Electronic bus destination blinds
 

The other day, I was in a car being driven northbound past Euston
station, and happened to catch sight of a bus whose destination blind
read "Short journey; ask driver!"

We pondered this for awhile and assumed it would mean that the bus in
question was stopping somewhere its destination blind didn't say, which
is fair enough. But this sparked a discussion as to why modern buses
don't have electronic destination blinds. I know the system was tried -
I used to see the odd 35 with them - but presumably it was too prone to
failure? On the other hand, if they can have electronic destination
blinds on trains (which they not only can, but do), why don't they have
them on buses? Inside the bus, too, would be helpful - how often have I
had to ask the driver what number bus I've actually boarded......
--
"Mrs Redboots"
http://www.amsmyth.demon.co.uk/
Website updated 6 November 2004 with new photos

Electronic bus destination blinds
 

"Mrs Redboots" wrote in message
...
The other day, I was in a car being driven northbound past Euston
station, and happened to catch sight of a bus whose destination blind
read "Short journey; ask driver!"

We pondered this for awhile and assumed it would mean that the bus in
question was stopping somewhere its destination blind didn't say, which
is fair enough. But this sparked a discussion as to why modern buses
don't have electronic destination blinds. I know the system was tried -
I used to see the odd 35 with them - but presumably it was too prone to
failure? On the other hand, if they can have electronic destination
blinds on trains (which they not only can, but do), why don't they have
them on buses? Inside the bus, too, would be helpful - how often have I
had to ask the driver what number bus I've actually boarded......
--
"Mrs Redboots"
http://www.amsmyth.demon.co.uk/
Website updated 6 November 2004 with new photos

Guess what the rest of the country appear to be able to cope with electronic
destination displays, as always TfL just seem to want to be different!
The original electronic displays were prone to fading with time but the
modern ones appear very bright and have scrolling facilities to how via
points etc.

Paul

Electronic bus destination blinds
 

"Mrs Redboots" wrote in message
...
The other day, I was in a car being driven northbound past Euston
station, and happened to catch sight of a bus whose destination blind
read "Short journey; ask driver!"

We pondered this for awhile and assumed it would mean that the bus in
question was stopping somewhere its destination blind didn't say, which
is fair enough. But this sparked a discussion as to why modern buses
don't have electronic destination blinds. I know the system was tried -
I used to see the odd 35 with them - but presumably it was too prone to
failure? On the other hand, if they can have electronic destination
blinds on trains (which they not only can, but do), why don't they have
them on buses? Inside the bus, too, would be helpful - how often have I
had to ask the driver what number bus I've actually boarded......

I think electronic destination displays on buses are fairly common. Around
here (Oxfordshire) the Oxford Park-and-Ride buses and the buses from Didcot,
Abingdon etc use them. They are mainly matrix displays (a matrix of LEDs)
rather then the LCD type that you tend to find on the front of trains and
also inside the carriages (eg over the inter-carriage doors).

Electronic bus destination blinds
 

On Wed, 10 Nov 2004 13:14:40 +0000, Mrs Redboots
wrote:

why don't they have
them on buses? Inside the bus, too, would be helpful - how often have I
had to ask the driver what number bus I've actually boarded......

Agreed! I've also come across buses where the numbers on the front, back, and
side blinds didn't agree, and the driver didn't think it was a particular
problem! At least with electronic blinds they'd all be wrong...

As for inside displays, since GPS/AVL is to be fitted to buses, it'd be
relatively easy to add a bunch of features inside:

For passengers, a display with:
- Bus number & destination.
- Clock with exact time
- Next stop display/voice announcement.
- Messages from TfL / bus company
- Messages from advertisers, or other entertainment

For the driver:
- Clock with exact time
- Speed up/Slow down directives to stick to the schedule
or to maintain separation with other buses on same route.
- Messages from dispatcher
- A repeater for the number displayed on the outside :-)

Electronic bus destination blinds
 

Marc Brett wrote to uk.transport.london on Wed, 10 Nov 2004:

As for inside displays, since GPS/AVL is to be fitted to buses, it'd be
relatively easy to add a bunch of features inside:

For passengers, a display with:
- Bus number & destination.
- Clock with exact time
- Next stop display/voice announcement.
- Messages from TfL / bus company
- Messages from advertisers, or other entertainment

I have seen buses with accurate clocks in them, and ones with
advertising screens on the upper deck (usually used to show what the
CCTV is seeing, but occasionally used for advertisers). As for
messages, the only ones the buses seem capable of saying is "Bus
stopping at next bus stop; please stand well clear of doors", as though
we were all pillocks!
--
"Mrs Redboots"
http://www.amsmyth.demon.co.uk/
Website updated 6 November 2004 with new photos

Electronic bus destination blinds
 

"Mrs Redboots" wrote in message
...
The other day, I was in a car being driven northbound past Euston
station, and happened to catch sight of a bus whose destination blind
read "Short journey; ask driver!"

