South Wales Evening Post - 25 March 2006
Swansea's new bendy buses are not as flexible as they look. Bosses were left red-faced yesterday after a publicity stunt to promote the new StreetCar had far from the desired effect.
Councillors and user groups were invited to try out the advanced vehicle on a trial run around the city.
Operators First Cymru wanted to give them a sneak preview of Swansea's new and swanky Metro service.
But at the last minute, highway chiefs vetoed a plan to take the hi-tech bus from County Hall to the park and ride car park in Landore.
They feared the trip would take too long because of roadworks along Oystermouth Road.And bosses of First Cymru, who are running the service, refused to take it along a new route - claiming it was not fair to ask drivers from Yorkshire to pick their way through a place they did not know.
Eventually both sides reached a compromise, sending the bus to Cwmbwrla roundabout.
Anthony O'Sullivan, head of transport, said: "There was no point taking the bus along Oystermouth Road as it would have been stuck in traffic for most of the time because of roadworks."
First Cymru were not happy for their drivers to take an alternative route as they are not from the area and would have been uncertain of where they are going.
"The bus costs £300,000 a time and, at nearly 19 metres long, is huge by any standard.
Swansea will eventually get nine of the hi-tech vehicles.
Council leader Chris Holley called it a terrific project that aimed to create a real alternative in the city to the car.
It will heavily target men, with its backers hoping to persuade them out from behind the wheels of their cars and onto the buses.
The proposed route will use a combination of roads and dedicated lanes to speed users from the north of the city to the city centre and the bus station, before turning west to the new Civic Centre at County Hall and on to Mumbles.
Cabinet member for the environment John Hague was full of praise for the vehicles, despite the hiccup over its initial journey.
"First Cymru has brought the StreetCar to Swansea so that people can see for themselves how it will work in practice," he added.
"Swansea Metro will be the first of its kind in Wales and will be a major investment by the council in the future of public transport in the city."
