New bendy bus project's hitting the road
TRANSPORT chiefs are confident of luring fed-up motorists onto Swansea's full-strength fleet of bendy buses.
They are targeting the 20 per cent of drivers who apparently loathe being in their car, but can't see any other way of getting from A to B.
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FirstGroup chief executive Sir Moir Lockhead OBE, with the Lord Mayor of Swansea councillor Alan Lloyd unavailing the first bendy bus to by named "City of Swansea"
And they are hopeful the 14,000 households on the bendy bus route from Morriston to Singleton hospitals will make use of the scheme and hop on board.
The not-so-new bendy bus scheme was officially launched yesterday amid tight security at the Civic Centre, followed by a trip to the Liberty Stadium.
Moir Lockhead, chief executive of First Group, which has spent more than £3 million on 10 of the purple buses, said a study by university academics in his home city of Aberdeen found that 20 per cent of motorists hated being at the wheel.
He said the new buses — in conjunction with Swansea's trio of park and ride services — would prove a viable alternative.
"You will see a transfer (from car to bus) like you've never seen before," he said. Swansea-born AM Carwyn Jones hailed the bendy bus scheme a "phenomenal addition to the infrastructure of the city".
He said: "For many years Swansea never seemed to change.
"It was bomb-flattened, rebuilt in the 1950s, but the layout of the city wasn't given much attention.
"But the changes that have occurred over the past 10 years have been phenomenal, with Fabian Way, the city centre and now the development of the ftr."
Mr Jones reckoned the new 61ft buses ticked all the right boxes in terms of dependability and access.
"I have got no doubt that the 20 per cent of driving 'malcontents' will be induced to get on the service," he said.
"And I have no doubt the service will continue to grow and prosper."
Find out here where your bus is stopping during the Swansea Quadrant station works
Lord Mayor of Swansea, councillor Alan Lloyd said the bendy bus scheme — in particular the £10million of Assembly-funded road alterations — hadn't been without debate. But he enthused: "This will have a long and lasting effect on Swansea and south Wales."
The first of the bendy buses began running in early June.
The first of the fleet has been christened City of Swansea in recognition of the 40-year anniversary of being made a city.
There are now nine of the buses plying the hospital-to-hospital route, with one spare.
Sir Moir told the Post that First Group's existing bendy bus schemes in Leeds and York were a success, with a 30 per cent growth in passenger numbers.
He expected a "dramatic growth" in Swansea.
Asked about his own public transport habits, Sir Moir said he was a car driver, but added: "I use the park and ride when I'm in Aberdeen."
58 Comments
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by Jenna, Swansea
Wednesday, September 23 2009, 7:24AM
“I cannot believe that there are 10 entries on this thread from someone called James Sheridan - who is this opinionated idiot??
I only got through half of his nonsense before I fell to sleep through boredom.
I don't know anything about Mr Sheridan or his politics but one would assume from his tunnel visioned opinions he is a fan of Councillor's Black and Holley - which makes him one of their brain-dead misfit followers,”
by James Sheridan, Swansea
Monday, September 21 2009, 9:23PM
“Re; Paul, West Cross
Your comments about WendyFuss on the other Bendybus stream, have been noted and responded to! FACTS, Paul, FACTS, well done to WendyFuss!
As you appear to like sequels, (or is it sequins!?), how about these dittys for you,
The Perils of Paul-ine,
From Paul to Saul,
From e-Paul to she-Paul,
The Paul of the Roaming Empire,
Having a West Cross 2 Bear,
The 3 P's, Personally, Perfection Personified
The Last Temptation of Paulas (a Human),
Paul and his Amazing Computer Wallpaper,
Trading Paul-laces,
Strictly Dancing, starring Jack Paul-ance,
Sleepless and Clueless in West Cross,
The Silence of the Clams,
Paul Dancing in Wind Street,
St. Paul's Cathedral, reclaimed!
And of course, Paul-Jaxxed!”
by Paul, West Cross
Monday, September 21 2009, 7:34PM
“James and WendyFuss.
Many thanks for providing a little light distraction from more serious matters.
May I suggest a few sequels?
WendyFuss and the Holy Grail.
Traders of the Lost Spark.
The Faulty's Outcome.
and, of course, MIB - Men in (Bendy)Buses (Hat tip to Jaxxlanders.)”
by James Sheridan, Swansea
Monday, September 21 2009, 7:19PM
“Re:Paul, West Cross
What you provide is a personalised statement! So, where is your
'supporting evidence' Paul!? Or is your 'supporting evidence' provision based on your say so too!?
Additionally, you appear to dismiss and ignore WendyFuss's own researched evidence, which one assumes can be verified and this evidence pre-dates yours! You also, Paul, ignore the fact, that for a Presentation to have occurred, there had to have been some Swansea Council interest, following the 2003 discussions!
Try accessing the factual material that Wendyfuss and myself have discussed, without bias, and then come back to me with your comments as your current stance on the matter is hardly 'scientific'!”
by James Sheridan, Swansea
Monday, September 21 2009, 6:58PM
“Re:Malone, Swansea
My claim, Malone, is that I read comments by Chris Holley in the Evening Post, that the previous Labour Administration, had the original idea for the Bendybus for Swansea. This was clearly stated in the Evening Post, however, the Evening Post's own on-line Archive, only uses articles that are one year old or less! I make the reasonable assumption that I am not the only person that reads our Evening Newspaper, so others must have read what I saw, but no-one has come forward to confirm what I saw, not even from the Evening Post, where the article was!
