|
Post by wirewiper on Sept 5, 2023 18:22:00 GMT
Bus and Train User (Roger French) tried it out on the first day. He commented on the poor timekeeping and the convoluted routeing around Barnet, but was very pleased to see the route so well supported on its inaugural day. Let's hope the teething troubles are sorted out and the route settles down to become a reliable and well-used facility. I suspect the route around Barnet will be simplified soon though. busandtrainuser.com/2023/09/05/potters-bars-bus-to-barnet-is-back/Why didn't they just start at New Barnet like the old 84 did? The Local Authority funding the 84B requires it to serve Barnet Hospital directly. I would argue that if anything needs to be sacrificed, it is the link on to High Barnet Station.
|
|
|
Post by uakari on Sept 5, 2023 19:43:55 GMT
Why didn't they just start at New Barnet like the old 84 did? The Local Authority funding the 84B requires it to serve Barnet Hospital directly. I would argue that if anything needs to be sacrificed, it is the link on to High Barnet Station. You mean the commuters who actually pay fares? Surely the station needs to be included once at least. Councillor Nik Oakley is really not dealing well with comments on the non-existent timekeeping. Sadly it's not looking good if she talks to people who offer constructive criticism like this on the "We saved the 84 bus" Facebook group. Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by vjaska on Sept 5, 2023 20:34:03 GMT
The Local Authority funding the 84B requires it to serve Barnet Hospital directly. I would argue that if anything needs to be sacrificed, it is the link on to High Barnet Station. You mean the commuters who actually pay fares? Surely the station needs to be included once at least. Councillor Nik Oakley is really not dealing well with comments on the non-existent timekeeping. Sadly it's not looking good if she talks to people who offer constructive criticism like this on the "We saved the 84 bus" Facebook group. What was the comment the councillor was replying to?
|
|
|
Post by uakari on Sept 5, 2023 22:27:02 GMT
You mean the commuters who actually pay fares? Surely the station needs to be included once at least. Councillor Nik Oakley is really not dealing well with comments on the non-existent timekeeping. Sadly it's not looking good if she talks to people who offer constructive criticism like this on the "We saved the 84 bus" Facebook group. What was the comment the councillor was replying to? You mean the commuters who actually pay fares? Surely the station needs to be included once at least. Councillor Nik Oakley is really not dealing well with comments on the non-existent timekeeping. Sadly it's not looking good if she talks to people who offer constructive criticism like this on the "We saved the 84 bus" Facebook group. What was the comment the councillor was replying to? To the one below, under that user's main comment "84B has really managed to capture the essence of the Metroline days..." This is regarding a second day of extreme late running. You can see everything on Facebook group: "We saved the 84 bus". Comment at your own risk: any criticism or suggestions and she insults you, then if you respond she then bans you. She also has at least one attack-dog who will also try to goad you. The truth is that it was residents who did the bulk of the campaigning: getting nearly a thousand signatures for a group letter, email to countless politicians and transport authorities, making signs and leaflets, organising protests and talking to journalists. Nik Oakley jumped in in the last three months once she got herself elected to Hertsmere Borough Council and snatched all the glory for herself. It wouldn't matter so much if she didn't treat people who are actually experiencing the service and offering feedback to try and make it work like dirt on her shoe. Defensive isn't the word. . Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by joefrombow on Sept 6, 2023 6:00:07 GMT
Why didn't they just start at New Barnet like the old 84 did? The Local Authority funding the 84B requires it to serve Barnet Hospital directly. I would argue that if anything needs to be sacrificed, it is the link on to High Barnet Station. Having had a look at the timetable , I think that will definitely need more time eventually with traffic or any minor delay and that super confusing up down up down in Barnet even a extra 5 , 10 mins run time and some recovery time .
|
|
|
Post by Green Kitten on Sept 7, 2023 6:33:26 GMT
This is what happens when you schedule five minute layovers
|
|
|
Post by southlondonbus on Sept 7, 2023 7:04:25 GMT
This is what happens when you schedule five minute layovers It can work as the 146 only has about 5 mins at either end but it seems the 84B is hitting various traffic along the route which can't be predicted.
