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Post by sid on May 18, 2019 19:30:39 GMT
This is so sad, that not even an enthusiast wants to use the daytime buses anymore in central London. Thing is I put a value on my time, and there is an opportunity cost to sitting on buses that move at a fraction of walking pace when I could be using that time to do more profitable or fulfilling things. I use the Underground to get around Central London. Unfortunately other people have also voted with their feet. Most of the issues with bus speeds in Central London are down to factors outside of the control of the buses. I'm the same, I spent a few on buses today having a little joyride but I had plenty of time to spare. If I just want to get somewhere asap I'll normally use another method.
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Post by Volvo on May 18, 2019 19:33:43 GMT
What starts to annoy me lately is people think they got trick up their sleeves at how they stop the bus...they think because they wiggle the hand in a funny way the bus driver will stop right next to them. This is mostly the case in very busy bus stops where space could potentially be an issue so they try to wave or do something special to make sure you stop next to them and so they can board first and then in half cases they give you look of madness if you don't...which of course I don't because I don't stop for just one person. I dont stop at those people. The ones that barge on for the front seat and say im coming back to do my pass or just stand there hunting I really can't stand the ones who for example see you at the lights and still stand there then when you get to the stop they come on and start hunting. I'm thinking wtf did you not get your pass ready when you saw the bus waiting at the lights now your holding me and everyone up hunting for your pass.
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Post by busaholic on May 18, 2019 19:36:26 GMT
I used to do that for the exact same reason. Loved when they shouted drive no ill wait for your pass thank you Chances of them not having a pass is kind of low anyways, reason I refuse to move in many cases is because I mostly drive single decks and as they're almost twice as light as double deck, it throws people off when I move off and they need to catch a railing because it's very unstable for people to walk as the bus is moving it's not even funny how dangerous single decks can be. Serious point here - my father-in-law, aged in late 80s, very fit and active for his age, worked in bus industry all his life except for war service, was travelling on a single deck bus bus in his home town, Preston, and was thrown half the length of the bus when it braked to avoid a white van man: shall we say the rest of his life (a few more years) was blighted by the broken hip he received, the (eventual) financial compensation was welcome but, of course, in no way compensated for his loss of independence and the sacrifices his daughters had to make in their own lives. You are absolutely right to highlight this: no blame attached to the bus driver, who was professional and caring, though his employers could have handled the case better.
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Post by Pilot on May 18, 2019 19:36:30 GMT
Chances of them not having a pass is kind of low anyways, reason I refuse to move in many cases is because I mostly drive single decks and as they're almost twice as light as double deck, it throws people off when I move off and they need to catch a railing because it's very unstable for people to walk as the bus is moving it's not even funny how dangerous single decks can be. Ah quite a few people who do that rely on the driver's apathy as a fare evasion tactic. As soon as you move, it's an invitation for them to go and take a seat. It happened to me once when driving the 3 where I had to waste time calling them back and ever since, I waited indefinitely for people fumbling through their bag after boarding to either show a valid pass or get off. Yeah I know lol, there is another new trend now though...basically they start running towards the bus out of nowhere and you as a driver sometimes fall for it and re-open the door, potentially even lose on a traffic light and they tap and OH WHATS WRONG WITH MY CARD I JUST TOPPED UP, so you're supposed to feel their sympathy because they ran for bus 'actually giving effort' and now they can't go on it? 9 out of 10 cases you'll just allow them on because they already wasted time but I stopped doing it now because like i said it's becoming a tactical trend to get on for free.
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Post by M1104 on May 18, 2019 19:38:32 GMT
A slightly odd notice on one of bus stops outside the Whitgift Centre in Wellesley Road in Croydon telling of route changes in Central London and that routes from that stop will be affected. As far as I'm aware the only change to buses in Croydon will be the change of stand for the 468 at Elephant & Castle? I wonder how much money has been spent/wasted putting up these notices that will mean absolutely nothing to most people in Croydon? I imagine the 468 is heavily used as it's the only direct day bus link from there to Central London at the Elephant, and seeing as that zone 1 area is a major interchange for travellers it will be plausible to give notice so that punters don't end up boarding/alighting at the wrong stops, especially if they want to continue on with the 68.
