What do residents think about the island’s public transport?

We went to Lord Street bus station in Douglas to ask bus users for their opinions of the buses, trams, horse trams and steam train.

’The buses are quite good when I use them,’ said Avril Melvin, aged 74. ’I usually drive in to Ramsey from Andreas. I park my car there and then get the bus into Douglas.

’However, I don’t find bus timetables easy to read.

’I think it’s important to use public transport with the way things are going. For instance, look at all the cars in town today.

’Car parks could be used for something else. I don’t think there’s enough done for the locals, in particular the youths, during winter or for the people that come over.’

Avril finds the trams difficult to use.

’The steps are too high,’ she said. ’It’s a big step off the ground, so I rarely travel on the trams. The last time I went on the trams was about two years ago. If my friend hadn’t had a hold of me, it would have fallen.’

Jackie Ramsey, aged 53, from Union Mills, said: ’On a bus in England you pay £15 to go all around the northwest of Widnes and Liverpool for a whole week.

’Here, it’s £1.30 from Lord Street to Union Mills. If I walk further down the road I’m still going to pay £1.30 to get home.

’From Lord Street, to Peel it’s £2.75. From Union Mills to Peel it’s still £2.75. I don’t think the pricing is fair.’

When asked for her opinion on the horse trams she replied: ’I don’t think we should have the horse trams. It’s a waste of taxpayers’ money.’

Douglas resident Joanne McMullan, aged 34, depends on the bus service as she doesn’t drive.

’The public transport here is okay,’ she said.

’I find it hard with a pram. If there’s another pram or a wheelchair already on the bus before me I’d probably struggle getting on, as my pram is quite big and there’s not a lot of room left.’

Husband and wife Pauline and Michael Killey, both aged 66 from Peel, find travelling by bus very useful.

Pauline said: ’It’s wonderful that we don’t have to find anywhere to park. We’ve got a bus pass, which makes it very easy for us and we often go to Ramsey or to Port Erin for lunch - it’s the joys of retirement!

’We particularly like double decker buses as we like sitting upstairs and the drivers are very nice.’

Michael continued: ’Getting the bus is alright in theory. If you come into town with children and bags of shopping it can be an awful thing to get on and off with.’

Pauline added: ’I’m not impressed with Lord Street as a bus station.’

Michael said: ’But you’re not sitting in here for long.’

Pauline replied: ’You don’t feel the cold!’

The pair haven’t been on a horse tram or the steam train in many years. ’It’s a novelty for children and the visitors,’ Michael explained.

Corey Pinder, 24, from Douglas, said: ’I think the buses are quite good. There are three to four different buses that go past my street, which is quite convenient.

’I’m not a big fan of the horse trams. They are more of a nuisance, but for tourism they’re quite unique. I’ve used the tram only twice in my lifetime here.’