In message
,
Steve writes
On 2 Jan, 16:16, Mizter T wrote:
On 2 Jan, 13:51, Paul Corfield wrote:
However the London bus network is very comprehensive so it's still very
easy to get around and can often be quicker than the tube as there are
no long treks down stairs and escalators to platforms and bus stops are
often closer to where people want to go to.
Though it's sometime hard to convince even born and bred Londoners
that this can sometimes be the case!
In addition to what Paul said, it's also well worth noting that many
bus routes are very frequent - and London's bus services have improved
vastly over the past 10 years.
As a semi-regular visitor to London for business and leisure, I have
no doubt that the above is true. However the main reason I almost
never use London buses is the difficulty in recognising my
destination, especially in busy periods, bad weather or darkness.
At stop information in London is the best I have ever seen on *any*
transport system anywhere. Local area maps, medium and longer distance
spider maps and diagrams on the stops themselves.
The only thing lacking is detailed times, which are more important in
the less-frequently served suburbs than they are in the Central Area.
Unless one is very familiar with the geography of London or uses a
given bus route regularly, it's much easier to recognise the necessary
stop on the tube, find the right exit from the station and then
identify one's eventual destination from a map or directions provided
by the destiation from the nearest tube.
Yes, it is easier on the Tube (at least until you exit from the station)
but buses are well worth trying for many more journeys than you might
assume.
I would find it *much* harder to use the bus system in other big cities
where information is extremely patchy and even where provided not always
of use. Walk out of Birmingham New Street Station and - as a casual
visitor - try to find a bus to Pheasey, or Londonderry or Maypole or
Castle Vale. All of these are well served destinations but unless you
*know* as few things (or stumble on the Centro Travel Office, getting
the information would be much harder than doing the same in London.
--
Ian Jelf, MITG
Birmingham, UK
Registered Blue Badge Tourist Guide for London and the Heart of England
http://www.bluebadge.demon.co.uk