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Ticket checks on bendy buses
There have recently been a *lot* more ticket inspectors in the mornings
on the number 38 bus. Are they just blitzing this route, or is this happening across all the free^Wbendy routes? And I think there have been more empty seats too. I'm wondering if it's a Boris-ism, designed to make bendies less popular by kicking off all the freeloaders who, obviously, think they're the best thing since sliced bread. Employing lots more ticket inspectors could also be a cunning ruse to push the cost of bendies up so he can show that the Borismaster isn't so expensive either. Hurrah for ticket inspectors! -- David Cantrell | A machine for turning tea into grumpiness |
Ticket checks on bendy buses
On Nov 25, 3:17*pm, David Cantrell wrote:
There have recently been a *lot* more ticket inspectors in the mornings on the number 38 bus. *Are they just blitzing this route, or is this happening across all the free^Wbendy routes? *And I think there have been more empty seats too. I'm wondering if it's a Boris-ism, designed to make bendies less popular by kicking off all the freeloaders who, obviously, think they're the best thing since sliced bread. *Employing lots more ticket inspectors could also be a cunning ruse to push the cost of bendies up so he can show that the Borismaster isn't so expensive either. Hurrah for ticket inspectors! I can only ever remember one ticket check on a bendy, and they didn't get past the first seat before having to stop the bus and call the police. It was since Boris as it happens. |
Ticket checks on bendy buses
"MIG" wrote in message
... On Nov 25, 3:17 pm, David Cantrell wrote: There have recently been a *lot* more ticket inspectors in the mornings on the number 38 bus. Are they just blitzing this route, or is this happening across all the free^Wbendy routes? And I think there have been more empty seats too. I'm wondering if it's a Boris-ism, designed to make bendies less popular by kicking off all the freeloaders who, obviously, think they're the best thing since sliced bread. Employing lots more ticket inspectors could also be a cunning ruse to push the cost of bendies up so he can show that the Borismaster isn't so expensive either. Hurrah for ticket inspectors! :I can only ever remember one ticket check on a bendy, and they didn't :get past the first seat before having to stop the bus and call the :police. :It was since Boris as it happens. I've seen inspectors on bendibusses for years now. |
Ticket checks on bendy buses
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Ticket checks on bendy buses
David Cantrell wrote:
There have recently been a *lot* more ticket inspectors in the mornings on the number 38 bus. Are they just blitzing this route, or is this happening across all the free^Wbendy routes? And I think there have been more empty seats too. I've not noticed much difference but I've managed to avoid needing the 25 for much of the past few weeks (and managed to get an 86 several times). I'm wondering if it's a Boris-ism, designed to make bendies less popular by kicking off all the freeloaders who, obviously, think they're the best thing since sliced bread. Employing lots more ticket inspectors could also be a cunning ruse to push the cost of bendies up so he can show that the Borismaster isn't so expensive either. Yes down with all those people who aren't paying! It's called fare evasion and the bendy design does nothing to deter it. Why should people be able to get away with it? (One problem which doesn't get much attention is that the middle and rear readers sometimes aren't easy to physically get to when the bendies are ram packed. The result is that some travellers genuinely can't touch in their Oyster despite their intentions. Would tram style touch-pads at the stop work better?) And we don't have clear statistics yet - it could be that checking tickets pushes up fare revenue, making the inspectors more than pay for themselves. For that matter two of the main disliked features of the bus are the way they get ram packed, which a lot of people attribute to the "free bus" reputation, and the intimidatory effect of some passengers, again which gets blamed on the free bus. So regular inspections could actually make the bendies more attractive at some levels (although not at others). |
Ticket checks on bendy buses
wrote:
I also noticed signs about road works to improve the route 38. Perhaps it's related to them? Ken was planning VERY extensive works for the 38, including a westbound route through Piccadilly Circus. Has Boris canned this, either because of cost, or because it was 'bendy related'? -- Andrew Interviewer: Tonight I'm interviewing that famous nurse, Florence Nightingale Tommy Cooper (dressed as a nurse): Sir Florence Nightingale Interviewer: *Sir* Florence Nightingale? Tommy Cooper: I'm a Night Nurse Campaign For The Real Tommy Cooper |
Ticket checks on bendy buses
Tim Roll-Pickering wrote:
And we don't have clear statistics yet - it could be that checking tickets pushes up fare revenue, making the inspectors more than pay for themselves. For that matter two of the main disliked features of the bus are the way they get ram packed, which a lot of people attribute to the "free bus" reputation, and the intimidatory effect of some passengers, again which gets blamed on the free bus. So regular inspections could actually make the bendies more attractive at some levels (although not at others). One of the things I like about bendies is that I can touch in at my leisure once I'm on the bus, which is good if you run to catch one, as you don't then stand panting in the front doorway trying to remember which pocket the Oyster is in while people grumble behind you. Along with the astonishingly fast loading* and boarding passengers not getting mixed up with people coming down the stairs to disembark, of course. Even a relatively empty double decker suffers from that, so heaven knows what the 38 will be like on the first week after debendification. It's high time a realistic look was taken at this subject, particularly if you ever believed anything Andrew Gilligan wrote on the subject. Tom * Partly due to the door opening speed, which never ceases to amaze. |
