ENCTS pass holders making journeys because they enjoy travelling

[neilmc]

Our once-a-week bus was suspended during the pandemic, and only reappeared with reduced seating capacity in August.

Initially I was reluctant to use it as I have regular access to a car and feared that I might be depriving someone with no alternative from a seat, but that proved groundless as many of the "regulars" had given up using the bus altogether.

So I have begun to use it again not least to ensure that the figures show that it is actually being used in my village should further economies be required.

Last week I noticed something novel - an ENCTS card holder joyriding around Cumbria on what passes for a local network. On balance I was pleased - every time he boards a bus there's money transferred from the County Council into the coffers of the operator, consider it a small portion in lieu of the subsidy they don't currently give.

However this could be pretty anti-social if it happens on routes which are actually busy with reduced capacity. Is this happening elsewhere and what is the reaction? Has any operator restricted services to known locals?

 

[Robertj21a]

Our once-a-week bus was suspended during the pandemic, and only reappeared with reduced seating capacity in August. Initially I was reluctant to use it as I have regular access to a car and feared that I might be depriving someone with no alternative from a seat, but that proved groundless as many of the "regulars" had given up using the bus altogether. So I have begun to use it again not least to ensure that the figures show that it is actually being used in my village should further economies be required. Last week I noticed something novel - an ENCTS card holder joyriding around Cumbria on what passes for a local network. On balance I was pleased - every time he boards a bus there's money transferred from the County Council into the coffers of the operator, consider it a small portion in lieu of the subsidy they don't currently give. However this could be pretty anti-social if it happens on routes which are actually busy with reduced capacity. Is this happening elsewhere and what is the reaction? Has any operator restricted services to known locals?

Not sure how you could restrict it to locals when it should be a public service.

 

[WM Bus]

Our once-a-week bus was suspended during the pandemic, and only reappeared with reduced seating capacity in August. Initially I was reluctant to use it as I have regular access to a car and feared that I might be depriving someone with no alternative from a seat, but that proved groundless as many of the "regulars" had given up using the bus altogether. So I have begun to use it again not least to ensure that the figures show that it is actually being used in my village should further economies be required. Last week I noticed something novel - an ENCTS card holder joyriding around Cumbria on what passes for a local network. On balance I was pleased - every time he boards a bus there's money transferred from the County Council into the coffers of the operator, consider it a small portion in lieu of the subsidy they don't currently give. However this could be pretty anti-social if it happens on routes which are actually busy with reduced capacity. Is this happening elsewhere and what is the reaction? Has any operator restricted services to known locals?

On a service such as the 55 and 94 which have lots of different drivers and high volumes of passengers as well as high frequency of every 4 minutes, I doubt they'd remember all the "known locals", for example someone who only uses the bus once a week or something.
And also some people might just be taking the bus into the City Centre to go clothes shopping or something like that, not sure whether you'd view that any differently or the same?

From what i've noticed over the last few months on my local route there is a elderly woman whos been staying on the bus when it terminates in the City Centre and travels back out to the stop where they got on in Ward End on the 55/94 services. Then crosses over the road to go back round again. They board at Foley Road stop just after Ward End, Fox and Goose.
Though I can't see anything wrong with that.

And also what if someone needs to catch two buses to where they need to go and was travelling across the City Centre and changing buses to get to say the QE Hospital/Birmingham Uni interchange. Would they not be allowed on the X20/X21/X22 as they're not a local and don't live on that service.
I can't see that this is a workable idea to be honest.

For those who are able to travel at any time of day National Express do have a tool which predicts how busy each bus will be. And for example from looking at it, it can see some of the morning journeys tomorrow at 8AM ish are showing up in a darker green than most other journeys on the 55 between Ward End and City Centre.

CitySwift Busy Bus Checker

How busy is your bus? Check predicted bus capacities and choose to travel on the quieter buses â for your comfort, safety and peace of mind.

nxswiftconnect.com

 

[Busaholic]

On exactly what basis would the person using their pass quite legally (presumably) be barred from using these buses, or even asked to answer any questions about their movements? It could constitute harassment, or even be referred to the police as a 'hate crime', especially if it involved somebody regarded as disabled or vulnerable. The proponents of the scheme gave 'getting out and about' as one of the benefits of it, a 'change of scenery' being regarded as good for mental health to many who live on their own and may rarely conduct more than a brief conversation with strangers. it is a national scheme too so that holders can venture outside their immediate area. Anyone wanting to restrict its benefits should either form their own political party to campaign against it or persuade an established party to do so, then get elected on that basis.

 

[route101]

Our once-a-week bus was suspended during the pandemic, and only reappeared with reduced seating capacity in August. Initially I was reluctant to use it as I have regular access to a car and feared that I might be depriving someone with no alternative from a seat, but that proved groundless as many of the "regulars" had given up using the bus altogether. So I have begun to use it again not least to ensure that the figures show that it is actually being used in my village should further economies be required. Last week I noticed something novel - an ENCTS card holder joyriding around Cumbria on what passes for a local network. On balance I was pleased - every time he boards a bus there's money transferred from the County Council into the coffers of the operator, consider it a small portion in lieu of the subsidy they don't currently give. However this could be pretty anti-social if it happens on routes which are actually busy with reduced capacity. Is this happening elsewhere and what is the reaction? Has any operator restricted services to known locals?

I know a few people with the Scottish Free Bus Concession Pass , they have one due to autism diagnosis. It helps them get out and about.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Is this happening elsewhere and what is the reaction? Has any operator restricted services to known locals?

There's no reaction, you can't legally restrict a service to "known locals". Even if an operator tried it's not enforceable, who decides if you're a known local or not.

I know a few people with the Scottish Free Bus Concession Pass , they have one due to autism diagnosis. It helps them get out and about.

Even people with Autism aside there's many elderly people who live alone who will go on their local bus service in to town or their local supermarket cafe just to socialise. It may seem a bizarre concept to us younger people (assuming you're younger), but for that person it may be the only human interaction they get in the week. That's why weekly shopper services, particularly in rural areas can be so well used as they have somewhat of a "cult" following.