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Post by arrivaarriva on Nov 17, 2018 0:39:43 GMT
Sometimes the announcement is played while the bus is still at the previous stop and sometimes when the bus is already approaching the closed stop. Which is officially correct?
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Post by snoggle on Nov 17, 2018 1:19:12 GMT
Sometimes the announcement is played while the bus is still at the previous stop and sometimes when the bus is already approaching the closed stop. Which is officially correct? Logically the announcement should be played while the bus is stopped at the preceding stop. This gives people a chance to alight. This presumes, of course, that the driver knows the next stop is actually closed. That may not be the case if the stop has been closed since their shift started / if they were not told when they booked on or took over a bus. I've been on a 123 where the driver clearly had no idea the stop had been closed as he apologised profusely. Earlier in the day the stop was open because I saw it as such. My local stop was not closed the other day BUT the bus shelter contractor had parked a stonking great big lorry at the stop while they repaired the shelter. There was no way a bus could stop safely but there was no closure. Goodness knows how they handled it as I was headed in the opposite direction. Thankfully by the time I returned the contractors had gone and I could alight. I tend to find that most drivers do the right thing *if* they know a stop is closed. A minority don't bother and reminders are sometimes not given if a closure is long term and locals are familiar with it. I know that's not perfect but that's what can happen. The other factor is that a lot of passengers never hear the announcements and ring the bell for the closed stop the second the doors have closed at the preceding stop. They then curse the driver when the bus doesn't stop! The driver's not to blame for the passenger's lack of attention. |
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Post by Lukeo on Nov 17, 2018 2:20:19 GMT
I’ve always had the driver play the announcement whilst at the previous stop, waiting a short time for anyone to get off the bus. I’ve never experienced anyone then getting angry when the bus skips the next stop. More often what I see happen, is that people wait at a closed stop and get angry when the bus drives past them. Perhaps they could make it more obvious at the bus stops themselves.
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Post by Paul on Nov 17, 2018 8:19:55 GMT
I tend to find that most drivers do the right thing *if* they know a stop is closed This is the biggest problem I find with stop closures - very often the first we as drivers know of them is when we approach them. It’s rare to have prior notification of a stop closure unless a driver in the opposite direction has tipped you off When I am aware of a stop closure I usually play the announcement at the previous stop (three or four times usually!) and leave the doors open to allow people the option of getting off. And yes, people who haven’t been paying attention have moaned at me for not letting them know the stop was closed. One man even told me that he heard the announcement but didn’t think it meant I wasn’t going to stop! |
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Post by ronnie on Nov 17, 2018 8:48:36 GMT
I tend to find that most drivers do the right thing *if* they know a stop is closed This is the biggest problem I find with stop closures - very often the first we as drivers know of them is when we approach them. It’s rare to have prior notification of a stop closure unless a driver in the opposite direction has tipped you off When I am aware of a stop closure I usually play the announcement at the previous stop (three or four times usually!) and leave the doors open to allow people the option of getting off. And yes, people who haven’t been paying attention have moaned at me for not letting them know the stop was closed. One man even told me that he heard the announcement but didn’t think it meant I wasn’t going to stop! The easiest solution would to be to have a dolly stop close by (if it’s safe of course and if there are no stops close by).! |
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Post by snoggle on Nov 17, 2018 11:00:41 GMT
One man even told me that he heard the announcement but didn’t think it meant I wasn’t going to stop! For goodness sake! Makes you wonder what he did think it meant. (rolls eyes)  |
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Post by redbus on Nov 18, 2018 12:44:46 GMT
There need to be far fewer stop closures without temporary stops. Now and again drivers won't know because a stop closes in the middle of their shift, but given that most closures are pre-planned, there needs to be far better co-ordination. Once TfL knows they should inform the relevant garage and iBus controller, that way the driver can be informed in good time. TfL should also be trying to help work out alternatives, so is better to get off the stop before or the stop after? Worst is when there are two stops near to each other for different routes, one is closed and one is open. If the passenger knew in advance they could take the route where the bus stop is open.
Back to the actual question, I don't know, but wherever possible the announcement should be played the stop before.
