Pressing the bell on buses, London v Outside

[pethadine82]

I think people are misunderstanding what I wrote, so I wanted to clarify. I am talking about double pressing, eg imagine you double tap your phone, same thing with the bell.
There is really no need to double or triple press the bell; it is infuriating.

 

[GusB]

I think people are misunderstanding what I wrote, so I wanted to clarify. I am talking about double pressing, eg imagine you double tap your phone, same thing with the bell.
There is really no need to double or triple press the bell; it is infuriating.

I'm not sure that people are misunderstanding what you wrote. Do you know that passengers are actually double-pressing the bell, or are you just hearing the result of more than one person pressing at the same time?

 

[Bletchleyite]

I think people are misunderstanding what I wrote, so I wanted to clarify. I am talking about double pressing, eg imagine you double tap your phone, same thing with the bell.
There is really no need to double or triple press the bell; it is infuriating.

Certain buses as noted do two "dings" if you press it once.

 

[PeterC]

Couple of times I’ve stood up and moved towards the exit door but not rung the bell and bern over carried, when I called out “excuse me I wanted that stop” the driver said why didn’t you ring the bell? I said it’s a compulsory stop and he said no such thing. As far as I’m concerned a white background with red roundel means compulsory stop, red background with white roundel means request stop, but seems that’s no longer the case.

I don't know when they formally abolished compulsory stops but I remember being over carried when visiting my parents at least 15 years ago. The stop was still white background but, unlike in my younger days, the buses were driver only.

 

[Darklord8899]

On Lothian Buses it happens frequently that every person getting of the bus has to ring the bell.
Weird behaviour.

Agreed it is also very frustrating especially at a busy stop where 5 or 6 people can all ring the bell - between the old yins that are deaf and the youngsters plugged into technology, no-one is aware of their surroundings- everyone in their own wee bubble

 

[Bevan Price]

When buses had conductors it was their job to ring the bell (buzzer). In Midland Red days round Leicester it was anyway

Yes - that was almost universal outside London; the only time you got away with ringing the bell was if the conductor failed to see you (e.g. if he/she was upstairs selling tickets.) It was the complete opposite when I went to work in London - conductors never rang the bell for stops - only to get the bus to start moving.

 

[philthetube]

A good bus is one where, once the bell has been rung, it will no longer ring.



At one time repeated ringing meant an emergency stop. Private hires were a pain, people who haven't used a bus in years think it's funny to repeatedly ring the bell.

Bells used to have to be able to be operated as often as required, if not then it would not be possible for a conductor to signal an emergency stop, the law must have changed at some time.

 

[pethadine82]

I'm not sure that people are misunderstanding what you wrote. Do you know that passengers are actually double-pressing the bell, or are you just hearing the result of more than one person pressing at the same time?

yes I have seen them press it twice, and told them that it is unnecessary. You just need to press it once. I do think it is a language / cultural problem in London, and people not understanding the way things are done. Perhaps TfL could ask operators to stop the constant dinging. Once is enough, and the sign is illuminated. There are people with mental health problems and the constant dinging can increase their anxiety!

 

[GusB]

yes I have seen them press it twice, and told them that it is unnecessary. You just need to press it once. I do think it is a language / cultural problem in London, and people not understanding the way things are done. Perhaps TfL could ask operators to stop the constant dinging. Once is enough, and the sign is illuminated. There are people with mental health problems and the constant dinging can increase their anxiety!

Bearing in mind that London has many visitors each year from both within and outside the UK, it's understandable that there will be some people who don't 'get' it, especially if it's someone who comes from a place where a completely different system is in operation.

That different system could either be in large city in a other country, or a smaller town or rural area in the UK. Not everyone is 100% confident in using public transport, and for some it may be the first time they've ever used any kind of mass-transit system. Is it irritating for the locals? Perhaps. Is it really worth getting upset about it? Absolutely not - life is far too short!

 

[Goldfish62]

I don't know when they formally abolished compulsory stops but I remember being over carried when visiting my parents at least 15 years ago. The stop was still white background but, unlike in my younger days, the buses were driver only.

The distinguishing between compulsory and request stops in London was abolished about 15 years ago. They're all just "stops". It works just fine, as it does outside London.

 

[PeterC]

The distinguishing between compulsory and request stops in London was abolished about 15 years ago. They're all just "stops". It works just fine, as it does outside London.

