Recent changes to local bus routes have impacted the lives of many local residents, including 13-year-old Lola Bullman-Borg, who now finds her journey to and from school more stressful
My name is Lola. I am 13 years old and go to Woodbridge High school. For those who live in the Wanstead or South Woodford area, TfL’s bus route changes have brought us students nothing but stress and anger.
Before the changes last September, I caught the 549 bus (that shockingly only ran every 90 minutes) from South Woodford to Loughton at 8am to get to school by 8.30am. I took the 549 as it was less busy than the W14, which had a similar route and annoyingly would come a few minutes later, rather than being more evenly spaced out. However, with the 549 being so infrequent, I always caught the W14 to go home, but being a single-decker, it was inevitably crammed full with schoolchildren.
TfL’s changes mean the W14 runs hourly, so even though it’s more direct and I don’t have to change buses, I use the W12, which is timetabled to run every 15 minutes. That timetable is meaningless though, because the W12 route has been extended and the bus goes down all the busy main roads, getting stuck in heavy traffic. I and my friends often wait an extra 20 minutes after school every day because the bus is running late and with sometimes two, or even three, buses arriving around the same time.
There is no worse feeling than seeing the bus go past because it is not running as scheduled and being left to wait in freezing weather or rain for the next bus, that then arrives late.
Many elderly people have also been affected as the W14 does not go into Whipps Cross Hospital and does not stop at places that they need, such as the shops on Wanstead High Street, the supermarkets on George Lane or Wanstead Tube station.
I remember taking my bass guitar and having to walk it all the way to school because I missed the bus. I was sweating so much my hair was wet. I ran halfway because I couldn’t risk being late.
These changes are standing in the way of my education. The buses are essential transportation that gets me to school and home. I feel unsafe standing on the street waiting for a bus; I have no idea when it will come.
I remember the confusion and chaos when the changes came on 7 September. We didn’t know about them and people didn’t know which bus to take. Many children were late for school. The new service is a mess and I hear stories every day of how others are also suffering with the buses in the area.
If you are affected by the local bus route changes, submit your experiences to the Save Our Local Bus Services campaign. Visit wnstd.com/busform. To view the campaign’s petition, visit wnstd.com/bus