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Post by redexpress on Nov 5, 2017 3:07:24 GMT
This week noticed on the 56 in Angel new blinds in a E400. Instead of "St Bartholowmew's Hospital" which is currently on the E400H blinds the blind now shows "Bart's Hospital" probably the most ugly description and vague destination. May as well has put Bart Simpson on it instead Not sure how "Bart's Hospital" is any more vague than "St Bartholomew's"? It may be ugly to some people - that's subjective - but it's just as precise as using the full name. Most people tend to call it "Bart's" anyway. And the trust that runs the hospital is formally called Barts, so it's not just a colloquial name.
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Post by snowman on Nov 28, 2017 11:38:30 GMT
Don't know if this has been linked before, but interesting read if you wonder about some of the squashed descriptions, or why some of the blinds are in the format they are. www.dougrose.co.uk/images/bus-blinds.pdf
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Post by John tuthill on Nov 28, 2017 12:30:48 GMT
Don't know if this has been linked before, but interesting read if you wonder about some of the squashed descriptions, or why some of the blinds are in the format they are. www.dougrose.co.uk/images/bus-blinds.pdfGood article, well worth the read.
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Post by ServerKing on Dec 1, 2017 6:32:09 GMT
Don't know if this has been linked before, but interesting read if you wonder about some of the squashed descriptions, or why some of the blinds are in the format they are. www.dougrose.co.uk/images/bus-blinds.pdfGood article, well worth the read. It is a good read, but I do think it is time to move on from 1916 technology, especially when the blind jams / rips and we have seen awful cases of 'Banditry' of improvised A4 sheets, route numbers which could be mistaken for running numbers... sometimes on brand new buses, which shows the system is flawed. I don't think we can keep this one alive for much longer, and it's time to turn the machine off... even the demand as there is now only one manufacturer making them for hundreds of new buses, plus hundreds more with faulty sets, meaning demand outstrips supply, but it's something else that confuses the public and adds to the "bargain basement" image of TfL compared to other operators outside London. No WiFi, no USB ports, no branding, no LED blinds... I think the AMOLED screen trialled on SEe9 is the way forward if the heritage look is still to be kept to. It wil offer the same advantage of modern LED blinds in that if a bus transfers garage, ie Tottenham to Dartford, it wont mean an agonising process of re blinding, or a bus being sent out blindless due to demand. Hopefully the new head of Surface Transport can consider these things, as something has to be done to stop falling passenger numbers
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Post by Red Dragon on Dec 1, 2017 7:40:26 GMT
It is a good read, but I do think it is time to move on from 1916 technology, especially when the blind jams / rips and we have seen awful cases of 'Banditry' of improvised A4 sheets, route numbers which could be mistaken for running numbers... sometimes on brand new buses, which shows the system is flawed. I don't think we can keep this one alive for much longer, and it's time to turn the machine off... even the demand as there is now only one manufacturer making them for hundreds of new buses, plus hundreds more with faulty sets, meaning demand outstrips supply, but it's something else that confuses the public and adds to the "bargain basement" image of TfL compared to other operators outside London. No WiFi, no USB ports, no branding, no LED blinds... I think the AMOLED screen trialled on SEe9 is the way forward if the heritage look is still to be kept to. It wil offer the same advantage of modern LED blinds in that if a bus transfers garage, ie Tottenham to Dartford, it wont mean an agonising process of re blinding, or a bus being sent out blindless due to demand. Hopefully the new head of Surface Transport can consider these things, as something has to be done to stop falling passenger numbers *sad violins* 😂
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Post by ServerKing on Dec 1, 2017 11:19:22 GMT
It is a good read, but I do think it is time to move on from 1916 technology, especially when the blind jams / rips and we have seen awful cases of 'Banditry' of improvised A4 sheets, route numbers which could be mistaken for running numbers... sometimes on brand new buses, which shows the system is flawed. I don't think we can keep this one alive for much longer, and it's time to turn the machine off... even the demand as there is now only one manufacturer making them for hundreds of new buses, plus hundreds more with faulty sets, meaning demand outstrips supply, but it's something else that confuses the public and adds to the "bargain basement" image of TfL compared to other operators outside London. No WiFi, no USB ports, no branding, no LED blinds... I think the AMOLED screen trialled on SEe9 is the way forward if the heritage look is still to be kept to. It wil offer the same advantage of modern LED blinds in that if a bus transfers garage, ie Tottenham to Dartford, it wont mean an agonising process of re blinding, or a bus being sent out blindless due to demand. Hopefully the new head of Surface Transport can consider these things, as something has to be done to stop falling passenger numbers *sad violins* 😂 Sadder for TfL as numbers will drop if it's not clear where a bus is going... in this age of image and presentation, people are very fickle
