Thought i'd create a little thread just explaining a bit about me and why i'm on this forum.
I've now been on this forum for 2 years today and this is my 1000th post. Thought it was something special, so would post a message.
I mostly follow First bus and a couple of local small operators. I'm not really a typical enthusiast and I have no idea where I got an interest in buses from. The closest person in my family that I can think of that was interested in transport was my greatgrandfather who was a steam train driver. I have no connections at all to the bus industry and shouldn't have any real reason why i'm so interested in buses. So I was quite surprised at myself when i took an interest in First bus.
In my school years I had taken an interest to the local coach companies. I could tell which coach was which, I could see the differences in the registration plates, I could tell when any small changes were made to each coach and most of all I enjoyed engaging with the drivers. Some of whom were brilliant characters. It led me to be enthusiastic about heading to school and home again. During school I also met the future owner of Citistar and Mr Somerbus.
I had started to use First a bit towards the end of school. I can remember seeing a 375 go past our stop everyday heading to Bildgwater on a B7. I also remember a time when I was waiting for a 376 to Wells and the bus went straight past with not in service and as I was rather young at the time, I made a rather rude gesture to the driver on that step dart. The driver still works in Wells. I remember my first journey to Bath by bus - 376 to Wells and then 173 to Bath. I think the driver who did 173 that time is now one of the controllers in Wells (might be wrong though). Doing that trip pushed me into going on further day trips and when it came time to go to college at Street and Bristol (both at the same time - was going from Street to Bristol two days a week and getting home about 22.00 ish), I took up residence on First bus and started to explore 376 and the other services.
I would usually use 375 to Wells in the afternoon and then 376 to Bristol. Every so often I would have to go just into Bristol, so would usually end up on 379 (from Shepton to Bristol then). I was getting incredibly interested in the different types of buses in our area. In the second year of college I could even tell the smallest of differences between each of the B7s. I picked up the different fleet numbers and could tell what number was for what type. And of course I could tell which buses were crap - I always tried to avoid the 29, as usually it was 42832 or the like or even one of the Varios.
Just before I finished college, the 379 changed, along with 375 and 377. I always and still do think that the way First worked the 376/5/7 and 29 was a brilliant service and that encouraged me to follow First. So when the news came that all this was changing I wasn't particularly in the best of moods. I used the 379 quite often when Wells ran it. It never really picked up many people and at times could be very unreliable. I then started working in Bristol in customer services, usually using 376 each day. I enjoyed the work, I enjoyed the travel and i generally enjoyed work and life. Throughout this time I was beginning to use buses more, beginning to tell the different makes of bus more and travelling more on day trips to all sorts of places.
I then left customer services and started working in Bath, which from Temple Cloud was a struggle initially. There was no 379 early enough, so had to walk to Hallatrow and catch a dart usually on 179. Whilst walking to and from Hallatrow I would often see Mr Somerbus' bus head off to do 175, usually out of service. Got me thinking and emailed Tim to question if he would consider picking me up and I would pay a little extra if needs be. He accepted and of course in his generous nature agreed for me to pay the same rate as everyone else. I enjoyed travelling with them considerably, especially as one of the other drivers used to drive one of the school coaches. Tim told me about the various bits and bobs going on in First and other bus companies. He taught me the different types of buses and he inspired me to basically follow First as an enthusiast. When I left my job in Bath and started at in Bristol again, I ended up once again on First 376 and what was just becoming a new 379 service run by Bath. Now I could tell the differences between buses in more detail and examined each of their timetables and bus allocations in more detail and of course would every so often write to First to express my opinions on their services.
I then wanted to find out more about First and started reading comments on here. At one point something annoyed me on here and therefore registered onto the forum to express my views and opinions. Since then I've been in all sorts of jobs, in all sorts of places and have followed First more closely every single day. I've usually voiced my opinions on here and said what I think of First and every single time someone has corrected me and made me realise each time that i'm ranting and talking utter crap. There are still many things that I feel i'm right on though. I really can't thank people enough on here for putting up with me and for correcting me - it really is appreciated.
So as someone who has grown up now with First and has looked at the way they do things and the changes they make very carefully, i'm now beginning to become less loyal to them, as they continue to listen to the officials and strategists, without listening to their passengers opinions, but more importantly their drivers opinions. It would also be nice for them to consider listening to some of their loyal enthusiasts, but I'm probably assured that that will never happen. I know damn well that whenever I complain to First about the way they run things, they just shun me and say here's that Looney again and I really do wish they would change their ways in that context. Enthusiasts are external stakeholders, just in the same way as passengers, but more interested in what goes on and can advise more on where they fhink that First should go and what they should do. Of course each enthusiast will have a different opinion to the next, but when all the local enthusiasts agree the same thing, it would usually mean that what First is doing is not entirely sensible.
I don't agree in Firsts approach to tackling Webberbus and they are playing with services which hit passengers and more importantly the vulnerable that need to use their services as a lifeline. In Somerset, First really have gone downhill in the last few years and I don't like what they're doing. They aren't even considering their drivers anymore. In Bristol, I have nothing but praise for Mr Freeman and for what they've done - they've turned it around and i'm really proud of it. They're also pushing out Wessex which is another plus. Just wish they'd think more carefully about what they're doing in Somerset though.
I will still follow First (and have never thought of following any other big operator) and really do hope they improve things in our area. I follow them as a bus enthusiast, one which carefully looks at their timetables and bus allocations, rather than someone just taking photos of buses (of which seems to be what everyone thinks a bus enthusiast is).
Thank you for reading and for putting up with me over the past 2 years. I've enjoyed it considerably and will continue on here for years.
Tom.