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Post by twobellstogo on Feb 18, 2016 13:48:22 GMT
I think he is right on the money there. I'm afraid the future to me looks like a London with less buses in it. Certainly not 'no buses' (longer road journeys in London I still think will be better served by buses) but a large number of shorter journeys, particularly in zones 1-3, will, I think, in the future, be app. based, or 'hire your own little electric car' based, or similar. And I, sorry to say, don't think that's really a bad thing at all... *runs*
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Post by vjaska on Feb 18, 2016 14:33:00 GMT
I think he is right on the money there. I'm afraid the future to me looks like a London with less buses in it. Certainly not 'no buses' (longer road journeys in London I still think will be better served by buses) but a large number of shorter journeys, particularly in zones 1-3, will, I think, in the future, be app. based, or 'hire your own little electric car' based, or similar. And I, sorry to say, don't think that's really a bad thing at all... *runs* I'm not sure TBH - maybe Zone 1 but I can't see people in Brixton (Zone 2) or Streatham (Zone 3) coming out in their droves to use this sort of thing for many reasons. There will be demand of course but I think it's too early to say how much or where in London will be affected. I do however think this will finish off the bus outside of London where taxi services are far more in demand to begin with anyway.
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Post by snoggle on Feb 18, 2016 14:35:06 GMT
I think he is right on the money there. I'm afraid the future to me looks like a London with less buses in it. Certainly not 'no buses' (longer road journeys in London I still think will be better served by buses) but a large number of shorter journeys, particularly in zones 1-3, will, I think, in the future, be app. based, or 'hire your own little electric car' based, or similar. And I, sorry to say, don't think that's really a bad thing at all... *runs* Except, of course, once Uber have got the bus network weakened and in retreat their prices will magically rise. And being entirely and utterly selfish I don't see why my mobility, based on public transport, should be sacrificed on the alter of profits being shipped to California and with no tax being paid in the UK. We are back to the issue of fair competition and when you look at the regulation of the bus industry compared to Uber they are not the same thing at all. Given the lack of certainty about drivers hours, vehicle safety, driver competence, criminal record checks and insurance cover when using Uber vehicles I'd say people have an awful lot to be concerned about *if only they bothered to think about it* but, of course, people don't think and just blithely assume they are safe, they are covered in the event of an accident and they won't be assaulted by the driver. If Uber want to set up a properly regulated and managed bus company and want to offer some new service concepts and want to work within London's integrated system (even with variable charges) then I might be interested to see what they come up with. As I've said before I do think London misses out on some genuinely good bits of innovation and marketing initiatives and I think TfL should be more accommodating in their approach.
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Post by twobellstogo on Feb 18, 2016 15:46:58 GMT
I think he is right on the money there. I'm afraid the future to me looks like a London with less buses in it. Certainly not 'no buses' (longer road journeys in London I still think will be better served by buses) but a large number of shorter journeys, particularly in zones 1-3, will, I think, in the future, be app. based, or 'hire your own little electric car' based, or similar. And I, sorry to say, don't think that's really a bad thing at all... *runs* Except, of course, once Uber have got the bus network weakened and in retreat their prices will magically rise. And being entirely and utterly selfish I don't see why my mobility, based on public transport, should be sacrificed on the alter of profits being shipped to California and with no tax being paid in the UK. We are back to the issue of fair competition and when you look at the regulation of the bus industry compared to Uber they are not the same thing at all. Given the lack of certainty about drivers hours, vehicle safety, driver competence, criminal record checks and insurance cover when using Uber vehicles I'd say people have an awful lot to be concerned about *if only they bothered to think about it* but, of course, people don't think and just blithely assume they are safe, they are covered in the event of an accident and they won't be assaulted by the driver. If Uber want to set up a properly regulated and managed bus company and want to offer some new service concepts and want to work within London's integrated system (even with variable charges) then I might be interested to see what they come up with. As I've said before I do think London misses out on some genuinely good bits of innovation and marketing initiatives and I think TfL should be more accommodating in their approach. Oh, I don't disagree with most of that. Uber and its ilk will have to accept an element of regulation I think in due course. I still stand by the future being what I said in my post above, but time will tell. vjaska : yep. You would have to, long term, in London, question the future viability of routes such as 146, 464, R5/R10 and similar, because of the reasons you state.
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Post by capitalomnibus on Feb 18, 2016 17:55:05 GMT
I said this before some weeks ago. Trouble is they would soon undercut buses in terms of prices being near bus fares and with a quicker journey. Plus with many bus lanes etc being eroded by cycle works, it is making bus travel more slower than ever. I can see it being a hit in outer London suburbs and would mimic the way buses out of London in many areas are not popular and people would rather use mini-cab instead. Plus with more stress, longer shifts and management within many companies treating drivers like children, it is no surprise that a few bus drivers over the past year or two have left to drive for Uber.
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Post by T.R. on May 14, 2016 0:25:38 GMT
This might not have been Uber,..
Gave a 210 driver a bit of a shock...
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Post by capitalomnibus on May 14, 2016 10:40:23 GMT
This might not have been Uber,.. Gave a 210 driver a bit of a shock... Wont be the first or last that happens. See them do it at both Finsbury Park bus stations, Walthamstow Central, Canning Town the list is endless.
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