Or conversely, that if you are paying for your fare, you have priority over those with passes or day tickets.
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Wrongly assumed facts by bus passengers
- Thread starter AY1975
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If I'm at a bus stop and my bus approaches, I put my arm out. If a different bus approaches I step back to make it clear that it needn't stop. I may even shake my head or make it as clear as I can.
Do I get brownie points?
Statto
Established Member
Especially when someone always compares London fares with fares outside London, forgetting London fares are heavily subsidised by London taxpayers, fares outside London are without subsidy, although some areas do have special fates for tendered services
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
In Germany it's the done thing to wave a bus past, visibly stepping back from the kerb, if you don't want it. But because they just use buses to connect people to trains, there are comparatively few stops with more than one route serving them, so it's not common to need to do so.
Another common one is that drivers who are stood around at the bus station should all be driving, or in the case of delays, should get a bus and go out to alleviate delays.
Of course, in reality, the empty buses aren’t all just spare, and depending on the situation, might not be able to be utilised without causing delay to something else - and the drivers are likely on their legally required meal breaks.
Of course, in reality, the empty buses aren’t all just spare, and depending on the situation, might not be able to be utilised without causing delay to something else - and the drivers are likely on their legally required meal breaks.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
I think it is fair to say that bus operators don't "actively control" routes in the way they should (and do in London), e.g. turning very late buses short when they've caught another one up. Certainly in MK buses seem to be put out on time then left to do whatever all day; once late they stay late, for instance.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
I think that's a bit of a sweeping generalism. Tends to be more operator specific.
For instance, First Bristol commonly will have vehicles turned short (less often) or vehicles inserted into routes (most often) to restore headways. In fact, because of the issues experienced last year (and anticipated this year) on the return after the summer holidays, First hired in extra vehicles last year and this year, are securing 20 pre-enjoyed deckers from across the empire to act as Q busters on standby to fit into schedules at strategic points.
To echo AC Best, there is some view that bus operators will have a number of buses and drivers simply sat there just in case. I'm sure the car owners on this board have two cars, just in case one doesn't start in the morning
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
To echo AC Best, there is some view that bus operators will have a number of buses and drivers simply sat there just in case. I'm sure the car owners on this board have two cars, just in case one doesn't start in the morning
A car owner does have the option to "hire a car" at the last minute i.e. a taxi. It's costly but it's there, and if you have to be at work you do it.
Bus operators don't have that as such an easy option, but is it often done?
pdeaves
Established Member
I like your typo; it's probably true in the erroneous form, too!
I don't think this is unreasonable. Cash machines usually only dispense £10 and £20 notes and many busses still don't accept card payments.
Statto
Established Member
Yep, a not in service, empty bus, could well be, being used for taking drivers to/from the depot
Statto
Established Member
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Neither will have a load of fixed resource sat on the off chance. However, the car owner can more easily substitute as you say.
It is rare that bus operators will do any form of spot hiring. Usually as most nearby operators are equally as determined to sweat their assets.
There was one incident where there was a serious RTA leading to a fatality that was right at the entrance to First's Bath depot in 2017 in the early hours. That meant no vehicles could leave to service the morning peak.
I think there was some use of spare First vehicles from Bristol and they did get some hired in resource from nearby operators like Arleen to provide a skeleton service until the Police investigation concluded.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Card payments are the answer to this issue, really. For cash, one could purchase prepaid tickets at PayPoint/Payzone type stores - while this might not work in rural areas, in cities they are literally all over the place with very long opening hours.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
To bring on better understanding, Arriva MK (at least) put "STAFF SHUTTLE" on the blinds on those rather than just blank or not in service.
There are unfortunately a few people who use the bus to break open notes each morning. With the threat of a change voucher looming some of these people often put away their £20 note and get out a £5 note.
This is also why in West Yorks, First created lots of new displays for not in service buses, to help explain why they are not in service
Not in service - Bus returning to depot
Not in service - Bus entering service
Not in service - Vehicle on road test
Buses empty on their way to and from school runs display ‘School Bus’ rather than any Not in service display.
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