Bus Enthusiast Etiquette.

[carlberry]

Perish the thought.... now I must get back to cataloguing my Eastern Counties Setright tickets

Insert, Mark I, Mark 2 or Mark2E?

 

[83G/84D]

I think forums are an excellent way to just talk buses. It’s a place where people understand what you’re saying and a place where you don’t feel embarrassed to talk about your hobby freely. Much of my knowledge has been gained by other people sharing it.
I have to say, this forum has to be the best forum that i’m on. Ever since I joined, I was made to feel welcome. The members here can have civilised discussions (apart from maybe one or two!) and you won’t be put down for having an opinion. People don’t make ridiculously stupid comments (mostly!) and the moderators are friendly, helpful and won’t slate you for doing something wrong. I’ve seen moderators on other forums/groups be quite rude, belittle or believe they are above everyone else. Yes, arguments may arise from time to time, but I think it’s only natural to either defend your opinion, or correct someone for providing incorrect information or making wildly stupid comments!

Well said, that's why enjoy this site more than other one's.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Insert, Mark I, Mark 2 or Mark2E?

2E - I'm not some sort of Luddite

I think forums are an excellent way to just talk buses. It’s a place where people understand what you’re saying and a place where you don’t feel embarrassed to talk about your hobby freely. Much of my knowledge has been gained by other people sharing it.
I have to say, this forum has to be the best forum that i’m on. Ever since I joined, I was made to feel welcome. The members here can have civilised discussions (apart from maybe one or two!) and you won’t be put down for having an opinion. People don’t make ridiculously stupid comments (mostly!) and the moderators are friendly, helpful and won’t slate you for doing something wrong. I’ve seen moderators on other forums/groups be quite rude, belittle or believe they are above everyone else. Yes, arguments may arise from time to time, but I think it’s only natural to either defend your opinion, or correct someone for providing incorrect information or making wildly stupid comments!

Indeed. Mods do a great job. There's a great many people that I've discussed things with. Sometimes we agree, other times we have differing opinions but as long as we can accept each others views and also accept that people will challenge our views, then we should be just fine. Oh, and accept when we simply make mistakes

The reality is that enthusiasts cover a spectrum, literally and metaphorically. As long as people behave themselves (i.e. not running across bus station maneuvering areas, not trespassing into depots, removing momentos, taking photographs with flash bulbs) then that's fine IMHO. The issue is that a small element don't have the social skills or awareness not to curb their enthusiasm or speak to people appropriately, whether it's arguing with drivers or inadvertently upsetting owners of preserved vehicles.

I have no interest in ticking off buses in notebooks or "bashing" particular buses; there are certain aspects of buses that do interest me but I appreciate that it's all a bit niche. Many folk don't like travelling by bus at all, whereas I've done it since I was a nipper but I understand it's not to everyone's taste.

 

[Pat1105]

I have no interest in ticking off buses in notebooks or "bashing" particular buses; there are certain aspects of buses that do interest me but I appreciate that it's all a bit niche. Many folk don't like travelling by bus at all, whereas I've done it since I was a nipper but I understand it's not to everyone's taste.

Neither do I, on the whole. I also don’t take photographs, as I personally don’t see the appeal of it. E.g all Volvo B7s in the NXWM fleet are the same to me. Couldn’t care less about its fleet/reg number. I do however have favourite vehicles that I like to ride from independents, where they can the same vehicle, but with different gearboxes, interior trim etc. E.g my favourite vehicle from my local operator, Banga, was YT51EBA. It had an awesome AT545 gearbox. Sadly, it was withdrawn earlier this year.

I am mostly interested in the operations side of buses. It fascinates me how companies get the whole thing to work. I am also interested in technical aspects, mainly destination blinds and ticket machines. I am quite good with Helen/MIE if I do say so myself. I’ve got a collection of ticket machines too. Oh, and I also have the odd bit of uniform, acquired from rallies, museums etc.

It just goes to show how much of a wide variety there is with buses. Photographs, number taking, tickets, timetables, route development. It goes on... Everyone has their own area of interest and I think that should be respected, however unusual it may sound to some.

 

[86247]

As a bus enthusiast I have no problem standing at a bus station for hours on end in the cold wind and rain. Or if the place doesn't have a bus station standing on the street corner getting bus numbers down. As for fellow enthusiasts I rarely see any about unless they are doing it on the quiet.Ive never really take pictures only if I'm at a bus rally or Depot open days.

 

[Statto]

I'm more into riding buses than standing near bus stations taking picks, & i'm more into the side of route histories, i rather go to running days more than rallys, but everyone has there own interest, if they're not causing an issues, like in unauthorized areas[such as depots without permission] then each to there own.

Main issues i have is the guff that gets posted on forums, much like football transfer speculations, that end up being wildly wrong, then you get some who come across as knowing better than the companies so much that they should be running a bus company themselves.

