Bus Driver of the Year 2023 Blackpool

[@moonagedaydream4489]

What a great event Stephen, your friend did really well to take part. It was such a lovely day, absolutely beautiful views too xxx

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

Thanks Moonage xx

[@MrsM70]

Nice to see my local McGills bus taking part! Hope your friend did well, Stephen😊

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

He finished 78th Sheila. Still, it's the taking part that counts.

[@MrsM70]

@@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool aww, that is very true Stephen!

[@michaelstaunton1632]

Always enjoy the videos on your channel keep up the good work 👍👍👍

[@shirleysmith1713]

Very interesting Stephen. Didn’t know about bus driver of the year in Blackpool. Always something different with you 👍🏻☀️😎

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

Glad you enjoyed it Shirley.

[@Shaunsfavourites]

Well done Stephen, another event in Blackpool.

[@simonmacdonald7645]

Hello Stephen So much going on in Blackpool And your there keeping us all updated on the different events happening in Blackpool Thanks Stephen

[@mildredschulz]

Very interesting video Stephen. I’ve never heard of bus driver of the year before . Always learning something new with your videos ❤️❤️❤️👍❤️❤️❤️

[@juliemcgarty4764]

Thanks for the video stephen always look forward to them

[@williamobrien188]

Lothian bus from Edinburgh and we have around 500 buses from 4 garages really fantastic service me walk out of my flat and got a service to town right outside so don’t have to walk to far for a bus and 1 every 20 min

[@elainemiller5407]

proud to see lothian bus getting 2nd and 3rd place, congrats to the winner

[@stephendavenport1414]

Reckon people in Blackpool will be saying you wait ages for a bus then 120 come along

[@kathleenmccarroll3755]

Well done Steven never knew they had a bus compation

[@brendasword8903]

Thanks Stephen that was great viewing

[@bettywhittaker6083]

It's really interesting about the different things that takes place in Blackpool enjoyed the video.

[@wendyjones2351]

Hi Stephen thank you for another great video as always aww I hope that your friend wins it what a great event gives bus drivers something to aim to have a great evening xx

[@philipheath8265]

Thanks for that! I had hoped to come to Blackpool for this, but couldn't make it.

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

Glad I could bring it to you.

[@juliebilson6897]

Great video Stephen thanks for sharing

[@pamelaaustin-fd2zv]

One of the drivers who won a few year ago worked for the bus company where i live, He is a great fella,

[@kkrispy2009P]

Great video Stephen

[@edwardharrington678]

Never knew they had a test for bus drivers. Very good. On Fri the 8th Sept the Winter Gardens will be busy as it is the NARP. National Association of Retired Police officers so it will be busy there as thousands attend the conference.Another good video Stephen.

[@j.d.sunderland8113]

Wow, the video has had such a great reception… Glad I got the chance to meet you again today, always a pleasure…. Plus the 2 minutes of fame for me too!!! (-)

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

Thanks for your input James. You sounded like you'd spoken on camera before.

[@j.d.sunderland8113]

Yep, spoken on camera many times, but on TV, this was a first for me on KZbin….. ;-)

[@TinWhistleTV]

sory for being daft, but do you think the event theme tune is "The Wheels On The Bus Go Round & Round!!!"? hehehe

[@DJMAGIKORE]

The Metropole is such a nice looking building

[@HolyFreakinDragonSlayer]

Nice day for a walk uo the prom and abit of transport spotting. Congratulations to the winner etc.

[@lparky4409]

Certainly something different! lol. We only get single deckers on our local route because of the narrow roads so enjoy going on double deckers while on holiday with our free bus passes.

[@juliewright-v3v]

thanks Stephen for another great video

[@andrewhunt3053]

Enjoyed that! Never knew that took place ...but now i do! Thanks a lot.

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@leequane7786]

Stephen has to be one of the top KZbinrs going 💪 every video is so entertaining and informative 🙂 a big thank you for the great content 🙏

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

Thanks pal 👍

[@duncanwheelan6890]

Recognise one of my colleagues that drive out the same depot as me up here from Aberhill depot in Fife Scotland he was the one waving about 15 minutes infront of imperial Hotel, always love your videos keep up the excellent work.

