Buses not stopping

[GodAtum]

Another rant thread! On some bus stops there can be up to 3 or 4 buses stopping at once (eg, Westminster London). Sometimes the last bus pulls in and a few seconds later goes without waiting for anyone! That's ridiculous, surely they should wait and move forward to the start of the bus stop? It's impossible for anyone to see the last bus and there's no way the driver can see you waving your arms about like a lunatic!

 

[SouthEastern-465]

Hmmm I've been in situations where its a cold winters day, I've been waiting at a bus stop and than 3 busses turn up at once and the one I want is always at the back. I go to run to the bus and the driver opens the doors for a couple seconds a than just goes.

Its more annoying when its not just you there's others waiting to.

 

[rail-britain]

Got caught a few years ago
Stood at a Bus Stop, where there is only one operator
Saw the bus approaching, so walked forward towards the kerb
The bus slowed down, then sped up
What was all that about?!?
The next bus was 15 minutes, and this bus stopped
Asked the driver why the previous bus didn't stop but wasn't sure
The busses then pass each other later in the journey and the driver asked why he hadn't stopped, but the other driver claimed noone was waiting!

 

[90019]

What was all that about?!?

Did you signal that you wanted the bus to stop?

 

[cainebj]

Got caught a few years ago
Stood at a Bus Stop, where there is only one operator
Saw the bus approaching, so walked forward towards the kerb
The bus slowed down, then sped up
What was all that about?!?
The next bus was 15 minutes, and this bus stopped
Asked the driver why the previous bus didn't stop but wasn't sure
The busses then pass each other later in the journey and the driver asked why he hadn't stopped, but the other driver claimed noone was waiting!

Get that here, except it happens with services that only run every 2 hours, with the last one at 15:55. A driver slowed down at a stop, people were walking up to the kerb to get on it, then he accelerated away, even though a few people stuck their hands out. It was reported, but the operator didn't want to know.

 

[rmt-driver]

It always amazes me sometimes I wait at the bus stop and a different bus approaches to the one I am waiting for. Passengers stand there, then when the bus carries on they start complaining and swearing... I point out that one must hold there hand out as a signal to the driver, that they wish to board!!

 

[Greenback]

It's more of a problem at busy bus stops served by a few different routes, like in central London.

One of the worst we experienced was eastbound at one of the Hyde Park Corner stops in the dark. Four buses wer estopped at the stop, and ours just zoomed past in the outside lane - it wasn't possible to see the bus until it went past due to the other ones parked up. The enxt one didn't arrive for fifteen minutes, which caused us to miss the start of a play!

 

[anthony263]

If you dont give me a hand signal to show me you want to get on then i wont stop unless of course there is someone wanting to get off, or say if the person waiting for teh bus is blind and with a guide dog then i will stop and ask if this is the bus they want to travel on.

I have had a few times where i have nearly gone past the bus stop and then the person has started yelling at me, well of course how am i meant to know, if the operator doesnt want know the customers complaints then if the route is subsidised then i would suggest talking to the local council.

 

[GodAtum]

I'm glad I'm not the only one experiencing this problem! It's hard to wave to the driver if the bus is 5 buses behind other buses.

 

[Greenback]

I'm glad I'm not the only one experiencing this problem! It's hard to wave to the driver if the bus is 5 buses behind other buses.

Indeed it is, which is what seems to happen in London, even if the stop is not a request stop, so that the bus should always stop!

Fortunately, down here bus drivers will always stop if they see someone is waiting, regardless of whether they guive a hand signal or not.

 

[HST Power]

You get train stations that are request stop as well, such as Saundersfoot which serves the seaside village of Saundersfoot in Wales.

 

[ChrisCooper]

Indeed it is, which is what seems to happen in London, even if the stop is not a request stop, so that the bus should always stop!

Fortunately, down here bus drivers will always stop if they see someone is waiting, regardless of whether they guive a hand signal or not.

It depends on how many routes use the stop. If only one service uses the stop or if all services are going to the same destination then it's fine to stop if someone is waiting, but if the stop is served by lots of different operators then it wastes time to stop only for the person to say "I don't want this bus". It's also hardly fuel efficient.

 

[Seacook]

I sometimes get the opposite situation - buses stopping that I do not want unless I wave them on. This usually happens in the road where I live when I go out to catch an hourly service that runs only five times a day - the 20 minute service will stop unless I indicate otherwise. Of course I have also missed buses that went sailing straight past at other stops. It can get quite common when buses are running similar but not quite identical routes - the drivers are prone to forget that the bus they were following for the previous 15 minutes isn't on the same route.

 

[northernrail]

For me on First Manchester's 59, its either very late, leaves Early so i miss it or doesn't come.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

For me on First Manchester's 59, its either very late, leaves Early so i miss it or doesn't come.

You should contact the First depot in Oldham about this matter, as the 59 service is supposed to be one of their better services at present, that is covering the lack of train services in the Shaw area. The matter of the early running that you refer to, is unforgiveable, especially in peak periods.

 

[northernrail]

Ive reported several drivers, and sent a complaint to First no change as of yet, so annoying on a Cold Sunday Morning when it was a half hour service.

 

[SS4]

I've seen passengers move down the length of the first bus to the doors of the second when this happens in Birmingham, especially at my local bus stop (not so important here since it's the terminus and there is nearly always someone getting on or off) and Upper Bull St in town which causes it's own problems with traffic, especially when a combination of 74/75s come!

Bus drivers have gone straight past stops before but usually because the passenger came running out as soon as they spotted the number on the side, not the front!

