TfL Bus Blinds

[bcarmicle]

I thought that TfL mandated that all its buses have rolling bus blinds. However, I've just seen one (admittedly it wasn't in service) with what was quite obviously a digital blind (i.e. animating text)--has this requirement changed, was it never a requirement, or could this have been a trial scheme of some kind?

 

[dgl]

Supposedly they are trialing new high resolution digital (L.E.D.) displays with a view to using them instead. The only reason they stuck with blinds being the low resolution nature and therefore supposed less readability but modern high resolution displays sort most of the readability problems. Plus as they can be reprogrammed on the fly (with just a computer at the depot rather than replacing the whole blind and the costs that incurs) a lot more flexible.

 

[johnw]

The only reason they have roller blinds was Leon Daniels.

 

[cjp]

Once upon a time was there not a helpful blind at the back rather than just a number so that with a known destination one could decide to run to catch it, or not?

 

[Busaholic]

The only reason they have roller blinds was Leon Daniels.

They had roller blinds before Leon Daniels was even born!!

 

[Statto]

They had roller blinds before Leon Daniels was even born!!

Lol, think he meant the reason why London Buses kept roller blinds & didn't go to LEDs which are now standard outside London.

 

[Non Multi]

Once upon a time was there not a helpful blind at the back rather than just a number so that with a known destination one could decide to run to catch it, or not?

That made sense when LT were operating rear platform buses.

 

[cjp]

That made sense when LT were operating rear platform buses.

Yes but if you do not know where the bus is going you might as well dispense with even having a number shown at the back since not all buses go the entire length of s route

 

[swt class 450]

I believe that the new Optare Solo SR buses that Metroline have on the H2 and H3 services are using these new LED blinds. I must say that they are certainly very clear. It is quite difficult to even notice that they are LED blinds rather than the normal roller blinds

 

[Non Multi]

Yes but if you do not know where the bus is going you might as well dispense with even having a number shown at the back since not all buses go the entire length of s route

It's still useful to inform you what route number it is, you may (or may not) have just missed your bus. TfL buses still feature a side window mounted destination blind (or display) by the entrance door.

 

[Statto]

I believe that the new Optare Solo SR buses that Metroline have on the H2 and H3 services are using these new LED blinds. I must say that they are certainly very clear. It is quite difficult to even notice that they are LED blinds rather than the normal roller blinds

Are the blinds similar to this one, had to look close up as it looks like a roller blind from a distance?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/27108685@N03/36553481714/in/photostream/

 

[swt class 450]

They are a bit similar to that one. Although i think these are even more clear. Here are some photos i found online of them:

https://flic.kr/p/NNUi5G

https://flic.kr/p/2atgQsN

https://flic.kr/p/P8VZAf

https://flic.kr/p/2atgFgS

They are certainly much more clear than the normal LED blinds that most bus operators use.

 

[Statto]

They are a bit similar to that one. Although i think these are even more clear. Here are some photos i found online of them:

https://flic.kr/p/NNUi5G

https://flic.kr/p/2atgQsN

https://flic.kr/p/P8VZAf

https://flic.kr/p/2atgFgS

They are certainly much more clear than the normal LED blinds that most bus operators use.

They're quite nice, be interesting to see what they're like at night, main problem with roller blinds is often the poor backlighting that your struggling to read the blind at night.

 

[swt class 450]

They look good at night as well. Certainly a lot more clear than roller blinds can be. See these photos:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/londo...-2eeb2TW-28y58Wb-P7WCXq-MzoGH8-NNUi5G-2dagZnc

https://www.flickr.com/photos/londo...-2eeb2TW-28y58Wb-P7WCXq-MzoGH8-NNUi5G-2dagZnc

It can be even worse on buses outside of London where most operators that use roller blinds don't even have backlights making it impossible to read it in dark areas at night time.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

It can be even worse on buses outside of London where most operators that use roller blinds don't even have backlights making it impossible to read it in dark areas at night time.

An operator that doesn't look after scrolling destination blind displays is just as likely to neglect it's LED displays.

Whatever happened to Norbury Brothers ?

 

[Statto]

It's the other way around to roller blinds, as i've never had a problem reading LEDs at night, LEDs can be hard to read in sunlight though.