Just a short one from me as I'm out and on my phone. The Y6 is supposed to stop at the Haymarket. I just witnessed a bloke there putting his hand out for a Y6 but the driver didn't stop!! This driver needs educating about this service! I wouldn't be surprised if other drivers of the Y6 and 17 don't stop there too!!
Expanding on this posting now that I'm on my desk top PC and not on a shaky bus using my smartphone and fiddly and more time consuming to type out things!
That bloke this morning looked well cheesed off this morning after that Y6 didn't stop at the Haymarket! He put his hand out, then realised it look like the bus wasn't going to stop, and he was frantically trying to get the driver to stop. But no, the driver just sailed on by even though that is an official stop for this revised extended Y6(and the 17). He had done his research that he could get the Y6 from the Haymarket to wherever it was he trying to get to. His bad luck that that particular driver of that Y6 this morning thought he doesn't have to stop at the Haymarket to pick up passengers if they put their hands out!! It's not very good is it. As I said, I wouldn't be surprised if other drivers of the Y6 & 17 don't bother stopping at the Haymarket. So be prepared for that if you're planning on getting any of those services from that stop! I think I might contact First about it to brief all the drivers of these services that they should stop at The Haymarket if people put their hands out, as that is an official listed stop for these services!
It's a pet hate of mine, drivers not stopping at bus stops when they should do. I've had a number of instances of this happening over the years, which were very annoying. There was even one incident back in November 2013 when I was on a 75 which was diverted along Filton Avenue due to scheduled roadworks along Filton Road, and was stated on the First website that the service would observe all bus stops along Filton Avenue. I rang the bell to get out along Filton Avenue, and the stupid driver just sailed on past without stopping. I said to him you're supposed to stop at that bus stop! He said "No I'm not! We don't stop along this diverted route!". I said "No you're supposed to stop at all bus stops along this road!". But no he wouldn't have it, and refused to stop and let me out along Filton Avenue!!! That particular incident was incredibly annoying and cased me massive disruption getting back home. I was absolutely fuming mad about it. I complained about it to First, and they apologised about it, said the driver should have stopped at all stops along Filton Avenue, and that he was interviewed about this incident and appropriate action taken. What that appropriate action was I don't know. But I think he should have been sacked for his appalling actions that night, refusing to let me off the bus at those bus stops along Filton Avenue!!
Yesterday afternoon I got a 17 from Gloucester Road to the Bus Station and a Y6 back again. Although these services are much more limited than the 73, 74, 75 & 76, these services can be handy for travelling between Gloucester Road and Broadmead/Bus Station and there being far fewer passengers than those other services which can often be rammed. With the 17 & Y6 between this stretch of the route, you're probably guaranteed to get a window seat and two seats to yourself! On the 17 down, there were only several passengers on the top desk. On the Y6 back again I was the only person on the top deck!
I expect a lot of people waiting at the Haymarket for a bus to anywhere up Cheltenham Road and Gloucester Road, aren't actually aware yet that they can get a 17 or Y6! Though I expect more people will become aware of it over the coming weeks.
I hope to get any of these services back home from work on weekdays if possible. Allthough the timings aren't quite convenient for me. Both the 17 & Y6 are due to leave Haymarket at 1640, and then another 17 at 1720. Unfortunately the two services at 1640 I'm going to just miss by about 5 minutes most days. I tried to get one of them this evening but just missed both of them by a few minutes! And the 17 at 1720 is a tad too late really, unless I stop off in town to get a bit of shopping some days. Though I note the 17 at 1720 today was showing up on the First Bus ap as cancelled anyway! I might try getting this service on Wednesday. Although I wouldn't be surprised if I put my hand out for it to stop and the driver just sails on by! If that happens, I'll be firing of a complaint to First! Though if I can, I'll try to get on at the Bus Station to avoid the risk of this happening.
