Paper Bus Timetables: Is it the end?

[Deerfold]

I do prefer a timetable, whether it be online or printed; I understand that at a stop, a departure list is perhaps more appropriate. In touristy areas particularly, the ability to promote and publicise services is really beneficial.

Last time I caught a bus from the village I grew up in, the other passenger waiting was glad of my advice not to get the next bus - they were catching a bus because their car had broken down. There was just a departure list, so it wasn't obvious that the next bus would take 59 minutes to get to town (via a lot of speed bumps usually taken as high speed for a bus) whereas the one 10 minutes later only took 28 minutes. West Yorkshire's Metro used to give a time to get to town in minutes, but that annoyed people as they gave the fastest time that route was ever timetabled to achieve, not a typical time.

 

[route101]

I do like a paper timetable with a network map.

In Scotland the paper bus timetables I have found recently are Scottish Citylink and Lothian Country/East Coast buses. Lothian seem to have stopped the paper timetables of city routes. Stagecoach no longer have paper timetables in Scotland at least.

 

[Teflon988]

Hardcopy publicity is still very effective as long as you make the effort to put it in front of your prospective customers. The app may be the primary source of information for established customers but you first need to convince people that you have something to offer to justify installing the app.

Indeed it is as it helps to set out your shop window,to show what is available.