 

[Seacook]

I've seen passengers move down the length of the first bus to the doors of the second when this happens in Birmingham, especially at my local bus stop (not so important here since it's the terminus and there is nearly always someone getting on or off) and Upper Bull St in town which causes it's own problems with traffic, especially when a combination of 74/75s come!

Bus drivers have gone straight past stops before but usually because the passenger came running out as soon as they spotted the number on the side, not the front!

Yes the stop in Upper Bull Street is usually a bit chaotic, especially when two buses arrive together and you can't see the number on the second one. This is less of a problem when there are different operators but the West Midlands has so many routes operated by NX that it impossible to tell one from another without seeing the numbers. In bright sunshine I can't see the orange displays at all!

 

[GodAtum]

Yes the stop in Upper Bull Street is usually a bit chaotic, especially when two buses arrive together and you can't see the number on the second one. This is less of a problem when there are different operators but the West Midlands has so many routes operated by NX that it impossible to tell one from another without seeing the numbers. In bright sunshine I can't see the orange displays at all!

Same in London, most buses look similar.

 

[Greenback]

It depends on how many routes use the stop. If only one service uses the stop or if all services are going to the same destination then it's fine to stop if someone is waiting, but if the stop is served by lots of different operators then it wastes time to stop only for the person to say "I don't want this bus". It's also hardly fuel efficient.

On balance I think I'd prefer the bus to stop and be slightly less fuel efficient than to leave someone behind.

 

[SS4]

On balance I think I'd prefer the bus to stop and be slightly less fuel efficient than to leave someone behind.

I would say it depends on the time of day. If it were the first/last service or infrequent (defined as more than 10 minutes apart for this point) then they should stop and be sure.
If the next one was along soon, or the rest of it's route was duplicated by another service then they can carry on saving the fuel. It always amazed me how London buses stopped at every stop, even when it was clear nobody was getting on or off (does it help them reset their GPS or something?)

 

[Greenback]

That's probably the difference in where we're coming from - there are very few services in Llanelli or Swansea that are more frequent than every twelve minutes.

 

[BestWestern]

It always amazed me how London buses stopped at every stop, even when it was clear nobody was getting on or off (does it help them reset their GPS or something?)

It would more than likely be a TfL requirement of some kind I would imagine, they are very specific about certain points (such as the daft decision to insist on destination blinds which show ONLY the destination, not any intermediate stopping points; very tourist un-friendly!)

Unfortunately there are many places where far too many buses are expected to squeeze into far too little space, with the inevitable chaos ensuing. This is often symptomatic of local highways departments and suchlike who have no working knowledge of the facilities you actually need to cater for buses, and base their efforts on sometimes rather silly assumptions. One example which I always found exasperating was the blanket fitting of raised kerb edges at all bus stops in my area, even at short pull-ins where the only way to get anywhere near the pavement is to approach at an angle and swing the front end over the kerb before straightening out. So the council helpfully install a bloody great raised kerb, meaning you can't swing the bus over it any more, and instead have to stop miles out in the road! Great :roll:

When I was a driver I would always make a point of ensuring that I slowed down and made whatever reasonable efforts I coule to make myself visible to passengers if a stop was congested. If it was totally invisible behind a line of buses I'd generally pull in anyway and give any intending punters the chance to walk up. Sadly there will always be drivers who can't be bothered to do anything remotely helpful, and operators who will set such tight schedules that any opportunity not to stop is likely to be snapped up.

 

[Dewedin]

At Edinburgh's bus stops, many of which are extremely busy, there is a strict stacking policy. Passengers may only board the front bus while the others queue behind.

 

[GodAtum]

At Edinburgh's bus stops, many of which are extremely busy, there is a strict stacking policy. Passengers may only board the front bus while the others queue behind.

That sounds like a great solution for London.

 

[jopsuk]

It always amazed me how London buses stopped at every stop, even when it was clear nobody was getting on or off

Outside of the centre, you'll find stops marked (on the sign) as "Request stop"- if not marked as such, the buses are required to stop regardless- if it's quiet, it'll help stop them getting ahead of their timetable.

 

[SS4]

Outside of the centre, you'll find stops marked (on the sign) as "Request stop"- if not marked as such, the buses are required to stop regardless- if it's quiet, it'll help stop them getting ahead of their timetable.

I caught a U1 from West Ruislip station to Uxbridge and it stopped at those not marked request stops even though it was obvious nobody wanted to get on or off. I should also add this was the 0014 at West Ruislip on a (technically) Sunday morning so hardly peak time.
I do see the point about getting ahead though, it's not nearly so sophisticated in Brum, they pull in and wait until they're back on time. Can be quite annoying

 

[c259]

Waiting for the Cumfybus in Old Swan, Liverpool a few years ago now. Turned the corner, put my arm out, driver clearly saw me as he appeared to be laughing on the way past. I ask, what was that all about?

 

[Mojo]

Outside of the centre, you'll find stops marked (on the sign) as "Request stop"- if not marked as such, the buses are required to stop regardless- if it's quiet, it'll help stop them getting ahead of their timetable.

I caught a U1 from West Ruislip station to Uxbridge and it stopped at those not marked request stops even though it was obvious nobody wanted to get on or off. I should also add this was the 0014 at West Ruislip on a (technically) Sunday morning so hardly peak time.
I do see the point about getting ahead though, it's not nearly so sophisticated in Brum, they pull in and wait until they're back on time. Can be quite annoying

The differentiation between compulsory stops and request stops was removed in 2007. Buses are only required to stop at any stop if the driver believes someone may be waiting or if the bell has been pressed.

 

[strange6]

Waiting for the Cumfybus in Old Swan, Liverpool a few years ago now. Turned the corner, put my arm out, driver clearly saw me as he appeared to be laughing on the way past. I ask, what was that all about?

I don't think I would have been saying that