Lothian Buses

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 19 Mar 2009, 22:42

PortyConvert wrote:On the 26 into town this morning (approx 0845) i was sitting upstairs and there was a complete nutcase on the bus. Shaved head, in his late 30's - sitting there on his own and shouting about how he was going to stab / batter / take a hammer to somebody. "Male or Female I'll kill them all" was once snippet - another was "Fat b**tard pushing me around - fat b**tard with a wee willy".

Scary stuff !! Anyone else seen this guy? Clearly major mental health problems.....

So there was a guy causing a disturbance.

Did you notify the driver?

Did you call Lothian Buses so that the 24 hour control room could monitor him via cctv?

Did you call the Police since this person was making threats to kill, causing a breach of the peace, but more importantly could have been take to the Royal Ed by the Polis for assessment?

Post by **wangi** » 19 Mar 2009, 23:16

I'm guessing that PortyConvert didn't fancy being the one with the knife in their back. Likewise I'm sure the bus drive knew about it, but also chose to hopefully ignore it and "wish it went away". It's not ideal, it doesn't sort the problem but it's reality.

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 19 Mar 2009, 23:25

wangi wrote:I'm guessing that PortyConvert didn't fancy being the one with the knife in their back. Likewise I'm sure the bus drive knew about it, but also chose to hopefully ignore it and "wish it went away". It's not ideal, it doesn't sort the problem but it's reality.

I guess your right. Althought im not sure about the reality comment.

Id have dealt with it different but thats probs because im used to having to deal with people like that.

In my job you get used to dealing with people who have problematic mental health issues, controlled mental health issues, junkies, drunks, peodophiles, murderers, drug dealers and prostitutes etc; so that experience would affect how I dealt with it.

Alas, we are getting off topic me thinks.

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 19 Mar 2009, 23:27

Poppy wrote:Number 4 Lothian bus outside the Piershill library near Morrisons about 1 ish. Two fire appliances attended and the road was closed for a while. Flames were seen to be coming from under a wheel arch, according to my source!

I wonder if the passengers got a refund for the inconvience they were put through due to their journey being disturbed by the bus catching fire.

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 19 Mar 2009, 23:33

PortyConvert wrote:On the 26 into town this morning (approx 0845) i was sitting upstairs and there was a complete nutcase on the bus. Shaved head, in his late 30's - sitting there on his own and shouting about how he was going to stab / batter / take a hammer to somebody. "Male or Female I'll kill them all" was once snippet - another was "Fat b**tard pushing me around - fat b**tard with a wee willy".

Scary stuff !! Anyone else seen this guy? Clearly major mental health problems.....

Sounds like the same guy my son encountered on the 26 one day last week. Obviously got on the wrong bus. He'd be looking for the 21

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 19 Mar 2009, 23:39

BeachBum wrote:Pity there wasnt a forum like this for discussing Lothian Buses.

Suggestions for names?

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 19 Mar 2009, 23:41

And another moan about Lothian Buses.

The 49's that I got to work on Tues & Wed this week didnt have any Metros....grrr....I hate that. Its not like Im even getting a late bus or anything is ually between 7am & 8am.

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 20 Mar 2009, 15:52

From the Evening News today.

Edinburgh Evening News. 20-3-09. Buses to hand over £5m a year to bail out trams.

PortyConvert · Post by **PortyConvert** » 20 Mar 2009, 23:10

BeachBum wrote:
PortyConvert wrote:On the 26 into town this morning (approx 0845) i was sitting upstairs and there was a complete nutcase on the bus. Shaved head, in his late 30's - sitting there on his own and shouting about how he was going to stab / batter / take a hammer to somebody. "Male or Female I'll kill them all" was once snippet - another was "Fat b**tard pushing me around - fat b**tard with a wee willy".

Scary stuff !! Anyone else seen this guy? Clearly major mental health problems.....
So there was a guy causing a disturbance.

Did you notify the driver?

Did you call Lothian Buses so that the 24 hour control room could monitor him via cctv?

Did you call the Police since this person was making threats to kill, causing a breach of the peace, but more importantly could have been take to the Royal Ed by the Polis for assessment?

Are you kidding me???

No I didn't report it - i sat there like the other 40 people on that bus just hoping that everyone got off the bus without getting stabbed or attack by this mental case.

What problem do you have with me coming onto this board and sharing an experience I have had of late in portobello? Should I keep what has happened to me of note (and i think this is of note) to myself? Silly me for posting on a forum about portobello about something that has happened here - and asking if anyone else has experienced this.

Should I run any future posts past you for approval first?

ali · Post by **ali** » 21 Mar 2009, 20:32

Just spotted this story about the deranged guy on the 26..........

