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Post by Frenzie on Jul 16, 2019 5:35:15 GMT
I can't tell you how many cases just in the last 2 days of people sitting at or close to bus stop playing on their phone and not looking for the bus, as soon as the bus goes by then they jump off the seat, I think just super disrespectful for bus drivers and then they go on twitter and complain to TFL about it. As for personal rant, I was driving the other day, I decided I won't be mr nice guy for my second shift and won't be bullied by non-payers. I am approaching the bus stop I can see from a mile away the pair of two teenagers are 'scanning me before I stop to see if I 'look' like the kind of driver that will allow them for free. Sure enough, i open door 'i lost my oyster'...pair of them, very original story...never heard that one before, one fella just proceed to the bus all the way to the back seat I said nah nah nah, I open the rear door I said out of the bus, the second teenager decided to follow his mate and sit at the back with him. I switch off engine because it's stage 1 scare tactic, I open cab door I said look you're just holding everyone else up, please get off the bus or pay your fare, they completely ignore me and proceed to sit, at this point I am running out of options, I wait for 2-3 minutes I decided to scare them by stage 2 by saying 'do you want me to call the police?' lol the geezer says yes. I was like 'dis gon b gud'...so i call controller even though no actual plan of what to do, I know for fact even if I code blue or call controller or police because of 'non payers' they will just say proceed at which point it's insulting as bus driver to try to do job seriously and then they tell you to just 'go' after all these threats of police and what not, they will just abuse the bus service next time. Anyways I waited 2 mins more, they saw bus behind me and got off just as soon as controller called me back, but they just went to different bus behind me. At the end of the day, drivers are 'covered' as long as you tell these passengers to pay, you have no rights to kick them out basically. I just hate being bullied like that, they look at you like you're an idiot. It sucks to be a working-class person and get abused by freaking teenagers and drivers got no rights no nothing and on top of that, while it sounds like nothing, it indeed causes a lot of stress to driver, the blood starts boiling it's hard to stay cool, but you must remain professional at the same time. My bus was half full, none of the people actually said one word 'driver just go' or something, at the end I just put on a PA and apologized to everyone for the delay. /rant Really feel bad for you (and a bit angry at the system). Drivers should certainly be given greater powers to remove these people off of buses, otherwise, what’s the deterrent?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2019 7:14:00 GMT
I can't tell you how many cases just in the last 2 days of people sitting at or close to bus stop playing on their phone and not looking for the bus, as soon as the bus goes by then they jump off the seat, I think just super disrespectful for bus drivers and then they go on twitter and complain to TFL about it. As for personal rant, I was driving the other day, I decided I won't be mr nice guy for my second shift and won't be bullied by non-payers. I am approaching the bus stop I can see from a mile away the pair of two teenagers are 'scanning me before I stop to see if I 'look' like the kind of driver that will allow them for free. Sure enough, i open door 'i lost my oyster'...pair of them, very original story...never heard that one before, one fella just proceed to the bus all the way to the back seat I said nah nah nah, I open the rear door I said out of the bus, the second teenager decided to follow his mate and sit at the back with him. I switch off engine because it's stage 1 scare tactic, I open cab door I said look you're just holding everyone else up, please get off the bus or pay your fare, they completely ignore me and proceed to sit, at this point I am running out of options, I wait for 2-3 minutes I decided to scare them by stage 2 by saying 'do you want me to call the police?' lol the geezer says yes. I was like 'dis gon b gud'...so i call controller even though no actual plan of what to do, I know for fact even if I code blue or call controller or police because of 'non payers' they will just say proceed at which point it's insulting as bus driver to try to do job seriously and then they tell you to just 'go' after all these threats of police and what not, they will just abuse the bus service next time. Anyways I waited 2 mins more, they saw bus behind me and got off just as soon as controller called me back, but they just went to different bus behind me. At the end of the day, drivers are 'covered' as long as you tell these passengers to pay, you have no rights to kick them out basically. I just hate being bullied like that, they look at you like you're an idiot. It sucks to be a working-class person and get abused by freaking teenagers and drivers got no rights no nothing and on top of that, while it sounds like nothing, it indeed causes a lot of stress to driver, the blood starts boiling it's hard to stay cool, but you must remain professional at the same time. My bus was half full, none of the people actually said one word 'driver just go' or something, at the end I just put on a PA and apologized to everyone for the delay. /rant What you can do is do a code red and say I have two young lads onboard who refused to pay their fare. They are now being rude and disrespectful towards me and are being a nuisance on the bus. Can I have police assistance to get them off the bus? That always tends to work. Even so I think you can do a code red for that as I had a call put out from one of the controllers informing everyone of a group of youths trying to board buses without paying their fare. He said do not let them on and if you need police assistance do not hesitate to do a code red.