[@1701_FyldeFlyer]

This used to be held in Fleetwood many, many years ago.

[@G4RY1159]

Spot On

[@nigelstringerNVS]

Stephen, you was following our footsteps on all these last videos and we was looking for you, such. Same we missed you, I have messaged you too, left you a gift from me and Sue, vides are great btw, hopefully catch you next time, gift is with Chris.

[@Anekiii]

Bus drivers need an award the amount of abuse they get from fereal chilldren and bag-heads.

[@audiocoffee]

it happens here too. just a couple of weeks before the kids broke up for the summer, there were some feral crotchspawn drinking vodka and vaping on the bus - none of them over 14 (if that). the driver refused to budge until they got off. she did threaten the police, but, the kids forget that buses are fitted with cctv. and if something gets flagged, it has to be reported and if necessary, the police get to see it too. but they eventually realised they were going nowhere and they left the bus. we've had a total tool try to take a bike on the bus - refused. 'you can pedal quicker, get on it!' they handle the abuse fairly well - none of them stand for it. they're pretty thick skinned.

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

Yes.

[@G4RY1159]

Lovely day

[@Fonziedaz1]

Good video Steven 📹 👍 smart busses

[@davidnm21]

I believe Charles from Life On The Ocean Wave said his son is a bus driver in East Anglia. Talking of East Anglia that Excel bus runs near me on the Norwich to Peterborough run. It’s tough driving a bus I know I took the old PSV test in 1989 and I didn’t get through. I had a chance to have another go at it but not before I got offered a job on British Rail.

[@ZeppelinZebedee]

Rode it many a time was the longest Bus route in the country when it went Peterborough to Lowestoft

[@alanagnew7090]

Another great video Stephen

[@lezbriddon]

Cant believe I was there 10 minutes before you! we almost met! (We were talking to the cornwall guys)

[@Karen.from.Dudley]

I drive for National Express west midlands who the 1st bus belongs to and i drive those exact same buses

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

Nice buses Karen.

[@mdoubleu4028]

Constellation is up in Newcastle, they are at the Keele university

[@daryljones4508]

Was a really great day and acexcellent competition to take part in for which i was number 61

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

My friend finished 78th!

[@daryljones4508]

@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool I came 74th but that was 4th best in wales

[@wattstransportenthusiast621]

Well done Stephen. Recognize that bus national express Coventry no 7541. Oddly enough I seen that on Thursday just gone route X1 Birmingham via NEC in Coventry

[@garylivesey7571]

Thanks for your video Steve i enjiyed that👍

[@paulinefraser4097]

Wow those beautiful sea 🌊 views Thanks Stephen and hope your friend is the lucky winner for best bus 🚌 driver 👍 and we had a nice cuppa this past June at the “hole in the wall” great music lovey view of the beach and sea 🌊 and the lady that was running it was lovely as well 😁 take care until next time Pauline from Blackpool living in Canada 🍁

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

Thanks Pauline 👍

[@carolmurray5569]

Another interesting video thankyou🙂

[@waynecheshire7878]

Nice one Stephen I hope your friend did well in the competition 🚌

[@ScottMcculloch-ot7gw]

I bet the grange park on a saturday night is very entertaining for the drivers. The buses get egged and bricked on a regular basis here in fife.

[@audiocoffee]

well, it's different, but it's definitely 'on the buses' tier level behind the scenes I'll bet! I live on a stagecoach training route. sometimes, the bus is decked out with L plates (because of idiots who think it's running a service), and if you're unlucky, the bus is in service, but the driver is given verbal commands when issuing tickets and how much to apply to the brake pedal at traffic lights (ie: not 'slam foot down on brake and scatter passengers about') and stopping smoothly at a bus stop (HAH!!!). I'd be surprised if I saw a Stockport Stagecoach bus there where the driver knows what they're doing - I'm serious. there's a repeat offender driver who wears falling apart latex gloves, and a mask so battered it needed replacing forty times already if not more. not kidding. on the plus-side, they do vaguely attempt to pull up to the raised kerb area at the stops - and miss by about 6 inches - and I'm not made for jumping - not with a weeksworth of shopping with me 😛 I am the child of a bus driver and a conductress. and the guy you're speaking to about the competition (James?) - needs his own channel. I'd watch it. been dragged around the bus museum in Manchester countless times. however, my dad wouldn't let me buy an ex-used ticket machine because he'd 'seen enough of them' and a bus museum for a bus driver was a bit 'busmans holiday' 🤣 and I've worked out that, a 1980's ticket machine back then costing £2 to buy, would be worth considerably more today. gutted. 🙄

