Bristol Observer reporter Jayne Taylor suffers a daily trauma – and that’s before she gets to work… Read on to find out how she copes with the local public transport

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ARGH! I might be in the wordsmith business but sometimes they just failme – especially when it comes to summing up my feelings about Bristol’s busservice.

But, for the sake of this article, let me try a bit harder. First of all let me use the word ‘service’ loosely because getting into work on time is nothing short of a trauma for myself and the thousands of other long-suffering workers commuting daily to the city centre.

Every morning you’ll find me on Hanham High Street, teeth gritted and hoping like mad the bus will turn up on time.

If it’s raining – forget it. If it’s Monday, you haven’t got a chance in hell. In fact, if there’s an ‘r’ in the month, don’t even think aboutgetting in on time. It would be quicker to ride on the back of a tortoisewith a broken leg.

I used to ring First City Line to complain every time my bus failed toarrive. But to be honest, it was getting a bit expensive.

After the classic, “the driver slipped on some oil and wasn’t fit to drive”, I decided I was wasting my time.

I continually win the Most Imaginative Excuse For Being Late contest – but the prize, a steely look from my boss, is going to get me, like the 45 bus, nowhere fast.

But they’re all true – along with continual road works, fatal accidents and let’s not forget the odd train derailment.

Take the other morning, the bus arrived more or less on time. It was a good start despite the condensation droplets falling from the ceiling onto my nice new coat.

Then, as we reached Redfield, the bus came to a complete halt. I assumed we were experiencing the phenomenon known as gridlock until I heard this voice say “someone phone an ambulance”.

We all had to trot off the bus treading carefully to avoid some poor girl who’d collapsed on the lower deck. Now I’m not a betting girl, but I’d wager she fainted due to excessive heat caused by overcrowding. Either that or she’d had no breakfast.

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