Blogwatch

i http://www.bathcsc.info/

One of First Group’s inaugural forays into social media is to close next week. Let me rephrase that. First Group’s *only* foray into social media is to close next week.

After just nine months on active service, the praiseworthy Bath Bus Station Customer Services blog, Facebook account and Twitter feeds are all being withdrawn, after last operation on 26 June.

The reason? Cuts. First Group is centralising its south west customer services in Exeter. Interestingly, First has no garage there. While the Bath bus station’s information facility will remain open, there will be no room (or presumably staff) to engage the world in nu-media. And just when one of the Biggest Three had taken the initiative in embracing the social revolution to its fullest along comes a body blow.

The blog was always jauntily written. It was an ideal way of keeping people up-to-date on fares, punctuality and services in general. It proved useful when the city became gridlocked and invaluable at keeping people informed during this winter’s heavy snow.

Its literate leading light portrayed a thoughtful attitude that counters the often prevailing perceptions about First—if indeed these perceptions pertain to Bath. Even at the end, the writer has maintained a suitably stateswomanlike dignity and appears in no way bitter about the change. Well done, Kirsty. Look hard on her site and you'll see a picture of her (though she doesn't reveal too much—see left). And we think this is an opportunity missed by First (the blog, not any more revealing!).

i http://www.islandbuses.info/wordpress/

We welcome back From the Driving Seat, the official blog of Southern Vectis, after almost a month’s vacation. Well, not so much a vacation as ensuring visitors to the island enjoy their own vacations, with festivals finished and to be planned for.

i http://manchesterbus.typepad.com/

Manchester Buses is another positive and entertainingly written blog. The blog’s reference to the new chair of GMITA as a transport ‘geek’ is amusing and interesting at the same time, without being insulting. It provides an usual and off-beat glimpse at the man who is at the top job at GMITA.

i http://www.plymothiantransit.com/

If ever there was a story that’s ideal for a blog then it’s the potential sale of its local bus operator. Add to this sweeping changes in the city and Plymothian Transit is necessary read if you wish to keep up to date with the now fast moving developments in the city. Plenty of material for the author and reader alike.