Lewisham2221
Established Member
Inspired by this thread about ringing the bell to get off the bus, what are peoples thoughts/experiences on requesting to stop to get on the bus?
It's often stated that the "best" option is for every bus to stop at every stop where there is somebody waiting. Indeed, that definitely has its advantages for people with varying disabilities, people who are perhaps unsure/not 100% confident on which bus they need, those who's phone screen is more important than looking for the bus they intend to catch and of course those situations where another bus, possibly on a different route, is already occupying the stop.
Of course, the downside to this method is that it can begin to cause (often quite considerable) delays when the bus stops, only to discover that nobody wishes to board. As noted in the above mentioned thread, it is particularly helpful when people clearly indicate that they don't wish to board however, this obviously doesn't always happen.
I've encountered many situations where people from local businesses use the nearest bus shelter as a smoking shelter and seem completely oblivious as to why the bus would stop there, where people are simply using the bus shelter to shelter from a sudden downpour (again, often completely oblivious as to why the bus has stopped) and - at stops without a shelter, just a flag and pole, people who choose the location of a bus stop as their point to cross the road - stepping forwards, right to the edge of the kerb, at the exact moment the bus is approaching, just as you would expect from someone who was waiting for the bus!
Does anyone else have any thoughts/comments/examples/observations?
It's often stated that the "best" option is for every bus to stop at every stop where there is somebody waiting. Indeed, that definitely has its advantages for people with varying disabilities, people who are perhaps unsure/not 100% confident on which bus they need, those who's phone screen is more important than looking for the bus they intend to catch and of course those situations where another bus, possibly on a different route, is already occupying the stop.
Of course, the downside to this method is that it can begin to cause (often quite considerable) delays when the bus stops, only to discover that nobody wishes to board. As noted in the above mentioned thread, it is particularly helpful when people clearly indicate that they don't wish to board however, this obviously doesn't always happen.
I've encountered many situations where people from local businesses use the nearest bus shelter as a smoking shelter and seem completely oblivious as to why the bus would stop there, where people are simply using the bus shelter to shelter from a sudden downpour (again, often completely oblivious as to why the bus has stopped) and - at stops without a shelter, just a flag and pole, people who choose the location of a bus stop as their point to cross the road - stepping forwards, right to the edge of the kerb, at the exact moment the bus is approaching, just as you would expect from someone who was waiting for the bus!
Does anyone else have any thoughts/comments/examples/observations?