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Post by ronnie on Jul 16, 2019 9:30:12 GMT
I can't tell you how many cases just in the last 2 days of people sitting at or close to bus stop playing on their phone and not looking for the bus, as soon as the bus goes by then they jump off the seat, I think just super disrespectful for bus drivers and then they go on twitter and complain to TFL about it. As for personal rant, I was driving the other day, I decided I won't be mr nice guy for my second shift and won't be bullied by non-payers. I am approaching the bus stop I can see from a mile away the pair of two teenagers are 'scanning me before I stop to see if I 'look' like the kind of driver that will allow them for free. Sure enough, i open door 'i lost my oyster'...pair of them, very original story...never heard that one before, one fella just proceed to the bus all the way to the back seat I said nah nah nah, I open the rear door I said out of the bus, the second teenager decided to follow his mate and sit at the back with him. I switch off engine because it's stage 1 scare tactic, I open cab door I said look you're just holding everyone else up, please get off the bus or pay your fare, they completely ignore me and proceed to sit, at this point I am running out of options, I wait for 2-3 minutes I decided to scare them by stage 2 by saying 'do you want me to call the police?' lol the geezer says yes. I was like 'dis gon b gud'...so i call controller even though no actual plan of what to do, I know for fact even if I code blue or call controller or police because of 'non payers' they will just say proceed at which point it's insulting as bus driver to try to do job seriously and then they tell you to just 'go' after all these threats of police and what not, they will just abuse the bus service next time. Anyways I waited 2 mins more, they saw bus behind me and got off just as soon as controller called me back, but they just went to different bus behind me. At the end of the day, drivers are 'covered' as long as you tell these passengers to pay, you have no rights to kick them out basically. I just hate being bullied like that, they look at you like you're an idiot. It sucks to be a working-class person and get abused by freaking teenagers and drivers got no rights no nothing and on top of that, while it sounds like nothing, it indeed causes a lot of stress to driver, the blood starts boiling it's hard to stay cool, but you must remain professional at the same time. My bus was half full, none of the people actually said one word 'driver just go' or something, at the end I just put on a PA and apologized to everyone for the delay. /rant Really feel bad for you (and a bit angry at the system). Drivers should certainly be given greater powers to remove these people off of buses, otherwise, what’s the deterrent? Its a shame to be honest. Although given the recent spate in knife / acid attacks I wouldn’t go too far out incl challenging anyone ....
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Post by Pilot on Jul 16, 2019 9:49:06 GMT
In the end yeah perhaps I could do code red, maybe TFL even covers for mileage loss in such cases if cops are involves and then I as driver have to do occurrence reports at which point the company will look at my driving standards and see me driving with one hand or something and give me the bollocking, unfortunately that's the reality of bus operating now days lol.
And as for ronnie's comment with knife crime you're dead on man, that's what another fellow driver told me as well, he said just not worth arguing over 1.50 for potential stab in the back after work. Best driver advice I got in the past year I think.
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Post by snowman on Jul 16, 2019 10:14:24 GMT
In the end yeah perhaps I could do code red, maybe TFL even covers for mileage loss in such cases if cops are involves and then I as driver have to do occurrence reports at which point the company will look at my driving standards and see me driving with one hand or something and give me the bollocking, unfortunately that's the reality of bus operating now days lol. And as for ronnie's comment with knife crime you're dead on man, that's what another fellow driver told me as well, he said just not worth arguing over 1.50 for potential stab in the back after work. Best driver advice I got in the past year I think. The joke of this is the bus Operator and TfL clearly don't care Surely a person not paying then sitting down is a revenue enforcement matter, not a police matter, Different if they are being disruptive or upsetting others due to abusive behaviour, then it is police What I mean is there should be revenue staff on call who drive (fast) to meet you, not you inconvenience other fare paying passengers by staying put. I don't like the attitude of TfL that its acceptable to disrupt others journeys, unless they are trying to discourage travel. At the very least if they do choose to hold the bus, everyone else on it ought to get some sort of automatic fare refund for the time wasted, perhaps that would focus minds on better way to deal with it.
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Post by Pilot on Jul 16, 2019 10:32:08 GMT
In the end yeah perhaps I could do code red, maybe TFL even covers for mileage loss in such cases if cops are involves and then I as driver have to do occurrence reports at which point the company will look at my driving standards and see me driving with one hand or something and give me the bollocking, unfortunately that's the reality of bus operating now days lol. And as for ronnie's comment with knife crime you're dead on man, that's what another fellow driver told me as well, he said just not worth arguing over 1.50 for potential stab in the back after work. Best driver advice I got in the past year I think. The joke of this is the bus Operator and TfL clearly don't care Surely a person not paying then sitting down is a revenue enforcement matter, not a police matter, Different if they are being disruptive or upsetting others due to abusive behaviour, then it is police What I mean is there should be revenue staff on call who drive (fast) to meet you, not you inconvenience other fare paying passengers by staying put. I don't like the attitude of TfL that its acceptable to disrupt others journeys, unless they are trying to discourage travel. At the very least if they do choose to hold the bus, everyone else on it ought to get some sort of automatic fare refund for the time wasted, perhaps that would focus minds on better way to deal with it.
