Things you've seen on bus destination displays other than the route/number?

Slower Travel · 6 Jun 2019

Stagecoach had 'We ❤ Manchester' on their out of service buses for quite a while after the terrorist attack at the Arena. In fact, I saw one on the night of the anniversary a couple of weeks ago, too.

Not buses, but I saw an 'It's Coming Home' at Stockport railway station after the quarter final win. I was stuck at a wedding where the match had been banned :'(

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duncanp · 6 Jun 2019

Well the Bristol Lodekka's used in On The Buses often used to appear on screen with just Service showing on the destination blind.

(Off topic, I wonder if there is a no. 11 bus anywhere that terminates outside a cemetery)

Jordan Adam · 6 Jun 2019

duncanp said:
Well the Bristol Lodekka's used in On The Buses often used to appear on screen with just Service showing on the destination blind.

(Off topic, I wonder if there is a no. 11 bus anywhere that terminates outside a cemetery)

The Service 11 in Aberdeen goes to Woodend, where you can connect to the 94, which is the Crematorium shuttle bus.

DaveHarries · 6 Jun 2019

I did once see an Optare Solo, run by Somerbus of Paulton, which was out of service: the destination sign said "Sod it I've had enough." I think it was the same bus I saw at a bus rally on Bristol Harbourside a few years ago which said: "When I grow up I want to be a Spectra."

I have the photos somewhere and will try to find them.

Dave

Hophead · 6 Jun 2019

Brighton and Hove sometimes display "Sorry - bus full"

bluenoxid · 6 Jun 2019

Leeds Night Light which stemmed from an error made for Leeds Light Night shuttle buses operated by First, which is an event held every Autumn

GusB · 6 Jun 2019

Jordan Adam said:
The Service 11 in Aberdeen goes to Woodend, where you can connect to the 94, which is the Crematorium shuttle bus.

Does it ever show "Final Destination"?

Jordan Adam · 6 Jun 2019

GusB said:
Does it ever show "Final Destination"?

"11 Northfield Via Springhill" is pretty close to that to be fair.

MotCO · 6 Jun 2019

I seem to recall seeing pictures of a bus whose destination screen was counting down the minutes to departure time from the terminus - was it the 36 Transdev service in Leeds?

Stan Drews · 6 Jun 2019

MotCO said:
I seem to recall seeing pictures of a bus whose destination screen was counting down the minutes to departure time from the terminus - was it the 36 Transdev service in Leeds?

That’s been a standard feature on all Transdev new buses over the last 2/3 years, as well as the ones who’s refurbishment has included the same destination equipment.

jon0844 · 6 Jun 2019

Uno has begun giving many of its routes names, and putting the graphical image on the displays. It swaps between this and the route number/destination, which I don't think is a good idea as you always seem to be on the image bit when a bus approaches (rather like arriving at a train station to see the summary departure screen is on page 2 of 3).

At the very least, the route number should always be visible. Scrolling text is also horrible and at least TfL seem to be very strict on how information is displayed. Elsewhere it seems to be down to whatever an operator wants, or perhaps even someone within that operator.

AB93 · 6 Jun 2019

Megafuss said:
Whenever I see companies putting special logos or phrases on the destination boards (like Christmas and the world cup) I feel sorry for the poor soul that has to go bus to bus in the middle of the night updating the the firmware because some bright spark in marketing thinks it would be a good idea.

Or (perhaps World Cup aside), maybe the bright sparks may put the messages on in plenty of time, such that they go on at the same time that the destination blinds are being updated anyway for service changes??

RustySpoons · 7 Jun 2019

A lot of the Transdev brands alternate between the destination and the brand logo. Seems a bit daft considering the same logo is plastered all over the bus.

A while back the X43's alternated with the destination and then an advert for their group DayTripper.

They also occasionally have 'seasonal' displays, like Merry Christmas throughout December, and during the World Cup they had 'It's Coming Home'... I much prefer these types of messages than the brand logos.

Flange Squeal · 7 Jun 2019

White Bus regularly mark different events, flicking between that and the destination.

https://twitter.com/simonckrowland1/status/1136517522486902784

https://twitter.com/whitebusservice/status/1079669440894197760

https://twitter.com/whitebusservice/status/1016393150741581824

Thin man · 7 Jun 2019

"Pay now by contactless" scrolling on the side display of all first potteries buses. So you cant see the destination of the bus on the side

Jordan Adam · 7 Jun 2019

jon0844 said:
Uno has begun giving many of its routes names, and putting the graphical image on the displays. It swaps between this and the route number/destination, which I don't think is a good idea as you always seem to be on the image bit when a bus approaches (rather like arriving at a train station to see the summary departure screen is on page 2 of 3).

RustySpoons said:
A lot of the Transdev brands alternate between the destination and the brand logo. Seems a bit daft considering the same logo is plastered all over the bus.