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Post by Eastlondoner62 on Dec 1, 2017 11:42:40 GMT
Good article, well worth the read. It is a good read, but I do think it is time to move on from 1916 technology, especially when the blind jams / rips and we have seen awful cases of 'Banditry' of improvised A4 sheets, route numbers which could be mistaken for running numbers... sometimes on brand new buses, which shows the system is flawed. I don't think we can keep this one alive for much longer, and it's time to turn the machine off... even the demand as there is now only one manufacturer making them for hundreds of new buses, plus hundreds more with faulty sets, meaning demand outstrips supply, but it's something else that confuses the public and adds to the "bargain basement" image of TfL compared to other operators outside London. No WiFi, no USB ports, no branding, no LED blinds... I think the AMOLED screen trialled on SEe9 is the way forward if the heritage look is still to be kept to. It wil offer the same advantage of modern LED blinds in that if a bus transfers garage, ie Tottenham to Dartford, it wont mean an agonising process of re blinding, or a bus being sent out blindless due to demand. Hopefully the new head of Surface Transport can consider these things, as something has to be done to stop falling passenger numbers I am annoyed the Kindle display wasn't looked into further. Should more trials have been done and they played around with different sizes of smart paper they might have been able to properly pull it off. I'm not a huge fan of LEDs as they are just as prone to failures as blinds and c2c at Barking have been showing everyone over the past two weeks that they can actually break in a way which causes them to start flashing all the time which might be a problem for someone with epilepsy. The screen on SEe9 is something that should be trialled more IMO, I didn't even realise it was a screen when I first saw it However in terms of WiFi on buses I really don't see the need for London buses, maybe the X26 could have been a good candidate but most people in London have data packages that come with their phone contracts and people don't usually spend very long on buses anyway. I don't see it actually attracting more people onto the buses.
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Post by snoggle on Dec 1, 2017 12:12:23 GMT
Sadder for TfL as numbers will drop if it's not clear where a bus is going... in this age of image and presentation, people are very fickle Are they? I really don't think they are when it comes to blinds. Yes it's an annoyance but most people will ask if a bus turns up at a stop with an odd display. This was evident on the route 97 ride I had recently which had a borked front blind. A surprising number of people asked the driver and then got on. Bus patronage numbers are rising again albeit modestly as shown in the latest TfL financial report which Snowman linked to recently. There's never been a statement from TfL that the quality of blind presentation is a factor in modal choice for passengers. In the past it was low waiting times and a comprehensive network. Now it is "in vehicle" time hence TfL pressing ahead with bus priority schemes to try to raise speeds / reduce journey times. I appreciate "blinds" are probably your number one bugbear but I doubt any successor to Mr Daniels will be concentrating on such minutiae when they take over. There are more pressing issues and I don't see bus blinds being in the top 20 of their "to do" list. It is also worth bearing in mind that retention of blinds in London is as much a political issue as it is a TfL thing despite you repeatedly laying the blame at Mr Daniels' feet. There has been political resistance to moving away from TfL's current specification (i.e. blinds rather than LED / whatever) because of concerns for those with poor or failing eyesight. In the rest of the country this pressure does not exist because bus operators do as they like and have no political oversight on such matters. Yes there are some problems with the "smartblind" tech at the moment but it can't be beyond the wit of the manufacturer and the bus companies to find a solution. TfL appear to have calmed down on their constant typeface, layout and descriptor changes - presumably due to cost or someone asking some questions about the level of past spend. That's all to the good AFAIAC. Any further changes to blinds in specific vehicles seems to be being caused by allocation changes within companies and that's the operator's risk.
