Meeting with First Somerset & Avon - compensation finally provided (3x FSW Day)!

I went up to the Students' Union earlier (for the first time in 18 months ), where I had the "pleasure" of delivering a complaint of roughly 1,100 words relating to the events of a certain day last month, which a few on here know about (I won't go into detail though). Anyway, as a result of said complaint, the SU President came to realise that I seem to know the odd thing or two about Bath's bus services, such as why we seem to have fewer artic-operated journeys than previously (as I have explained previously); he didn't even realise that there were fewer artics in Bath than in the Spring.

Anyway, as a result of all of this, he came to the conclusion that it would be in the University's interests if I went along to his next meeting with First, so that I can explain some of the issues that exist in and around both the University (and the other University, who also seem blissfully unaware that there are now only seven left) and the city in general, and also to hopefully offer some solutions to their problems*.

Has anyone ever been to a meeting such as this, and if yes what can I expect? I appreciate that such meetings don't usually happen with the "public", except for Meet the Manager sessions, but I'm hoping that some of you do have experience of this.

I must say that, as a potential resolution to one of the complaints I am firing (again, a few on here know about the issues at hand; ask by PM if you do not know and are interested), this would make the whole process worthwhile. Having the opportunity to get some things sorted out will give me the chance to show them what I can do - and maybe force them to take action.

TIA

* Seven is not an ideal number of artics but it is the exact number required for them to alternate services on both routes. If all 18 journeys into Oldfield Park were opeerated by artics, alternate journeys between the city centre and the University of Bath would use them. They could then co-ordinate our SPA1 service to use artics every other journey. As for the other journeys, the Lances here have high standing capacity (their buggy areas have no seats at all but could easily fit at least four; there is evidence of four having been in place previously) and could thus run the short 18 journeys, given few would mind standing for less than 20 minutes, whereas ours could use the high seating capacity Volvos. But of course, such simplicity and logic is beyond First S&A's capability...!

 

The thing is that they stage meetings with the SU so they can sort between themselves any issues in the services. I have a name for the person they meet with, a Richard Lewis (I'm sure that is the same name as a manager at Arriva Southern Counties ), and have found evidence to suggest he is the manager at Bath depot (I would have expected as much, given it's an issue relating specifically to this city). But either way, these things are semi-regular because they give both parties a chance to air their opinions on the current situation, and I would hope that I would be given the same opportunity.

 

Thank you all for the above.

Today, the Students' Union called a meeting which was attended by the SU President, an SU-employed liaison manager (or something like that), the manager of the Estates department, a local traffic surveyance expert, and myself (the resident "bus expert"). In this meeting we set out an agenda which concentrates on the service provision offered on very specific journeys, why our SPA2 route is surplus to requirements, and increasing student awareness of services other than the SPA1 and SPA2. This information will be carried forward to the official meeting, which is scheduled for 0800 this coming Friday, and will be attended by Richard Lewis, as identified above, and also Simon Newport, who is no less than the Regional Manager for the South-West and Wales, so not exactly a minor pawn in the First operation.

 

The idea behind an 0800 start was that it meant Mr Newport would be available! Otherwise, it would have been 0930. I don't mind either way, because I only need to leave 12 minutes before the start - if that - to arrive in time.

 

Thank you

I was genuinely worried that the meeting would be held somewhere other than the SU for this very reason! I don't mind having to pay where I travel before 0900 if required (although I would expect to be reimbursed on this occasion ), but I had a horrible feeling that I would be depending on the 0905 (this was before I knew the exact details of the official meeting) and that it wouldn't turn up period - there is a 30 minute wait after it...

 

I'm sorry, Transits? Surely you don't mean that?! Even speaking from this end of the city, in "enemy territory" as it were, one cannot help but feel that such a service is short of even manageable, let alone worthwhile - or fair. Mind you, if it meant we had Nationals, then from my perspective it wouldn't be so bad

 

I've just added in the modern equivalents to all of the above. Most are more spacious now, although there are three Varios around - but it really hurt reading that the 13 and 14 used to use VRs and the like. I still can't believe they sent Transits up to Claverton though...!

If you're wondering why I know of all the older routes, my Uncle once drove for Badgerline here and gave me an old AZ on which he drew all the various routes. It puts a lot of perspecive into how I view the system, although even his map has no mention of a 23...
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I don't suppose you'd happen to know all the various frequencies from then by chance? Might be a tad optimistic, but I would be very grateful...

 

Having had a look at the map (which Sod's Law dictated was in the last place it could have been in ), the Bathford route is numbered 733! I cannot explain why; even now the subsidised version of the 13 is numbered 713 (not taht said numbe is seen any more; they just call it "13"). I don't see why Elmhurst and Bathford don't have separate routes; logistically, it would be so much easier (and would serve as an excuse to resume the 15 frequency which was dropped two years ago). Of course, these days, the cross-city route exists again - with massive layovers of anything up to 10 minutes at the bus station. There is however a 3A route on my map (albeit a school route)!

No surprise there I wonder what they would say if I told them about this interesting capacity...

I lived on the 13 route last year and was mainly annoyed at the Sunday evening frequency - every 90 minutes. Ouch. Otherwise, the 10 is only every 10 minutes now (it was 8bph for a while), and then only on weekdays; the 5 was every 10 for a while, then went to 12 and now 15; the 14 is every 15 to the south but 8bph to the north (every 15 on Saturdays); and as for the 4, well, at one point it was every 40! I'm surprised it still runs (The 265 point is still true today.)

Of course I knew about the X4, but the X3 is new on me! The route you describe appears to match today's hourly 267.

Thank you for helping! A job well done Sir

 

Obviously not

I am sorry to have to reveal to Worst Group fans that, as I have predicted elsewhere, even now I have more firepower to hit them with. Returning from the Christmas Lights switch-on today, I just missed the SPA1 home. Too bad. I thus jumped on an 18 in an effort to cut it up, which should have worked as the traffic lights would work against the SPA1 meaning that if I couldn't use the normal stop I could use the one after, on the A36, but I would have to cross the road first (which is easy). Instead, the SPA1 jumped a RED light! Sod the fact I missed it; that is just plain illegal - and very dangerous in the circumstances!
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The meeting started at about 0800, as scheduled, but I had to give up my idea of doing an all-nighter at about 0630 because I just felt too tired. So with literally 80 minutes' bedtime behind me, roughly half of which was spent awake, I was a bit worried, but alas everything went smoothly - except that Mr Lewis was ill, so we only had the Regional Manager (Simon Newport) with us! The main subject was our SPA2 route, which is pretty much pointless and thus liable to alteration or even withdrawal come next September, and also ticketing issues (especially with the introduction of Smartcards imminent). Unfortunately however, Mr Lewis's absence meant that several issues we'd have liked to discuss, such as exact scheduling and artic allocations, were not possible.

Another meeting is likely before too long, and I would hope to sit in on that as well. After all, no-one else at this University seems to know even a quarter of what I know about running a bus service :roll:

I also got a free bacon sandwich out of it. Can't complain about that

 

UPDATE:

I have sent a copy of a proposed, but BETA, timetable for next year that I have created, and they are genuinely impressed and interested in it!

It does need some work, but I would hope that a final version will be ready by the end of next month.

Could the 2012-13 academic year use my timetable for real?