[@janobyrne2424]

Thanks for another interesting video, no idea they had a Driver of the year competition, how did your mate do Stephen? Are you able to film the awards ceremony? You're right about the beer monsters but at least they are contained where they are.😊😊😊

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

Thanks Jan. I don't know the results yet.

[@dianeroscoe1220]

Great bus competition Stephen. I e never heard of bus driver of the year, learn alot on your channel. Saw the Lake District open top pas few times whilst was previously staying in like district. must have. Ride on that one. Love seeing the open toppers, Noticed. Buses for. All over areas and our Manchester ones too. Someone the winner will be beaming when winner announced. Bet driving a bus not as easy as it may appear, plus needing precision judgement. And very confident person, because passengers prime importance and all else too. Weather was very kind too. another great watch Stephen. Takecare. . Di. X

[@Tibbinsss]

I took part in this. Tail swing you needed to be 1 meter away from the post with your back wheels lined up on the green marker.

[@Tibbinsss]

Another one was called bus bay. You have to stop with your front wheel in the green marker why being away 2-4 inches away from the yellow line

[@Tibbinsss]

You had to be 1 meter and half away from the bike cycle

[@Tibbinsss]

Another you had to stop with the front of the bus in the green marker.

[@Tibbinsss]

The turn out of the end you had to make sure you stopped at the stop line and only go when it was safe to do so without getting stuck in the yellow box junction

[@Tibbinsss]

And then there was two bus stops on the main road you had to stop 2-4 inches away from the kerb with the bus stop poll right in line with your front doors

[@joanneparker3001]

Hi from Blackpool

[@bredaquirke7362]

Very interesting video Steve, nice to see Middle Walk being buisy. I saw some of those buses from a tram while I was going Bispham. Didn't know why they were there. It's such a shame that Middle Walk is neglected most of the time. Brighton have a similar area that is full of small businesses. Nice to see The Hole in the Wall Cafe buisy.

[@alanagnew7090]

Not long next Monday my wife and I are coming down from Kilmarnock to the Ruskin hotel

[@andrewbush3744]

What's up with Blackpool police the beer monsters should be moved on good video as usual

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

Thanks Andrew.

[@JAB771]

Blackpool council is in the top five for the highest budget overspend in the country & we’re getting g electric busses. Well that’s another maximum amount to be had on next years council tax !! Shame there’s not more of the towns population paying council tax as it means more rises for the hard working ones of us !

[@mreverton8031]

Hiya. Do you have any pictures of the McGills bus with competition 71 I think or late 70s would of been a stagecoach drive..??

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

Only what’s here.

[@Karen.from.Dudley]

A west midlands bus driver won Bus Driver of the Year 2023 😂

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

My friend finished 78th Karen.

[@LesD9]

And the winner is................. Lee Grantham, from National Express West Midlands' Acocks Green depot in Birmingham. Bostin!

[@michaelmcgill-uu5ox]

I was waitn on blakey poppin head out one of buses lol 😅

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

"I hate you butler!"

[@michaelmcgill-uu5ox]

@@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool was great comedy stephen

[@moonagedaydream4489]

​​@@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool🤣🤣🤣 xx

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

Thanks Moonage xx@@moonagedaydream4489

[@julianmulloy3772]

What's that noise Stephen when you're walking.

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

It was my bag strap rubbing on the mic. I mentioned it via subtitles in the video.