I was on that bus too and to be honest most people dealt with it the only way they could - by ignoring him - but he was huge, shaven headed with a black raincoat and great big doc marten boots (for future reference) - so there wasn't really any other option for the people on the top deck.........

If he had actually kicked off I would've hoped that the four or five biggish male passengers on there would've tackled him (me - I would've been out the emergency window at the back sharpish

) but he was very intimidating and obviously ill........so it was a case of softly softly. He was sitting right opposite the stairs too so given the close confines of the top deck it would'nt have been easy to tackle him.

The thing that pissed me off was that a few people obviously went downstairs or got off but none of them had mentioned it to the driver because when I got off at Meadowbank and told the driver about the guy and what he was saying, he obviously didn't know about it. He identified the guy on his small tv monitor in his cab and thanked me but it seems he didn't do anything about it. A work colleague's wife was also on there and the guy was still on there and still ranting when she got off in the centre of town..........

I asssume the driver was keeping an eye on him when he could but if he had started something it would've been too late and there could have been real trouble before the police could've responded........

It was a very unpleasant incident and questions should be asked of the driver's response.........this guy was gonna kill females and god knows what else......very poor.

(Beach Bottom - don't bother responding in any way to this post because I have absolutely no intention of getting in to any kind of discussion with you - thanks

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 12 Apr 2009, 09:26

First bus and munros are stopping using the bus station from the 20th..grr..what a pain in the arse.

The bus station is alright since it was all done up, but now anyone traveling to the Borders will have to go to Waterloo Place instead.

The reason given? Trams. Due to the delays being caused by extra traffic on the lead up to the bus station its been decided to move the Borders services.

What a f£&king joke.

Moan over.

seashell · Post by **seashell** » 14 Apr 2009, 14:30

BeachBum wrote:First bus and munros are stopping using the bus station from the 20th..grr..what a pain in the ***.

The bus station is alright since it was all done up, but now anyone traveling to the Borders will have to go to Waterloo Place instead.

The reason given? Trams. Due to the delays being caused by extra traffic on the lead up to the bus station its been decided to move the Borders services.

What a f£&king joke.

Moan over.

it will probably be quicker as it is avoiding all the roadworks. And that is where the buses for the Borders used to leave from when the bus station was being done up.
I always get the X95 from the Bridges as it's more convenient for me.

Grunk · Post by **Grunk** » 14 Apr 2009, 15:45

Roadworks don't bother me I just add a few extra minutes to my planned journey time

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 14 Apr 2009, 17:51

seashell wrote:
BeachBum wrote:First bus and munros are stopping using the bus station from the 20th..grr..what a pain in the ***.

The bus station is alright since it was all done up, but now anyone traveling to the Borders will have to go to Waterloo Place instead.

The reason given? Trams. Due to the delays being caused by extra traffic on the lead up to the bus station its been decided to move the Borders services.

What a f£&king joke.

Moan over.
it will probably be quicker as it is avoiding all the roadworks. And that is where the buses for the Borders used to leave from when the bus station was being done up.
I always get the X95 from the Bridges as it's more convenient for me.

You might be right, my buses back down to Gala or Earlston have never been late due to the works, but I dont travel on every single bus.

I personally think its a shame having to use Waterloo Place, with drivers pissing in the street ( as reported in the Evening News), no toilet facilities or realy shelter or seating for the traveling public. But then it wont be for too long. I used to get my buses from the bridges too but now I go to the bus station so i can be one of the first on the bus. There isnt much room on the munros buses so I like to get a good seat for the longish journey.

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 18 Apr 2009, 09:23

I noticed this on their website:

On Edinburgh Spring Holiday (Monday 20 April 2009), we'll be running a normal service.

Which is handy, normally its a Saturday service on holidays.

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 18 Apr 2009, 12:53

I see on their website there is no mention of the fact the 19 & 49 are no longer on diverted routes due to the Kings Road works. I hope nobody gets caught out waiting for a 49 or 19 further along the Portobello Road.

They normally update the website when long term diversions are stopped, such as they did with Duke Street, Constitution Street etc;

Eck · Post by **Eck** » 21 Apr 2009, 09:38

Think the guy that you are talking about on the bus is well known around Edinburgh. He usually goes into pubs and harasses bar staff. He does have mental health issues. He can be violent when challenged.

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 24 Apr 2009, 16:35

A wee update I noticed on their website today:

On the 4th & 18th of May they will be providing a Saturday service rather than the usual weekday service.

Helpful im sure.

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 24 Apr 2009, 16:39

Ive just noticed the Council are spashing out around £120,000 on a new bus turning circle within the grounds of the former Eastern General Hospital.