On Sat, 19 Aug 2006 Mizter T wrote:

As Helen also says it's always
worthwhile to hail the bus/ ring the bell.

I agree. But some people carry this to extremes. I frequently see
people ring the bell to stop a bus at its terminus.
--
Thoss

thoss typed


On Sat, 19 Aug 2006 Mizter T wrote:

As Helen also says it's always
worthwhile to hail the bus/ ring the bell.

I agree. But some people carry this to extremes. I frequently see
people ring the bell to stop a bus at its terminus.

That can remind the driver to open the door to let you off. Drivers
don't always appear to be aware of passengers' presence.

--
Helen D. Vecht:
Edgware.

Helen Deborah Vecht wrote:
Joe Patrick ty ped


I seem to remember reading that during certain times, all stops operate
by request, but I can't find such information on TfL's Buses site.

But on my recent visit to London, I was observing buses at a compulsory
stop in Holborn - all Arriva buses simply sailed past the stop (yes,
those buses *Do* stop there), and all (former) Stagecoach buses did stop.

Are all stops now request stops 24Hr/day, or are some companies
enforcing the rules more strictly than others?

IME if you do not treat all bus stops as request stops all the time, you
will either miss your bus or your stop.



Definitely the case, I've stood by the doors clearly waiting to get off
at the next compulsory stop, and the driver hasn't stopped.

But the more worrying issue is the bullying of bus drivers to improve
reliability (of the bus getting where it's going, rather than any
intended travellers), which probably compromises safety as well.

We know that drivers disregard compulsory stops. I've seen them
disregarding red traffic lights as well.

Helen Deborah Vecht wrote:
Joe Patrick ty ped


I seem to remember reading that during certain times, all stops operate
by request, but I can't find such information on TfL's Buses site.

But on my recent visit to London, I was observing buses at a compulsory
stop in Holborn - all Arriva buses simply sailed past the stop (yes,
those buses *Do* stop there), and all (former) Stagecoach buses did stop.

Are all stops now request stops 24Hr/day, or are some companies
enforcing the rules more strictly than others?

IME if you do not treat all bus stops as request stops all the time, you
will either miss your bus or your stop.

My partner was on a bus that did not stop as it passed the bus station
at Harrow on the Hill. He had intended to change buses there, assumed
the bus would stop and had a nasty shock & long walk.

Night Buses treat all stops as request stops anyway.

My experience of catching night buses once they've left central London
is that you have to practically run out into the road and wave your arms
around to get them to stop - trying to catch the N9 or N10 at the Albert
Hall heading towards Hammersmith is a bit of a mission, because they
travel so fast that you need to start "requesting" as soon as you can
make out the route number.


--
Dave Arquati
Imperial College, SW7
www.alwaystouchout.com - Transport projects in London