Fine now maybe. Living in the Home Counties I don't recall anything telling me that white bus stops were now red bus stops in disguise at the time. Like the post I was responding to I only found out when the stop, which still displayed a "compulsory" flag, was ignored by the driver.

 

[Goldfish62]

Fine now maybe. Living in the Home Counties I don't recall anything telling me that white bus stops were now red bus stops in disguise at the time. Like the post I was responding to I only found out when the stop, which still displayed a "compulsory" flag, was ignored by the driver.

I've always stuck my hand out /rung the bell for any stop so it's never been an issue for me.

The insignificant increase in the number of complaints about not stopping after the change also suggests it wasn't an issue for the vast majority either.

 

[The exile]

I'm of an age where I remember those rubber bell stripes on the roof of old LRT (Lothian) Buses!

Me too - and the feeling of satisfaction when I could finally reach them!

 

[PeterC]

I've always stuck my hand out /rung the bell for any stop so it's never been an issue for me.

The insignificant increase in the number of complaints about not stopping after the change also suggests it wasn't an issue for the vast majority either.

I suspect that it had got to the point where most drivers were ignoring compulsory stops anyway. In my younger days ringing the bell for a compulsory stop would have earned an earful from the conductor.

 

[Goldfish62]

I suspect that it had got to the point where most drivers were ignoring compulsory stops anyway.

It had been hit and miss for a while.

Same with not stopping at request stops just because the bell wasn't rung even though it was obvious people wanted to alight. I never did such a thing of course...

 

[johnnychips]

A ‘fail’ on some buses, is that you can read the word ‘Stopping’ when it isn’t lit up, and doesn’t appear much brighter when you do ring the bell. In my experience, pressing the bell on First South Yorkshire doesn’t make a sound about 2% of the time, so if I can’t hear it I press another bell, as it is by no means evident that the ’Stopping’ sign has lit up.

 

[David Burrows]

A number of Stagecach single deckers in Lincoln, introduced a few years ago, automatically ring twice when button pressed once.

 

[Andyh82]

A number of Stagecach single deckers in Lincoln, introduced a few years ago, automatically ring twice when button pressed once.

Presumably this is just the 4 note ring that the latest Alexander Dennis buses do

 

[stuartl]

A ‘fail’ on some buses, is that you can read the word ‘Stopping’ when it isn’t lit up, and doesn’t appear much brighter when you do ring the bell. In my experience, pressing the bell on First South Yorkshire doesn’t make a sound about 2% of the time, so if I can’t hear it I press another bell, as it is by no means evident that the ’Stopping’ sign has lit up.

That's very true. Having been carried past my stop a few times, with the driver saying he didn't hear the bell, I often use the blue disabled bell push as it makes a far louder sound.

 

[SECR263]

When commuting on RT's in the 60s, queuing was the norm but gradually the lurkers would stand by the stop and try and get on first. If I was at the front of the queue a good shoulder barge would dissuade them. Regards Bell ringing I dispair. Sometimes you get 5 or 6 double rings at every stop in London. Big signs say bus stopping but it still continues ding ding ding. Why is this not omitted on new build buses as the cab has a light to alert driver to a stop needed as disable the bell? I wonder why TFL goes not get rid of the words "bus stop" and "request stop" as I doubt if many now know the difference. In the RT days it was frowned upon to ring for a compulsory stop. I remember travelling on the RTs which had the plaques in the bus showing it had been to Brussels or wherever. A well driven RT was a joy to be on. Drivers leg pumping away on operating pedal. Happy days.

 

[lyndhurst25]

The writing on bus bell buttons used to say “Push Once”. Now it says “Stop”. There’s your problem.

 

[Siemens Trains]

When commuting on RT's in the 60s, queuing was the norm but gradually the lurkers would stand by the stop and try and get on first. If I was at the front of the queue a good shoulder barge would dissuade them. Regards Bell ringing I dispair. Sometimes you get 5 or 6 double rings at every stop in London. Big signs say bus stopping but it still continues ding ding ding. Why is this not omitted on new build buses as the cab has a light to alert driver to a stop needed as disable the bell? I wonder why TFL goes not get rid of the words "bus stop" and "request stop" as I doubt if many now know the difference. In the RT days it was frowned upon to ring for a compulsory stop. I remember travelling on the RTs which had the plaques in the bus showing it had been to Brussels or wherever. A well driven RT was a joy to be on. Drivers leg pumping away on operating pedal. Happy days.

