Upminster student’s petition calls for TfL to address overcrowding and missed stops on the 346 bus route, causing school delays.
She says the bus is always too crowded and she often cannot even get on it. Sometimes the bus just drives right past her stop, and waiting for the next 346 bus takes too long.
She has to walk to other stops for the 256 and 370 buses, and this route takes longer, so she is often late for school. Mia said it is not her fault she is late because the bus is either late or it skips her stop. She gets a detention for being late and feels it is unfair since it is beyond her control.
Mia tried taking an earlier bus to avoid problems, but that bus skips her stop, too. If she catches it, she gets to school too early. School starts at 8:40 AM, but she gets there before 8:00 AM if she takes the early bus. Mia is tired of people being late.
Mia started a petition about the bus issues, requesting Transport for London to add more 346 buses. Over 260 people have signed it already, and the petition has a 500 signature goal.
Mia shared her petition to local schools and used Facebook and Instagram, too. She also put QR codes on the bus stops so people can scan them to sign her petition. She even put one on her lanyard.
She says people should not be late to work or school because they risk their jobs or education. The bus comes every 20 minutes and is a single decker, and she wants more buses only during peak times. The bus takes over an hour after school to get home, even though the actual bus ride should only take ten minutes.
Next year she has important exams and also has homework, activities, and a job. Rosie Trew works for TfL, managing bus services, and says they want a reliable bus system. TfL is sorry for the recent 346 route issues.
They introduced a new 346 bus service last year, which connects Harold Hill and Upminster directly, running all day, every day, she added. TfL also increased space on other routes recently. People traveling between Harold Wood and Upminster can use the 256 and 370.