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Post by Volvo on May 18, 2019 19:39:35 GMT
If I can see there are one or more buses behind me that also need space, I'll go right to the front of the cage. But even then, that is subject to there not being any road furniture blocking the back doors, like stop flags, bins or bus stop shelters. I do the same, infact I generally tend to stop at the front of the cage in any case where possible. I wish more drivers would observe what is behind them and move to the front of the cage when other buses are behind. Speaking of bus stops aswell inhate the silly idea of railings at bus stops this rendering the bus stop a one bus at a time stop. An example is Hendon magistrates court stop HP towards Colindale, Kingsbury. The cage is big enough to have two buses yet there is a set of railings blocking a second bus serving the stop. I don't understand this nonsense.
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Post by sid on May 18, 2019 19:42:05 GMT
A slightly odd notice on one of bus stops outside the Whitgift Centre in Wellesley Road in Croydon telling of route changes in Central London and that routes from that stop will be affected. As far as I'm aware the only change to buses in Croydon will be the change of stand for the 468 at Elephant & Castle? I wonder how much money has been spent/wasted putting up these notices that will mean absolutely nothing to most people in Croydon? I imagine the 468 is heavily used as it's the only direct day bus link from there to Central London at the Elephant, and seeing as that area is a major interchange for travellers it will be plausible to give notice so that punters don't end up boarding/alighting at the wrong stops. Honestly I can't imagine many people travel on the 468 from Croydon to Elephant & Castle, surely it would make more sense to put posters on buses that are normally allocated to the 468 explaining the new stand arrangements? All the poster on the stop does is direct them to a website.
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Post by rif153 on May 18, 2019 19:52:30 GMT
I passed the Brook Green on a diverted 190 today and to my horror I saw the stand overflowing with so much congestion around the green proving problematic. There was an Abellio LT and an Abellio Enviro 400 parked up at the stand on the north side of the green. There was then an LT coming around to the stand but the two buses at the stand were occupying the middle and rear spaces consequently this LT was struggling to get around the green with a gap to squeeze into to get to the front of the stand. There was an Enviro 400 on the western arm of the green which was blocking the cars behind it. There was space ahead of this Enviro 400 but I don't know if the bus had broken down or if the driver just hadn't moved forward, my 190 moved to quickly to see.
I know the Central Line was closed between White City and West Ruislip/Ealing Broadway today but why oh why did the rail replacement buses use the Brook Green stand. I presume it was because there would be no issues with other routes but really the buses could have used the White City Bus Station/Westfield stand, lower weekend PVRs should have made enough space available. Also using the Brook Green stand requires a longer dead run to reach the stand. Sadly the 27 has taken the Glenthorne House stand so with weekend disruption to the District and Piccadilly lines we may see rail replacement buses using the Brook Green stand. I accept my observation is a one off but it does convey the issues the Brook Green stand has which the Glenthorne House stand doesn't have.
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Post by busaholic on May 18, 2019 19:58:33 GMT
I imagine the 468 is heavily used as it's the only direct day bus link from there to Central London at the Elephant, and seeing as that area is a major interchange for travellers it will be plausible to give notice so that punters don't end up boarding/alighting at the wrong stops. Honestly I can't imagine many people travel on the 468 from Croydon to Elephant & Castle, surely it would make more sense to put posters on buses that are normally allocated to the 468 explaining the new stand arrangements? All the poster on the stop does is direct them to a website. Given the continued success of the X68, I'd say that there are probably quite a few who travel those distances: after all, £1.50 is a bargain for the distance. Given Thameslink woes, it might well take no longer than the train either, if you factor in getting to East Croydon, say, from Croydon town centre and waiting for your (delayed) train.
