IT HAS been hyped as the bus of the future. But you need only look at our letters pages today to realise it's a future the people of York don't seem to want.

Since the ftr carried its first passengers on Monday morning, we have been overwhelmed by calls and letters. Almost all have been hostile.

Not only is the bus too big for York's narrow streets, you tell us. It's ugly, too; it doesn't have enough seats; and there isn't sufficient space for wheelchair users.

Already, two vehicles have had to be taken out of action because of electrical faults. There have been delays which caused at least one passenger to miss his train; technical problems with the on-board ticket machines (which at least allowed some passenger to make their first journeys free); and grumbles about having to pay more to buy a ticket on the bus than if you prepay.

Cyclist Steve Knight reported being nearly knocked off his bike. The residents of Heslington Road are still upset at being forced to accept reduced on-street parking as the price of keeping their bus service. And there is widespread anger at the £1.3 million the council spent on preparing the No 4 route.

There were bound to be teething problems, First points out. And it is good to see a company like First - which has paid over £3 million for a fleet of 11 of the new buses - being willing to invest in York.

But it has to be the right kind of investment. We have put people's concerns about York's new super bus to First bosses. But judging by its calamitous first two days, you already feel the ftr isn't the right answer for an ancient city whose streets were built for horses and carts, not modernistic super-vehicles.

Updated: 09:38 Wednesday, May 10, 2006