I'm fairly certain that violates PSVAR, the route number and final destination have to be shown on the front at all times.

AndyW33 · 7 Jun 2019

Jordan Adam said:
I'm fairly certain that violates PSVAR, the route number and final destination have to be shown on the front at all times.

Unless of course it is a Wellglade group company that operates the bus, in which case there may well be no route number to display, just a route name.

alex397 · 7 Jun 2019

Over 10 years ago now, when Kingsman International ran the Kent County Council route 666 between Faversham and Ashford, they displayed a devil's head on their Citaro's flip-dot display.
It made the local newspaper, whose report from the time said KCC told Kingsman to remove the display following a complaint :rolleyes:

I was pleased when Stagecoach kept the 666 number when they took over the route (they have previously renumbered council contract routes to easier numbers, such as the Deal-Dover 593 to 93).

ag51ruk · 7 Jun 2019

AndyW33 said:
Unless of course it is a Wellglade group company that operates the bus, in which case there may well be no route number to display, just a route name.

If there is no route number on a Trent Barton bus, the front display will switch between the service name and the destination (for example, alternately 'Red Arrow' and 'Nottingham', never both at the same time) TB did put messages on the rear displays of their buses like 'Merry Christmas' a few years ago, but seem to have stopped doing that recently

quarella · 7 Jun 2019

Local buses in Utrecht also have a symbol. There was definitely a bridge and a tower among them. The numbers were also different colours depending on destination.

carlberry said:
The operator's name (now often a logo as well) is quite common on digital displays now, hopefully confined to out of service vehicles.

With route specific liveries and branding such as "excel" in North Somerset I think the operator name/logo would be quite useful in service, especially if using a multi-trip ticket.

neilmc · 7 Jun 2019

Going back to low-tech days, I decided to take a bus journey on Thassos in Greece once. I was confused by the destination "Gyros" on the only bus in the bus station, which didn't feature anywhere on my island map. However it did feature in the window of the kebab shops so I figured, in typical Leeds City Transport style, it meant "Circular" although to be fair to the Greeks there really only was one circular road on Thassos. Yes it took me where I wanted!

RustySpoons · 7 Jun 2019

Jordan Adam said:
I'm fairly certain that violates PSVAR, the route number and final destination have to be shown on the front at all times.

I thought the same thing, but turns out most of the PSVAR specs for destinations are just guidelines, rather than mandatory.

SCH117X · 7 Jun 2019

The Transdev Volvo Electrics in Harrogate have the display flicking back and forth with "I'm Free on Sundays"; something I presume is now occurring with Rosso's Red 4 vehicles. The Electrics working the 2B have the time of last bus showing. Connexions vehicles often have #BuyLocal on the destination as part of their anti French owned Transdev view, somewhat overlooking Transdevs Starbeck depot provides local jobs.

Swanny200 · 8 Jun 2019

I know a bus company in Glasgow (Hendersons IIRC) used to have their buses show "I'm awa hame" on their out of service Solo's amongst other things.

Marton · 8 Jun 2019

No number on middlesbrough buses in the past.

Middlesbrough, for reasons unknown, used letters.

Mal · 8 Jun 2019

Marton said:
No number on middlesbrough buses in the past.

Middlesbrough, for reasons unknown, used letters.

Preston used to use letter as well; eg FP for Faringdon Park, MN - Moor Nook, HS Holme - Slack and many others. I think it was early 80s they replaced the letters with route numbers based on the bays that each route used in Preston Bus Station.

Mal · 8 Jun 2019

Marton said:
No number on middlesbrough buses in the past.

Middlesbrough, for reasons unknown, used letters.

I think the reason was to differentiate between Stockton and Middlesbrough Corporation buses where their buses met in town centres. (I'm certain someone will correct me on that!)

I can also remember a new bus service that started between Derby and Chesterfield in the 60s. It was joinly operated by Trent who used route number 44 and Midland General who used D4!

LOL The Irony · 8 Jun 2019

Slower Travel said:
Stagecoach had 'We ❤ Manchester' on their out of service buses for quite a while after the terrorist attack at the Arena. In fact, I saw one on the night of the anniversary a couple of weeks ago, too.

Some never lost it.

Deerfold · 8 Jun 2019

Megafuss said:
Whenever I see companies putting special logos or phrases on the destination boards (like Christmas and the world cup) I feel sorry for the poor soul that has to go bus to bus in the middle of the night updating the the firmware because some bright spark in marketing thinks it would be a good idea.

There's really no good reason for these not to be updateable over wifi.

carlberry · 8 Jun 2019

Deerfold said:
There's really no good reason for these not to be updateable over wifi.

That means the bus now needs wifi capability, the depot needs it and it needs to extend across the whole depot parking area just so somebody can say 'Happy Christmas' instead of just leaving the route description and destination that the passengers actually wants!

Things you've seen on bus destination displays other than the route/number?

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