Buses for people not profit

There was also a free bus service run around the city, no pictures unfortunately, but we're hoping to make it a regular service, so watch this space (report coming soon)

Here's the text:

FREE BUS SERVICE!
Sick of paying too much money on the buses? We are offering a donations only bus service so that people can pay what they think is reasonable and what they can afford. travel for less around the city. The destination will be on the front of the bus.

Some people believe in asking large corporations for cheaper services so that there is less profit made. Whilst we understand that this is a desirable goal we go one step further to ask for a co-operative way of living, where no profit is produced. Although there are potential alternatives to using buses such as cycling, realistically people need effective public transport that is environmentally friendly and better than running individual cars. Corporations are exploiting our needs.

We are a self-organised group of individuals who are tired of waiting for other people to listen to our needs and desires. Instead we believe in non-hierarchical organisation, to empower ourselves and take control of our own lives.

For more information on alternatives to capitalist, profit based society join us at the 2nd Indymedia Alternative documentary Film festival on 24th-26th of November in Matilda Social Centre, 111 Matilda Street, Sheffield. (Down from The Plug and Gatecrasher). From 6-11pm Thursday and Friday, 2-6pm and 7-11pm Saturday.

Saturday's "We Want Our Buses Back" demonstration against First's fare rises was a huge success. 250-300 people marched, exceeding our initial hopes that we could get 100-200. Considering that WWOBB was only set up 3 months ago and that this was the first demo we've called, at two weeks notice, I think we can be very pleased at the response. There was spontaneous applause from the marchers when they reached back to City Hall so everyone on the protest was very pleased with both the numbers and the response from onlookers as we marched past.

The demo got good publicity. We had radio slots on the morning on both Radio Sheffield and Hallam FM and a good piece in Monday's Star on page 2. Chris from Indymedia took some excellent photos which can be looked at on:  http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/sheffield/static/editorial.html

The demo set campaign convenor Calvin Payne up nicely to represent WWOBB on the Radio Sheffield debate hosted by Roney Robinson on Monday. Other WWOBB members got in the audience to make points as well. Calvin gave First bosses a good going over (verbally that is!) and clearly called for re-regulation and a return to public ownership. In closing the debate, Roney gave the last word to Calvin as "the person making the news this week"!

Around 50 people joined WWOBB at the demo on Saturday and the bucket collection raised over £50 as well so we have covered all the costs of organising the demo.

The next activity, as announced at the demo rally, will be a mass lobby of the next Sheffield City Council meeting on Weds 7th December between 12md - 2pm outside the Town Hall. We will once again present petitions, we already have another 2,700 signatures in addition to the 1300 presented last time. By the 7th we should reach 5000 in total. Whilst signatures on their own won't do anything, 5000 does show the level of support for our demands and camapign. That Terry Fox came to our last WWOBB meeting and Jan Wilson marched on part of the demo, together with Clive Betts MP attacking First in parliament, shows the pressure local politicians are under on the buses' issue. We must increase that pressure by getting as many people as possible to the lobby of the council and into the public gallery to cheer on the WWOBB speaker presenting the petition

The people who took up the offer of the free bus service were totally thrilled with it, and even more thrilled to get free cake to help them enjoy their journey home. The bus took up some of the main bus routes between Burngreave and Nether Edge, via the city centre. People were out in town handing out the leaflets advertisng the service. There was much discussion amongst people using the service about the current state of Sheffield bus services and reflection on the days when the local buses were a publicly run service and incredibly cheap.