The Witch Way season ticket – proceed with caution
Back in January I got really ill and was off work for ten weeks. I started off feeling a bit under the weather and ended up with anaphylaxis. Something nasty had got into my system (turns out it was from the Christmas tree – I’d grappled with it and either pine sap or preserving chemicals had seeped in through the my palms). So no more real trees for me.
Anyway, my doctor suggested I’d been run down in the first place and susceptible to picking up an infection. This was understandable as I’d been getting up at 5.30 every morning and driving to Manchester (to work) at 6.50 to avoid the traffic. So I decided to start catching the bus.
In an effort to be ‘green’ (by encouraging the use of public transport) my employer will pay for a year’s season ticket up front and you pay them back monthly, interest free. In the spring I moved from an apartment in Helmshore (with absolutely no outside space but a whole lot of noise from my lovely neighbours) to Edenfield. I’d lived here before, liked it, and it’s on the X44 route.
I handed in my parking permit at work before even thinking to look at the bus timetable. The X44 isn’t that frequent. If I want to stay in Manchester for a few drinks after work I have to either stay at a sympathetic friend’s house or get a later bus to Helmshore or Rawtenstall, then try to get home from there. And Rawtenstall bus station is, shall we say, ‘lively’ at 6pm. By 10 at night you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d walked onto the set of Shameless. And, of course, there are no buses to Edenfield at that time anyway.
But the X44 has its advantages. Someone else does the driving, allowing me to listen to my iPod/read a book/observe my fellow travellers and make stories up about them. I get to work in the mornings with my nerves intact because I haven’t had to do battle along the M66 and various short-cuts through North Manchester. And I have learnt the unspoken rules of Bus Etiquette (more later).
Best of all, I occasionally get to live the dream. If there’s been an ‘incident’ and the morning traffic’s going nowhere I can get off the bus, walk back home and work from there for the day. And who doesn’t want to do that?
August 10th, 2009 at 11:47 am
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For sure using the bus is a great idea… shame it does not actually pass ‘through’ Rammy. If it did I am sure that it would get more passengers.
I live in Holcombe Brook, the ‘closest’ place I can catch the bus is at the Red Hall on the top road… a walk of 2 miles for me.
August 16th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
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I find it odd that we’re encouraged to ditch the car but many don’t have an alternative. And Rammy has lots of commuters so why no decent public transport? Perhaps Lancashire United aren’t allowed on another bus company’s ‘patch’, who knows?
August 25th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
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That was the one and only reason why we and my partner moved from Stubbins to Road End Haslingden because of the poor public transport and taxis offered in Rammy . It has made a MASSIVE diference to our work and social life being able to jump on the X40/X41. I used to have to walk a mile then catch a bus to Bury then get to Bury, get off and then get the Met .. OR get a taxi ( if there was one available ) to Rawtenstall for the X43 ..Nightmare ..
Ramsbottom definately needs a decent Manchester service ..Urgently
September 24th, 2009 at 11:52 am
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Bit confused…thinking of moving to Ramsbottom and thought there was an X35 service running from Stubbins via Ramsbottom Market Lane to central Manchester at rush hour. Travelline tell me this is still running; does it exist and is it any good? Cheers.
October 14th, 2009 at 12:43 am
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The 90 once provided a great service to and from Rammy to Manchester until the GMPT powers that be decided to scrap it completely.
As Sarah H says we are encouraged to ditch the car but what alternative are we left with now to get to Manchester and back from Ramsbottom…none. Unless you are earning a very very good wage and can afford to commute via bus and tram every day.
Very poor indeedy GMPT…
November 4th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
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Hi D,
Yes, the X35 still exists. I take it occasionally to start off my sojourn to work in Wythenshawe when I don’t have the car. You can see the timetable here: http://www.gmpte.com/upload/routemaps/X35_26781.pdf
And when you get on in Stubbins or Rammy you may even be spoilt with a seat!
Happy bussing!!