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Post by greenboy on Jul 1, 2020 21:31:05 GMT
Unless that blind can display "Free Wifi" "Free USB Chargers" & "Premium Seating" What passengers want more than anything is a reliable service that turns up when its is supposed to. Free wifi and USB chargers are not regarded as important by bus passengers although they are nice to have and some passengers do find them useful. Although they aren't much use on a bus that hasn't turned up; or to a passenger who waits 15 minutes for a bus that is supposed to run every five, only for three to come together. Does it have to be an either/or? I think people want a reliable service and free WiFi, USB chargers etc. I haven't been on a bus in over three months now because of the covid situation and it's certainly shown that I can manage without buses and I suspect many other people are the same. I remember reading about the 1958 bus strike and how many people found other means of getting around and never returned to buses and I think there is a danger of the same thing happening here unless TfL start upping their game a bit. All electric buses are great but they're not going to attract more users if once inside it's still the same spartan interior.
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Post by Eastlondoner62 on Jul 1, 2020 23:04:51 GMT
What passengers want more than anything is a reliable service that turns up when its is supposed to. Free wifi and USB chargers are not regarded as important by bus passengers although they are nice to have and some passengers do find them useful. Although they aren't much use on a bus that hasn't turned up; or to a passenger who waits 15 minutes for a bus that is supposed to run every five, only for three to come together. Does it have to be an either/or? I think people want a reliable service and free WiFi, USB chargers etc. I haven't been on a bus in over three months now because of the covid situation and it's certainly shown that I can manage without buses and I suspect many other people are the same. I remember reading about the 1958 bus strike and how many people found other means of getting around and never returned to buses and I think there is a danger of the same thing happening here unless TfL start upping their game a bit. All electric buses are great but they're not going to attract more users if once inside it's still the same spartan interior. I don't think people specifically want a WiFi service at least, USB ports I understand because they cost next to nothing to provide but WiFi will cost a fortune unless you get a sponsor and if you get a sponsor the thing will be littered with ads. Many people in London already have data which is becoming ever cheaper and faster and many people on the trains already opt for data over their own phone signal. Probably makes sense to get the basics right first which we know will work as opposed to bells and whistles which have no guarantee of working. People kept asking for USB ports, we finally got them and none of the routes which got them have seen any dramatic increase in usage from eye observations.
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Post by vjaska on Jul 2, 2020 0:48:37 GMT
Does it have to be an either/or? I think people want a reliable service and free WiFi, USB chargers etc. I haven't been on a bus in over three months now because of the covid situation and it's certainly shown that I can manage without buses and I suspect many other people are the same. I remember reading about the 1958 bus strike and how many people found other means of getting around and never returned to buses and I think there is a danger of the same thing happening here unless TfL start upping their game a bit. All electric buses are great but they're not going to attract more users if once inside it's still the same spartan interior. I don't think people specifically want a WiFi service at least, USB ports I understand because they cost next to nothing to provide but WiFi will cost a fortune unless you get a sponsor and if you get a sponsor the thing will be littered with ads. Many people in London already have data which is becoming ever cheaper and faster and many people on the trains already opt for data over their own phone signal. Probably makes sense to get the basics right first which we know will work as opposed to bells and whistles which have no guarantee of working. People kept asking for USB ports, we finally got them and none of the routes which got them have seen any dramatic increase in usage from eye observations. Indeed, whilst I do think the passenger experience on a bus does need changing in London, it's no good doing that if you can't retain patronage or even get them to the bus stop first. The absolute priority must be to get the services running well and get their publicity back to how it once was - the envy of all UK transport providers.
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Post by rif153 on Jul 2, 2020 11:06:40 GMT
What passengers want more than anything is a reliable service that turns up when its is supposed to. Free wifi and USB chargers are not regarded as important by bus passengers although they are nice to have and some passengers do find them useful. Although they aren't much use on a bus that hasn't turned up; or to a passenger who waits 15 minutes for a bus that is supposed to run every five, only for three to come together. I think things like Free Wifi and USB chargers are nice things to have and I wouldn't object to them being rolled out across the bus network, as the latter already is, but I don't know if it would be well used enough for it to be financially viable. People who are always on mobile data will just use that on buses instead though those who have limited amounts may be more keen to use the wifi, personally whenever I go on a train I always connect to the wifi but I know people who don't see the point and simply remain on their data despite free wifi being available. I think free wifi is often more suited to longer distance services rather than bus journeys in London which are often fairly short.
