However, to me, bus travel has become a tedious experience given some of the unpleasant and shambolic conditions. Even non-passengers who try to navigate a route past the busy bus stop in Horsham must cringe with annoyance.

People congregate along the footpath like Brown’s cows, cigarette smoke permeates the air and suitcases provide a challenging obstacle course.

There is an inside waiting room available where one passes through yet another smoker’s tunnel that provides tatty-uncomfortable chairs that face away from sight of the oncoming bus or one can endure the elements outside if a seat is vacant.

I’ve met people departing for ‘once in a lifetime’ overseas travel where the first leg of their journey begins by sitting waiting on a brick fence trying not to be in the way.

Those everyday conditions are not what visitors and the local public should have to experience; it’s definitely time for an upgrade and somewhere out of the sun would be nice. 

Consider Wednesday’s 38-degree heat; one bus double parked and the other with a driver busy swinging hefty suitcases from the gutter into the bus-hold out in the full sun with 20 or so people milling around waiting to board, it was no wonder that a handicapped lady became heat exhausted while waiting. Thanks to the driver’s compassionate care in getting her aboard safely, she could have fared much worse.

If a country town like Nhill can provide a lovely spot for the bus to stop surely Horsham can do better.

CATHERINE SELWOOD

Miram

I ALERT readers of the Mail-Times to the inconsistent traffic light sequence at the intersection of Williams and Stawell roads.

On some occasions the light and the arrow to turn right into Stawell Road from Williams Road are both green, and after a few second the arrow turns amber and red. That is the end of the sequence.

On other occasions both light and arrow are green, the arrow then turns amber and red and then turns off altogether, allowing right turning traffic to proceed with care to enter Stawell Road. On other occasions, the green light only is green while the arrow remains red, thus allowing only straight forward and left turn access into Stawell Road. If this is clear as mud I think I have done my job in alerting drivers to the strange traffic light configuration at the intersection.

WAYNE LENTSMENT

Horsham

FOR the past 13 years, at school and public holiday times, I have been catching the VLine or Firefly coach from Adelaide to Dimboola to visit my ageing wonderful mother. During my last visit, I stayed longer, to be with her when she passed away.

Upon my return to Adelaide, I was hoping that the driver would be one of the lovely men that I had got to know over the years.

Alas, it was a different driver, and in conversation with him, I told him of my recent loss and was hoping that I would have one of my regular drivers.

At Tintinara, as I was getting off the coach at the regular break, this new driver handed me his phone and said: “It’s for you”. He had called one of my driver friends and there he was offering his condolences to me. What an amazingly lovely thing for the driver to do.

After writing VLine and Firefly a letter of thanks for their caring and kindness over the years, I was even further amazed when I received a lovely flower arrangement, expressing their sorrow in hearing of the loss of my mother and offering their best wishes.

Now that truly is wonderful, caring and compassionate customer service.

SALLY-ANN BARNETT

Gawler East