|
|
Post by ThinLizzy on Feb 24, 2018 13:12:03 GMT
Having read through the three parts I'm actually quite excited for the intention of what Citymapper are trying to do. As an enthusiast, I'm much more excited by new innovations like sofas on buses, "social spaces" as the back of buses and little green demand responsive buses than the status quo.
In my opinion, to have a secue future and to continue to be a part of the fabric of communities big and small, buses need to change, buses need to be "cool" again. The language Citymapper uses is appealing, it may be a bit of "marketing hogwash" here or there, but it's appealing to the tech generation.
If only this could be coupled to some of the things Best Impressions and the like are doing outside of London.
|
|
|
|
Post by vjaska on Feb 24, 2018 13:46:35 GMT
Having read through the three parts I'm actually quite excited for the intention of what Citymapper are trying to do. As an enthusiast, I'm much more excited by new innovations like sofas on buses, "social spaces" as the back of buses and little green demand responsive buses than the status quo. In my opinion, to have a secue future and to continue to be a part of the fabric of communities big and small, buses need to change, buses need to be "cool" again. The language Citymapper uses is appealing, it may be a bit of "marketing hogwash" here or there, but it's appealing to the tech generation. If only this could be coupled to some of the things Best Impressions and the like are doing outside of London. However, this should not be at the detriment of the current bus network and the regulations which Citymapper seemingly have no time for either. If they want to succeed, work in tandem with everyone whose there rather than coming across as if they are the only good thing out there because they're not. |
|
|
|
Post by snoggle on Feb 24, 2018 13:50:31 GMT
Having read through the three parts I'm actually quite excited for the intention of what Citymapper are trying to do. As an enthusiast, I'm much more excited by new innovations like sofas on buses, "social spaces" as the back of buses and little green demand responsive buses than the status quo. In my opinion, to have a secue future and to continue to be a part of the fabric of communities big and small, buses need to change, buses need to be "cool" again. The language Citymapper uses is appealing, it may be a bit of "marketing hogwash" here or there, but it's appealing to the tech generation. If only this could be coupled to some of the things Best Impressions and the like are doing outside of London. There is little point in having "cool" buses / taxis if the result is the undermining of important regulatory safeguards and the weakening of conventional bus services that "non cool" people rely upon. These new insurgent operators only want two things - profits and their own way. Everything else can go hang as you can see from the attitude displayed in Citymapper's recent posts. I was prepared to give them the time of day before but not now. |
|
|
|
Post by SILENCED on Feb 24, 2018 14:11:17 GMT
Having read through the three parts I'm actually quite excited for the intention of what Citymapper are trying to do. As an enthusiast, I'm much more excited by new innovations like sofas on buses, "social spaces" as the back of buses and little green demand responsive buses than the status quo. In my opinion, to have a secue future and to continue to be a part of the fabric of communities big and small, buses need to change, buses need to be "cool" again. The language Citymapper uses is appealing, it may be a bit of "marketing hogwash" here or there, but it's appealing to the tech generation. If only this could be coupled to some of the things Best Impressions and the like are doing outside of London. There is little point in having "cool" buses / taxis if the result is the undermining of important regulatory safeguards and the weakening of conventional bus services that "non cool" people rely upon. These new insurgent operators only want two things - profits and their own way. Everything else can go hang as you can see from the attitude displayed in Citymapper's recent posts. I was prepared to give them the time of day before but not now. Unfortunately those in charge of conventional bus services have proved themselves not to be up to the job of attracting new customers to the bus network ... instead they seem to be driving custom away. Is it not good that these insurgent operators think outside the box and encourage new people to use public transport? If TfL were doing their job properly, there would not be market for companies like Citymapper to gain. |
|
|
|
Post by snoggle on Feb 24, 2018 14:39:45 GMT
