|
Post by Frenzie on Aug 21, 2019 19:40:59 GMT
Don’t get me started on ISA, I’ll go off on one again if I’m not careful I’m a bit confused by reading this about ISA, so if a driver exceeds the limit does it just flash a light or physically restrain the bus going faster? Ie there is no possible way to get the bus to go faster than that unless you’re maybe going downhill? Also another I question I have about this is the tolerance the system gives you as a driver. It’s pretty common knowledge that a speedo in a car (I assume a bus does the same) reads about 3mph less than the speed you’re actually going, ie if you’re speedo says you’re doing 30 you’re really doing 27. Another thing that I also think is pretty common knowledge is that a speed camera (or an officer) will only catch you for speeding if you’re doing 10% + 2mph over the speed limit. So is the limit the ISA sets the speed limit +10%+2mph, OR 3mph less than the limit if the system goes off what the speedo is telling it. God help if it’s the latter. This system must become especially infuriating in 20mph zones (well it must be all the time, but especially in 20’s). Take my end to end 111 a couple of weeks ago. Because of the speed I hear some 111 night drivers like to go, I used my GPS speedo on my phone a few times. There are a few 20 zones on the 111 route, and through each one (because of the time of the evening) there wasn’t a single other vehicle around during nearly all of them. My driver was very sensible, the journey round the route was fast but the driver was never driving irresponsibly or dangerously, despite its incredibly tight timetable. The driver was being I’d say responsible, the speedo on my phone said around 24/25mph in these 20 zones in the dead of night. I don’t think anyone can realistically say they stick to exactly 20 all the time as it’s a pitifully low speed. Can you imagine the frustration if the ISA refused to let you go even a smidge over 20mph in the dead of night with not a single other car around? Or even worse, if there was a car behind you that must be getting really annoyed at the fact you’re travelling at a snail’s pace and there’s nothing you can do about it. God I hope the system gives just a little bit of leeway. Like the name suggests, it should be an ‘assistance’. Imo that means you shouldn’t have any different experience driving the bus to what you would have if the bus didn’t have ISA, unless the driver was driving dangerously. Somehow I get an instinct this isn’t the case and it makes the experience of driving the bus extremely frustrating. It literally limits the bus to the speed limit. Very slow in 20 zones and it’s always painful when the lights go green and you’re too far away to make it at 20. The junction of Bath Road with Wellington Road North comes to mind. Some late night journeys on the 111 would be impossible with all the new 20 zones that Richmond are introducing, but hopefully they don’t change the timetable as the SPs don’t have ISA. You seemed to have a very sensible driver. I see some of them doing 35 or 40 mph in some 20 zones, especially on Cranford Lane as that’s a nice wide open road that which makes it easy to hit that speed. Its also where one of my bus drivers overtook a Micra doing 20 😂.
|
|
|
Post by rj131 on Aug 21, 2019 19:50:49 GMT
Don’t get me started on ISA, I’ll go off on one again if I’m not careful I’m a bit confused by reading this about ISA, so if a driver exceeds the limit does it just flash a light or physically restrain the bus going faster? Ie there is no possible way to get the bus to go faster than that unless you’re maybe going downhill? Also another I question I have about this is the tolerance the system gives you as a driver. It’s pretty common knowledge that a speedo in a car (I assume a bus does the same) reads about 3mph less than the speed you’re actually going, ie if you’re speedo says you’re doing 30 you’re really doing 27. Another thing that I also think is pretty common knowledge is that a speed camera (or an officer) will only catch you for speeding if you’re doing 10% + 2mph over the speed limit. So is the limit the ISA sets the speed limit +10%+2mph, OR 3mph less than the limit if the system goes off what the speedo is telling it. God help if it’s the latter. This system must become especially infuriating in 20mph zones (well it must be all the time, but especially in 20’s). Take my end