Would I be correct in thinking a double ring or double buzz was used as the 'moving off' signal in London? I find it quite strange that passengers were allowed to use the bell/buzzer to indicate they wanted off at the next stop when the bell/buzzer could also be used by the conductor in an agreed code to communicate with the driver. Passengers may have used the code unwittingly (or deliberately).

 

[Bletchleyite]

Would I be correct in thinking a double ring or double buzz was used as the 'moving off' signal in London? I find it quite strange that passengers were allowed to use the bell/buzzer to indicate they wanted off at the next stop when the bell/buzzer could also be used by the conductor in an agreed code to communicate with the driver. Passengers may have used the code unwittingly (or deliberately).

One to stop, two to go, same as a train.

 

[Siemens Trains]

The writing on bus bell buttons used to say “Push Once”. Now it says “Stop”. There’s your problem.

Perhaps this button should be an illuminated electronic display too. After being pushed once the button should change to say "Stop" to indicate the passenger should stop pushing.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Dec 2022 ==

One to stop, two to go, same as a train.

That's what I thought. I'm astonished to hear that passengers were allowed/encouraged to use the bell for requesting a stop. Sounds like absolute madness to me, but I wasn't around at that time in London so can't tell how dangerous it actually was.

 

[6Gman]

It seems to be regional. Using the bell on Ormskirk's old "Little White Buses" hail and ride services was definitely gauche, while on MK Metro going and asking the driver wasn't the done thing, you rang the bell and they stopped at the next safe place. And I once got told off for pressing it on a Blackpool tram, that was the conductor's job.

Same happened to me in Preston - must have been a Lancashire thing.

But given it was a double decker no idea what I was supposed to do if I was downstairs and the conductor was upstairs? Go looking for him?

 

[PeterC]

That's what I thought. I'm astonished to hear that passengers were allowed/encouraged to use the bell for requesting a stop. Sounds like absolute madness to me, but I wasn't around at that time in London so can't tell how dangerous it actually was.

With closely placed stops and the conductor possibly collecting fares on the other deck s/he wouldn't always see a passenger moving towards the platform.

The standard configuration was a cord linked to a bell running the length of the lower deck, a buzzer at the top of the stairs and two on the platform, one under the stairs and, if memory serves, one at head height by the exit.

You couldn't ring any without first standing up so there was little chance of accidental rings.

 

[SECR263]

One to stop, two to go, same as a train.

On LT routes If the conductor was up top a quick glance in the stair mirror and a double stamp on the cab roof (upper deck floor) usually go the bus moving. Also when full up, 3 or 4 rings got the bus flying past a stop.

 

[Siemens Trains]

With closely placed stops and the conductor possibly collecting fares on the other deck s/he wouldn't always see a passenger moving towards the platform.

The standard configuration was a cord linked to a bell running the length of the lower deck, a buzzer at the top of the stairs and two on the platform, one under the stairs and, if memory serves, one at head height by the exit.

You couldn't ring any without first standing up so there was little chance of accidental rings.

Thanks. That should be reasonably safe if everyone behaves responsibly. But given the common nature of passengers sounding multiple bells at random times which is rather difficult to control (and the subject of this thread) it seems only a matter of time before a passenger rings the bell twice while the bus is stationary with people getting on or off. The driver would then move away thinking the conductor indicated it was safe to go.

If passengers are forbidden from touching the bell then the chances are reduced but the conductor needs to monitor the platform at each request stop. I suppose it's just a case of balancing the risks with convenience.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I seem to recall the Borismasters had a separate "go" button in the conductor standing area rather than using the bell.

 

[Cesarcollie]

Thanks. That should be reasonably safe if everyone behaves responsibly. But given the common nature of passengers sounding multiple bells at random times which is rather difficult to control (and the subject of this thread) it seems only a matter of time before a passenger rings the bell twice while the bus is stationary with people getting on or off. The driver would then move away thinking the conductor indicated it was safe to go.

If passengers are forbidden from touching the bell then the chances are reduced but the conductor needs to monitor the platform at each request stop. I suppose it's just a case of balancing the risks with convenience.

It all seemed to work fine in those ‘olden days’. Passengers knew to ring once to alight at a request stop. No illuminated signs so I guess on occasion someone else rang it too. But no major health & safety dramas - it wasn’t invented then