Standing on a bus

[notadriver]

Does anyone know if it's compulsory to sit down on a bus if instructed to do so by the driver if there are spare seats available ?

 

[34D]

Anyone want to wade through the ppv act

A good question. Voluntary standing is so common.

 

[Alistair G.]

From the training I remember getting (what little I received) there is to be no standing on motorway driving, no standing on the top deck (if you drive a double decker that is) and restricted standing downstairs.

Private hires/school buses I believe normally request all people seated (after all, they would charge you for a bigger bus otherwise)

The only time I asked someone to take a seat was in rush hour coming out of co, I was limited to I think 16 standing and it looked like I reached that but could see the odd seat vacant, once I explained people took the seat and I could load a few more on but other than that, if u want to stand, then stand!.

 

[AndyHudds]

I always find it strange when people choose to stand when seats are available, why?

 

[Darandio]

I always find it strange when people choose to stand when seats are available, why?

Hemorrhoids?

 

[AndyHudds]

Hemorrhoids?

Yeah,maybe.

 

[TEW]

I always find it strange when people choose to stand when seats are available, why?

Same as on a train. If you're only going a short distance and there are only spare seats would involve sitting next to a stranger (shock horror!) many people choose to stand.

 

[Titfield]

The Conditions of Carriage usually state that you must obey instructions given by a member of staff. Thus if the member of staff instructs a standing passenger to sit down on a vacant seat then the passenger must comply. If the passenger refuses then the member of staff can instruct them to disembark.

For example see clause 4.3 of the TfL Conditions of Carriage.

 

[Alistair G.]

I know I sometimes choose to stand rather than sit next to someone because I know I'm going to be passing a depot or be coming into a busy station and you always get some idiot who tries to stand in your way if your not by the door or some other idiot who just stares at you non stop whilst calling numbers and the. Has a good chuckle to themselves.... Over what I don't know, I've never truly understood why train spotting is so badly looked upon, in the 50's/60's it was the thing to be into... What changed/happened?!

 

[Shrimper]

From the training I remember getting (what little I received) there is to be no standing on motorway driving, no standing on the top deck (if you drive a double decker that is) and restricted standing downstairs.

People can stand on a motorway though it may be down to individual companies policies.

 

[Titfield]

The certification of the vehicle will state whether standees (standing passengers) are permitted.
The operating company's conditions of carriage could go further (for example if the vehicle certificate permits standees this could be overruled but not the other way round i.e. could not allow passengers to stand when the certification does not).

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Does anyone know if it's compulsory to sit down on a bus if instructed to do so by the driver if there are spare seats available ?

With modern buses allowing a 'roll-on, roll-off' style space for push chairs I doubt you could make someone who is in charge of a push chair (or someone who is in charge of someone who is mentally and physically incapcitated in a wheelchair) sit down if they don't feel comfortable with leaving their charge in the push chair/wheelchair space and sitting down away from them.

 

[Statto]

Same as on a train. If you're only going a short distance and there are only spare seats would involve sitting next to a stranger (shock horror!) many people choose to stand.

Sometimes it can be more comfortable standing than sitting, seating layouts on some buses leave a lot to be desired with very little legroom.

 

[quarella]

http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/south_west_wales/assets/pdfs/about_us/conditions_of_carriage.pdf

The First Cymru Conditions of carriage do not, as far as I can see preclude standing. I think it could be covered by

Endanger the safety of or cause discomfort to or impede anyone who is traveling on the vehicle,
or boarding or alighting from it.
c.Endanger the safety of or cause discomfort to or impede the driver,
inspector or any employee of the operator who is working on the
vehicle.

The driver is in charge of the bus. It is the driver's and their employer's licences that are at stake.

The one I was interested to see was this one.

Although children under 16 will not normally be removed from buses by First Cymru’s employees, such children who breach these regulations (in
particular those relating to vandalism or unruly behaviour) render themselves liable to such removal. In these circumstances, First Cymru will not be liable in respect of the consequences that may arise.

 

[David Goddard]

If the only available seat was soiled (typically as a result of some twit putting their feet on it, which remains such a widespread problem) then I would rather stand than get my clothes dirty.

 

[Busaholic]

The regulation on London Transport double deckers with conductors (i.e. rear loading) used to be that 5 standing passengers were allowed on the lower deck only when no empty seats were available: so, in theory, the 80 year old could be made to go upstairs to the one available seat. I believe it was all to conductor's discretion, though, and some of the grumpier ones would only allow 1 or 2 standing.

 

[moogal]

It can be quite annoying when the bus is busy, and you can't actually move down the bus (or in the case of a double decker, get to the stairs) when people are blocking the aisle by standing despite there being plenty of seats available further back or upstairs.

