Waiting at a bus stop a while ago, I noticed the timetable for the 969.
Whitton - Roehampton, Tuesdays and Fridays only, one journey.

Why? It even has a Facebook group commenting on its infrequency.

Given the absence of such strategically vital bus links as the N213,
presumably there is a really good reason for the 969 to exist - but what
is it?

--
Arthur Figgis Surrey, UK

On 04/03/2010 18:17, Arthur Figgis wrote:
Waiting at a bus stop a while ago, I noticed the timetable for the 969.
Whitton - Roehampton, Tuesdays and Fridays only, one journey.

Why? It even has a Facebook group commenting on its infrequency.

Given the absence of such strategically vital bus links as the N213,
presumably there is a really good reason for the 969 to exist - but what
is it?

It's one of the handful of remaining "Mobility Bus" routes, which have
now been mostly phased out following the introduction of "low floor"
buses on most routes.

According to Wikipedia[1] the remaining eight routes a

917 - Park Hill Rise to Croydon (WO)
931 - Crystal Palace to Lewisham (FO)
941 - Bedfont Green to Hampton Hill (WO)
953 - Scrattons Farm to Chase Cross (WO)
958 - Woodford to Ilford (TO)
965 - Riverhill to Kingston (MFO)
969 - Whitton to Roehampton Vale (TFO)
972 - Neasden to Colindale (ThO)

HTH,

Barry

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bus_routes_in_London

On 04/03/2010 18:39, Barry Salter wrote:
On 04/03/2010 18:17, Arthur Figgis wrote:
Waiting at a bus stop a while ago, I noticed the timetable for the 969.
Whitton - Roehampton, Tuesdays and Fridays only, one journey.

Why? It even has a Facebook group commenting on its infrequency.

Given the absence of such strategically vital bus links as the N213,
presumably there is a really good reason for the 969 to exist - but what
is it?

It's one of the handful of remaining "Mobility Bus" routes, which have
now been mostly phased out following the introduction of "low floor"
buses on most routes.

So is there a specific need for wheelchairs (is that what it in effect
means?) to use that route on those days?

--
Arthur Figgis Surrey, UK

"Barry Salter" wrote in message
...
On 04/03/2010 18:17, Arthur Figgis wrote:
Waiting at a bus stop a while ago, I noticed the timetable for the
969.
Whitton - Roehampton, Tuesdays and Fridays only, one journey.

Why? It even has a Facebook group commenting on its infrequency.

Given the absence of such strategically vital bus links as the N213,
presumably there is a really good reason for the 969 to exist - but
what
is it?

It's one of the handful of remaining "Mobility Bus" routes, which have
now been mostly phased out following the introduction of "low floor"
buses on most routes.

According to Wikipedia[1] the remaining eight routes a

917 - Park Hill Rise to Croydon (WO)
931 - Crystal Palace to Lewisham (FO)
941 - Bedfont Green to Hampton Hill (WO)
953 - Scrattons Farm to Chase Cross (WO)
958 - Woodford to Ilford (TO)
965 - Riverhill to Kingston (MFO)
969 - Whitton to Roehampton Vale (TFO)
972 - Neasden to Colindale (ThO)

I don't really see the point of these routes - surely the Dial-A-Ride
service would cover these journeys and would be a lot more flexible.

Peter Smyth

In article ,
says...

On 04/03/2010 18:17, Arthur Figgis wrote:
Waiting at a bus stop a while ago, I noticed the timetable for the 969.
Whitton - Roehampton, Tuesdays and Fridays only, one journey.

Why? It even has a Facebook group commenting on its infrequency.

Given the absence of such strategically vital bus links as the N213,
presumably there is a really good reason for the 969 to exist - but what
is it?

It's one of the handful of remaining "Mobility Bus" routes, which have
now been mostly phased out following the introduction of "low floor"
buses on most routes.