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Post by sid on Nov 18, 2018 12:49:50 GMT
There need to be far fewer stop closures without temporary stops. Now and again drivers won't know because a stop closes in the middle of their shift, but given that most closures are pre-planned, there needs to be far better co-ordination. Once TfL knows they should inform the relevant garage and iBus controller, that way the driver can be informed in good time. TfL should also be trying to help work out alternatives, so is better to get off the stop before or the stop after? Worst is when there are two stops near to each other for different routes, one is closed and one is open. If the passenger knew in advance they could take the route where the bus stop is open. Back to the actual question, I don't know, but wherever possible the announcement should be played the stop before. I very much agree and this is a real bugbear of mine bus stops needlessly closed or no dolly stops provided even when there is ample opportunity to do so. Obviously there will be a few occasions when it's not possible to provide a dolly stop such as the closure of East Croydon interchange when the 119 and 466 had to miss a busy stop. |
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Post by vjaska on Nov 18, 2018 14:10:37 GMT
There need to be far fewer stop closures without temporary stops. Now and again drivers won't know because a stop closes in the middle of their shift, but given that most closures are pre-planned, there needs to be far better co-ordination. Once TfL knows they should inform the relevant garage and iBus controller, that way the driver can be informed in good time. TfL should also be trying to help work out alternatives, so is better to get off the stop before or the stop after? Worst is when there are two stops near to each other for different routes, one is closed and one is open. If the passenger knew in advance they could take the route where the bus stop is open. Back to the actual question, I don't know, but wherever possible the announcement should be played the stop before. Sadly, it goes back to the problem of not having enough staff - I mean diversion signs are still up in Brixton for a diversion that finished on the 9th November so I presume more important jobs are being prioritised first. |
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Post by Pilot on Nov 18, 2018 15:27:53 GMT
I had that where the bus stop got closed middle of shift, doing early afternoon shift as well so a lot of elder people on bus, wasn't gonna make them walk up steep hill for 15 mins so just stopped where it's safe to do so just after the bus stop. Obviously it's a driver discretion and obviously if anything happens it's on driver 100% but sometimes gonna consider being human being and do the right thing.
If I know the bus stop is closed, then stop at the stop before and play announcement or tell them, then you got your back covered if they complain, but if you don't do that then good luck listening to all the yapping.
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Post by ronnie on Nov 18, 2018 17:58:49 GMT
I had that where the bus stop got closed middle of shift, doing early afternoon shift as well so a lot of elder people on bus, wasn't gonna make them walk up steep hill for 15 mins so just stopped where it's safe to do so just after the bus stop. Obviously it's a driver discretion and obviously if anything happens it's on driver 100% but sometimes gonna consider being human being and do the right thing. If I know the bus stop is closed, then stop at the stop before and play announcement or tell them, then you got your back covered if they complain, but if you don't do that then good luck listening to all the yapping. And hopefully you didn’t get in trouble for that ... as long there are sensible people matters should be ok! |
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Post by vjaska on Nov 18, 2018 18:27:06 GMT
I had that where the bus stop got closed middle of shift, doing early afternoon shift as well so a lot of elder people on bus, wasn't gonna make them walk up steep hill for 15 mins so just stopped where it's safe to do so just after the bus stop. Obviously it's a driver discretion and obviously if anything happens it's on driver 100% but sometimes gonna consider being human being and do the right thing. If I know the bus stop is closed, then stop at the stop before and play announcement or tell them, then you got your back covered if they complain, but if you don't do that then good luck listening to all the yapping. My 224 driver did that yesterday - the Knatchbull Road stop in Harlesden was shut but the driver stopped in the safest spot possible and told them to use the front door as it wasn’t possible through the rear door. |
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Post by beaver14uk on Nov 18, 2018 21:26:15 GMT
Whilst not perfect pre planned stop closures are advertised to garages by Notice of Event . uote author=" Paul" source="/post/466024/thread" timestamp="1542442795"] I tend to find that most drivers do the right thing *if* they know a stop is closed This is the biggest problem I find with stop closures - very often the first we as drivers know of them is when we approach them. It’s rare to have prior notification of a stop closure unless a driver in the opposite direction has tipped you off When I am aware of a stop closure I usually play the announcement at the previous stop (three or four times usually!) and leave the doors open to allow people the option of getting off. And yes, people who haven’t been paying attention have moaned at me for not letting them know the stop was closed. One man even told me that he heard the announcement but didn’t think it meant I wasn’t going to stop! [/quote] |
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Post by beaver14uk on Nov 18, 2018 21:28:35 GMT
We do that is the whole point of issuing notices to garages. quote author=" redbus" source="/post/466198/thread" timestamp="1542545086"]There need to be far fewer stop closures without temporary stops. Now and again drivers won't know because a stop closes in the middle of their shift, but given that most closures are pre-planned, there needs to be far better co-ordination. Once TfL knows they should inform the relevant garage and iBus controller, that way the driver can be informed in good time. TfL should also be trying to help work out alternatives, so is better to get off the stop before or the stop after? Worst is when there are two stops near to each other for different routes, one is closed and one is open. If the passenger knew in advance they could take the route where the bus stop is open. Back to the actual question, I don't know, but wherever possible the announcement should be played the stop before.[/quote] |
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Post by londonbusboy on Nov 18, 2018 21:42:36 GMT
It's annoying that the iBus system wont let you curtail on your last trip before meal relief or finishing so as a driver you turn the announcements off. Then you cant play any of the pre-recorded messages such as the next bus stop is closed.
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