Sir,

DURING the Covid 19 crisis, users of public transport are told to wear masks and remain socially distanced to help protect the health and safety of themselves and their fellow passengers. In accord with this, workers for the Arriva bus company were initially told they should not drive buses at full passenger capacity and there is signage on the buses to reinforce this guidance.

In the earlier stages of the pandemic, at the beginning of lockdown, there was less traffic in general and fewer people were using buses. However, since restrictions have been lifted and there has been a return to school and work, drivers are finding themselves under pressure as they still have the same schedule to keep to despite having to cope with heavier traffic and a greater number of passengers.

This can also result in the curtailment of services when buses run late due to unreasonable timetable expectations.

Harlow Coronavirus People Before Profit Action Group has been told that recently drivers have been instructed that they should not leave schoolchildren at bus stops and so, at peak times, buses are now travelling at full capacity with some passengers having to stand.

They are full with a mixture of passengers, including school and college students and elderly shoppers. This is in direct contradiction to health and safety guidelines.

Of course nobody should be left waiting for long periods at bus stops but we know that many transport workers have already lost their lives to Covid 19.

Arriva should address the health and safety issues raised by the increased passenger load and take steps, with a programme of emergency investment in staff and vehicles, to increase the number of buses at peak periods and put the lives of their workers and of the general public above their drive for profits.

Regards

Harlow Coronavirus People Before Profit Action Group

YH contacted Arriva and we have given them a right of reply.

Simon Finnie Area Managing Director at Arriva said ” Ensuring that school and college pupils and the general public can travel safely is of the utmost importance to us. To help increase capacity across our services as pupils returned to schools and colleges, we are using larger buses than normal on certain services and in some cases we will be running two buses at the same time so that both those travelling to and from school or college and those travelling for any other purpose can do so safely.  All our services are Covid-19 Secure, and we are complying with the most recent government guidance on social distancing measures. Our drivers will also take every step possible to never leave a pupil behind. 

We are monitoring the situation constantly to ensure the extra resources we have out on the roads are going to where they are needed the most. Local congestion is growing and we are working in partnership with local authorities to find solutions to help public transport run as smoothly as possible.

Where we have reports that not everyone wishing to travel is able to do so we are looking into implementing changes as quickly as we can. We kindly request that if you are experiencing difficulties you let us know directly, there are many ways to get in touch with us, all of which can be found at https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/help/contact-us“

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Comments

Michael Williamson

My son as ADHD he 19 .he was on the way to college in Stafford about 7 stops from town when the bus came he was told the bus was full due to covid this was is second week at college and he got upset and call me from the bus stop were I went and pick him up otherwise he would of being late for college this is not acceptable Arriva is jumping on the covid bangwagon when they should be sorting out how busy the route is and putting more buses in place at peak times

BKK

School buses have no limit as it a closed service.

Modista Masese

Yes even the issue of not giving change back to passengers its a sad story. Why using protective gloves to manage with money.

Susan Simmons

Travelled to Reading from High Wycombe last Saturday and the bus was full. Absolutely no social distancing. Luckily we sat at the back and no one sat next to us. Also, on this occasion, most passengers were wearing masks, which isn’t always the case.
Direct contrast to a journey by train to London where seats were marked to allow for social distancing and passengers complied.

Clare Pulford

Some buses at cartain ti.es arebusy so that social distancing is not possible also ofyen passengers are not wearing masks are they adked for evidence as to whytbey are exempt.Also i think drivers should also wear masks

Lynda Banks

I cant use the buses as they wont take cash my card dont swipe and I dont but detail on my phone I am 58 and feel like arriva dont care iv used this service for 30 years and now feel let down .

Sophie

Hi i live in high wycombe and i travel on four buses every day to get to work and home
And ive found some of the buses to be overloaded with people. The bus drivers just let lots of people on and some dont even wear masks and the drivers dont challenge them also some buses are dirty and not being cleaned as i sometimes get on the same bus i was on the day before and its still got the same rubbish on it

Kimbra Glover

I have to get the bus to and from work each day. Why do passengers think its acceptable to get on the bus wearing a mask and then remove it when they have passed the driver. Also windows not open and buses not cleaned.

Charlotte Vickers

So how come bus drivers don’t wear face covering

Laura

Last Tuesday I was getting a 310 to get my 4 year old to school for 8.40. I was waiting from 8.15 until 10.20. Buses were full and 4 saying not in service. No bus driver could explain. Please can you explain.

Rowen Smedley

I was on the bus from Southport to Liverpool yesterday the 300 service. The trains had been replaced so the bus was extra busy there is no way they can say their service is Covid secure how could they possibly know. Every single seat was full and if front of me was two men who both removed their masks and then one was actually singing songs loudly spreading his spit all over the bus the driver did nothing to stop them and continued to let people on the bus you can tell it’s about money to them they want the fates and don’t care if people get sick because they can’t prove they were infected in the bus. At least when I use the train to get to work I can move away from people who take masks off I will not be using the bus service again through the winter even though it stops by my house and the train I have to walk to and swap trains