I'm about to have a whinge. An unreasonable one, which ignores 'stuff'
like operational problems and the like.


Just what is it with London Buses and ME? Why can't they just get me
home in a reasonable time?

Take today. I sense my day is going to be bad when I get a 333 from
Streatham to Brixton. I swear that the drivers of this bus, and the
133, are on a permanent 'go slow'. Today, we were overtaken by
cyclists and six other buses whose drivers seemed to have a slight
sense of urgency. The tube was then held at Victoria to regulate the
service, but more of that another time.

On my way home, Regent Street - Streatham, I get to the bus stop on
Regent Street, at 2315hrs, just as a 159 passes. I never run for
buses, but a woman does. She runs all the way from Vigo Street to the
bus, which has stopped at the bus stop near Air Street. The bus waits.
And waits. She reaches the stop, and the driver closes the doors. He
won't let her on. He then drives forward literally two feet, and stops
at the traffic lights. He still won't let her on. He drives off.

By 2335 I have counted 3 x Route 12s, 2 x Route 453's, 3 x Route 15s
and 3 x Route 94s. No sign of an 88, 3 or 159 which most of the people
waiting want. At 2337, another 159 appears. It waits at the stop until
2342, for some reason. By 2357, we have reached Whitehall. There are
no obvious traffic problems, even with the roadworks at Haymarket.

The bus trundles to Streatham, and at 0020, I get off. According to
the Mobile Journey Planner, there is a 417 due at 0024. The countdown
timer at the stop shows that it will be there in "10 mins". Again I do
the county thing - 3 x Route 57, 2 x Route 333, 1 x Route 59, 2 x
Route 137, etc. etc. At 0034, the 417 is 'Due', and a 133 is in '3
minutes'. The 133 arrives 3 minutes later. Still no sign of the 417.
It eventually arrives five minutes after being 'Due'. I get home at
0059.

And the most frustrating thing about it is that this is not the first
time I've had these kind of journeys, and there is nothing anyone will
do about it.