As I wasn't present when Labour had the original idea, I can only repeat what Chris Holley has said in the Press! However, as Chris Holley was quoted having said that Labour had the original idea, and it was not corrected by Labour at the time I read it, then I have to beleive that Chirs Holley would not have said what he said, if it was not based on truth! WendyFuss's research appears to confirm that it was Labour's idea, though it was the Lib Lem led Administration that took it forward!
Given the Expenses fiasco, it is not surprising that that you mistrust some Politicians, as I do! However, I can only reaffirm that I have acted in good faith with readers, as I only reported what I read at the time, but have been wrongly virified by idiots such as Paul from West Cross, Jaxxlanders and others, for sharing and disclosing what I did and to be fair on Labour, they have not denied, to my knowledge, that it was their idea!”
by Paul, West Cross
Monday, September 21 2009, 6:41PM
“James Sheridan.
See my comment on this thread (19-Sep-2009 13:43) about LibDem promises in the run up to and after the 2004 elections.”
by James Sheridan, Swansea
Monday, September 21 2009, 6:30PM
“Re:Paul, West Cross
It would appear that you have wanted me to Paint Pictures for you, Paul, as I have done enough to fill the Tate Modern! How many times have you been told where the evidence can be accessed!? If I was informing the Police the same as you have been informed, they would have been very grateful for the information and would have located the evidence!
Unless you have some disability stopping you, then you are able to seek out the research areas that you have been given! There is no doubts in my mind that it was Labour's idea, I am not legally bound to prove this via 'evidence', but I have acted in good faith with regards to the 'evidence' I saw in the Evening Post!
I have given you opportunities to prove you are not too lazy to use the tools I, and now WendyFuss, have given you! But, as usual, you continue to disappoint! It is not my problem you don't beleive me or WendyFuss, the evidence is out there! Or is it that you also require the services of a Muldaur and Scully to do your dirty work!?
As for Consulting the people of Swansea, the people of Swansea had the Democratic right not to allow the Lib Dems to lead the current Administration, after last years local government Elections, when the Public were aware of the Bendybus plans and Swansea's roads were being dug up! Guess what Paul, the People of Swansea voting allowed the Lib Dems to lead the current Administration, with its current partners! It is called, Democracy Paul, and if that sounds 'Greek' to you, then it is because Greece is where Democracy began!
By the way Paul, did Tony Blair phone you up for permission to go to an illegal war in Iraq!? Or did Gordon Brown phone you up for permission to use Taxpayers money to fund the failures of a bunch of greedy Bankers, that caused the Recession! No, well blow me Paul! What a pair of Cads to do that!”
by Paul, West Cross
Monday, September 21 2009, 5:40PM
“As per usual, James, you are missing the point entirely. It is a fundamental principle that the onus is on the asserter to prove himself/herself right. There is no obligation on me, or anyone else to prove that you are correct.
If you have proof that your assertion is true then, prove it is true by producing evidence. A reference to a "presentation" is not good enough.
The LibDems of Swansea went to the Welsh Assembly with the proposal in 2005. That was one year after the LibDems formed an alliance with others and became responsible for new projects etc.
The bendy bus project was given the go-ahead by the LibDems of Swansea and they went through with it without consulting the people of Swansea or local businesses.
Is that clear enough for you James, or do I have to paint pictures for you to look at?”
by Malone, Swansea
Monday, September 21 2009, 5:32PM
“Mr Sheridan seems to have a peculiar idea of what constitutes evidence. Surely he does not ask us to believe that something is true because a politician says so. Those days are long gone. If he is so happy with the bendy bus then why does he not just take the credit instead of consistently trying to shift responsibility?”
by James Sheridan, Swansea
Monday, September 21 2009, 5:01PM
“Re:Paul, West Cross
"If "Shooting Yourself In The Foot" was a sport", Paul, you would be without toes and fall flat on your face (as your responses tend to suggest)!
WendyFuss has already informed you and the Jaxxlander 'Buffoons', that there is evidence about the Bendybus 'origins', in the Archives. It is up to you (and others) to get access to the relevant Archive, as WendyFuss has already supplied you with dates, if you are doubting what she is saying!
Chris Holley was reported to have mentioned in the Evening Post, that the Bendybus was a Labour idea. The evidence is in the Evening Post Archives. I have only stated what I have seen. As you doubt my word, have you contacted the Evening Post (or its Reporters) or relevant Councillors, to confirm this, as I suggested to you sometime ago!? Clearly you haven't!
How many times do you want Chris Holley to tell everyone that the Bendybus was a Labour idea!? Conversely, Paul, we have not heard from the last Labour Administration Members denying that is their idea! Or does this not 'Compute', to you!?
You seem to assume, that Public bodies are able to put everything on the Internet! They are not! WendyFuss's information is probably in the non-Internet Archives of the Council! Try there Paul!”