According to Wikipedia[1] the remaining eight routes a

917 - Park Hill Rise to Croydon (WO)
931 - Crystal Palace to Lewisham (FO)
941 - Bedfont Green to Hampton Hill (WO)
953 - Scrattons Farm to Chase Cross (WO)
958 - Woodford to Ilford (TO)
965 - Riverhill to Kingston (MFO)
969 - Whitton to Roehampton Vale (TFO)
972 - Neasden to Colindale (ThO)

HTH,

Barry

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bus_routes_in_London

The 958 basically allows a visit to Ilford of just over an hour, or
possibly the City of London crematorium.

It passes one location in Arran Drive where the mobility-impaired are
likely to use it, and is hail-and-ride in this area, also a small area
in Woodford.

When Metroline operated the route it used Optare Solos OSL1 or OSL2.

Since First Group won the contract it uses common or garden Darts

Any one can use it, I once did to travel on one of the Solos.

Jim wrote:

It passes one location in Arran Drive where the mobility-impaired are
likely to use it, and is hail-and-ride in this area, also a small area
in Woodford.

A hail-and-ride mobility bus! How would wheelchairs access the bus in a road
full of parked cars?

--
We are the Strasbourg. Referendum is futile.

Basil Jet wrote on 04 March
2010 22:21:27 ...
Jim wrote:
It passes one location in Arran Drive where the mobility-impaired are
likely to use it, and is hail-and-ride in this area, also a small area
in Woodford.

A hail-and-ride mobility bus! How would wheelchairs access the bus in a road
full of parked cars?

Not much chance of that situation arising in Arran Drive, based on what
Google Street View shows.
--
Richard J.
(to email me, swap 'uk' and 'yon' in address)

In message , Arthur
Figgis writes

Given the absence of such strategically vital bus links as the N213,
presumably there is a really good reason for the 969 to exist - but
what is it?

As said by Barry, it is a remnant of the mobility bus network. FWIW, it
passes the end of my road on its infrequent visits, and I don't think
I've ever seen anybody on board.

I think I might sound like Margaret Thatcher on the Chelsea-Hackney line
if I asked why anyone from Whitton should ever want to go to Asda in
Putney Vale.
--
Paul Terry

In uk.transport.london message ,
Thu, 4 Mar 2010 19:47:25, Paul Terry posted
In message , Arthur
Figgis writes

Given the absence of such strategically vital bus links as the N213,
presumably there is a really good reason for the 969 to exist - but
what is it?

As said by Barry, it is a remnant of the mobility bus network. FWIW, it
passes the end of my road on its infrequent visits, and I don't think
I've ever seen anybody on board.

I think I might sound like Margaret Thatcher on the Chelsea-Hackney
line if I asked why anyone from Whitton should ever want to go to Asda
in Putney Vale.

More likely to Roehampton Disability Centre - one website for which
seems currently disabled - and/or
http://www.limbless-association.org/. But I know that that Asda gets
customers from near here, which is a not dissimilar distance.

A cached version of the missing site shows malformatted 0207 telephone
numbers for the London Centre for Dementia Care. Other London numbers
on that page, for other afflictions, are 020.

--
(c) John Stockton, Surrey, UK. Turnpike v6.07 IE 8.
Web URL:http://www.merlyn.demon.co.uk/ - w. FAQish topics, links, acronyms
PAS EXE etc : URL:http://www.merlyn.demon.co.uk/programs/ - see 00index.htm
Dates - miscdate.htm moredate.htm js-dates.htm pas-time.htm critdate.htm etc.

In message id, John
Stockton writes

In uk.transport.london message ,
Thu, 4 Mar 2010 19:47:25, Paul Terry posted

I think I might sound like Margaret Thatcher on the Chelsea-Hackney
line if I asked why anyone from Whitton should ever want to go to Asda
Putney Vale.

More likely to Roehampton Disability Centre

Possible, but a bus that makes only two return trips a week is going to
be of very limited use for that purpose.

--
Paul Terry