A Tale of Number 22 Bus Chaos.
A couple arrived at the Cedars 22 bus stand Evington Village at around 15:50 on Thursday 13th November 2025. They had checked the schedule on the internet and were aiming to catch the 16:02 into Leicester.
When they arrived, there were four buses shown on the live bus tracker board, two of which, the 15:59 and 16:02 both suited their purpose. As they waited suddenly those two times disappeared to be replaced by a 16:15 and three later buses. They were puzzled and a little annoyed, a state that was made worse when a gentleman told them that the 15:39 had also disappeared as if by magic. He had been waiting since 15: 30.
Four buses went in the opposite direction during this period. The couple waited anxiously hoping that the 16:15 would indeed turn up and not evaporate as the others had done because they wished to be at the Pheonix Theatre on time.
Unexpectedly two buses arrived at 16:03, one a single decker was packed full of school pupils, the other a double decker was virtually empty, but it overtook the stationary bus without stopping, leaving the waiting passengers to cram onto an already full vehicle. Four of them were crowded beside the driver standing forward of the warning sign and remained there for most of the journey. Each time the bus stopped, and the door was opened the 71-year-old gentleman had to perform an acrobatic manoeuvre to avoid being hit by or caught in the door and then flatten himself against the folded door to allow passengers to disembark. Even with people getting off the situation was not eased as the bus was so crammed full.
The bus driver of the vehicle they embarked was not to blame as he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Either allow the passengers to board the bus or leave them standing. The double deck vehicle should have stopped.
This experience hardly instils confidence in the Leicester City bus transport system. Firstly, in the accuracy of the scheduled arrivals which cannot be relied upon and leaves passengers anxious about appointments and scheduled meetings. Secondly in having to crowd onto an already full bus when an empty one was available and endure the discomfort and humiliation of having to twist and turn to avoid the moving door.
Many people in Evington feel the service falls short of an acceptable standard hence a recent protest led by Councillor Zufar Haq.
Recent protest about disatisfaction with the 22 bus service at the Cedars bus stand.
