Bus drivers didn't want to stop for passengers

I have had two experiences with first bus drivers this week that have surprised me into writing to you.

I caught the number 10 going towards town at the top of Coronation Avenue. The bus driver was monosyllabic and unfriendly. He proceeded to go all the way down to Moorland Road without stopping at any of the intervening stops where people were waiting and signalling and waving for him to stop.

Two passengers challenged him as to why he was not stopping the bus as it was half empty but he remained silent – there was no bus behind us so that could not have been his reason.

He then drove all the way to where I got off at the Odeon cinema. He did stop at the stops after Moorland Road, but his rudeness at not answering the questions of passengers was alarming.

Today friends put my 14-year-old daughter on the 267 from Frome to Bath at Rode Memorial Hall. The bus driver didn't stop the bus at the stop at first although they were clearly signalling it; it only stopped when my friend ran after it (my daughter had no other way of getting home).

The bus driver then was very disagreeable saying that they hadn't signalled the bus when they had and telling my daughter to hurry up with her money after challenging her about her age – she is 14 and looks it.

She tells me that he then drove all the way to Bath talking to himself and complaining at other drivers. She was frightened and will not want to get on a bus on her own again.

What is going on with these drivers? Why are they in such a hurry at the expense of common politeness and customer service?

Are they being fined if they arrive late? If so it is a policy that should be changed because it is producing behaviour like this and is totally counter-productive.

Too often First Group bus drivers treat customers as if they are doing them a favour at their own expense, which is ironic considering the very high prices of a bus ticket . We are paying dear for this treatment.

CATHERINE PHELPS Bath