My Dad was a bus driver for most of his working life. He drove through most of the seventies—the "heyday" of council-run services when travel was cheap and frequent. The stories I’ve heard from this time mirror the sitcom On the Buses. But my links with the industry go back even further: my Nan—Dad’s mum—was a conductress on the old Sheffield trams. I know little about her stories or even how long she worked for the corporation, but the legacy is there.
In 1986, the worst chapter in the story of public transport began. Margaret Thatcher sold a story of private competition bringing better service and cheaper fares. Passenger numbers were already in decline and reform was likely on the cards, but what happened was definitely not the answer. Fares quadrupled and services were cut, especially the more rural and "unprofitable" ones.
In the nineties, I found myself in a bit of a hole; I’d just gotten engaged to Morticia and had lost my job. My dad opened a door and got me an interview, which started an 11-year chapter behind the wheel. I loved the public service aspect but hated the monotonous nature of the job. I eventually needed more and moved on.
Apart from London, buses have been subject to market forces and declining subsidies for 40 years. This has left us with a poor service that, for the most part, doesn't serve the public properly. Last year, however, the South Yorkshire Mayor stated his intention to bring transport back under public control through a franchise model. They also took back the Supertram network, reintroducing publicly owned transport to the region for the first time since the eighties.
This month, the Mayor’s office unveiled the look of the new network. Heavily influenced by Manchester’s "Bee Network," the livery and name are massive callbacks to our region’s history. The name—"South Yorkshire People’s Network"—nods to the 80s nickname: the "People’s Republic of South Yorkshire." The bright orange is supposed to represent molten steel. I love the new scheme (partly because orange is my favourite colour) and it will be applied to the trams too.
The most important detail in this news is the joining up of fares and ticketing. As a regular user, this is vital; it removes the confusion for both regular and casual users.
So, the future is bright (orange) for public transport here in South Yorkshire. I hope the changes mean a better service for those areas that have lost or seen services reduced over the years. I can’t wait for my first ride on an orange bus.
Read the full story on BBC News: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjrqxz22z3vo
The spirit of the "Urban Viking"—and the occasional absurdity of navigating the modern world—lives on in my webcomic, Northman.
You can read the latest chapter here:
I grew up in London - we didn’t have a car ( my parents could not afford it ) but we had the Tube and the London bus service , so we didn’t need one
ReplyDeleteAt University everyone cycled ( it was one of *those* Universities- they occasionally let kids from the council estate study there )
We both taught overseas - Sydney has the best public transport system I have ever encountered, and then NYC — all with no car
Wen we started a family and settled in the West Country we suddenly became a two car family as public transport in this city was, and remains, diabolical and expensive
I would love to live somewhere where I can access my environment without getting in a car - that would require a move
Really thought provoking post
Siobhan
Thanks Siobhan, you've really gotten about haven't you? I live less than 5 miles away from where I was born and never lived more than 8. A bit sad I know.
DeleteLondon has always had the best public transport in the country, protected of course from deregulation back in the day.
I'm not anti-car, I'm just for a balanced approach and that means good affordable public transport.
One of the things that attracted us to DC was public transportation, esp. Metro. For some reason we both consider rail to be the superior form of public transport. In general, the NE part of the country is blessed in that regard; we can get to New York on public transport, with just a 15 min. walk from home. The rest of the country does, however, suck miserably in that regard, and even our best is not far above Europe's worst.
ReplyDeleteWe have a mixed bag. When its good its brilliant but for those in rural or smaller towns and villages it can be horrendous - some have three buses a week!
DeleteDrat, I keep forgetting to sign in...
ReplyDelete😂😂😂
DeleteI love the image of the orange double decker trolley! Here in Montreal they were taken away perhaps when I was about two years old, in 1958 or so, and for this reason I have no memory of them. I don't think the ones here were double decker, though.
ReplyDeleteThat's a regular bus, some run on diesel but the newer ones are electric. Trolley buses never really caught on in the UK although Rotherham where I live did have them (long gone before I was born). The aspirations here in South Yorkshire are of something like you have in Montreal (I googled it). We have a tram/light rail system too but it's not very big and has stagnated for years.
DeleteMy mum worked for South Wales Transport so she had a free bus pass. We didn't have a car so went everywhere by bus, and sometimes she'd organise for lots of the aunties to go on mystery trips - Symonds Yat sounded so romantic and mysterious to a little girl.
ReplyDeleteAnd now I have a free bus pass I don't use as much as I should.
My Dad has a free pass for life from working for South Yorkshire Transport and the companies that followed. I pay obviously but think its a decent way to get about.
DeleteI think I boarded one of your buses in Sheffield city centre. You drove like a bat out of hell singing, "We're All Going On a Summer Holiday!" while behind you little old ladies were screaming for mercy.
ReplyDeleteThank you for telling me about the prospect of orange buses in our region. Perhaps they got the colour idea from Trump's face. I would prefer the old cream and brown livery. By the way, my grandmother - Nana Morris - was a Sheffield tram conductress for three years after World War One.
I used to do the Castleton bus and some of the passengers would scream when going through Bradwell. If you know you know.
DeleteThe old bus colours were over 40 years ago now, I'm happy to go modern if the service improves. I'm going to keep a close eye on how it unfolds.