NEWROUTE FOR BUSES

25-08-2007

The Stirrer reported earlier this week that Travel West Midlands is planning refunds for passengers caught up in bus delays, and that a new generation of sleek double deckers is on its way. Terry Wills is preparing for a long wait.

"Brum to get fleet of new Super buses" (?) - I very much doubt it!

As one who has to rely on public transport how I rejoiced at the banner headline of the Birmingham Mail August 17.th.

Could it ‘possibly be true? ‘Brum to get fleet of new ‘super buses'? What was the story behind the headlines? Read on Terry-.read on.

A closer inspection of this ‘magical' news soon crushed hopes that a new innovative fleet of buses had actually been designed in an effort to make passengers journey slightly more comfortable.

To quote…"The state of the art, plush new fleet will run more frequently than current services, improving the journeys of thousands of passengers.

"The super buses will feature air conditioning and collect passengers from refurbished bus stops with CCTV cameras, electronic information boards and text message updates on services.

So far so good. But apart from the introduction of air conditioning I simply couldn't see anything to redress many peoples misgivings on the current models trundling in and around the City boundaries.

Lets face the facts, unpalatable as they may sound to those who actually win the contract to design the vehicles.

First. Although the designs are periodically updated, there are still obvious faults.

Faults so obvious that I fail to see just WHY they haven't been acknowledged and subsequently redressed.

Take the number of standing passengers. According to the information these total fifteen in number and with an equal distribution of space that seems a sensible equation.

But wait! What provisions have been made to ensure that 15 standing passengers can actually ‘enjoy' their journey whether it be long or short? In a word none!

For a start the current fleet have provided a maximum of SIX ‘hanging' straps for comfort and safety.

Totally inadequate seeing as the majority of drivers accelerate before boarding passengers have time to ‘find' their feet and are left frantically slinging to backs of seats to avoid being ‘flung' backwards and forwards in equal measures.

And then just WHY are these provided only at the front of buses and not staggered the full length of the vehicles? Being situated directly in front of the area designed to accommodate Buggies, shopping- trolleys, and wheelchairs used by by disabled passengers.

The result? A mass of individuals making it difficult to alight, accompanied by those who have deposited shopping bags in the same area and are now striving to collect these bags at the same time.

All this compounded by individuals who even if there ARE seats available decide to stand in the same designated area until they reach their destination.

Turning to the seats themselves, another total mismash, but will the ‘super fleet' alleviate the current shortcomings?

THE major drawback and one a majority of passengers must surely agree (?) are the seats at the rear of he buses which face one another accompanied by very little leg space separating passengers.

The result? People ‘forced' to sit uncomfortably, trying to avert looking directly into faces of strangers opposite and who most of the time are duplicating this ‘embarrassing' scenario.

Apart of course from those busily chatting noisily away on mobile phones, or playing head banging music on IPODS and MP3 players.

Hardly the ingredients to make any journey a memorable experience, allied to the annoying habit of certain anti social individuals who use the facing seats as ‘footrests'.

The eventual cost of refurbishing the covers of these, must over a period of time, be an unnecessary and unwanted burden on the bus companies' finances. So why incorporate this design?

A few days ago I experienced another ‘horror'. I discovered they'd blocked off any natural light from the rear of the vehicle. Replacing conventional windows with a ‘sheet' of metal. A depressing experience in itself..

This new fleet of ‘super buses' are being introduced apparently to encourage more people to use public transport.

Well if that's the case why not improve them to negate passengers feeling unsafe and uncomfortable when using public transport?

There have been numerous reported incidents of vandalism, drug taking, fighting, bullying.etc, taking place on the upstairs of buses although drivers are aware of this courtesy of CCTV Camera's capturing such incidents.

What can a driver do when viewing such appalling behaviour? He's simply a driver. An employee who if stopping his bus to confront the aggressors would be placing his personal safety at risk.

So is it beyond the wit of man to incorporate a ‘warning button' in a drivers cab linked directly to the Police authorities? A simple pre designated single to be used should the driver feel that he, and or his passengers are facing potential trouble?

Of course this would only be utilised as a ‘last resort' it simply wouldn't be feasible for any and every situation.

So there are a few radical ideas for Phil Bateman to consider when the plans for a new fleet of super buses' are placed before those empowered to purchase these state of the art vehicles reputedly, in the words of the Birmingham Mail, "to encourage more people to use public transport.

Sadly I hold the opinion that this bid will fail. True it MAY encourage a ‘few' people to give it a try if only for savouring a novelty value, but sadly I suspect that most car owners will still say to themselves "Sorry. I'll stick to using the car"

So to the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority a final plea.

Please don't consign these thoughts to a waste paper basket on the grounds that they would be ‘impossible' to incorporate due to engine being at the rear of a bus.

Technology has moved on and no doubt will continue to do so and if that IS the case surely these ‘radical' suggestions COULD, no pun intended, be taken on board?

Finishing on a lighter note,' youngsters' today will probably find it somewhat amusing to hear that MANY years ago it was normal practice to hear a bus driver and the conductor (long gone but not forgotten) to ask people when boarding a bus "Pass right down the bus please "

Ah those WERE the days!

(Also see "Fare Deal Over Late Buses")