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Post by sid on May 18, 2019 20:18:33 GMT
Honestly I can't imagine many people travel on the 468 from Croydon to Elephant & Castle, surely it would make more sense to put posters on buses that are normally allocated to the 468 explaining the new stand arrangements? All the poster on the stop does is direct them to a website. Given the continued success of the X68, I'd say that there are probably quite a few who travel those distances: after all, £1.50 is a bargain for the distance. Given Thameslink woes, it might well take no longer than the train either, if you factor in getting to East Croydon, say, from Croydon town centre and waiting for your (delayed) train. The X68 is a different kettle of fish. Is any sane minded people (other than a bus enthusiast out on a jolly) going to spend the best part of 90minutes on a bus from Croydon to Elephant & Castle when a train gets them into Central London in under 20 minutes?
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Post by Pilot on May 18, 2019 20:23:26 GMT
Wait how does x68 even work?
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2019 20:23:44 GMT
Given the continued success of the X68, I'd say that there are probably quite a few who travel those distances: after all, £1.50 is a bargain for the distance. Given Thameslink woes, it might well take no longer than the train either, if you factor in getting to East Croydon, say, from Croydon town centre and waiting for your (delayed) train. The X68 is a different kettle of fish. Is any sane minded people (other than a bus enthusiast out on a jolly) going to spend the best part of 90minutes on a bus from Croydon to Elephant & Castle when a train gets them into Central London in under 20 minutes? You will be surprised I won't mention my favourite 25 (Oops I just did) before it was withdrawn from Oxford Circus. I did the 5 today from Romford to Canning Town and was surprised another 6 passengers did the full route too and that's at least 90 mins. Train can do it in 20mins, even less if you get a direct Stratford train.
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Post by rif153 on May 18, 2019 20:31:28 GMT
Wait how does x68 even work? AM Peak West Croydon-Russell Square calling all stops West Croydon-West Norwood then running fast to Waterloo and calling at all stops to Russell Square
PM Peak Russell Square-West Croydon callling at all stops Russell Square-Waterloo then running fast to West Norwood and calling at all stops to West Croydon
The buses are crosslinked with the 188. Buses arriving at Russell Square on the X68 in the morning then become 188s. Some 188s arriving at Russell Square in the evening become X68s then run dead back to Q from West Croydon
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Post by vjaska on May 18, 2019 20:45:44 GMT
Given the continued success of the X68, I'd say that there are probably quite a few who travel those distances: after all, £1.50 is a bargain for the distance. Given Thameslink woes, it might well take no longer than the train either, if you factor in getting to East Croydon, say, from Croydon town centre and waiting for your (delayed) train. The X68 is a different kettle of fish. Is any sane minded people (other than a bus enthusiast out on a jolly) going to spend the best part of 90minutes on a bus from Croydon to Elephant & Castle when a train gets them into Central London in under 20 minutes? Yes, people who can't afford the train would certainly do that journey - to call someone insane for choosing that method of travel is very harsh.
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Post by kmkcheng on May 18, 2019 20:56:00 GMT
Given the continued success of the X68, I'd say that there are probably quite a few who travel those distances: after all, £1.50 is a bargain for the distance. Given Thameslink woes, it might well take no longer than the train either, if you factor in getting to East Croydon, say, from Croydon town centre and waiting for your (delayed) train. The X68 is a different kettle of fish. Is any sane minded people (other than a bus enthusiast out on a jolly) going to spend the best part of 90minutes on a bus from Croydon to Elephant & Castle when a train gets them into Central London in under 20 minutes? If no one was using the X68 to get to and from Central London, the route would have been withdrawn by now. Also makes me wonder what makes the people of Croydon different from the rest of London where they can get the only Central London express service and everyone else has the only option of more expensive trains and underground or using all-stopper bus routes that either don’t reach Central London or don’t reach the outer London boroughs so require a change of bus
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