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Post by northlondonbuses on Jul 2, 2020 14:01:07 GMT
I think things like Free Wifi and USB chargers are nice things to have and I wouldn't object to them being rolled out across the bus network, as the latter already is, but I don't know if it would be well used enough for it to be financially viable. People who are always on mobile data will just use that on buses instead though those who have limited amounts may be more keen to use the wifi, personally whenever I go on a train I always connect to the wifi but I know people who don't see the point and simply remain on their data despite free wifi being available. I think free wifi is often more suited to longer distance services rather than bus journeys in London which are often fairly short. Which is thanks to TFL cutting long bus route in favour for taking your money and making you take 2 or 3 buses instead of one
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Post by TB123 on Jul 2, 2020 14:23:11 GMT
I think free wifi is often more suited to longer distance services rather than bus journeys in London which are often fairly short. Which is thanks to TFL cutting long bus route in favour for taking your money and making you take 2 or 3 buses instead of one Sadly long routes just aren't as viable in the modern era of congestion. And most journeys involving multiple buses entail the Hopper fare meaning the fare paid is the same. The London network loses nearly £2 million A DAY even before Covid - hardly them taking money and giving nothing in return
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Post by vjaska on Jul 2, 2020 14:31:21 GMT
I think free wifi is often more suited to longer distance services rather than bus journeys in London which are often fairly short. Which is thanks to TFL cutting long bus route in favour for taking your money and making you take 2 or 3 buses instead of one Err, cutting long bus routes started under LT not just TfL and one of the main reasons for doing so is due to congestion and the lack of any urgency to even bother tackling it.
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Post by John tuthill on Jul 2, 2020 20:28:16 GMT
Which is thanks to TFL cutting long bus route in favour for taking your money and making you take 2 or 3 buses instead of one Err, cutting long bus routes started under LT not just TfL and one of the main reasons for doing so is due to congestion and the lack of any urgency to even bother tackling it. In my lifetime, probably goes back to the strike in the late 50s. The one I remember being withdrawn was the 96 from Putney to Redbridge. A trawl through Ian Armstrongs bus routes page would probably highlight a lot more.
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Post by Pilot on Jul 2, 2020 21:04:10 GMT
Next thing you know drivers will be required to supply water if passenger mouths run dry...if you don't have data on your phone in this day and age...especially if you live in London then idk man...
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Post by SILENCED on Jul 2, 2020 21:20:49 GMT
Next thing you know drivers will be required to supply water if passenger mouths run dry...if you don't have data on your phone in this day and age...especially if you live in London then idk man... Only if they do not have to leave their cab.
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Post by joefrombow on Jul 3, 2020 0:44:32 GMT
Next thing you know drivers will be required to supply water if passenger mouths run dry...if you don't have data on your phone in this day and age...especially if you live in London then idk man... That's the spirit to get people back on buses 😂 we live in a data driven society most people want to get from A to B as quickly and comfortable as possible but little perks like Free WiFi , USB chargers , some premium seats and the like seem to work virtually everywhere outside of London , Is it a bad thing if it gets a few more people back on the bus who have given it up for various reasons ? Bus usage nationwide is on the decline and now with Corona it's going to get alot worst before it gets better again if it gets better again , so if tfl put these little features in specifications on tenders and these little things can help get people back on the bus I say it's a good thing but honestly I think it's only going one way .