There is little point in having "cool" buses / taxis if the result is the undermining of important regulatory safeguards and the weakening of conventional bus services that "non cool" people rely upon. These new insurgent operators only want two things - profits and their own way. Everything else can go hang as you can see from the attitude displayed in Citymapper's recent posts. I was prepared to give them the time of day before but not now. Unfortunately those in charge of conventional bus services have proved themselves not to be up to the job of attracting new customers to the bus network ... instead they seem to be driving custom away. Is it not good that these insurgent operators think outside the box and encourage new people to use public transport? If TfL were doing their job properly, there would not be market for companies like Citymapper to gain. Hang on. If we believe the regular TfL statistics then bus patronage is increasing slowly. Excess wait time is also improving. Obviously you and others can choose to ignore the statistics and substitute personal experience. We all have views on how things could be better than they are but there is remarkably little consistency in views across this forum which I suspect probably replicates a wider lack of consistent opinion amongst the general public. For me Citymapper offers me nothing in terms of transport choice, nor do the Ford Chariot services dotted around the place. Yes there are network gaps and inadequacies. This is true for every public transport network the world over. TfL are therefore no exception to the rule. Today's bus network is still pretty decent despite the cutbacks - it's more comprehensive and widespread and consistent than what was offered in the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. I'd say we have fallen back somewhat from what existed during most of 00s as several major links have been broken or weakened in Central London. If bus and rail networks were perfect there would no space for taxis or minicabs but these services have existed for a very long time. What Uber and Citymapper are doing is *disrupting* existing markets through the use of technology and finding gaps in existing regulatory structures. Being the boring old git that I am I am not in favour of public safety and democratic regulatory oversight being undermined by insurgent companies like this. I have yet to see anyone creating a brand new travel market in London - all Citymapper are doing now is using vehicles similar to Addison Lee because they're cheap and not as regulated as a normal bus. There is nothing really new in what they are doing apart from using apps on smartphones. |
|
|
|
Post by ServerKing on Feb 24, 2018 15:11:11 GMT
It's not a real bus service as such, I couldn't see Citymapper going out of their way to drop people to their doors like a real minicab or taxi, or having a real bus route. It will disappear like these other posh shuttle schemes. Remember the one from Muswell Hill to the City or Docklands? TfL are trying to make an effort, with a bit more effort in branding and when more descriptive LEDs come in, and if they add WiFi, then people will return to the buses a lot faster. Also, the new fines for utility firms making a mess of the roads might improve the current roadworks issue. Uber was only a problem to the Black Cab firms who behaved just the same when Private Hire started up. They hate all minicab firms, not just Addison Lee. They like use of the bus lanes, working where they like etc... most Black Cabs use a satnav despite the Knowledge anyway, similar to Private Hire. I worked for GLH in 2006-7 and saw the contempt for myself. Bus firms or TfL are not going to be too disturbed by a hipster start up like this  |
|
|
|
Post by sid on Feb 24, 2018 21:30:09 GMT
Having read through the three parts I'm actually quite excited for the intention of what Citymapper are trying to do. As an enthusiast, I'm much more excited by new innovations like sofas on buses, "social spaces" as the back of buses and little green demand responsive buses than the status quo. In my opinion, to have a secue future and to continue to be a part of the fabric of communities big and small, buses need to change, buses need to be "cool" again. The language Citymapper uses is appealing, it may be a bit of "marketing hogwash" here or there, but it's appealing to the tech generation. If only this could be coupled to some of the things Best Impressions and the like are doing outside of London. My thoughts exactly, I find it quite refreshing to see such innovative ideas which contrast sharply with the dead hand of TfL. |
|
|
|
Post by SILENCED on Feb 24, 2018 23:15:52 GMT
Unfortunately those in charge of conventional bus services have proved themselves not to be up to the job of attracting new customers to the bus network ... instead they seem to be driving custom away. Is it not good that these insurgent operators think outside the box and encourage new people to use public transport? If TfL were doing their job properly, there would not be market for companies like Citymapper to gain. Hang on. If we believe the regular TfL statistics then bus patronage is increasing slowly. Excess wait time is also improving. Obviously you and others can choose to ignore the statistics and substitute personal experience. We all have views on how things could be better than they are but there is remarkably little consistency in views across this forum which I suspect probably replicates a wider lack of consistent opinion amongst the general public. For me Citymapper offers me