 

[Busaholic]

then you get some who come across as knowing better than the companies so much that they should be running a bus company themselves.

I believe some of them do, or at least did.

 

[Statto]

I believe some of them do, or at least did.

I don't mind that aspect, it's just those posting what this company should be doing, routes they should running ecc, when they've never worked in the bus industry & have no other links[like family ecc working for a bus company] other than going on a bus. I remember one person starting an E petition demanding the return of a route[former 620 Bolton-St Helens route], who most likely only used the route now & again.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I believe some of them do, or at least did.

A great many bus managers are enthusiasts who walk the line between being that AND being businessmen. Some enthusiasts don't seem to realise that or appreciate the commercial, legal or operational pressures and seem to believe that managers are somehow incompetent, heartless puppets of evil shareholder driven directors.

 

[lxfe_mxtterz]

I'm more into riding buses than standing near bus stations taking picks, & i'm more into the side of route histories...

Same here. I'm mainly interested in the routing and operational side of things, and do really enjoy riding buses on various routes, exploring new areas, etc.

 

[cnjb8]

Same here. I'm mainly interested in the routing and operational side of things, and do really enjoy riding buses on various routes, exploring new areas, etc.

Agreed, but I only catch a bus when I need to nor do I photograph any. Usually I'm out and about shopping etc and that's how I spot buses. Then I keep that info in my head. Sounds a bit weird but I think it's good that everyone has their own way of being a bus enthusiast!

 

[PaulMc7]

I would say I'm more of an analyst than an enthusiast tbh and I'm like that outside of buses too. Not a picture taker whatsoever and I've picked up a lot about costs etc just from interacting with the right people on here. I studied accountancy and business at college and gained qualifications in each so I'm intrigued by route planning/development and operational things like cost of running etc. Easy just now though as I've got a ton of free time

 

[Aidan1]

I take an interest in buses myself and have done from a youngish age. That inspired me to start driving them and when you start being around the thing that was once a hobby all day long it does spoil it for you. I’ve been driving for first Glasgow for 4 years now and still take a photo of my bus every so often and post it either on FB or Flickr. I would never post anything degrading about the company online or of a bus that had accident damage. A tip for any enthusiast who would want to take the plunge to become a driver... don’t.

 

[Mills444]

I take an interest in buses myself and have done from a youngish age. That inspired me to start driving them and when you start being around the thing that was once a hobby all day long it does spoil it for you. I’ve been driving for first Glasgow for 4 years now and still take a photo of my bus every so often and post it either on FB or Flickr. I would never post anything degrading about the company online or of a bus that had accident damage. A tip for any enthusiast who would want to take the plunge to become a driver... don’t.

I agree about most of it though not the last part if you want to then go for it just not in a city with orrbile traffic.

 

[Statto]

Most of the other bus forums i go on are ok, i do get annoyed with the know it all's[normally one or two on forums] who have never worked in the bus industry demanding the bus industry be ran to the way they want it run, then demanding change for the sake of it, including renumbering the entire fleet. You also get one or two members so vitriol about a company, & you think bleepin hell, there was one on here posting vitriol on TrentBarton, it became like a Comical Ali diatribe, i'm all for fair criticisms when it's warranted but that was ridiculous.

 

[route101]

I'm more into riding buses than standing near bus stations taking picks, & i'm more into the side of route histories, i rather go to running days more than rallys, but everyone has there own interest, if they're not causing an issues, like in unauthorized areas[such as depots without permission] then each to there own.

Main issues i have is the guff that gets posted on forums, much like football transfer speculations, that end up being wildly wrong, then you get some who come across as knowing better than the companies so much that they should be running a bus company themselves.

Same here , love going on new interesting routes, rather than being into the buses.

 

[CN04NRJ]

I take an interest in buses myself and have done from a youngish age. That inspired me to start driving them and when you start being around the thing that was once a hobby all day long it does spoil it for you. I’ve been driving for first Glasgow for 4 years now and still take a photo of my bus every so often and post it either on FB or Flickr. I would never post anything degrading about the company online or of a bus that had accident damage. A tip for any enthusiast who would want to take the plunge to become a driver... don’t.

When I left Cardiff Bus for Lothian and we were handing our stuff back there was a girl for interview that had just come down from Glasgow working for First. She said whatever you do if it doesn't work out at Lothian don't go to Glasgow!

 

[PaulMc7]

When I left Cardiff Bus for Lothian and we were handing our stuff back there was a girl for interview that had just come down from Glasgow working for First. She said whatever you do if it doesn't work out at Lothian don't go to Glasgow!

