When schools return - impact on buses

[Geordie driver]

Some good replies here from people who understand the reality of bus services and scholars in particular, what a shame none of them were consulted by the person who drew up the guidelines I quoted.
Nexus encouraged mixing on it's tendered school services for years, it you have been waiting ages and left by loads of normal buses that appear half full it would be very tempting to get the scholars bus, no distancing required. The ones I see running now still have all passengers welcome on the screen.
Most of the runs we had would do 2 separate services and some would be a mixture of more than one school, often mixing infants with seniors. Often adults would accompany their younger kids.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

A colleague tells me that, last October, the morning peak for the local University required 14 double deckers and passengers were still being left at stops. Can University buses be designed as school buses to exempt them from the social distancing rules?

There are temporary rules in place, such as allowing changes to timetables without the normal registration period. There may be similar rules allowing exemption from the usual 50% (?) capacity having to be available for non-contract passengers.

Also, the bus operator could operate the services as closed contract, the university sell passes to students, and the passes conveniently be also available on other services in the area. Are the university services well used by non-university passengers?

 

[Bletchleyite]

I think Bournemouth’s Unibus network (operated by Go South Coast) used to be for students only, so it could be possible in certain towns and cities provided that there is an alternative service available for the rest of the general public.

I don't think you could have no distancing for adult students, though.

 

[takno]

There are temporary rules in place, such as allowing changes to timetables without the normal registration period. There may be similar rules allowing exemption from the usual 50% (?) capacity having to be available for non-contract passengers.

Also, the bus operator could operate the services as closed contract, the university sell passes to students, and the passes conveniently be also available on other services in the area. Are the university services well used by non-university passengers?

Everywhere I've lived there has been massive student use of service buses. If you're going in the direction of Herriot Watt from Edinburgh in the morning you can easily watch 5 buses go past before you get on one. It's possible that the socially distanced lectures will keep student attendance at campus down to 50%, or lead to them going on at more scattered times. If not though then there are dozens of specific bus corridors around the country which are about to become unusable for anybody.