I was called "an anonymous whinger" (Letters, January 8) in reference to my previous letter of January 4.

The reason for withholding my name and address was because my husband works for Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company.

My name being published could have created personal problems for him.

If you have travelled widely throughout the county, you would be aware there definitely are better bus services.

I use two buses each way to and from work. It takes me 75 minutes to return home each day, whereas, if I am lucky enough to get a lift, it takes me 15 minutes. I know which way I would rather travel.

Roger French's letter on the same page was merely a carbon copy of his many previous statements, churning out the same old facts of freezing bus fares at £1, new parking schemes to clear the roads, real-time technology and increased passenger numbers.

Are the increased passengers due to people being really enthused by a £1 fare or simply because they have been forced off the roads by parking restrictions and have no alternative?

Mr French claims our praise for the £1 fare when this was proposed by staff members some 15 years ago. They were told it would never work.

If he truly cared about the travelling public, he would own up in an article on the money problems, itemise them and offer to eliminate them instead of always trumpeting what he thinks are the good points.

He did not answer the question of courtesy cars for visitors and pot luck for the regulars.

Traffic congestion is not always caused by motorists - one has only to look at North Street and see as many as ten buses lined up to see what causes problems.

I would far rather see half the buses but 100 per cent reliability. What use is a spanking new low-floor bus if it doesn't turn up?

It's all very well concentrating on a profitable business but some Sunday services are even financed by us rate-payers through Brighton and Hove City Council.

Get real, Mr French, and see what we really suffer out here.

-Name and address supplied