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Post by ServerKing on Dec 1, 2017 12:59:43 GMT
Sadder for TfL as numbers will drop if it's not clear where a bus is going... in this age of image and presentation, people are very fickle Are they? I really don't think they are when it comes to blinds. Yes it's an annoyance but most people will ask if a bus turns up at a stop with an odd display. This was evident on the route 97 ride I had recently which had a borked front blind. A surprising number of people asked the driver and then got on. Bus patronage numbers are rising again albeit modestly as shown in the latest TfL financial report which Snowman linked to recently. There's never been a statement from TfL that the quality of blind presentation is a factor in modal choice for passengers. In the past it was low waiting times and a comprehensive network. Now it is "in vehicle" time hence TfL pressing ahead with bus priority schemes to try to raise speeds / reduce journey times. I appreciate "blinds" are probably your number one bugbear but I doubt any successor to Mr Daniels will be concentrating on such minutiae when they take over. There are more pressing issues and I don't see bus blinds being in the top 20 of their "to do" list. It is also worth bearing in mind that retention of blinds in London is as much a political issue as it is a TfL thing despite you repeatedly laying the blame at Mr Daniels' feet. There has been political resistance to moving away from TfL's current specification (i.e. blinds rather than LED / whatever) because of concerns for those with poor or failing eyesight. In the rest of the country this pressure does not exist because bus operators do as they like and have no political oversight on such matters. Yes there are some problems with the "smartblind" tech at the moment but it can't be beyond the wit of the manufacturer and the bus companies to find a solution. TfL appear to have calmed down on their constant typeface, layout and descriptor changes - presumably due to cost or someone asking some questions about the level of past spend. That's all to the good AFAIAC. Any further changes to blinds in specific vehicles seems to be being caused by allocation changes within companies and that's the operator's risk. I am not totally blaming Mr Daniels, he did look into the Kindle trials, the "TfL approved LED blind" on MBK1, the SEe9 screen, which I think is the best yet, but I guess money (or lack of) is a factor. The current smartblind is good, but the tearing blinds or having to physically change the blindset upon garage move is its downfall. I am not sure of the political elements, the Mayor of London doesn't seem to be bothered regarding the blinds, I know patronage is falling, but I was thinking in this age of information, a little more on where a bus is going might be helpful to anyone new to a route or to London. Yes, I know there's iBus but it would be nice to see via points, which was something the latest screen on SEe9 was capable of, yet retaining the Johnston font. I didn't consider the issues of LED blinds in connection with photosensitive epilepsy, or perhaps migraine sufferers or with visual impairment, but as a modern solution, I hope TfL go with the new screens which would solve the issues I have listed Blinds would be my "number one bugbear" for a thread listing such but pressing things like poor roads, low speed limits, too many Private Hire vehicles don't help buses at the moment either *sad violins* 🎻🎻🎻😂
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Post by sid on Dec 1, 2017 14:19:46 GMT
Are they? I really don't think they are when it comes to blinds. Yes it's an annoyance but most people will ask if a bus turns up at a stop with an odd display. This was evident on the route 97 ride I had recently which had a borked front blind. A surprising number of people asked the driver and then got on. Bus patronage numbers are rising again albeit modestly as shown in the latest TfL financial report which Snowman linked to recently. There's never been a statement from TfL that the quality of blind presentation is a factor in modal choice for passengers. In the past it was low waiting times and a comprehensive network. Now it is "in vehicle" time hence TfL pressing ahead with bus priority schemes to try to raise speeds / reduce journey times. I appreciate "blinds" are probably your number one bugbear but I doubt any successor to Mr Daniels will be concentrating on such minutiae when they take over. There are more pressing issues and I don't see bus blinds being in the top 20 of their "to do" list. It is also worth bearing in mind that retention of blinds in London is as much a political issue as it is a TfL thing despite you repeatedly laying the blame at Mr Daniels' feet. There has been political resistance to moving away from TfL's current specification (i.e. blinds rather than LED / whatever) because of concerns for those with poor or failing eyesight. In the rest of the country this pressure does not exist because bus operators do as they like and have no political oversight on such matters. Yes there are some problems with the "smartblind" tech at the moment but it can't be beyond the wit of the manufacturer and the bus companies to find a solution. TfL appear to have calmed down on their constant typeface, layout and descriptor changes - presumably due to cost or someone asking some questions about the level of past spend. That's all to the good AFAIAC. Any further changes to blinds in specific vehicles seems to be being caused by allocation changes within companies and that's the operator's risk. I am not totally blaming Mr Daniels, he did look into the Kindle trials, the "TfL approved LED blind" on MBK1, the SEe9 screen, which I think is the best yet, but I guess money (or lack of) is a factor. The current smartblind is good, but the tearing blinds or having to physically change the blindset upon garage move is its downfall. I am not sure of the political elements, the Mayor of London doesn't seem to be bothered regarding the blinds, I know patronage is falling, but I was thinking in this age of information, a little more on where a bus is going might be helpful to anyone new to a route or to London. Yes, I know there's iBus but it would be nice to see via points, which was something the latest screen on SEe9 was capable of, yet retaining the Johnston font. I didn't consider the issues of LED blinds in connection with photosensitive epilepsy, or perhaps migraine sufferers or with visual impairment, but as a modern solution, I hope TfL go with the new screens which would solve the issues I have listed Blinds would be my "number one bugbear" for a thread listing such but pressing things like poor roads, low speed limits, too many Private Hire vehicles don't help buses at the moment either *sad violins* 🎻🎻🎻😂 Blinds, or changing over to LED's should be a top priority.