to end 111 a couple of weeks ago. Because of the speed I hear some 111 night drivers like to go, I used my GPS speedo on my phone a few times. There are a few 20 zones on the 111 route, and through each one (because of the time of the evening) there wasn’t a single other vehicle around during nearly all of them. My driver was very sensible, the journey round the route was fast but the driver was never driving irresponsibly or dangerously, despite its incredibly tight timetable. The driver was being I’d say responsible, the speedo on my phone said around 24/25mph in these 20 zones in the dead of night. I don’t think anyone can realistically say they stick to exactly 20 all the time as it’s a pitifully low speed. Can you imagine the frustration if the ISA refused to let you go even a smidge over 20mph in the dead of night with not a single other car around? Or even worse, if there was a car behind you that must be getting really annoyed at the fact you’re travelling at a snail’s pace and there’s nothing you can do about it. God I hope the system gives just a little bit of leeway. Like the name suggests, it should be an ‘assistance’. Imo that means you shouldn’t have any different experience driving the bus to what you would have if the bus didn’t have ISA, unless the driver was driving dangerously. Somehow I get an instinct this isn’t the case and it makes the experience of driving the bus extremely frustrating. It literally limits the bus to the speed limit. Very slow in 20 zones and it’s always painful when the lights go green and you’re too far away to make it at 20.The junction of Bath Road with Wellington Road North comes to mind. Some late night journeys on the 111 would be impossible with all the new 20 zones that Richmond are introducing, but hopefully they don’t change the timetable as the SPs don’t have ISA. You seemed to have a very sensible driver. I see some of them doing 35 or 40 mph in some 20 zones, especially on Cranford Lane as that’s a nice wide open road that which makes it easy to hit that speed. Its also where one of my bus drivers overtook a Micra doing 20 😂. Ugh it just gets better and better doesn’t it 🙄
|
|
|
Post by bn12cny on Aug 22, 2019 10:13:48 GMT
I’m back in the UK for two months driving coaches and having trouble with traffic wardens etc and get abuse from bus drivers dropping off at bus stops which you are allowed to do....and try not to inconvenience anyone, yesterday I was dropping at the bays at Madam Tausads and got told to move on by red route control but ‘Big Bus’ is parked here not in there dedicated spot..(drop off, pick up only) this is fine, today Hyde Park Corner coming from Piccadilly Circus a Premium Tour parked on the red route double lines, causing traffic congestion reducing from two lanes to one...why? Then going towards Victoria from Hyde Park three Premium Tour Buses parked up on the coach bays (pick up and drop off only) therefore how can I alight my passengers? This is getting ridiculous that London Sight Seeing Buses parking up everywhere blocking coach bays, causing traffic congestion and nothing is being done about it.....show consideration to others!!!!
|
|
|
Post by Paul on Aug 22, 2019 14:13:47 GMT
I’m back in the UK for two months driving coaches and having trouble with traffic wardens etc and get abuse from bus drivers dropping off at bus stops which you are allowed to do.... It’s my understanding that coaches are not permitted to use bus stops to unload within Greater London. I believe it is permitted outside London but not within London. On the R7s we used to have a lot of trouble with coaches blocking the bus stop/bus stand at Gravel Pit Way in Orpington. CentreComm always used to ask for the registration numbers of the coaches and I’m aware of at least two coach drivers being fined for using that stop to unload and load passengers
|
|
|
Post by bn12cny on Aug 22, 2019 14:55:15 GMT
You are allowed to drop off and pick up at any London Bus Stop or yellow lines providing passengers are waiting, so in effect load/unload and go...
However the side bays for coaches (loading/unloading) on red routes are being abused by sightseeing buses and we cannot drop our intending passengers off!!!
If I sat here I would get a ticket, why one rule for sightseeing buses and one rule for us?
Why are sightseeing buses parked up on red routes causing congestion, why is nothing being done about it?