Also the habit of standing in the exit doorway, so that it's very slow to get off the bus as half the doorway is obstructed.

I know it's tempting to stand if you're only going a few stops, but when it's busy surely it's more considerate to other passengers to get yourself out of the way.

 

[Deerfold]

I know it's tempting to stand if you're only going a few stops, but when it's busy surely it's more considerate to other passengers to get yourself out of the way.

It does depend where you stand. I make a journey once a week in London with a suitcase. I try and stand at the back of the wheelchair space - my case slips in behind the bit you can lean on (obviously I'll move if someone who needs the space gets on). Every week I see people stand in the doorway. I used to assume these people were about to get off but now I know not to assume that.

 

[Titfield]

This comment applies to London Bus use only.

I wonder if part of the cause of congregating around the exit doors is due to passengers experience on the underground where many passengers appear to congregate around the doors because of a desire to get off before embarking passengers push their way on.

NB I appreciate that many London buses are dual door and thus there are no embarking passengers preventing passengers from disembarking.

 

[Deerfold]

NB I appreciate that many London buses are dual door and thus there are no embarking passengers preventing passengers from disembarking.

Though an increasing number (once again) are triple door and there are.

 

[jon0844]

At busy times, it's not uncommon for people to board through the middle doors.

 

[Mikey C]

It does depend where you stand. I make a journey once a week in London with a suitcase. I try and stand at the back of the wheelchair space - my case slips in behind the bit you can lean on (obviously I'll move if someone who needs the space gets on). Every week I see people stand in the doorway. I used to assume these people were about to get off but now I know not to assume that.

The annoying thing is people standing by the bottom of the staircase, completely blocking movement to and from the upper deck, there's plenty of space to stand further back in the bus (Tridents/E400s/B9s for example have a totally flat floor) where access to the exit door is just as easy!

 

[ManUtd]

If the bus is plated for standing then that number of people can stand,no matter if there are seats available or the bus is on the motorway.....that's my understanding on the matter.

 

[Robertj21a]

Just to clarify the bit about motorways. My understanding is that you can stand on any *bus* on a motorway, but must not stand on any *coach* on a motorway. It can be easily determined by whether or not the vehicle has those upright stanchions (where the bell push is normally placed nowadays).

 

[PG]

Having looked back at this thread it appears that, as ManUtd says, the road type is irrelevant - if the vehicle in question, be it bus or coach, is licenced for x number of standing passengers then that number of passengers may stand regardless of the road type that the vehicle is travelling on.

 

[Robertj21a]

Having looked back at this thread it appears that, as ManUtd says, the road type is irrelevant - if the vehicle in question, be it bus or coach, is licenced for x number of standing passengers then that number of passengers may stand regardless of the road type that the vehicle is travelling on.

As far as I'm aware, no coach can have standing passengers on a motorway unless it is fitted out accordingly.

 

[ManUtd]

As far as I'm aware, no coach can have standing passengers on a motorway unless it is fitted out accordingly.

I have never seen a coach which allows standing no matter where it is,there's none in the company I work for but I guess there are some out there so as I said,if the bus or be it coach is plated for standing then that vehicle is allowed that amount standing on any road.

 

[Tetchytyke]

I have never seen a coach which allows standing no matter where it is

The Plaxton coaches that Arriva Northumbria use(d) on the 685 were plated for standing passengers.

IIRC if the bus is plated for standees then you can stand, but you're usually breaching the CoC if you don't sit down when requested to by the driver. I've been standing on plenty of services buses on the A167(M) urban motorway in Newcastle.

 

[Antman]

It can be quite annoying when the bus is busy, and you can't actually move down the bus (or in the case of a double decker, get to the stairs) when people are blocking the aisle by standing despite there being plenty of seats available further back or upstairs.

Also the habit of standing in the exit doorway, so that it's very slow to get off the bus as half the doorway is obstructed.

I know it's tempting to stand if you're only going a few stops, but when it's busy surely it's more considerate to other passengers to get yourself out of the way.

Standing near the doorway was a particular problem on the London bendybuses when they were packed, people didn't want to find themselves blocked in when the bus reached their stop. Often standees would get off to allow others off and then get back on again.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I always find it strange when people choose to stand when seats are available, why?

I tend to if it's busy because bus seats are usually too narrow and have too little legroom. Thus better that I stand than take up two seats sitting sideways on a busy bus.

Neil
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I have never seen a coach which allows standing no matter where it is,there's none in the company I work for but I guess there are some out there so as I said,if the bus or be it coach is plated for standing then that vehicle is allowed that amount standing on any road.

The Plaxton coaches on the Stagecoach X5 around 2000 allowed 8 standing passengers, with a ceiling level handle for each. That's the only one I've ever seen.

Neil