We pondered this for awhile and assumed it would mean that the bus in
question was stopping somewhere its destination blind didn't say, which
is fair enough. But this sparked a discussion as to why modern buses
don't have electronic destination blinds. I know the system was tried -
I used to see the odd 35 with them - but presumably it was too prone to
failure? On the other hand, if they can have electronic destination
blinds on trains (which they not only can, but do), why don't they have
them on buses? Inside the bus, too, would be helpful - how often have I
had to ask the driver what number bus I've actually boarded......
--
"Mrs Redboots"
http://www.amsmyth.demon.co.uk/
Website updated 6 November 2004 with new photos



A number of the more modern buses in West Yorkshire have them. Mostly those
operated by First Bus I think.


Andrew

Electronic bus destination blinds
 

In message , Paul & Meloney Dredge
writes
Guess what the rest of the country appear to be able to cope with
electronic destination displays, as always TfL just seem to want to be
different! The original electronic displays were prone to fading with
time but the modern ones appear very bright and have scrolling
facilities to how via points etc.
Please have a word with "Stagecoach" who still (in my area) have
displays which are garbage.
--
Clive.

Electronic bus destination blinds
 

Mrs Redboots wrote:
The other day, I was in a car being driven northbound past Euston
station, and happened to catch sight of a bus whose destination
blind read "Short journey; ask driver!"

We pondered this for awhile and assumed it would mean that the bus
in question was stopping somewhere its destination blind didn't
say, which is fair enough. But this sparked a discussion as to why
modern buses don't have electronic destination blinds. I know the
system was tried - I used to see the odd 35 with them - but
presumably it was too prone to failure? On the other hand, if they
can have electronic destination blinds on trains (which they not
only can, but do), why don't they have them on buses?

I have yet to see an electronic destination indicator on the front of a
bus or train with the same legibility as London bus blinds (Johnston Bus
or Underground typeface, yellow on black).
--
Richard J.
(to e-mail me, swap uk and yon in address)

Electronic bus destination blinds
 

On Wed, 10 Nov 2004 15:50:14 GMT, "Richard J."
wrote:

Mrs Redboots wrote:
The other day, I was in a car being driven northbound past Euston
station, and happened to catch sight of a bus whose destination
blind read "Short journey; ask driver!"

We pondered this for awhile and assumed it would mean that the bus
in question was stopping somewhere its destination blind didn't
say, which is fair enough. But this sparked a discussion as to why
modern buses don't have electronic destination blinds. I know the
system was tried - I used to see the odd 35 with them - but
presumably it was too prone to failure? On the other hand, if they
can have electronic destination blinds on trains (which they not
only can, but do), why don't they have them on buses?

I have yet to see an electronic destination indicator on the front of a
bus or train with the same legibility as London bus blinds (Johnston Bus
or Underground typeface, yellow on black).

Go to the bottom of page:
http://www.trolleybus.net/tramlink.htm
and have fun "turning" the blind.

A further example is on the bottom of page:
http://www.trolleybus.net/654.htm

In both cases wait until the whole page has been loaded.

David Bradley

Electronic bus destination blinds
 

I recall there were a couple of T's (Titan's) as you mention trialed on the
35 and 45??

Some of the former London Buses sent off to sister companies such as
Stagecoach etc converted their London style blinds to the electronic style
ones.

Examples:

DMS/NV's from London General/Central going to Go Ahead North East
Various Stagecoach vehicles including the earlier discarded TA's (Tridents)
going to Stagecoach Hull, Cambridge. Southcoast and Manchester, Devon kept
the London style blinds;
VA's from London United/VN's going to First Leeds (though Potteries have not
gone electronic)

As mentioned Oxford, some First buses in Edinburgh/Glasgow have the
electronic displays

"Mrs Redboots" wrote in message
...
The other day, I was in a car being driven northbound past Euston
station, and happened to catch sight of a bus whose destination blind
read "Short journey; ask driver!"

We pondered this for awhile and assumed it would mean that the bus in
question was stopping somewhere its destination blind didn't say, which
is fair enough. But this sparked a discussion as to why modern buses
don't have electronic destination blinds. I know the system was tried -
I used to see the odd 35 with them - but presumably it was too prone to
failure? On the other hand, if they can have electronic destination
blinds on trains (which they not only can, but do), why don't they have
them on buses? Inside the bus, too, would be helpful - how often have I
had to ask the driver what number bus I've actually boarded......
--
"Mrs Redboots"
http://www.amsmyth.demon.co.uk/
Website updated 6 November 2004 with new photos