Alighting from a bus - what's the policy?

[yorkie]

What's the policy at your local bus company, or the company you work for, or travel most with, regarding alighting from bus stops?

Should one be ready at the doors by the time the bus has stopped? This is what a Stagecoach Manchester driver claims.

Or should one remain seated until the bus has stopped? This is what the notices on a Stagecoach Manchester bus stated, in contrast to the statement by the driver.

 

[causton]

Many passengers and bus drivers would like you to be at the doors when they open as they have places to be.

The people up at bus companies' head offices (Arriva have similar notices on many buses too) see people *gasp* standing up while the bus is *gasp* moving as TOO DANGEROUS and want to avoid it as it could involve the company having to pay out to people if they have an accident!

 

[GaryMcEwan]

From what I've observed here in Glasgow, certain drivers for certain companies get a bit mouthy if you pushed the bell and are not at the doors when the bus stops even though it says to push it and remain seated until the bus has stopped.

From personal experience though, I've pushed it and got up immediately as some First Glasgow drivers just drive past it without stopping and won't stop until you actually say to them that you wanted off.

 

[90019]

Generally I prefer it if you're at the doors when we stop, as timings on some routes can be tight in places, but I don't really mind either way, so long as you actually make an effort to be ready to get up when we stop.

 

[Be3G]

On some quiet hail & ride routes in London (ones where just single door buses are used and there're rarely any standees) I find an interesting system has developed whereby you ring the bell to warn the driver that you'd like to get off soon, then when you get up and start walking to the front the driver interprets that as ‘let me off at the next available place you can pull in’ and starts slowing to stop. This seems to work well because on routes that are largely & ride (e.g. the W10) it means you can be very specific about where you want to be dropped off. Admittedly it's perhaps not quite such a good method for the passengers who're unable to stand until the bus has stopped, but I find that the drivers will generally know where they want to get off anyway!

 

[Bletchleyite]

When I was a kid the rule on the local minibuses was that the bell was not to be used in any circumstances, you walked up to the driver and told him where you wanted to get off and he pulled in for you.

 

[radamfi]

What's the policy at your local bus company, or the company you work for, or travel most with, regarding alighting from bus stops?

Should one be ready at the doors by the time the bus has stopped? This is what a Stagecoach Manchester driver claims.

In the days of GM Buses (and Greater Manchester Transport prior to 26 October 1986), passengers didn't use the bell because they didn't know it existed. For some reason, on the buses bought by GMT and subsequently used by GM Buses, the "bell" was a black rubber strip on the roof which wasn't very noticeable. I remember pressing it once and then immediately thinking that I had done something quite naughty. I don't think I ever saw anyone press that bit of rubber. Everyone just knew that you had to stand behind the driver to get off.

That gradually changed in the 90s as the successor companies started to replace the ageing GMT fleet with buses with red buttons for the bell like most other places. So I expect that this driver was of a certain age who grew up with the "standing behind the driver" culture.

 

[Be3G]

For some reason, on the buses bought by GMT and subsequently used by GM Buses, the "bell" was a black rubber strip on the roof which wasn't very noticeable.

We had those down in London too… in fact I'm quite pleased you mention it because I had a memory of there being one on a bus when I was very young and such was the strangeness of having a bell strip in the ceiling that I'd started to think I was imagining it. My memory certainly includes seeing the bell used.

 

[Antman]

What's the policy at your local bus company, or the company you work for, or travel most with, regarding alighting from bus stops?

Should one be ready at the doors by the time the bus has stopped? This is what a Stagecoach Manchester driver claims.

Or should one remain seated until the bus has stopped? This is what the notices on a Stagecoach Manchester bus stated, in contrast to the statement by the driver.

Well I cannot imagine Stagecoach Manchester endorsing that, many operators tell passengers to remain seated until the bus stops probably just to guard against compensation claims, if passengers ignore that it's presumably down to them?

 

[northwichcat]

I'm sure West Yorkshire Metro used to say in printed timetables you should remain in your seat until the bus stops.

 

[455driver]

Well I cannot imagine Stagecoach Manchester endorsing that, many operators tell passengers to remain seated until the bus stops probably just to guard against compensation claims, if passengers ignore that it's presumably down to them?

Is the correct answer, sadly!

 

[Baxenden Bank]

We had those down in London too… in fact I'm quite pleased you mention it because I had a memory of there being one on a bus when I was very young and such was the strangeness of having a bell strip in the ceiling that I'd started to think I was imagining it. My memory certainly includes seeing the bell used.

