Arriva > Reviews > they arrive in fours, but none are going my way

Author's product rating:   

Quality of Rooms	Terrible
Customer service	very bad
Frequency of bus / buses	Very poor
Value for money	Good
Reliability	Very poor

Advantages:	They do have wheels
Disadvantages:	They don,t arrive .

Recommend to potential buyers:

no

Full review

I have a long standing relationship with Arriva buses,I really need them in my life. Alas they seem to be letting me down. The advice that follows is particularly directed at car drivers.
You know how they keep getting on at you to abandon you cars, and use public transport. Well don't do it.
Why? It could result in untold stress and even depression.
The new time table now in operation in West Yorshire, OR not in operation as the case may be. Hey it really looks good on the printed page, but in real life what does it mean? It means you may well be abandoned at an assortment of bus stops in any given period,scanning the horizon looking for your bus. It may well not put in an appearance. Although you could choose an alternative route that may take much longer to complete, and you could well not arrive at work nice and early to be of assistance to your customers [who you love] Unlike some Arriva bus drivers, who could open a tin can with their facial expressions. Oh happy day, just a glimmer of turquoise rounding the bend would be wonderful---no sorry its just someone with a brolly matching the bus.
When next you hear the ministry of whatever discussing your lifestyle in particular your mode of transport, just remember--YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
Anyone able to give me a lift???
As a foot note if you do finally manage to board a bus, don't expect comfort, oh no. the new buses seem to have much smaller seats, hardly room for one never mind two, hard lines if you get sat near Mr Large or Miss Shopping bag. However the aisles are very wide, enabling the driver to do his brake stunts and throw his passengers around, altho' the bright yellow grab rails are a useful feature. I also rate the free Metro paper highly. However this is nullified by the litter aspect as most passengers are so grumpy by the time the bus does arrive, they usually chuck them on the floor in wild abandonment. The scenic routes do provide good views of the surrounding countryside, but usually the windows are so grimy it reminds one of Dickensian England, and it is difficult to even notice the arrival of your stop. Pushchair users are well catered for. As some buses have a kneeling feature, to help Mums wheel their prams straight on to the bus. So we have a large portion of the front of the bus filled with a couple of prams, secondary tots, mums, and shopping. The other 70 or so passengers crammed into the rear of the bus. Hey I could write a Bronte on this, but it is late and, yes, you've guessed, I do have a bus to catch.