Some bus stop signs have red bars below the list of routes calling at
the stop, marked either "Headstop" or "Tailstop".

What do these mean? If they are instructions as to where the bus
should stop relative to the sign, why are they only placed at certain
stops?

"Matt Ashby" wrote in message
m...

If they are instructions as to where the bus
should stop relative to the sign,

They are.

why are they only placed at certain stops?

It usually doesn't matter exactly where the bus stops, unless there are side
roads or zigzags nearby.

Also, buses normally stop with the entrance next to the stop, so if a bus
stop is only served by front-entrance buses, or only served by rear-entrance
buses, putting the stop in the right place makes sure that the buses stop in
the right place.

Therefore the signs are only needed where buses of both types serve a stop
crammed between sideroads or other obstacles. With the imminent death of the
Routemaster, headstops and tailstops will disappear.

--
John Rowland - Spamtrapped
Transport Plans for the London Area, updated 2001
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acro...69/tpftla.html
A man's vehicle is a symbol of his manhood.
That's why my vehicle's the Piccadilly Line -
It's the size of a county and it comes every two and a half minutes

John Rowland wrote:
"Matt Ashby" wrote in message
m...

If they are instructions as to where the bus
should stop relative to the sign,

They are.

I think not. I thought that the headstop and tailstop were the names given
to the stops at the ends of a route, but I can't remember which is which.
--
Richard J.
(to e-mail me, swap uk and yon in address)

Richard J." said:

If they are instructions as to where the bus
should stop relative to the sign,

They are.

I think not. I thought that the headstop and tailstop were the names given
to the stops at the ends of a route, but I can't remember which is which.

You thought wrong.

Headstop is where Routemaster stops with the cab next to the stop rather
than the platform.

Simple observation (like, um, spotting headstop signs
mid-route) will tell you this.

John

From: "John Rowland"
Date: 26/01/2004 22:01 GMT Standard Time

With the imminent death of the
Routemaster, headstops and tailstops will disappear.

Erm, there's a bus stop flag marked "Head Stop" outside Much Hadham Village
Hall and rear entrance deckers haven't served the place for 32 years. What's
more it's one of the Department of Transport's standard types introduced in the
late 1970s and was erected about 1980 or 1981 to replace the ex-LT one that was
still there 10 or 11 years after London Country was formed.

I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for the demise of head/tail stops if I were
you!

SabineUK wrote:
Richard J." said:

If they are instructions as to where the bus
should stop relative to the sign,

They are.

I think not. I thought that the headstop and tailstop were the
names given to the stops at the ends of a route, but I can't
remember which is which.

You thought wrong.

Headstop is where Routemaster stops with the cab next to the stop
rather than the platform.

OK, it seems I was mistaken, but there are one or two references on the web
that seem to use the term to mean terminal stop, so I'm not the only one.

Simple observation (like, um, spotting headstop signs
mid-route) will tell you this.

It's only simple if you can see one, and I can't say I have. Where are
there mid-route Headstop or Tailstop signs in West or Central London?

--
Richard J.
(to e-mail me, swap uk and yon in address)

Richard J. wrote:
SabineUK wrote:

Richard J." said:


If they are instructions as to where the bus
should stop relative to the sign,

They are.

I think not. I thought that the headstop and tailstop were the
names given to the stops at the ends of a route, but I can't
remember which is which.

You thought wrong.

Headstop is where Routemaster stops with the cab next to the stop
rather than the platform.


OK, it seems I was mistaken, but there are one or two references on the web
that seem to use the term to mean terminal stop, so I'm not the only one.


Simple observation (like, um, spotting headstop signs
mid-route) will tell you this.


It's only simple if you can see one, and I can't say I have. Where are
there mid-route Headstop or Tailstop signs in West or Central London?

Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, eastbound, routes 14, 414, 211.


--
Dave Arquati
Imperial College, SW7

"Dave Arquati" wrote in message
...
Richard J. wrote:
It's only simple if you can see one, and I can't say I have. Where are
there mid-route Headstop or Tailstop signs in West or Central London?

Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, eastbound, routes 14, 414, 211.

A bit further out, but there's a tail-stop where the 290 routes leaves the
Fordbridge Roundabout in Ashford, Middlesex. Presumably cos the back of the
bus would still be hanging out into the traffic flow on the roundabout if it
was a regular stop.