I have been travelling on the 176 for about 3 years now because I just couldn't cope with the cattle truck conditions on the trains. I catch the bus near Lawrie Park Road SE20 and travel to the Strand End of Waterloo Bridge. I actually need to go to Tottencourt Road but unfortunately the amount of time it takes the bus to travel along the Strand and around Trafalgar Square, it it quicker for me to get off at Waterlool Bridge and walk through Covent Garden. I have nothing but contempt for Arriva buses who refuse to take any complaints seriously. Over the years I have complained about: Heaters being left on in the summer Heaters being left off in the winter Drivers not alerting passengers about diversions or temporary closure of bus stops Journeys being curtailed without notice When the journeys are curtailed the driver refuses to provide tickets for the next bus Drivers never explaining why the journey have been curtailed. Changing drivers half way round the route and having to wait for the new driver. Why isn't the new driver waiting at the bus stop? I am also concerned the TFL seem to spend most of their time defending the totally inadequate bus companies instead of defending the passengers they are supposed to represent. Despite my complaints all the above continue to happen despite assurances for TFL and Arriva. Things will only get worse now that Ken Livingstone is no longer Mayor. What worries me is that when Boris removes all the bendy buses (I am no lover of them myself but see them as a necessary evil) and replaces them with traditional buses, where will all the drivers come from. I see cuts to routes coming. I also believe things will only get worse now that Boris has taken over. I remember Margaret Thatcher saying that anyone over 35 who catches a bus is a failure. If Boris wants people to get out of cars and onto buses he must improve the service but I suppose he has other priorities like looking after his friends with their ?70.000 Range Rovers who live in the West of London.
