I was interested, but not altogether surprised, to read Mrs Waterfall's letter in the Croydon Guardian (dated October 11), about the negative attitude of Tramlink and their staff towards new users who may be unfamiliar with the service.

Having been forced by circumstances to use public transport only recently, after years of not using it, I am disappointed by the arrogant attitude that you are supposed to know everything in advance.

Needing to use a tram recently, I tried to obtain a ticket, but bright sunshine meant I could not read the screen and had no idea of either the route or the cost.

Furthermore, with a serious injury, it was very difficult to operate the machine, which in my opinion, is poorly designed, so I gave up the idea of trying to get a ticket - and therefore of getting a tram at all.

For fear of facing a fine, which I can ill afford, or of any kind of confrontation, which my health will not allow, I walked to my destination.

And talking of buses, I boarded a bus in Sutton last week, again being unfamiliar with the route, I asked the driver if the bus went to Croydon.

His reply?

"You're avin' a LARFF, aren't you?"

Believe me, travelling by Croydon's public transport is anything but a larff.

S.Bourne

October 23, 2001 17:00