Going by the drivers I've seen over the years here I'm not surprised she said that. It's very rare that you get a happy driver here other than when they're changing over and joking with each other or a passenger that they know gets on their bus

 

[Cambus731]

I'd be interested to know what other contributers to this thread do if and when they see a bus crank taking photos.
I sometimes go and say hello to them, sometimes I don't. depends on my mood. And I do think I can sometimes read their mood if they are happy to chat or would rather be left alone.
But when I do see someone taking bus photos, especially when I'm also in the location for the same purpose, I'm inclined to say hello, as I think the chances are that our paths will have crossed somewhere on the internet.

 

[Eyersey468]

We often get people taking pictures of the buses in Hull Interchange, it has never bothered me if people want a picture of the bus/coach I am driving but some drivers get annoyed about it, I've never worked out why it winds them up so much.

 

[Pat1105]

We often get people taking pictures of the buses in Hull Interchange, it has never bothered me if people want a picture of the bus/coach I am driving but some drivers get annoyed about it, I've never worked out why it winds them up so much.

The thing is, drivers seem to think that enthusiasts are taking a photo of them. Enthusiasts get quite a bit of abuse from drivers. Look at photographers like Dave Spencer on youtube. There are a few videos of him receiving abuse from bus drivers.
At the end of the day, enthusiasts are perfectly entitled and legally allowed to take photos of buses, either in public or on private land with permission. Some drivers may not want their face over the internet or social media (they think pictures end up there) and I think that should be respected. Likewise, enthusiasts should comply with driver’s wishes. However, there is no excuse for the abuse that enthusiasts receive from drivers. All it takes is politeness from the driver.

 

[CN04NRJ]

We often get people taking pictures of the buses in Hull Interchange, it has never bothered me if people want a picture of the bus/coach I am driving but some drivers get annoyed about it, I've never worked out why it winds them up so much.

I'd suspect that some working at companies at the 'bottom of the food chain', so to speak, might not want to be publicly identified.

I've known of drivers claiming benefits/tax credit etc or having unusual accounting arrangements to avoid paying child maintainence etc or and/or working cash in hand so if the wrong person were to see the picture it would cause them bother.

 

[traction22]

I'd suspect that some working at companies at the 'bottom of the food chain', so to speak, might not want to be publicly identified.

I've known of drivers claiming benefits/tax credit etc or having unusual accounting arrangements to avoid paying child maintainence etc or and/or working cash in hand so if the wrong person were to see the picture it would cause them bother.

Hardly the bus photographers fault.

 

[CN04NRJ]

Hardly the bus photographers fault.

Never said it was.

 

[traction22]

Never said it was.

I never said you did


Going back to an earlier post though about drivers not liking their photos taken, I get this. But goto FlickR and look at all the better offside 3/4 photos and you can never see the driver. I was going to post examples but that seems a bit daft when anyone can just take a look.

 

[carlberry]

N never said you did


Going back to an earlier post though about drivers not liking their photos taken, I get this. But goto FlickR and look at all the better offside 3/4 photos and you can never see the driver. I was going to post examples but that seems a bit daft when anyone can just take a look.

With a stationary bus it's fairly easy to use the window pillar to hide the driver, even if you dont the angle of lighting and reflections will often achieve the same thing (however the driver isn't going to be aware of this as often they'd just see somebody in bright sunshine with a camera).

 

[Wolfie]

I remember of one chap, back in 2006, who visited Seafield every Sunday for the latest gen and and to get photos. He then posted his reports, and links to his photos, to the various internet news groups.

All went well until one weekend when he put up a picture of a newly-delivered "Ace of Spades" Gemini in the process of being branded and another photo which showed Olympian 970, which had recently sustained fire damage, being dismantled.

The following weekend when he went to Seafield for his weekly fix of gen and photos he was told, in no uncertain terms, to leave and not to come back. Somewhat peeved, he then wrote to the then MD (Neil Renilson) protesting innocence - and got a rather stern reply in return! To this day that chap still maintains that he was hard done by.

Sounds like a silly question perhaps, but if he was given a limited degree of privileged access were the ground rules and limitations of that ever set out to him. If not he may have assumed that what he saw was fair game.

 

[Geordie driver]

I recall from my time driving many drivers had a poor opinion of enthusiasts, no idea why but that's the way it is. Lots of people don't like being photographed randomly at work and leaping in front of the bus to get an action shot as you enter a bus station was not unknown.

Perhaps those enthusiasts with not great personal hygiene and poor social skills are just doing a very good job of impersonating drivers.

Especially me.

 

[Wolfie]

its not just the buses... all the trams, vans and some employees cars!

cringe

Their own private cars? Never been a spotter but that is beyond sad if so!

 

[Wolfie]

That has always got to me as well. Certainly dressing up in a bus company uniform is no weirder than dressing up in football kit to go to the pub.

Football is part of the entertainment industry and freely markets replica kit (most fans are VERY rude about anyone over 16 who wears full kit though, lol). Last time l looked Stagecoach had no such aspirations....