Ticket checks on bendy buses
"Tom Barry" wrote ... Along with the astonishingly fast loading* and boarding passengers not getting mixed up with people coming down the stairs to disembark, of course. Even a relatively empty double decker suffers from that, so heaven knows what the 38 will be like on the first week after debendification. The most likely successor to the bendy (depending, of course, on who wins Route 38), is the EnviroGimmick bus, with its silly shaped windows, Harry Potter Cupboard Under The Stairs ... and the slowest doors this side of the Rockies. The Citaro doors are tried, tested, reliable and fast - the Envirocrap's are exceedingly unreliable at the best of times. Of course there's a chance of the Gemini - door speed and reliability somewhere in between. Less likely, but certainly possible, is one of the Polish-built buses ... and I've not been on enough to have a view about their unloading potential or door function. Luckily for the Good Folk of North East London, Routemaster2 won't be ready to be forced upon them. In fact, it won't be ready until after the next Mayoral election ... so we might all be spared the indignity of the BorisBlunderBus. -- Andrew seo2seo.com sick-site-syndrome.com "When 'Do no Evil' has been understood, then learn the harder, braver rule, Do Good." ~ Arthur Guiterman |
Ticket checks on bendy buses
MIG wrote:
On Nov 25, 3:17 pm, David Cantrell wrote: There have recently been a *lot* more ticket inspectors in the mornings on the number 38 bus. Are they just blitzing this route, or is this happening across all the free^Wbendy routes? And I think there have been more empty seats too. I'm wondering if it's a Boris-ism, designed to make bendies less popular by kicking off all the freeloaders who, obviously, think they're the best thing since sliced bread. Employing lots more ticket inspectors could also be a cunning ruse to push the cost of bendies up so he can show that the Borismaster isn't so expensive either. Hurrah for ticket inspectors! I can only ever remember one ticket check on a bendy, and they didn't get past the first seat before having to stop the bus and call the police. It was since Boris as it happens. Well down here in South London it has been a regular occurence since well before Boris. The 436 is a regular target, particularly between New Cross and Victoria, a gang of inspectors and police officers will board one the moment it stops, not letting anyone off, then taking them off as required, I have several times seen up to a dozen people removed, and presumably charged... -- Martin replies to newsgroup only please. |
Ticket checks on bendy buses
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Ticket checks on bendy buses
On Tue, 25 Nov 2008 22:59:06 -0000, "Andrew Heenan"
wrote: Of course there's a chance of the Gemini - door speed and reliability somewhere in between. The Gemini is a very good bus. It wouldn't upset me at all if TfL were to specify it as the only double decker to be used in London. Neil -- Neil Williams Put my first name before the at to reply. |
Ticket checks on bendy buses
Tom Barry wrote:
One of the things I like about bendies is that I can touch in at my leisure once I'm on the bus, which is good if you run to catch one, as you don't then stand panting in the front doorway trying to remember which pocket the Oyster is in while people grumble behind you. I don't doubt there are some advantages. But there are many drawbacks and what the balance is is pivotal here. Along with the astonishingly fast loading* and boarding passengers not getting mixed up with people coming down the stairs to disembark, of course. Try the scrum when a packed bendy reaches a busy stop and people are clambering over each other to get on or off... Even a relatively empty double decker suffers from that, so heaven knows what the 38 will be like on the first week after debendification. It's high time a realistic look was taken at this subject, particularly if you ever believed anything Andrew Gilligan wrote on the subject. I have never read much by Gilligan on this issue. I base my own opinions on experience of the 25 before and after bendification, and on the local reaction, especially on the section where a double-decker is also available. Try a bendy bus on a diversion into a residential side-street and you'll see the chaos up close. |
Ticket checks on bendy buses
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Ticket checks on bendy buses
On Tue, Nov 25, 2008 at 10:59:06PM -0000, Andrew Heenan wrote:
Luckily for the Good Folk of North East London, Routemaster2 won't be ready to be forced upon them. In fact, it won't be ready until after the next Mayoral election ... so we might all be spared the indignity of the BorisBlunderBus. Betcha the contracts are signed within the next 3.5 years. -- David Cantrell | Reality Engineer, Ministry of Information comparative and superlative explained: Huhn worse, worser, worsest, worsted, wasted |
Ticket checks on bendy buses
In article ,
(David Cantrell) wrote: On Tue, Nov 25, 2008 at 06:41:47PM -0600, wrote: In article , (Andrew Heenan) wrote: Has Boris canned this, either because of cost, or because it was 'bendy related'? Apparently not, if the signs are to be believed. I've not seen any signs of work near the Shaftesbury Avenue/New Oxford St junction. I've only just noticed the signs, so I assume they've only gone up in the past few days. They're warning of work that will be starting shortly. They were there signs at the junction I mentioned last week. And they say work starts in November so, if they haven't started, they'd better get a move on! -- Colin Rosenstiel |
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