In my travels, the only instruction I have seen in recent years is to 'press the bell and remain seated until the bus has stopped'. Fine if the bell actually works and the driver reacts appropriately! No mention is made of what will happen to offenders who ignore the instruction and walk to the front whilst the bus is in motion.

Mention of the rubber bell strip reminds me of some buses from my youth. My then local operator Rossendale Borough Transport (or 'Rosso' as it calls itself now):roll: bought some second hand Glasgow / Strathclyde double deckers. The means of communication with the driver being a piece of string passing down the length of the bus, presumably attached to a bell in the cab, and not to his left ear to give him a twitch.

 

[SS4]

In Birmingham it's expected, and done, that you be at the door ready to leave (unless of course age or infirmity prevents you from doing so) when the bus arrives at the stop.

 

[Mojo]

I think that customers should be by the door, ready to alight, as the bus stops, in order to improve the speed of bus services.

 

[455driver]

I think that customers should be by the door, ready to alight, as the bus stops, in order to improve the speed of bus services.

But what if the bus swerves or brakes sharply when a person is making their way down the bus? Cue a no win no fee solicitor and a nice big payout!
If there are signs saying to remain seated and you get up then that is your fault because you failed to comply so wouldn't get a penny.

The signs are there to prevent the company being sued, of course custom and practice is to make your way carefully and safely to the front ready to alight (what a stupid word) as soon as the bus stops and the doors are opened.

 

[Bletchleyite]

But what if the bus swerves or brakes sharply when a person is making their way down the bus? Cue a no win no fee solicitor and a nice big payout!
If there are signs saying to remain seated and you get up then that is your fault because you failed to comply so wouldn't get a penny.

Standing passengers are either safe or they aren't. If it isn't safe to stand in advance of your stop, it isn't safe to stand at all and standing passengers should be banned entirely.

(Though I suppose moving is more hazardous than standing still)

 

[455driver]

Standing passengers are either safe or they aren't. If it isn't safe to stand in advance of your stop, it isn't safe to stand at all and standing passengers should be banned entirely.

(Though I suppose moving is more hazardous than standing still)

If you are standing still on a bus then you will be holding on to a fixed point (or at least you should be) so will be able to brace yourself, if you are moving there is a chance that you wont be holding onto anything when the bus brakes so could be injured.

The signs are just a cop out really and a sad reflection on what a sad place this Country has become where people will sue for any little thing!

 

[Bletchleyite]

If you are standing still on a bus then you will be holding on to a fixed point (or at least you should be) so will be able to brace yourself, if you are moving there is a chance that you wont be holding onto anything when the bus brakes so could be injured.

True. I suppose it isn't unknown for moving to the front of a single decker while it is braking for the stop to be more of a controlled fall bouncing off some grab poles...

The signs are just a cop out really and a sad reflection on what a sad place this Country has become where people will sue for any little thing!

There is that.

 

[radamfi]

The British culture of double deckers and single door operation means that it takes longer for a seated passenger to alight from the bus. If you are serious about wanting fast alighting times, you need to consider the more conventional multi-door operation. Asking for passengers to move towards the door before getting off whilst officially not allowing that is the inevitable British contradiction and unsatisfactory compromise.

 

[Teflon Lettuce]

Many passengers and bus drivers would like you to be at the doors when they open as they have places to be.

The people up at bus companies' head offices (Arriva have similar notices on many buses too) see people *gasp* standing up while the bus is *gasp* moving as TOO DANGEROUS and want to avoid it as it could involve the company having to pay out to people if they have an accident!

one thing that's always puzzled me about the "passenger should remain seated" notices is what are "standees" supposed to do to comply with the notice?

 

[Baxenden Bank]

one thing that's always puzzled me about the "passenger should remain seated" notices is what are "standees" supposed to do to comply with the notice?

1) sit on he floor - had someone do that on the 'Honister Rambler' bus last week,
2) sit on someone's knee - preferably asking their permission first!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

True. I suppose it isn't unknown for moving to the front of a single decker while it is braking for the stop to be more of a controlled fall bouncing off some grab poles....

Or falling down the stairs on a decker!

Indeed, when without 'luggage' I will move to the front. Other times, with several bags of shopping, it is wiser to remain seated rather than batter the old dears at the front with a carrier bag full of beer bottles as I storm headlong towards the windscreen.

The OP and several early posts seem to suggest that pressing the bell is not sufficient to ensure that the bus actually stops. Yet another reason why the bus industry cannot understand why it loses passengers hand over fist, year after year (London excepted).

How many times, having been over-carried, and having to walk back a certain distance with luggage, children etc, will the average punter carry on using that service?