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Post by Eastlondoner62 on Jul 3, 2020 0:56:38 GMT
Next thing you know drivers will be required to supply water if passenger mouths run dry...if you don't have data on your phone in this day and age...especially if you live in London then idk man... That's the spirit to get people back on buses 😂 we live in a data driven society most people want to get from A to B as quickly and comfortable as possible but little perks like Free WiFi , USB chargers , some premium seats and the like seem to work virtually everywhere outside of London , Is it a bad thing if it gets a few more people back on the bus who have given it up for various reasons ? Bus usage nationwide is on the decline and now with Corona it's going to get alot worst before it gets better again if it gets better again , so if tfl put these little features in specifications on tenders and these little things can help get people back on the bus I say it's a good thing but honestly I think it's only going one way . He does have a really good point though, many people these days have data connections. Why would I bother connecting to a WiFi connection filled with Ads and a sign ins when I've got a data connection? A more tried and tested method is to just make buses faster, increase services as required and not cut them willy nilly. I don't mind the addition of extra features eventually but in TfL's financial case it's more of a case of one or the other as opposed to both being done.
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Post by northlondonbuses on Jul 3, 2020 8:54:20 GMT
Next thing you know drivers will be required to supply water if passenger mouths run dry...if you don't have data on your phone in this day and age...especially if you live in London then idk man... That's the spirit to get people back on buses 😂 we live in a data driven society most people want to get from A to B as quickly and comfortable as possible but little perks like Free WiFi , USB chargers , some premium seats and the like seem to work virtually everywhere outside of London , Is it a bad thing if it gets a few more people back on the bus who have given it up for various reasons ? Bus usage nationwide is on the decline and now with Corona it's going to get alot worst before it gets better again if it gets better again , so if tfl put these little features in specifications on tenders and these little things can help get people back on the bus I say it's a good thing but honestly I think it's only going one way . If i was tbh premium seats would never work on London buses as in probably 2 months 5 at the most the leather would start peeling off and the seats would be very ugly and not appealing for the customers you want back on the bus network and WIFI on buses is a joke in other cities such as blackpool etc. it might work in fact they already have it on the buses but in london it wouldnt and noone would use it maybe people who have no data and are going a long way for example friern barnet to london bridge but apart from that it wouldnt work also the buses with wifi would be heaven for hackers as they would only have to connect to the wifi and its probably not encrypted and if it was the security probably wouldnt be strong and then they can steal credit card details hack into phone etc so it wouldnt really work.
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Post by greenboy on Jul 3, 2020 9:12:17 GMT
That's the spirit to get people back on buses 😂 we live in a data driven society most people want to get from A to B as quickly and comfortable as possible but little perks like Free WiFi , USB chargers , some premium seats and the like seem to work virtually everywhere outside of London , Is it a bad thing if it gets a few more people back on the bus who have given it up for various reasons ? Bus usage nationwide is on the decline and now with Corona it's going to get alot worst before it gets better again if it gets better again , so if tfl put these little features in specifications on tenders and these little things can help get people back on the bus I say it's a good thing but honestly I think it's only going one way . If i was tbh premium seats would never work on London buses as in probably 2 months 5 at the most the leather would start peeling off and the seats would be very ugly and not appealing for the customers you want back on the bus network and WIFI on buses is a joke in other cities such as blackpool etc. it might work in fact they already have it on the buses but in london it wouldnt and noone would use it maybe people who have no data and are going a long way for example friern barnet to london bridge but apart from that it wouldnt work also the buses with wifi would be heaven for hackers as they would only have to connect to the wifi and its probably not encrypted and if it was the security probably wouldnt be strong and then they can steal credit card details hack into phone etc so it wouldnt really work. Why wouldn't it work? It works everywhere else including on trains in London.
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Post by capitalomnibus on Jul 3, 2020 9:59:29 GMT
Drivers were advised when buses went back to front door boarding not to refuse people travel and TBF, I agree with that as it shouldn't be drivers job to police who is wearing a mask. I believe there was actually meant to be officials on board buses policing this but clearly that never happened. At the end of the day some people have medical conditions etc just because they look "normal" doesn't mean they don't have underlying conditions etc so in theory you can't police everyone who doesn't have one as long as most people are wearing them from what I have seen then surely that's a good thing ? One thing I do seem to notice though is near enough every bus I see has a "BUS FULL" sign in when empty or with very few passengers on , surely its time for widespread roll out of LED blinds I think , First in Essex now has a thing on the app that tells you were the bus is in real time and how many people are on board , about time we embrace the technology here in London and roll something out like this . The you would get LED blind displays showing bus full when they are not full...
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