5 mins of hold won't be end of the world, and it's the first and last time I've done it because I said it's not worth the stress and I only done it because of their disgusting attitude towards me and other passengers by completely ignoring me, it was like 8PM in the evening everyone just going home from the train station. Anyways, I don't think there is way to fix it, even inspectors are playing it smart nowdays lol...like this guy at main train station I seen few times just hope on the bus at noon on Wednesday which has like 2 people, does his checks and hops off, then completely ignores half full bus because that's too much work and potential risk of confrontation. But I also met some really good inspectors who actually go as far as calling the parents of a child with no oyster to explain them they can get one for like tenner for entire year or two.
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Post by busaholic on Jul 16, 2019 11:04:29 GMT
In the end yeah perhaps I could do code red, maybe TFL even covers for mileage loss in such cases if cops are involves and then I as driver have to do occurrence reports at which point the company will look at my driving standards and see me driving with one hand or something and give me the bollocking, unfortunately that's the reality of bus operating now days lol. And as for ronnie's comment with knife crime you're dead on man, that's what another fellow driver told me as well, he said just not worth arguing over 1.50 for potential stab in the back after work. Best driver advice I got in the past year I think. The joke of this is the bus Operator and TfL clearly don't care Surely a person not paying then sitting down is a revenue enforcement matter, not a police matter, Different if they are being disruptive or upsetting others due to abusive behaviour, then it is police What I mean is there should be revenue staff on call who drive (fast) to meet you, not you inconvenience other fare paying passengers by staying put. I don't like the attitude of TfL that its acceptable to disrupt others journeys, unless they are trying to discourage travel. At the very least if they do choose to hold the bus, everyone else on it ought to get some sort of automatic fare refund for the time wasted, perhaps that would focus minds on better way to deal with it. TfL would say ''we don't operate the buses, we contract this out and we are confident our contractors have the relevant guidance and professional expertise to handle these matters'' or some such bull. In other words ''not my problem, guv.'' It makes my blood boil, and I can think of many I knew in bus management who'd regard this as an utterly unacceptable way to run a bus service.
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Post by VPL630 on Jul 16, 2019 11:16:02 GMT
Hearing from many of my colleagues the 301 has been very busy over the last few days. Today from doing the 401s this morning I’ve been seeing 301s half full / near full during the rush hour. I saw a 301 in Thamesmead heading to Bexleyheath the same direction the upper and lower saloon most seats were taken. My bus was nearly full up by the time I got to the end of Nuxley Road. I expect by the end of the week it will be even busier. Bexleyheath Clock Tower the loadings are quite high as well. September it will be very busy. TfL actually doing something good for once, someone will be getting a pay rise, or probably the sack because they had a good idea and it worked
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Post by Pilot on Jul 16, 2019 12:14:57 GMT
September will be a standstill for everyone because everyone will try to get to work at the same time, I can't wait in a week or so we'll have no traffic whatsoever.
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Post by vjaska on Jul 16, 2019 13:31:41 GMT
In the end yeah perhaps I could do code red, maybe TFL even covers for mileage loss in such cases if cops are involves and then I as driver have to do occurrence reports at which point the company will look at my driving standards and see me driving with one hand or something and give me the bollocking, unfortunately that's the reality of bus operating now days lol. And as for ronnie's comment with knife crime you're dead on man, that's what another fellow driver told me as well, he said just not worth arguing over 1.50 for potential stab in the back after work. Best driver advice I got in the past year I think. I don't like the attitude of TfL that its acceptable to disrupt others journeys, unless they are trying to discourage travel. Agree though they’re hardly encouraging people when slashing frequencies and sections/whole routes left, right & centre anyway.
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Post by galwhv69 on Jul 16, 2019 15:33:01 GMT
Have there been any plans to expand the (offroad?) bus stands at Clapham Junction for the 344? Constantly overflowing with multiple buses standing in the bus lane with hazards on.
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Post by WSD3 on Jul 16, 2019 16:24:21 GMT
Have there been any plans to expand the (offroad?) bus stands at Clapham Junction for the 344? Constantly overflowing with multiple buses standing in the bus lane with hazards on. I'm not to sure but could they not send the 344 to the 49 terminus via strath terrace
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Post by galwhv69 on Jul 16, 2019 16:30:36 GMT
Have there been any plans to expand the (offroad?) bus stands at Clapham Junction for the 344? Constantly overflowing with multiple buses standing in the bus lane with hazards on. I'm not to sure but could they not send the 344 to the 49 terminus via strath terrace Not sure how full it is as the 337 also terminates there already
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Post by WSD3 on Jul 16, 2019 16:55:35 GMT
I'm not to sure but could they not send the 344 to the 49 terminus via strath terrace Not sure how full it is as the 337 also terminates there already they could cut back the 49 to the other terminus of where the 35,39,295 and C3 go and instead the 344 could cover the rest of the 49 route to Clapham junction
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Post by george on Jul 16, 2019 16:56:20 GMT
I'm not to sure but could they not send the 344 to the 49 terminus via strath terrace Not sure how full it is as the 337 also terminates there already I believe it's full but don't quote me on that, The two routes actually have their own separate stands there.
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