[@centureye]

Although modern buses are better in comfort but do lack that character older buses have we saw them excell buses when we down in Suffolk Excell has different colour of bus for each route

[@pauldrakefield1914]

typical you wait all day for a bus and 95 turn up

[@adellaeltantawy9345]

😂😂😂 Good one!

[@kevinsimpson469]

Are you doing any more back street vids

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

Ye

[@juliec70]

Zoom in on that body eye candy lol 😂😂, great video Stephen x 😊

[@jayoneill1533]

This competition is a real snooze. If they added a bus RACE now that would make things a lot more exciting !! 😊

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

I joked that my friend would probably perform wheelspins & donuts for the camera if he spotted me filming. It won't win him bus driver of the year, but he'll be the coolest bus driver of the year!

[@G4RY1159]

The best thing 2 come out Blackpool these days IS the last Bus

[@moonagedaydream4489]

​@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool That would be so cool Stephen 🤣🤣 xx

[@RAFchurchlawford4469]

Maybe he DID do wheelspins and donuts and that's why he came 78th! It's a bit cruel giving out finishing positions for every driver. Top ten would be enough. C'mon Stan, tell us all how you got on. I'd rather not if you don't mind. C'MON, WE WON'T LAUGH!! ...............I came last 😭. LAST?! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@robertboughton11]

Hi Stephen

[@ZeppelinZebedee]

Going off tangent ..You hear about the poor lad being electrocuted in a Blackpool Hotel

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

Yes, but only today.

[@stephendavenport1414]

Beer monsters? Must be well off as Carlsberg Special is £3 a can

[@stephenwestley1017]

They should so it under normal conditions on a normal route not a closed off road theat separate them 😂

[@michaelmcgill-uu5ox]

Any idea who won bus driver of year 2022

[@mikestravelshow]

You mean 2023?

[@michaelmcgill-uu5ox]

No 2022

[@LesD9]

@@michaelmcgill-uu5ox Google's your friend. Reply

[@michaelmcgill-uu5ox]

@@LesD9 michael evans won it on 2022 cheers

[@Robertonnz]

Hi Stephen - who won?

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

I don't know pal, but my friend finished 78th. Check the website in the description.

[@Robertonnz]

Hiya - It was Lee Grantham - a nATIOANAL eXPRESS DRIVER@@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool

[@pepsipac93]

Can you do some videos at the best lap dancing clubs in Blackpool and review them

[@ireneroylance9472]

How About do your own research....😮

[@juliec70]

@@ireneroylance9472 lol 🤣🤣

[@ireneroylance9472]

🙌😁😉

[@G4RY1159]

It's Blackpool not Vegas

[@lparky4409]

I dont think KZbin would like that!

[@paulmaclachlan6960]

who won ?

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

Dunno yet

[@paulmaclachlan6960]

let us know when you find out , thanks @@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool

[@waynestewart8740]

Who won it stephen

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

Dunno

[@roygardiner2229]

It's a shame that the "Beer Monsters" take over the shelters. Maybe I am getting nervous in my old age but it seems to be hazardous to have the buses sharing the prom with pedestrians and cyclists. The Colonnades should be MAINTAINED PROPERLY. I reckon Blackpool Council don't do a great job in that respect.When I was walking in that area in 2019 I saw an idiot throwing a life belt into the sea while he and his floozy laughed. Cretin!

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

It's a shame the beer monsters bring the area down Roy.

[@Fonziedaz1]

Warringtons own busses are get electric busses in 2024

[@audreybagshaw5231]

Kings Lynn is in Norfolk ..East Anglia ..not the South East 😂

[@missliverpoolcatlady]

Alright karen 😂

[@jonnysgirl7975]

And Peterborough is in the east Midlands 😂😂😂😂

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

Bit pedantic Audrey. It's in the southeastern part of England from where I am!

[@moonagedaydream4489]

​@@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpoolWell said Stephen xxx

[@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool]

@@moonagedaydream4489 Thanks Moonage xx

[@PlasticGirl65]

My favourite buses were always the Felix buses in Derby (I don't think they exist anymore) they were red with Felix the cat on the side.