That was the week

A Saturday look back on some of the stories of the last week from Plymouth and beyond that have some sort of Plymothian Transit link, or just caught my attention in some way.

Unhappy Passenger A PLYMOUTH mother is angry that her daughter had to walk home from school – because a bus driver turned her away. Citybus said the reason for Nicola's card not working on September 16 was because the driver hadn't scrolled the ticket machine to the correct bus stop. The ticket machine therefore appeared to be in the wrong zone for the pass, Peter Oliver, commercial manager for Plymouth Citybus, said. 7 October 2011 This is Plymouth Week of Walkies Fascinating facts and fabulous views with every footstep are on offer during a week-long series of events bringing city and countryside together. People of all ages and fitness are being invited to head up the Tamar Valley as part of a festival devoted to putting one foot in front of the other. The Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is hosting a trail festival and the Plymouth City Council’s Stepping Stones to Nature team has organised a walk along the Discovery trail. The seven kilometre free guided walk starts at Tamerton Foliot, taking in open farmland, woodland, the banks of the River Tavy and Lopwell Dam. To put a spring in people’s step, the walk finishes with a cream tea in Bere Ferrers. 12 October 2011 Plymouth City Council

Tamar Bridge Works to finish early Resurfacing work on the Tamar Bridge, which has delayed thousands of motorists travelling between Devon and Cornwall, is to finish early. 13 October 2011 BBC 1 in 5 council bus service cut We have been busy collecting data on local authority bus cut decisions, using the Freedom of Information Act, and we can reveal that council cuts to bus budgets totalling £36m have resulted in more than 1000 (1114) service cuts. Many more bus services are likely to be lost as two thirds (77%) of local transport authorities in England are either planning to, or could not rule out, further cuts in the future. Only 46 councils put a figure on the number of bus services that had been reduced, and only 20 reported how many passenger journeys will be affected. 13 October 2011 Campaign Better Transport   And finally… Tough economic times mean some transport company bosses are now cleaning their own offices, it has been revealed. As many as 55% of transport business owners frequently take on cleaning duties around the office, a survey by the Bibby Financial Services company found. 9 October 2011 UK Press

---

Recommended Links

• A bus with a PA system? It must’ve been. And one that was actually used? I was towards the rear upstairs and I heard quite plainly such a proclamation, so I couldn’t’ve been mistaken. Could I? Omnibuses
• fbb had intended to bring his "Rise and Fall of the Roman Arbouthorne Empire" epic to an earth shattering close after Episode 3, but it became too complex to communicate convincingly without a bit more "stuff" Public Transport Experience
• Norfolk Green's latest addition Dennis Trident 2/Alexander ALX400 LV52HHR had its vinyls fitted yesterday Andys Bus Blog