nothing in terms of transport choice, nor do the Ford Chariot services dotted around the place. Yes there are network gaps and inadequacies. This is true for every public transport network the world over. TfL are therefore no exception to the rule. Today's bus network is still pretty decent despite the cutbacks - it's more comprehensive and widespread and consistent than what was offered in the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. I'd say we have fallen back somewhat from what existed during most of 00s as several major links have been broken or weakened in Central London. If bus and rail networks were perfect there would no space for taxis or minicabs but these services have existed for a very long time. What Uber and Citymapper are doing is *disrupting* existing markets through the use of technology and finding gaps in existing regulatory structures. Being the boring old git that I am I am not in favour of public safety and democratic regulatory oversight being undermined by insurgent companies like this. I have yet to see anyone creating a brand new travel market in London - all Citymapper are doing now is using vehicles similar to Addison Lee because they're cheap and not as regulated as a normal bus. There is nothing really new in what they are doing apart from using apps on smartphones. At the same time TfL justify the service cuts due to reduced passenger numbers. If the 2 companies mention do in fact offer nothing in terms of transport choice, they will not survive long. If their demise is not imminent in the short to medium term, then obviously others will of had differing opinions. Time will tell. Any private start up competing against established methods of transport is taking a huge gamble with the start up costs ... so has to be confident there is a market for what they have to offer. Yes, some will fail, but I am sure there are markets out there waiting to be tapped. |
|
|
|
Post by snowman on Mar 29, 2018 6:23:19 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by redexpress on Mar 29, 2018 10:38:26 GMT
In fairness the dig at TfL comes from Citymapper rather than the article's author. The Helsinki setup looks interesting. That sort of integration between public and private services will be essential if public transport as we know it is to survive in future. It's the sort of thing I had hoped Citymapper would help establish, but it now looks as if they're more intent on undermining existing public transport instead. |
|
|
|
Post by wirewiper on Mar 29, 2018 11:35:20 GMT
<iframe width="26.90000000000009" height="4.259999999999991" style="position: absolute; width: 26.9px; height: 4.26px; z-index: -9999; border-style: none; left: 1278px; top: -174px;" id="MoatPxIOPT0_98381173" scrolling="no"></iframe> <iframe width="26.90000000000009" height="4.259999999999991" style="position: absolute; width: 26.9px; height: 4.26px; z-index: -9999; border-style: none; left: 10px; top: -15px;" id="MoatPxIOPT0_96998151" scrolling="no"></iframe> <iframe width="26.90000000000009" height="4.259999999999991" style="position: absolute; width: 26.9px; height: 4.26px; z-index: -9999; border-style: none; left: 1278px; top: -15px;" id="MoatPxIOPT0_97859084" scrolling="no"></iframe> I'm not in the least bit worried - probably because I welcome these shared-ride services and flexible apps as an addition to the public transport offering rather than a threat to it. The article stated than in Helsinki, it was the private car that lost out to the Whim app and shared ride services and not the mainstream public transport. Anything that reduces the number of car journeys made in our cities has to be a good thing in my book. I also see that the Whim app is soon to be trialled in the West Midlands, with the dominant operator in the area National Express having been persuaded of its potential benefits. Whether we like it or not, concepts of how we travel around cities and pay for our journeys is changing rapidly. Personally, whilst I recognise the need for tough regulation I am also excited by the possibilities. |
|
|
|
Post by Eastlondoner62 on Jun 13, 2019 20:53:37 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by redbus on Jun 13, 2019 21:59:39 GMT
I shall duck quickly as I admit to being an occasional Citymapper ride user.
Why? Truth is, it is actually quite handy at times, I can do journeys that I used to be able to do easily before TfL did all their bus network meddling of the last few years. If TfL hadn't done many of the cuts, I probably would not have been a user.
If this is true that Citymapper is shutting down its ride service, then I am not surprised. Maybe I have always travelled at quiet times, but I can't see how it could do anything other than make a loss, as only too often I am the only passenger.
Yes, it probably has taken away a small amount of bus patronage, but that has largely happened due to today's extended journey times on the bus, and cuts to the service. I think you'll find the numbers to be pretty insignificant, but if you are concerned about modal change taking away bus passengers, then modal change from bus to cycle is a much greater concern. |
|
