First Bus CEO admits he hasn’t travelled by bus in over 30 years

The CEO of First Bus has admitted he has not used one of their own buses in over 30 years, prompting criticism that senior management is out of touch with the daily struggles faced by passengers.

The revelation came during a transport forum in Basildon when the executive was asked directly whether he had ever relied on First buses to travel around Essex. After a noticeable pause, he conceded that they had not used the service in at least thirty years, adding that he “couldn’t quite remember” the last time he took a bus.

The response was met with laughter from some in attendance, while others reacted with frustration. One commuter who had spent over an hour waiting for a delayed service to the venue remarked that the admission “explained a lot.”

Another, who had arrived late to the event due to a last-minute bus cancellation, pointed out that the CEO had been chauffeured to the meeting in a private vehicle.

Following the backlash, the CEO insisted he was well aware of the challenges passengers faced and regularly received reports on delays, cancellations, and service issues.

He defended his lack of personal experience with the buses by claiming that his schedule made public transport impractical, stating that he needed to ensure they arrived at meetings on time. The irony of the comment was not lost on those in attendance.

In response to growing criticism, Firstbus has pledged to introduce an internal initiative encouraging senior management to take at least one journey on the company’s buses per year to experience the service firsthand.

However, there has already been scepticism over how seriously the initiative will be taken, with some questioning whether it will lead to any meaningful improvements.

When asked if he would personally commit to using a First Essex bus in the near future, the CEO hesitated before responding that they would “consider it if the timing worked out.”

Shortly after the forum ended, the CEO was seen leaving the venue by car.