tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post7452246924769697017..comments2024-03-25T22:17:35.616+00:00Comments on Public Transport Experience: Times of Buses - Yah Boo, We Won't Tell You!fatbusblokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-19124397331851431442016-12-07T07:17:33.423+00:002016-12-07T07:17:33.423+00:00VOSA (aka the Traffic Commissioners) requires just...VOSA (aka the Traffic Commissioners) requires just 21 days notice of special timetables that operate only over the Festive period (and this has been ever so since 1986).<br /><br />There is a fine balance between giving adequate and excessive notice to Joe Public, since JP doesn't often read to the end (or even from the start). <br />We gave six weeks public notice of a timetable change once ('cos the Boss wanted us to), and promptly received a complaint that the bus didn't turn up!! We explained that the start date was actually five weeks hence, and were roundly reamed out for causing confusion!!!<br /><br />I've always reckoned that 2-3 weeks notice is about right, so for changes during the Festive week, details should only now be creeping into the public domain.<br /><br />We operate commercially on Boxing Day (with a special timetable 0830-1830) as that seems to be when reasonable numbers of passengers want to travel. We used to operate a full Sunday service, but the buses were quite literally empty after c1900 for the rest of the night. Interestingly, we've found that fewer passengers travel on New Years Day than on Boxing Day, so we're running the same special timetable on NYD as well - we'll review after operation.<br /><br />Horses for Courses, frankly!greenline727https://www.blogger.com/profile/03033268278026535109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-33078220793794431122016-12-06T16:27:44.749+00:002016-12-06T16:27:44.749+00:00I'll attempt to be balanced....
Clearly, some...I'll attempt to be balanced....<br /><br />Clearly, some businesses are better at clarifying their proposals in advance than others. Giving 3 weeks notice should be achievable and sad that firms not just in South Yorkshire fail to do so.<br /><br />Getting rather bored of the FBB puff pieces for his own app. Seems to be very much taking a particular angle in order to justify self promotion. Barely interesting the first time, certainly not the fourth, fifth or sixth time.<br /><br />Some firms can justify commercial operation on Boxing Day but who knows the local arrangements on each and every operator (and their trade union partners).<br /><br />Lastly, if FBB wants to incorporate a bit of religious knowledge at the end of his blog, then fine. We all know FBB is a devout soul and it is easily avoided for non believers. I may take issue with some of the intrinsic beliefs of the Public Transport aspect (especially that life was inordinately better in the eternal sunlit uplands of the 1950s) and that having a printed bus timetable booklet is on Maslow's hierarchy of needs. However, I can live with FBB's sharing of Christmas history - you never know, you may learn somethingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-59356528052060963702016-12-06T14:06:46.283+00:002016-12-06T14:06:46.283+00:00Lies - if the information is not available anywher...Lies - if the information is not available anywhere how have Go Timetable managed to get their hands on the info? Open data platform perhaps? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-89181638869636254962016-12-06T13:16:36.076+00:002016-12-06T13:16:36.076+00:00In regard to your stop press, the Chesterfield tim...In regard to your stop press, the Chesterfield times are now also available as of 13:00. I think you may have jumped the gun a bit with this series (although granted, still nowt from First).<br /><br />I think we have to remember that buses are not (yet) automatic. They need a driver. And maybe that driver might like to be at home with their family on Christmas and New Years Eves? Or will only work for drastically increased wages? Or those volunteers are too few to provide anything more than the odd bus here or there? Without knowing what Sheffield is like, I wonder whether the high levels of diversity in the West Midlands means there are many more drivers willing to work, and work for everyday wages (not treble time at normal fare levels)? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-18669589655351386212016-12-06T12:13:08.646+00:002016-12-06T12:13:08.646+00:00Can tell you were really struggling for an angle o...Can tell you were really struggling for an angle on this but pleased for you that you found one in the end. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-42555661983129974002016-12-06T09:21:37.491+00:002016-12-06T09:21:37.491+00:00Agreed Dennis - but how does Birmingham manage? Ac...Agreed Dennis - but how does Birmingham manage? According to a local contact the Eve evening services are loaded much as weekday evening services - i.e not packed, but adequate. Ot is it a case on bus operators policy forcing custom away "by tradition".fatbusblokehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-23131786260956898932016-12-06T09:06:45.564+00:002016-12-06T09:06:45.564+00:00In 1988 and 1989 SYPTE paid for an extensive Chris...In 1988 and 1989 SYPTE paid for an extensive Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve services, with good publicity. Use on 24th in particular was minimal. As long as this wretched government pursues its austerity policies and squeezes PTE/CA and other local government budgets, this is hardly the best use of cash.<br />What is more surprising is that,now that for better or worse Boxing Day has become an extension of the Christmas shoppathon, that commercial services are still seen as such an impossibility-<br />daytime custom on at least some Sheffield services last year was healthy.Dennis Dratnoreply@blogger.com