not seem to apply to them either, red lights, pavements and whenever possible they avoid the bus lanes specifically created for them. Passengers not a problem as too afraid for their lives to cause mayhem. Sometimes the driver has his/her radio on, louder than any kids' mobile phone. For extra excitement, try telling one of them to switch it off!!
28/08/08 stb
0
you should try the 167 (Debden to Ilford), it is nearly always overcrowded and full of chavs from the local estates who terrorise all the passengers, there is rubbish everywhere, the drivers are more like zombies. its no wonder everybody is driving in their cars everywhere these days
07/08/08 alex :)
-7
I have seen so many bus drivers speeding and driving badly. Some of them think they are in sports cars, its unbelievable.You see so many jumping red lights, why? if they get caught and they hardly do,the bus company won't pay their fine or employ them when they get disqualified!
They obviously do not care about the safety and comfort of the passengers.
Of course the bus drivers are just the same as many others in the general population, these days, rude and aggressive.
10/02/08 redstripe
They obviously do not care about the safety and comfort of the passengers.
Of course the bus drivers are just the same as many others in the general population, these days, rude and aggressive.
-4
Waiting is not the problem. It's not knowing how long you might have to wait. There is nothing you can do at a bus stop except wait for a bus. If you have your head in a newspaper the driver'll probably ignore you and drive on. If you knew how long you had you could go and do something more constructive instead. And don't pay attention to those live updates, they lie a lot too. Sometimes I think some of these bus numbers are just urban myths.
Yesterday I got on a bus 176 and found my oyster card was empty, I gave the driver 2 quid but she told me I can't buy a ticket on the bus, have to get it from the machine. I asked her if she could wait, I wouldn't be long and I'm in a hurry. She said yes, I got off the bus and she drove off. Not putting up with that, so I ran down the street towards the next bus stop, she had two sets of traffic lights so I was up for it, I knew I had a chance. She did too, she even beeped her horn when I was ahead, acknowledged the game was up and opened the doors to let me on. But I ran anyway, when I got on she didn't even acknowledge me. I would have chased that bus all the way home if I had to.
22/06/07 JimmyO
Yesterday I got on a bus 176 and found my oyster card was empty, I gave the driver 2 quid but she told me I can't buy a ticket on the bus, have to get it from the machine. I asked her if she could wait, I wouldn't be long and I'm in a hurry. She said yes, I got off the bus and she drove off. Not putting up with that, so I ran down the street towards the next bus stop, she had two sets of traffic lights so I was up for it, I knew I had a chance. She did too, she even beeped her horn when I was ahead, acknowledged the game was up and opened the doors to let me on. But I ran anyway, when I got on she didn't even acknowledge me. I would have chased that bus all the way home if I had to.
-18
Well! if you Kentish Men want your bus, pay for it. We Londoners ain't going to stump up the funds for this cinderella service.
In fact the money saved we'll spend it on the 181.
12/04/07 Give the 492 away
In fact the money saved we'll spend it on the 181.
7
well you obviously never had to take the 492 bus route then, its definatley the worst service in london....it only runs twice and hour and they quite often cut one out which menas if you just missed one its an hour wait..add to that that they are frequently late(up to half an hour) you could wait 90 minutes, and believe me when tis cold out you feel like you are going to die.....there are a few places on the 492 route that this is the ONLY bus you can catch, so no choice but to wait.......then the bus finally arrives and the driver is rude and doesnt give a crap that you are half frozen and in pain from a seized back waiting so long!!
12/04/07 kary
-4
I dislike the 182