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Cardiff Bus-t Up
Posted by Sam (Sub-Editor) from Cardiff - Published on 05/10/2009 at 00:00
Bus users today we’re faced with yet more disruptions as Cardiff Bus introduced new routes, cancelled some and altered others.
Of course these are “improvements” for our benefit, even if we don’t know it yet. The biggest change is that the majority of buses no longer stop at the bus station. There goes the integrated transport system initiative. Instead we have a “bus box” operating around the city centre utilising Westgate Street, Bute Terrace, Greyfriars Road and Station Terrace.
It is of course inevitable that changes had to be made; what with the plans to pedestrianize St Mary’s Street and as Cardiff Bus has noted, the majority of shops “…migrating further south of the city; an area not previously serviced by our bus routes.”
But to discard the central hub of the bus station is a mistake, even though it is a grubby, horrible place. Travelling across the city for senior citizens, the disabled and those with buggies has become even harder. The splitting of the 8 and 9 routes (Heath Hospital – Cardiff Bay/Sports Village) into the 8 and 9 running a circular route from the city centre to the bay and the introduction of 38 and 39 doing the same between the city centre and Heath Hospital, means those in the south of the city have to change buses if they’re going to the hospital and having to grab a £3 all-day-to-go ticket instead of the single £1.50 like they used to.
And maybe that’s the crux of the issue; it’s about getting more of us to stump up for the £3 tickets instead of the single £1.50 fare. To be fair, Cardiff Bus will be laying a free “Shopper’s Bus” which allows people one loop around the city centre and will connect the bus stops, but it starts next month and for the infirm or weighed down it means another change of buses.
Hopefully alongside the introduction of this “Shopper’s Bus” will be leaflets detailing the change in bus times, which as of this morning were not available from the Cardiff Bus shop on Wood Street. Their helpful staff apologised for the inconvenience yet were unable to give me a definite date on when they would be released. The info is up on the Cardiff Bus website, so hey get creative and make your own!
