A West Lothian commuter has hit back at the unreliable bus service in the area.
Dee Pringle. 25, from Whitburn is often left 'distressed' due to the bus services that they say are always packed - and that's if they even show up.
Other passengers told of desperate mums handing babies to strangers as they struggled to get on packed buses. Commuters told of parents giving their youngest children to seated travellers while they stood with their older children.
Dee takes the X22 from Whitburn to Livingston for work, four to five times a week, and is at their wits end. They said: "As an autistic adult I feel like this has made the buses worse for me I used to use the X27 when it ran in Whitburn and got me on time for work.
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"Nowadays I’m running late for work due the bus. And it won’t stop taking too many passengers at once."
Speaking to Edinburgh Live, Dee said: "I have a 9am start and when I get to the bus stop, I'm usually sat waiting there. It's either late, doesn't show up or it's jam packed full of people. It honestly makes me feel nervous and distressed.
"Even when I get to work, I still feel distressed and worried that it's having an impact on my job. I certainly won't get fired but being late, it makes me nervous."
On average Dee spends around £55 on a bus ticket a week but the cost of travel can spike when the X22 doesn't turn up and they have to rely on a taxi. They have been left forking out between £19-£21 just one way.
Dee is now feeling forced to take driving lessons just to have some form of reliable mode of transport but admits it's not ideal.
"My grandad has offered me driving lessons but I've driven once before and...it didn't go well. I'm worried my reaction time just isn't fast enough when I'm on the road. I haven't really thought about it before all this.
"It was fine up until around October. But with driving lessons, that's even more money I'd have to spend."
They add: "When I'm at the bus stop, everyone's complaining that once again it's late or didn't show up. They [the council and the bus company] need to listen to the people a bit better, and the council needs to have a serious discussion with everyone in the area about the problem."
This comes after the McGills bus operator in West Lothian came under fire for removing services from Livingston. Fiona Anderson, 67, from Howden, told Edinburgh Live that she felt 'isolated' with only one bus that runs through the neighbourhood.
A spokesperson for West Lothian Council said: A West Lothian Council spokesperson said: “The vast majority of bus services in West Lothian are commercial, and we have no influence or authority over their operation.
“We are aware of frustration among some local residents regarding issues on the bus network and have raised concerns with bus operators. We also appreciate the significant challenges faced by bus operators in the aftermath of the pandemic and ongoing national driver shortage, to deliver a reliable bus network that meets passenger requirements within their existing resources.
“We would encourage anyone with concerns to take them up directly with the bus operator in the first instance.
The council advises residents can contact Bus Users Scotland (BUS) with any concerns or complaints about service and they can also share information with the Office of the Traffic Commissioner, who regulates bus services in Scotland. BUS can be reached at www.bususers.org, by emailing enquiries@bususers.org or calling 0300 111 0001.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live, Hannah Bardell, SNP MP for Livingston, said: "I’ve had many constituents contact me about many issues relating to bus services across my Livingston constituency and the wider West Lothian area. I’ve been in regular contact with the various companies and council but felt that given how bad it’s become I would like to sit down face to face with providers, the council and anyone else who may be able to help to try and find some solution.
"Companies are facing many challenges with fuel costs and Brexit which has brought significant issues but it’s really important to sit down and try to find solutions to a problem that is creating huge issues for people just trying to get about their daily lives."
"If you have been impacted, or are experiencing ongoing issues with bus services in my constituency please drop me a line to hannah.bardell.mp@parliament.uk so I can raise your concerns directly with the companies and local authority."
McGills have been contacted for comment.
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