The students and tutors from the local ‘Introduction to Community Development and Health Course’ have undertaken a short informal study of the Burngreave Linkbus.
It came about because several of the group commented that these buses seemed to be running empty.
Having obtained permission from Sheffield Community Transport to interview passengers and drivers the group set out on Tuesday 3rd May to catch the 12.42 and 12.45 B1 and D1 services.
Route B1 to Meadowhall
On route B1 seven people boarded the bus at Ellesmere Green. One of these was an elderly lady who said that since the Post Office closed on Verdon Street, she now walks down to Ellesmere Green once a week to collect her pension and then catches the bus back up the hill to Verdon Street, with her shopping.
Next a lady in an electric wheelchair and her companion caught the service to Meadowhall as it passes close to her home and access for the wheelchair was easy.
At the Northern General Hospital a student nurse came on board. She caught this service most days to her current placement near Meadowhall. We thought it was good for staff and visitors that the bus travels round the hospital grounds as opposed to leaving passengers on the perimeter of this vast complex.
The next people to board were two ladies and a child who said that the service gave them easy access to Meadowhall. At Meadowhall all the other passengers alighted and no-one else boarded the bus on the return journey to Ellesmere Green. The driver said that this was not unusual at this time of day.
Route D1 to Catcliffe
On board the D1 service there were only five passengers and none from the Burngreave area, everyone got on and off the bus in Darnall.
It is a pity that the service is not better used by people from Burngreave as it visits several useful locations including Matalan, Morrisons, Big W, B&Q, Hitchens, Karachi Stores as well as the Pakistani Muslim Centre.
The driver said that the uptake of this service by people from Burngreave was very poor. Enthusiastic fans --- Since 3rd May I have travelled on the B1 and B2 routes several times and found that there is a small but very enthusiastic number of people who have discovered the benefits of these buses and use them all the time.
Everyone I have spoke to said it is an excellent, convenient service and many remarked that it is safe and friendly because they know the drivers. The drivers reported a slow but steady increase in the number of people using the buses.
We would like to suggest that there should be better signs on the buses to indicate the destinations, clearer indications about the route on bus stops and a more user-friendly timetable that is available from more outlets in the Burngreave area.
by Pauline Hirst