I’m sorry about this rant but I’m trying to alight and pick up passengers but I cannot because the system is being abused by sightseeing buses with even no drivers in
|
|
|
Post by bn12cny on Aug 22, 2019 15:02:34 GMT
content.tfl.gov.uk/operating-coaches-in-london.pdfIt quite clearly states you can pick up/drop off at bus stops, also if the company runs a school service in effect you are a bus and can wait for children and park at Bus Stops because under safeguarding act, that’s why all coach drivers whom does school routes need to be enhanced DBS checked and get permission from the local council to drive the routes, therefore no fines will be issued if waiting at bus stops on any school services, from taking to and from school or swimming, sports field contracts
|
|
|
Post by capitalomnibus on Aug 22, 2019 16:05:44 GMT
Not too sure about your first question, but I'd hazard a guess the buses were running early? With your second question, there is no option on the system to enter in the number of minutes. Just the bog standard service regulation announcement. I think you should be able to press the service regulation button, then it should come up with a menu asking you how long for (2, 3, 5 minutes etc.), so that can be announced as well. It should announce something like 'The driver has been instructed to wait at this bus stop for approximately # minutes to help even out the service'. Yes! An implementation like the one you described is exactly what's needed. It's too easy for drivers to simply activate the current announcement message and do nothing else. It should be made mandatory to tell passenger how long they're waiting. Possibly made worse because school is on holiday and standard timetables are in place. There would be plenty of cases where the driver coming off reaches early, i.e. 5 or so mins early, takeover driver doesn't want to be told to hold back etc. so comes to takeover on time. That's understandable. But this is a regular occurrence even during term time. I've noticed it's only been in the last year or so since this started happening regularly. Also, isn't there a set window to arrive at bus stops? I've read in previous posts that 2 mins early and 5 mins late is the allowed time. Perhaps this has changed. But assuming it hasn't, what's the punishment for not reaching this target? That is for low frequency route, every 15 minutes or less.
|
|
|
Post by capitalomnibus on Aug 22, 2019 16:06:54 GMT
Was paasing through Aldgate east on a 135 and I realised that the number of traffic lights at the junction is a nightmare if you aren’t used to it. If you are passing through the junction, there are separate lights for turning kedt, turning right and going straight. Plus the cycle lights. If you are driving through it for the first time you just wont know where to look .... No surprise, made worse by many banned turn since the cycle stupidhighway and two way Aldgate system.
|
|
|
Post by capitalomnibus on Aug 22, 2019 16:14:31 GMT
Don’t get me started on ISA, I’ll go off on one again if I’m not careful I’m a bit confused by reading this about ISA, so if a driver exceeds the limit does it just flash a light or physically restrain the bus going faster? Ie there is no possible way to get the bus to go faster than that unless you’re maybe going downhill? Also another I question I have about this is the tolerance the system gives you as a driver. It’s pretty common knowledge that a speedo in a car (I assume a bus does the same) reads about 3mph less than the speed you’re actually going, ie if you’re speedo says you’re doing 30 you’re really doing 27. Another thing that I also think is pretty common knowledge is that a speed camera (or an officer) will only catch you for speeding if you’re doing 10% + 2mph over the speed limit. So is the limit the ISA sets the speed limit +10%+2mph, OR 3mph less than the limit if the system goes off what the speedo is telling it. God help if it’s the latter. This system must become especially infuriating in 20mph zones (well it must be all the time, but especially in 20’s). Take my end to end 111 a couple of weeks ago. Because of the speed I hear some 111 night drivers like to go, I used my GPS speedo on my phone a few times. There are a few 20 zones on the 111 route, and through each one (because of the time of the evening) there wasn’t a single other vehicle around during nearly all of them. My driver was very sensible, the journey round the route was fast but the driver was never driving irresponsibly or dangerously, despite its incredibly tight timetable. The driver was being I’d say responsible, the speedo on my phone said around 24/25mph in these 20 zones in the dead of night. I don’t think anyone can realistically say they stick to exactly 20 all the time as it’s