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28
Aug
The Harrogate district buses are amazing – but there is one problem
As someone unable to drive, I have always relied heavily on buses. I can say without doubt that the buses in the Harrogate district are by far the best I’ve ever experienced.
When I first moved to Harrogate a year ago, I couldn’t believe how plush the buses were – no threadbare seats and gum-covered floors in sight.
The most recent number 36 I took even had tables at the back, wireless charging points at each seat and a book library. It felt more like a luxury coach than a local bus.
Another great aspect of the buses is how quickly they actually get you from A to B. When I lived down south in Watford I took a bus for a journey that would have been 10 minutes in a car – it took me close to an hour. A bus I took up here where a drive would have been 20 minutes took 25 minutes.
These things are easy to take for granted
It’s so useful that there’s a screen, and a voice telling you, what the next stop is. To some that might seem a given, but many of the buses I’ve been on don’t have that - you just have to stay very alert and look out the window.
Other little things add to the positive experience – the driver saying hello and waiting until you’ve sat down to start driving, that people say thank you, the beauty that you see out the window. All things easy to take for granted – unless you’ve experienced London buses.
There is one little problem though.
The 36 proudly states that the buses run every 10 minutes. Looking at the timetable, the buses do leave Leeds bus station consistently about every 10 minutes, but many of them terminate in Harrogate. This means anyone going further towards Ripon often has to wait 20 to 30 minutes between buses. On multiple occasions, having just missed one, I’ve ended up walking to my destination as it would have taken about the same time anyway.
Still, it’s a small price to pay for such an otherwise great bus service. So to those of you who complain about local buses – just be glad you don’t live down south!
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