Croydon bus drivers parking illegally after car park closure
by Aline Nassif
aline.nassif@essnmedia.co.uk
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HOW NAUGHTY: Drivers parked on the footpath
Bus drivers are parking illegally on a footpath after being locked out of their own car park.
Metrobus staff always used to be able leave their cars at their Beddington Lane depot on the Croydon/Sutton border 24 hours a day.
But an influx of new employees left the car park packed and led to bosses deciding to only open it between 6am and 9pm.
Now drivers arriving for shifts before or after these times are parking wherever they can - including the footpath, which doubles as a cycle lane.
The decision to lock up the car park at certain times came after the company took on a new 18-strong fleet of route 75 buses - and more than 40 extra drivers.
Metrobus bosses say they provide sufficient parking spaces and advise employees to make use of a staff bus service which picks employees up and takes them to work from various points along Croydon's tram lines.
A Metrobus driver, who took the picture published here, said: "It's a ridiculous situation.
"Female drivers who have shifts that start at dusk cannot be expected to walk to work.
"It would be too dangerous, and Metrobus should have a duty of care to them.
"Of course I can't condone illegal parking but no person wants to walk to and from what is effectively an industrial site in the dark.
"We are given no choice but to park illegally, but it's not fair on cyclist or pedestrians."
The driver wants Metrobus to reassess the situation.
He added: "Either the bosses build more parking space or they should think more carefully before taking on a new route they can't make adequate provisions for."
A Metrobus spokeswoman insisted there was no need for employees to park on the footpath.
She said: "We believe we have made sufficient parking available at the beginning and end of the day.
"We also encourage the use of our staff bus facility which would also save staff money on petrol."
23 Comments
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by Marsha De'Lacey, The Webb Estate
Thursday, August 20 2009, 11:23AM
“The last time I took a bus was over 10 years ago - and never again mind you!
I prefer black cabs, far superior.”
by han, addo
Wednesday, August 19 2009, 8:48AM
“so all that needs to happen really is open the car park 24/7 and make it bigger?
seems easy enough to me. surely theyve got enough money for that...”
by Negative, The Cronx
Wednesday, August 19 2009, 8:01AM
“Metrrobus wouldn't illegally ask for the IP addresses, and the Advertiser wouldn't illegally give them out, would they?”
by Sun Myung Moon, Association for the Unification of Metrobus
Tuesday, August 18 2009, 7:26PM
“We're more than just a workplace, more than just a bus depot. We are a family. There's something infectious about Metrobus, and it's all about the people. The people who recognise the importance of family. And how important it is not to betray your loved ones.
The advertiser needs to name the person who gave them this story as they are no longer welcome in our family.”
by ..., NA
Tuesday, August 18 2009, 7:15PM
“lol! salman you dont know that metrobus has been in contact with this website and will be getting the isp adress of people writing antimetrobus stuff here!”
by Salamu Alaykum, peace
Tuesday, August 18 2009, 6:55PM
“Management need to take responsibility for the way things are. And management need to take responsibility for the way they behave and the way that they interact with their staff.
Sarcastic little digs about things such as the person going to the press and the parking issue that are disguised as official notices only make you more of a laughing stock.
Announcing that you are leaving and then making a 360 on the basis that ¿you care about your friends/staff¿ just show-cases your immaturity.
Smashing windows in a hissy fit does nothing to install confidence in you. Neither does breaking down in tears after that event.
Having a service controller who receives numerous complaints about her condescending and abusive attitude, yet is given free reign to continue this behaviour adds nothing to your reputation.
The thing is, you make an unconvincing bully. And we all know that there was no valid reason for removing this parking, that there is sufficient space to accommodate staff. It was just done as a little dig.
Take a long hard look in the mirror. Are you happy with your life?”
by Negative, The Cronx
Tuesday, August 18 2009, 6:19PM
“How are staff meant to get to an industrial estate in the middle of the night if they don't use their own transport? You can't expect them to get up an hour earlier to catch the company minibus!”
by Negative, The Cronx
Tuesday, August 18 2009, 6:16PM
“FAO ANNE: men are statistically more likely to be the victim of an assault than women. Men's safety needs to be taken into account as well.”
by Mad, South Norwood
Tuesday, August 18 2009, 5:25PM
“So how stupid can one employer be? They take on 40 extra drivers and make less parking available ? The car park should be closed from 6am to 9pm when busses are running. It should be open for the early and late shifters outside those times to run those first and last busses and to make sure they can get to work safely. But I guess the managers who arrive at work during office hours couldn't park then.....”
by The3rd, Croydon
Tuesday, August 18 2009, 3:00PM
“If there are people trying to get to work at the early hours, why are there no buses running?”