Don't Rush, Folks
Once upon a time, a bus operator had to submit its service registrations to the Traffic Commissioner six weeks before a change was to be implemented. This was extended to eight weeks and then further extended to ten weeks. The main reason was that it took much longer to update electronic systems like Traveline rather than in the good old days of using pen and paper.
Utter nonsense, of course, but that is the crazy and inconsequential world in which bus management lives. For all fbb knows, the ten weeks may have been extended to two months as technology is now more universally used!
The 10 week schedule means that First Bus would have prepared its new timetables to be implemented on 1st September sometime during June at the latest. (see above screenshot)
So the timetables appeared on or about 25th August and left Sheffielders hot and bothered with confusion and frustration.
First offers timetables in two forms; here are their HTML on-line timetables ...
... which are OK, but involve oodles of scrolling up and down and side to side. There is also too much blank space making it easy to make mistakes if you are trying to use the fastest finger first method.
As an alterative you can download a PDF timetable ....jpg)
... which includes the amazingly useful nine digit stop codes, beloved of all the old folk travelling to and from Walkley.
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The above pages are for the new 95a and 95b but there are separate tables for the 95.
The PTE timetables are better; they can be printed out page by page and they do spread a bit more confidence; although how anyone manages without those nine digit codes, fbb simply cannot fathom.
Heres is an extract from the PTE 95/95a ...
... and for the 95.
Have out timetablular adept readers spotted what's' missing?
Correct! There is no combined timetable for the leg from Walkley to City using the 95, 95a and 95b and perhaps even the 95s (?).
And, just to be helpful, you need to find the 73 timetable, NOT cross referenced from the 95 on-line non-leaflet. (Why would you want to bother with than?) This is needed for later evening Monday to Saturday journeys to Rotherham and for the two hourly Sunday service..jpg)
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fbb can think of no good reason (apart from administrative apathy) why these could not have been part of the 95 timetable (95E?) although they do follow a different route leaving Sheffield.
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Daft innit?
(P.S. The 73 has to run via Heeley Green to partially cover another bit of inconsequential re-routeing by First)
Daft innit?
Then, far too late, maps appeared.
fbb will refrain from commenting too much on the PTE maps as regular readers will know how awful they are..jpg)
What's wrong with a generic "Walkley" label and simple stop names; Tinker Lane, South Road and Commonside?
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Maybe the University should get a mention?
A generic "Sheffield" would leave a bit more space for a better explanation of the convoluted route and stops madness in the city centre.
Apparently Arundel Gate is the only stop where you might find other buses; but you can shop there AND in High Street - although the 95 doesn't stop in High Street!
We know what the problem is, don't we? The maps are generated from computer data and not under the direct control of a real human being with local Sheffield knowledge.
Computers are essentially mindless and moronic and need telling very clearly what they need to know. Of course, if AI were ever to be "a thing", the computers could send our robots to help them out. Far better than live people, we are told!
By comparison, First's on-line maps are almost very good.
Shock horror!
The 95 route (BLUE) to Rotherham is paralleled by the aforementioned 73 (PURPLE).
The 95a and 95b are both the same colour as the 95 ...
... but it is, at least, clear what goes where. These, readers may remember, are completely new dishes on the First Bus menu. The 95a offers additional journeys to the hourly X5 but serves different bits of Swallownest and Aston (NOT marked on map) and barely reaches Aughton which IS marked.
Here we go again ...
Passing pedantic point; why do bus companies publish maps which do not match their timetable?
But it is routes into the city that are the most convoluted.
Reading from top to bottom:-
The 95 runs via Parkway Industry (NOT marked on map) which used to be Parkway wholesale fruit and veg market back in the good old days.
The 95a/95b run non stop between Handsworth and city, NOT explained on the map.
The 73 runs via Heeley Green (NOT mentioned on map) except when it doesn't. Then it joins the 95s which runs via City Road.
All four 95s follow the same route to Walkley. Thankfully!.jpg)
And one final ghastliness with this change "bringing better bus services to South Yorkshire".
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But see Passing Pedantic Point above! Commonside is on Firsts timetable but not on the map. The University is on the map but not on the timetable. The PTE call Commonside Barber Road.
On Sundays, when the bit to Rotherham is a two hourly 73 and the new 95a/95b do not run at all, the poor residents of Walkley get a bus every ....jpg)
... 45 minutes. That's just one bus plodding its weary way between City and Walkley, hoping to find the occasional passenger who can compute "every 45 minutes".
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Crackpot - again!
How is it all going?
In last Wednesday's blog we saw the initial reaction to the changes; and it was not at all good. Then this week this appeared in fbb's in-box. It looks very much like an attempt by First to explain where the 95a/95b buses go.
The text is small on-line so fbb has downloaded the words.
Did you know our new 95a and 95b services can take you to Crystal Peaks? Even more of an excuse to enjoy a little retail therapy…
95a/95b: what’s the difference?
🚌 95a: Serving Walkley to Arundel Gate via Commonside and University of Sheffield. From Sheffield Centre, buses will continue via Handsworth to Swallownest, Aston, Beighton and Crystal Peaks.
🚌 95b: Serving Walkley to Arundel Gate via Commonside and University of Sheffield. From Sheffield centre, buses will continue via Handsworth, Woodhouse village, Beighton to Crystal Peaks.
So there you have it, even more places to explore on two exciting new routes across South Yorkshire.
Exciting?
Below the text is a link to the "timetable" which doesn't link to the 95a/95b timetable. It leads to the First Bus full timetable list and you have to scroll'n'search again
This on-line page smacks of desperation because 95a/95b buses are largely running empty.
Well done First?
In summary, the whole change is a mess, badly advertised (not advertised at all?) and badly explained throughout.
Of course, IF First Bus had produced ...
An attractive printed timetable leaflet
With full timetables
With good maps and
A summary of all buses to Walkley
Plus route 73
... maybe people might use the new services.
Next Wantage Weekend blog : Saturday 12th Oct
Registrations . . . yet again the old chap has got it wrong.
ReplyDeleteRegistrations now have to be submitted 70 days prior to operation. The first 28 days are for "consultation" with the LTAs where the route operates . . . so they can assess the route changes and, perhaps, negotiate with the operator to make some alterations. At 42 days, whether any changes have been made or not, the registered timetable becomes set in stone, and may not be changed unless the TC agrees.
Actually, although the process becomes longer (whatever happened to "bus companies can become more agile to make changes to benefit the travelling public"?) it does enable conversations to be had in good time. It does rather rely on the LTA actually acting upon initial receipt (which doesn't always happen). The concept that it is all to do with longer timescales is a nonsense . . .
Although I dislike FBB’s constant critical and sarcastic tone, I do agree with him that maps should match timetables - I think First (?) have improved in this area in some locations (I may be thinking of another operator and don’t immediately have examples to hand). It’s so frustrating having to check third party maps to check where a timing point is.
ReplyDeleteThe Walkley Lane end of Walkley is also served by the 52/52a which didn't run that far in the time of FBB's domicile in Sheffield, and are rather more frequent than the 95. While the reduced frequencies on the 95 group aren't great, they don't quite have the damgaing impact this and other blogs suggest. The 95/95a group also provide for the first time a link betrwen Sheffield University and the Advanced Manufacturing Reserch Centre (AMRC on First's map) at Catcliffe which I beleive the University encouraged.
ReplyDelete