Virus Variety Part 4b

A Borough A Bolished

Everyone knows (really?) that the snap below is a picture of The Borough, Yeovil ...

... and today it is an important bus stop.

Oddly, fbb could find no indicating label that tells you it is "The Borough" - you just have to know!

It is situated at the junction of four historic roads ...

... and the stop is used by a whole wodge of bus services.

Only from this week it isn't. As part of the current religion of social distancing, South Somerset Council has closed a number of town centre roads and expunged this busy stop. The nearest point at which you can now catch your bus is the attractive bus station ...

... located at the fag end of the town where nobody much wants to go these days.

It's all part of the Council's masterplan to rejuvenate the town's economy by making it more difficult to get there; unless you can contribute to congestion and pollution by using a car. There doesn't seem to be any sign of social distancing in the arrangement of car parking spaces.

Maybe you have to wait until the coast is clear of other people/cars before you are allowed past the barrier or even permitted to walk back to your car.

One thing is certain, however, it will all be good for car park revenue!

Oh, yes, the've put a map of closed roads etc on their web site - it is actually from the planning department showing "the lads" where to stick their signs. (Ooh, nasty?)

Customer friendly, NOT!!

Of course, everyone knows The Borough - except, possibly Buses for Somerset (First Bus in a poor disguise).

Bourgh?

Perhaps it's how the Yeovil local yokels spell it?

Or perhaps young Gavin is not so good at the spelling. He obviously struggles with "Station".

Try Again At Arundel Gate

Remember the very peculiar arrangements to provide social distancing? This was the oddness created on the western side of Arundel Gate in Sheffield at the beginning of this week.

There were near lethal mini ramps down to the blocked off layby ...

... and narrow gaps in the barriers just big enough for the bus doors. Then there were the unexplained asphalt islands.

Sheffield bus watchers thought that you were supposed to slither down the yellow ramp, climb up onto the asphalt and congregate on the magic island until your bus arrived. Then you leaped down off the island and climbed up into the bus - all ideally organised for those of limited mobilty.

But we are now into Plan B.

The silly ramps have gone and it might be that you are asked to wait on the island as are the two in the distance. There is still insufficient room for a socially distanced queue, of course.

So why didn't Sheffield City Council fill in the whole layby and mark out a socially distanced hopscotch grid for each stand.

Only stand in squares 1, 4, 7 and 10 unless you are a couple who live together in which case you could use 2/3, 5/6 or 8/9. In which case the adjacent single squares cannot be used.

If the bus is delayed or showing a "(BUS) FULL" sign, you can entertain your fellow passengers by organising a game.

The cops could join in whilst waiting to fine people who are on the bus but not wearing a mask ...

... of some sort.

Both, by the way, are perfectly legal - the regulation/advice requires a "face covering" for mouth and nose.

The "Venom" will cost you £500.

Does one of those cover the mouth? If not you would need to stuff a hankie somewhere.

fbb has not forgotten those buses approaching Pinstone Street from the west ...

... but our blog readers can only take so much excitement in one posting.

Christmas Is Coming

fbb is muchly grateful to Rails of Sheffield for starting off the Christmas Shopping rush in June with an offer  that blog readers will not be able to refuse!

Perhaps fbb will get one in his stocking - hint hint!

 More Virus Variety blog : Sunday 21st June