a pitifully low speed. Can you imagine the frustration if the ISA refused to let you go even a smidge over 20mph in the dead of night with not a single other car around? Or even worse, if there was a car behind you that must be getting really annoyed at the fact you’re travelling at a snail’s pace and there’s nothing you can do about it. God I hope the system gives just a little bit of leeway. Like the name suggests, it should be an ‘assistance’. Imo that means you shouldn’t have any different experience driving the bus to what you would have if the bus didn’t have ISA, unless the driver was driving dangerously. Somehow I get an instinct this isn’t the case and it makes the experience of driving the bus extremely frustrating. It shows the speed limit of the road on the dashboard, then it prevents the bus exceeding this. As most automotive electronics are done by kilometres instead of MPH, they are converted, the 20mph is done to 31KMH, so in a 20 zone, the bus wouldn't exceed 19.3 mph. You cannot exceed the speed even on a downhill, the ecu would prevent this and hold back the engine. TfL haven't got a clue imo, they don't realise that they are the problem why people are deserting buses in droves and it has become the transport of last resort. Too much political correctness, equalisation, target zero bulls##t from clueless CV champions
|
|
|
Post by Paul on Aug 22, 2019 17:27:13 GMT
content.tfl.gov.uk/operating-coaches-in-london.pdfIt quite clearly states you can pick up/drop off at bus stops, also if the company runs a school service in effect you are a bus and can wait for children and park at Bus Stops because under safeguarding act, that’s why all coach drivers whom does school routes need to be enhanced DBS checked and get permission from the local council to drive the routes, therefore no fines will be issued if waiting at bus stops on any school services, from taking to and from school or swimming, sports field contracts I don’t wish to get into an argument about it but with my biased bus driver hat on, I read this: as coaches not being allowed to use bus stops in London since many are marked ‘No stopping except buses’. Of course, some coaches, mainly those on school work, are classed as buses so perhaps this is how the coaches manage to stop in bus stops And I agree with you on sightseeing buses. There are so many appearing on London’s streets that you wonder how they make any money and if they are not following the rules regarding parking and waiting should be duly punished. I’m just glad I don’t drive in Central London - really don’t need the hassle!
|
|
|
Post by rj131 on Aug 22, 2019 17:50:50 GMT
Don’t get me started on ISA, I’ll go off on one again if I’m not careful I’m a bit confused by reading this about ISA, so if a driver exceeds the limit does it just flash a light or physically restrain the bus going faster? Ie there is no possible way to get the bus to go faster than that unless you’re maybe going downhill? Also another I question I have about this is the tolerance the system gives you as a driver. It’s pretty common knowledge that a speedo in a car (I assume a bus does the same) reads about 3mph less than the speed you’re actually going, ie if you’re speedo says you’re doing 30 you’re really doing 27. Another thing that I also think is pretty common knowledge is that a speed camera (or an officer) will only catch you for speeding if you’re doing 10% + 2mph over the speed limit. So is the limit the ISA sets the speed limit +10%+2mph, OR 3mph less than the limit if the system goes off what the speedo is telling it. God help if it’s the latter. This system must become especially infuriating in 20mph zones (well it must be all the time, but especially in 20’s). Take my end to end 111 a couple of weeks ago. Because of the speed I hear some 111 night drivers like to go, I used my GPS speedo on my phone a few times. There are a few 20 zones on the 111 route, and through each one (because of the time of the evening) there wasn’t a single other vehicle around during nearly all of them. My driver was very sensible, the journey round the route was fast but the driver was never driving irresponsibly or dangerously, despite its incredibly tight timetable. The driver was being I’d say responsible, the speedo on my phone said around 24/25mph in these 20 zones in the dead of night. I don’t think anyone can realistically say they stick to exactly 20 all the time as it’s a pitifully low speed. Can you imagine the frustration if the ISA refused to let you go even a smidge over 20mph in the dead of night with not a single other car around? Or even worse, if there was a car behind you that must be getting really annoyed at the fact you’re travelling at a snail’s pace and there’s nothing you can do about