|
|
|
Post by barrypotter on Sept 7, 2023 10:16:25 GMT
Here is my possible solution. In the mornings, 84b runs as now, Potters Bar to Barnet Hospital via High Barnet. However, from the hospital, via the back of the Spires, thence to Barnet Road, and on to Potters Bar. You could maybe call it 84c. Commuters served. Then in the afternoon, service pattern reversed. Direct to Hospital, and then via High Barnet, direct to Potters Bar as now. Unnecessary double run eliminated, much better chance of running a reliable service than Hertsmere's fantasy. Sarcasm alert - it looks like the current schedule was timed on Google maps, or taking a car out on Sunday morning, before the cyclists got on to the A1000.
|
|
|
Post by uakari on Sept 7, 2023 20:12:25 GMT
Here is my possible solution. In the mornings, 84b runs as now, Potters Bar to Barnet Hospital via High Barnet. However, from the hospital, via the back of the Spires, thence to Barnet Road, and on to Potters Bar. You could maybe call it 84c. Commuters served. Then in the afternoon, service pattern reversed. Direct to Hospital, and then via High Barnet, direct to Potters Bar as now. Unnecessary double run eliminated, much better chance of running a reliable service than Hertsmere's fantasy. Sarcasm alert - it looks like the current schedule was timed on Google maps, or taking a car out on Sunday morning, before the cyclists got on to the A1000. Barry Rawlings, leader of Barnet council, told them not to use Staplylton Road and the back of The Spires because NIMBYs would object. This is despite the fact that the double deck 614 and out-of-service 263s use this route all the time, and he and Barnet council didn't even bother replying to the campaign letter sent by 1000 people. He gets a new express bus for where he lives in Friern Barnet though.
|
|
|
Post by southlondonbus on Sept 7, 2023 20:35:03 GMT
Here is my possible solution. In the mornings, 84b runs as now, Potters Bar to Barnet Hospital via High Barnet. However, from the hospital, via the back of the Spires, thence to Barnet Road, and on to Potters Bar. You could maybe call it 84c. Commuters served. Then in the afternoon, service pattern reversed. Direct to Hospital, and then via High Barnet, direct to Potters Bar as now. Unnecessary double run eliminated, much better chance of running a reliable service than Hertsmere's fantasy. Sarcasm alert - it looks like the current schedule was timed on Google maps, or taking a car out on Sunday morning, before the cyclists got on to the A1000. A bit like with the B15 at Joydens Wood which operates round the loop clockwise and anticlockwise at different times of the day.
|
|
|
Post by Busboy105 on Sept 7, 2023 21:47:56 GMT
Here is my possible solution. In the mornings, 84b runs as now, Potters Bar to Barnet Hospital via High Barnet. However, from the hospital, via the back of the Spires, thence to Barnet Road, and on to Potters Bar. You could maybe call it 84c. Commuters served. Then in the afternoon, service pattern reversed. Direct to Hospital, and then via High Barnet, direct to Potters Bar as now. Unnecessary double run eliminated, much better chance of running a reliable service than Hertsmere's fantasy. Sarcasm alert - it looks like the current schedule was timed on Google maps, or taking a car out on Sunday morning, before the cyclists got on to the A1000. A bit like with the B15 at Joydens Wood which operates round the loop clockwise and anticlockwise at different times of the day. B12 you mean
|
|
|
Post by VMH2537 on Sept 13, 2023 12:30:46 GMT
|
|
|
Post by LondonNorthern on Sept 13, 2023 14:12:05 GMT
Slightly off topic but I do wonder how long it’ll be before Metroline gives up the 242. I personally think it would be better run by Central Connect, the 84B looks excellent under its operation now and maybe a slightly more frequent timetable could be offered if it were operated by another operator. Having said that, 305 & PB1 look really good under Metroline and hope they both stay
|
|
|
Post by barrypotter on Sept 13, 2023 14:20:16 GMT
Slightly off topic but I do wonder how long it’ll be before Metroline gives up the 242. I personally think it would be better run by Central Connect, the 84B looks excellent under its operation now and maybe a slightly more frequent timetable could be offered if it were operated by another operator. Having said that, 305 & PB1 look really good under Metroline and hope they both stay The 84b might look "excellent", but according to personal observations, and bustimes.org, the actual operation is pretty woeful. So late on the last couple of days, at least one trip missed out on each.
|
|
|
Post by 6HP502C on Sept 14, 2023 8:44:36 GMT
This is what happens when you schedule five minute layovers It can work as the 146 only has about 5 mins at either end but it seems the 84B is hitting various traffic along the route which can't be predicted. Time has been spent on reliability schemes for the 146, plus traffic is fairly predictable and consistent in the areas it passes though. For most routes, layover really needs to be at least 20% of the cycle time.
|
|