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Post by vjaska on Dec 1, 2017 16:50:04 GMT
I am not totally blaming Mr Daniels, he did look into the Kindle trials, the "TfL approved LED blind" on MBK1, the SEe9 screen, which I think is the best yet, but I guess money (or lack of) is a factor. The current smartblind is good, but the tearing blinds or having to physically change the blindset upon garage move is its downfall. I am not sure of the political elements, the Mayor of London doesn't seem to be bothered regarding the blinds, I know patronage is falling, but I was thinking in this age of information, a little more on where a bus is going might be helpful to anyone new to a route or to London. Yes, I know there's iBus but it would be nice to see via points, which was something the latest screen on SEe9 was capable of, yet retaining the Johnston font. I didn't consider the issues of LED blinds in connection with photosensitive epilepsy, or perhaps migraine sufferers or with visual impairment, but as a modern solution, I hope TfL go with the new screens which would solve the issues I have listed Blinds would be my "number one bugbear" for a thread listing such but pressing things like poor roads, low speed limits, too many Private Hire vehicles don't help buses at the moment either *sad violins* 🎻🎻🎻😂 Blinds, or changing over to LED's should be a top priority. I’d of thought the top priority would be to provide a good service and to manage the budgets as best as possible.
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Post by sid on Dec 1, 2017 16:58:26 GMT
Blinds, or changing over to LED's should be a top priority. I’d of thought the top priority would be to provide a good service and to manage the budgets as best as possible. Exactly, not having buses with bits of paper in the windscreen or different route numbers on the front side and rear.
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Post by DT 11 on Dec 1, 2017 18:56:42 GMT
I am not totally blaming Mr Daniels, he did look into the Kindle trials, the "TfL approved LED blind" on MBK1, the SEe9 screen, which I think is the best yet, but I guess money (or lack of) is a factor. The current smartblind is good, but the tearing blinds or having to physically change the blindset upon garage move is its downfall. I am not sure of the political elements, the Mayor of London doesn't seem to be bothered regarding the blinds, I know patronage is falling, but I was thinking in this age of information, a little more on where a bus is going might be helpful to anyone new to a route or to London. Yes, I know there's iBus but it would be nice to see via points, which was something the latest screen on SEe9 was capable of, yet retaining the Johnston font. I didn't consider the issues of LED blinds in connection with photosensitive epilepsy, or perhaps migraine sufferers or with visual impairment, but as a modern solution, I hope TfL go with the new screens which would solve the issues I have listed Blinds would be my "number one bugbear" for a thread listing such but pressing things like poor roads, low speed limits, too many Private Hire vehicles don't help buses at the moment either *sad violins* 🎻🎻🎻😂 Blinds, or changing over to LED's should be a top priority. The LCD blind currently being trailed on the SEe9 if successful is looking good for the future.
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Post by sid on Dec 1, 2017 19:16:14 GMT
Blinds, or changing over to LED's should be a top priority. The LCD blind currently being trailed on the SEe9 if successful is looking good for the future. I am aware of that, the rest of the country switched to LED long ago indeed many ex London buses that are sold for further use outside London are converted.
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Post by DT 11 on Dec 1, 2017 19:27:36 GMT
The LCD blind currently being trailed on the SEe9 if successful is looking good for the future. I am aware of that, the rest of the country switched to LED long ago indeed many ex London buses that are sold for further use outside London are converted. TFL don't like LED blinds. It's not gonna happen.
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