Sorry Tim, Daily Observation 33. Buses.

[darrellbutler]

Why do you need to take the exact change on a bus?

[Croc]

It's the new mechanical systems they have on buses to issue tickets - so that all cash taken is securely stored and can't be thieved by pikeys

[Croc]

that means no change can be given in cash (you have to take your refund tickets to the local bus office for refunds to be paid on.

At least that's what happens on Dublin Bus:

AUTOFARE

The Autofare exact fare system is in operation on the majority of Dublin Bus services.

This new system is in operation in order to eliminate cash handling by the driver. It is hoped that this will help to reduce the number of assaults on drivers which are motivated by robbery.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

* Having established the appropriate fare for the journey you propose to take, you insert the EXACT FARE in coins only into the top of the fare box. Notes are NOT accepted.
* A ticket will then be issued by the ticket machine once the driver is satisfied that the correct fare has been deposited.
* If you have to deposit more than the exact fare, the driver will issue a passenger change ticket for the overpayment. This passenger change ticket, together with your travel ticket, must be presented at Dublin Bus, 59 Upper O`Connell Street, in order to claim a refund of the overpayment.

IMPORTANT

* Notes are not accepted
* No change is given by driver or machine
* The driver is not allowed under any circumstances to handle cash

[leighbaker]

Notes are not accepted - I must be special then

[darrellbutler]

It's bollocks, a train driver handles cash going up and down a train, why not a flippin bus driver?

[leighbaker]

Because most of the bus drivers are arrogant tw*ts

[Croc]

darrellbutler said:

It's bollocks, a train driver handles cash going up and down a train, why not a flippin bus driver?

You've obviously not been on the night bus to Tallaght or Inchicore then...


Makes Dines Green or Tolladine seem like a cakewalk

[jp]

Its been like that in brum for years, we used to slam a bunch of 2s and 1s into the slot so it all gummed up the works and say - "thats 43p!" The drivers never really cared.
Its not the case on the St Peters buses, the drivers give change on that route, I agree with leigh, the bus drivers are arrogant twats who get all shirty if they have to do more than turn the wheel. They get all huffy if you make them rip your ticket out of the machine, which I always do. I don't accept it until he gives it to me, I won't be responsible for tearing out the ticket. Two arrogant twats hey??

[jp]

darrellbutler said:

Why do you need to take the exact change on a bus?

If its a bus you've never been on before, how do you know what the correct fare is? Do you have to have the correct set of coins to create every combination between lets say 20p and £2.43???

One thing about buses, everyone says you should take the bus more, but again, if you've never been on a bus before, particularly in a town you've never been to, how on earth do you know where you are, or where the closest bus stop is? cos the driver aint going to tell you!!!!

[DazaB]

exactly, when me and young darrell went to edgbaston last summer we took the 144 but didnt know which stop to get off at, so just said the one nearest edgbaston and he didnt have a clue which one.

[jp]

The one nearest Edgbaston??? For fucks sake, the Bristol Road is a bloody long road, and if you miss the one nearest Edgbaston (which isnt that near!!) then you're stuck on the bus till the next stop, which is probably a good mile further away!!!

[darrellbutler]

Was that the time I couldn't wake you up Mazey, and we had to miss the first hour of the cricket?

[DazaB]

no that was the time I couldn't wake you up, after ringing you 15 times then you fell asleep on the bus on the way back and were swaying around as the bus moved and everyone was laughing at you. I went and sat at the back on my own.

[darrellbutler]

[DazaB]

back on topic, i was shocked when we got on a bus in cov that we had to have the right change i was going to give him a fiver i love giving bus drivers notes they get so pissed off

[jp]

Bet you're the one who keeps ringing the bell as well - and thats another point, its called a bell, but it just goes clack!!!

[DazaB]

yea someone rings it for the next step, so i, who happen to be getting off at the same stop ring it as well , at least that way the driver knows he has to wait for at least two people to get off before he sets off again

[Deleted]

I don't use buses myself - far too many working class types on them - but surely payment shouldn't be a problem. Don't your manservants carry cash?

[bigdave]

err err err, get that bus out butler!

[LeedsWCFC]

jp said:

One thing about buses, everyone says you should take the bus more, but again, if you've never been on a bus before, particularly in a town you've never been to, how on earth do you know where you are, or where the closest bus stop is? cos the driver aint going to tell you!!!!

If anyone going to Harrogate tomorrow gets the number 36 bus service from Leeds they will have one of the best bus-travelling experiences possible, The buses are very comfortable and clean, the drivers are all polite and helpful, and there are screens on both decks saying which is the next stop to be called at. If all bus companies took as much care over their passengers' needs as Harrogate and District Travel do then more people would actually want to travel by bus.

[jp]

Leeds, that exactly what you need from a bus company to make travelling on a bus worth while. good to hear it!!

[Tim Munslow]

I don't know why there is this stigma about travelling by bus; I get a free bus pass since I'm over 60 and therefore not only travel in comfort but for free too. It varies so much from town to town. Shrewsbury has an excellent park and ride with electronic signs telling you when the next bus is due. Chester is the same.

Worcester? Good old Midland Red - albeit with a new name. The customer as a priority? The customer is nowhere in sight; the service appears to be run for the benefit of the drivers. That's what happens when unions get to work. The non-unionised services run by the small companies are a different proposition altogether.

[jp]

timmunslow said:

I don't know why there is this stigma about travelling by bus; I get a free bus pass since I'm over 60 and therefore not only travel in comfort but for free too. It varies so much from town to town. Shrewsbury has an excellent park and ride with electronic signs telling you when the next bus is due. Chester is the same.

Worcester? Good old Midland Red - albeit with a new name. The customer as a priority? The customer is nowhere in sight; the service appears to be run for the benefit of the drivers. That's what happens when unions get to work. The non-unionised services run by the small companies are a different proposition altogether.

The problem with Buses is two fold, firstly as I pointed out before, if you don't know the route or the town, you've got no idea where the bus stops or which stop to get off at. You can't rely on the drivers as they're mostly like the arses who drive buses around Worcester and very very unhelpful. And secondly, as tends to be the case in Worcester they all go into a central point, so for instance to get from St Peters to Dines Green I'd need to take one bus into town and a second bus out of town. For a family (without bus passes) its cheaper to get a taxi around the southern link road, its even cheaper to go in the car!!!
I have no idea where the unions come into all this as all the local bus services have been privatised for many years, the Worcester services aren't Midland Red under a different name, they're run for the benefit of the millionaire owners of the likes of First and Stagecoach, which is why they're very expensive and the drivers on low wages.

[tim]

admin said:

yea someone rings it for the next step, so i, who happen to be getting off at the same stop ring it as well , at least that way the driver knows he has to wait for at least two people to get off before he sets off again

Strangely logical, that, I'd never thought of it before!

[Croc]

Two best bus companies in the world I've experienced?

Dublin Bus

and the Oslo system - FULLY integrated with the trams and underground service

[Tim Munslow]

I reckon the Amsterdam tram system is pretty efficient and the lines all cross each other, so you can get almost anywhere using the system.

And the Paris Metro is much more customer friendly than the London Underground.

If other countries can organise their public transport systems why can't we?

[jp]

The London Underground is a meat wagon, you just have to resign yourself to the fact that at certain times in the day you're going to be travelling standing up, with your nose wedged into someones armpit!!! I much prefer the New York Subway, although the maps a little more confusing (to me). and its cheap too.

[tim]

The Athens metro is far superior to any other underground rail system I have used across the world. It's simple, has signs in English as well as Greek, runs on time and in trains plenty big enough to take all the passengers who want it. And it's very cheap.