Perhaps zealous RPI's from a certain northern railway company could be employed to issue 'administrative penalties' to such passengers - clearly they were intent on short-faring leaving the bus company out of pocket.

Having said that, being on the bus and wanting to get off is an achievement. A couple of weeks ago a driver went straight past me - staring straight ahead - the bus only runs every 2 hours!

 

[455driver]

A couple of weeks ago a driver went straight past me - staring straight ahead - the bus only runs every 2 hours!

Were you clearly visible to the driver?
Did you stick your hand out in plenty of time?

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Were you clearly visible to the driver?
Did you stick your hand out in plenty of time?

Yes and yes. At the edge of the kerb, arm raised and having moved from the back of the pavement as the bus came into view. No other services serve that stop. Other than jumping out in front of him I don't see what else I could have done! It was daylight and there were no vehicles in front of the bus to obscure the drivers view. The driver went off sick very shortly afterwards so cannot be interviewed!

That, of course, would be the beauty of (functioning) forward facing CCTV - if the camera saw me, so should have the driver!

 

[Mugby]

If ever passengers are forced to remain in their seats until the bus stops, you may as well have a mass bonfire of the timetables.

 

[MCR247]

The British culture of double deckers and single door operation means that it takes longer for a seated passenger to alight from the bus. If you are serious about wanting fast alighting times, you need to consider the more conventional multi-door operation. Asking for passengers to move towards the door before getting off whilst officially not allowing that is the inevitable British contradiction and unsatisfactory compromise.

Whilst multi-door is more efficient in terms of decreasing 'dwell times' I don't think the loss of seats is justifiable to most operators, especially with the current trend of buying smaller, lightweight buses where possible. I'm not sure dual door is as necessary in the UK outside of London due to the fact we use buses quite differently to other places

 

[455driver]

Yes and yes. At the edge of the kerb, arm raised and having moved from the back of the pavement as the bus came into view. No other services serve that stop. Other than jumping out in front of him I don't see what else I could have done! It was daylight and there were no vehicles in front of the bus to obscure the drivers view. The driver went off sick very shortly afterwards so cannot be interviewed!

That, of course, would be the beauty of (functioning) forward facing CCTV - if the camera saw me, so should have the driver!

Fair enough.
I have actually yelled at the driver as he drove past me once (same as you clearly visible, arm raised in good time), this jolted him back to earth and luckily he stopped a bit further down the road, past the stop.

I suppose the driver might have been in a bit of a daydream, not that it help you.

 

[radamfi]

I'm not sure dual door is as necessary in the UK outside of London due to the fact we use buses quite differently to other places

Not even in the major conurbations? Greater Manchester and the West Midlands have over 2.5 million people. Cities less than half that size have and need multi-door operation to keep dwell times down.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Not even in the major conurbations? Greater Manchester and the West Midlands have over 2.5 million people. Cities less than half that size have and need multi-door operation to keep dwell times down.

It more depends on the style of route. On those routes where people board and then all get off in the centre, then the bus goes to a different stop and loads, multi-door probably has limited value. On any route with multiple "destination" stops or on any cross-city route, it has the potential to save a lot of time.

That said, the biggest time saver is getting ticketing off the bus. Paying the driver needs leaving in the 1980s. TfL at least have realised that, and as a result the buses move much more quickly than elsewhere.

 

[bussnapperwm]

I usually wait til the bus has come to a complete halt when I'm seated.

When I'm standing (only going a couple of stops)I'm up I'm usually by the ironing board so the brake force just pushes me back into it

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Not even in the major conurbations? Greater Manchester and the West Midlands have over 2.5 million people. Cities less than half that size have and need multi-door operation to keep dwell times down.

Remember that the UK introduced legislation regarding centre doors etc following a death in Birmingham in the mid 1970s. This led to a wholesale moved away from such vehicles as the interlocks required meant that dwell times were as bad as single doors (plus vehicles were more expensive).

Of course, technology moves on but then again, the infrastructure over the last 40 years was aimed at single door vehicles. Many saw tooth bus stations just can't handle dual door vehicles and the same issue surrounds bus stops especially in respect of raised kerbs.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

That said, the biggest time saver is getting ticketing off the bus. Paying the driver needs leaving in the 1980s. TfL at least have realised that, and as a result the buses move much more quickly than elsewhere.

Bus companies have naturally spent a lot of time doing this (as both a cost saving/time saving measure and to lock in customers). Historically, the cost of technology has been the stumbling block but it won't be long before it satisfies a cost benefit case.