it. God I hope the system gives just a little bit of leeway. Like the name suggests, it should be an ‘assistance’. Imo that means you shouldn’t have any different experience driving the bus to what you would have if the bus didn’t have ISA, unless the driver was driving dangerously. Somehow I get an instinct this isn’t the case and it makes the experience of driving the bus extremely frustrating. It shows the speed limit of the road on the dashboard, then it prevents the bus exceeding this. As most automotive electronics are done by kilometres instead of MPH, they are converted, the 20mph is done to 31KMH, so in a 20 zone, the bus wouldn't exceed 19.3 mph. You cannot exceed the speed even on a downhill, the ecu would prevent this and hold back the engine. TfL haven't got a clue imo, they don't realise that they are the problem why people are deserting buses in droves and it has become the transport of last resort. Too much political correctness, equalisation, target zero bulls##t from clueless CV champions
You’re definitely not wrong there. I would n’t quite go as far to say the bus is now the ‘transport of last resort’, however in Central London definitely it’s now a lot more unattractive to what if once was. Never mind passengers, one could probably go further and say it could push drivers out of their jobs too, as it’ll be just too infuriating. Doubledeckeranton goes on his videos to say about how much of a nuisance slow buses are to drivers, it really affects punctuality more than one would assume. It’s not like dreadful driver conditions aren’t helping driver enjoyment as it is, this stupid ISA certainly doesn’t help/won’t help either. Take for example NP, I’m assuming the WVLs and WVNs will get reblinded for their lastest acquisitions, I can see drivers fighting to get the unrestricted G2’s on their routes which will undoubtedly be far nicer to drive than these new vehicles with ISA. I pray TfL eventually see the light and realise how stupid an addition it really is and remove it. I’ll eat my hat if it does though.
|
|
|
Post by shroudoffrost on Aug 22, 2019 18:23:42 GMT
If its not ISA, its on board vehicle recorders which will bite drivers in the ar*se. Its all well and good doing 30mph along the Uxbridge Road (new 20 limits) in Ealing Common at 0030 but you will ultimately get called in for it. Driving at 20 down there while roads are clear is frightening more than anything with some of the dangerous overtakes that occur. Then you have a few passengers who think your taking the pi*ss driving so slow!
|
|
|
Post by rif153 on Aug 22, 2019 18:37:15 GMT
If its not ISA, its on board vehicle recorders which will bite drivers in the ar*se. Its all well and good doing 30mph along the Uxbridge Road (new 20 limits) in Ealing Common at 0030 but you will ultimately get called in for it. Driving at 20 down there while roads are clear is frightening more than anything with some of the dangerous overtakes that occur. Then you have a few passengers who think your taking the pi*ss driving so slow! I could rant for years about Ealing Council but I'll keep this post short. A blanket 20mph speed limit is excessive. There are benefits of 20mph speed limits, and I'm not disputing that but having every road at 20 is crazy. Hounslow Council are far more sensible, and have identified roads where 20mph speed limits are necessary.
|
|
|
Post by george on Aug 22, 2019 18:38:29 GMT
If its not ISA, its on board vehicle recorders which will bite drivers in the ar*se. Its all well and good doing 30mph along the Uxbridge Road (new 20 limits) in Ealing Common at 0030 but you will ultimately get called in for it. Driving at 20 down there while roads are clear is frightening more than anything with some of the dangerous overtakes that occur. Then you have a few passengers who think your taking the pi*ss driving so slow! I could rant for years about Ealing Council but I'll keep this post short. A blanket 20mph speed limit is excessive. There are benefits of 20mph speed limits, and I'm not disputing that but having every road at 20 is crazy. Hounslow Council are far more sensible, and have identified roads where 20mph speed limits are necessary. Talking about 20mph speed limits kew road has now got one as of this week.
|
|
|
Post by rif153 on Aug 22, 2019 19:39:34 GMT
I could rant for years about Ealing Council but I'll keep this post short. A blanket 20mph speed limit is excessive. There are benefits of 20mph speed limits, and I'm not disputing that but having every road at 20 is crazy. Hounslow Council are far more sensible, and have identified roads where 20mph speed limits are necessary. Talking about 20mph speed limits kew road has now got one as of this week. That's a shame. My best ride on a 19 plate VH was pelting up Kew Road
|
|