With a title like today's you'd perhaps think that it will be a rant about other road users not using their indicators. Actually, it's not. It is a humerous observation about passengers hailing a bus.
Don't get me wrong, hailing a bus is NEVER a bad thing - even if you're stood at a bus stop where only 1 bus calls and there are 30 of you stood there - it's just sometimes passengers cannot correlate the gesture of outstretching their arm and what to do with it after that.
What generally happens is that a driver will see a person shove their arm out long before the bus pulls up at the stop. I generally indicate left to show the passenger that I'm aware of their hand gesture and that I will be pulling over. But the majority of people do not put their hand away until the bus is about to hit it.
You'd have thought that, once it was clear the bus was pulling over (the bus indicator is clearly flashing) the passenger would put their arm down, safe in the knowledge that the bus was pulling over. They don't.
I refuse to believe that this is because drivers have driven straight past. This doesn't happen anywhere nearly as often as people would have you believe - especially when the bus driver has indicated to pull over.
Common Sense Solution: I don't think there is the need for one as the passenger is doing the right thing but hailing a bus.
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Thursday, 10 November 2011
Impatience
An old man boarded today, pushing a buggy. He asked for his stop and said he had a pass and that he would get it out in a minute. I dutifully keyed in the details and awaited his pass to be shown before it hit the 'issue' button. He just stood there, motionless.
Well I'm all for awkward silences. He eventually gave in. He asked for his destination again. I said "Do you have your bus pass handy now?"
"Bloody hell, I said I'd get you it in a minute!"
"All I need to do is see the expiry date," I said, choosing to omit "so I can make sure you're not a robbing git. Often OAPs from other parts of the Kingdom try and use their passes here and it is not allowed. A little silly I know, but them's the rules!
"For goodness sake!" the old man exclaimed, rummaging in his pocket for his bus pass, which he brought out within 5 seconds.
"Satisfied?"
"Yes, thank you. If I could ask you to have it ready every time you board, it will help speed up the service!" I ended with. I couldn't help it.
He didn't say anything other than a tut and a shake of the head.
One - nil.
Common Sense Solution: Clearly there was always going to be an exchange of words here, unless the driver was prepared to issue the guy a free ticket without first seeing his pass. The old git reached for his pass within 5 seconds, so what prevented him from doing so while in the queue to board. I was polite throughout and it was all very clinical. The old guy had absolutely no grounds on which to complain.
Well I'm all for awkward silences. He eventually gave in. He asked for his destination again. I said "Do you have your bus pass handy now?"
"Bloody hell, I said I'd get you it in a minute!"
"All I need to do is see the expiry date," I said, choosing to omit "so I can make sure you're not a robbing git. Often OAPs from other parts of the Kingdom try and use their passes here and it is not allowed. A little silly I know, but them's the rules!
"For goodness sake!" the old man exclaimed, rummaging in his pocket for his bus pass, which he brought out within 5 seconds.
"Satisfied?"
"Yes, thank you. If I could ask you to have it ready every time you board, it will help speed up the service!" I ended with. I couldn't help it.
He didn't say anything other than a tut and a shake of the head.
One - nil.
Common Sense Solution: Clearly there was always going to be an exchange of words here, unless the driver was prepared to issue the guy a free ticket without first seeing his pass. The old git reached for his pass within 5 seconds, so what prevented him from doing so while in the queue to board. I was polite throughout and it was all very clinical. The old guy had absolutely no grounds on which to complain.
Tuesday, 8 November 2011
Hassle
We've not had a fare increase (or 'revision') but some of the fare stages have changed, which has resulted in some passengers now paying more from today (I know, nothing like a mid-week change to piss everyone off!) compared to less than 12 hours ago.
Some fares have increased by 20p single and 30p return. If a passenger asks for stop X today, we charge him to stop Y as stop X is no longer a fare stage. The fare to stop Y has remained constant, though as passengers for stop X never wanted stop Y they really couldn't give a fuck.
I'm directing all complaints to the depot, asking passengers to phone rather than write, email or tweet (twat?). Not all passengers are dick heads. Around 2% are likely to spot what the company is doing and won't be happy. If they all phoned up, very little work would get done back at base.
Common Sense Solution: Firstly, you should always charge the correct fare, no matter how outraged the passenger is likely to be. Consistency is key, as ever. Any problems, direct them to the depot or even head office. Or both. Provided you've got an assault screen you could add something like: "Well we have to pay for our pay rise some how!" though you really need to be sure you don't say this to a crow bar-wielding black lad!
Some fares have increased by 20p single and 30p return. If a passenger asks for stop X today, we charge him to stop Y as stop X is no longer a fare stage. The fare to stop Y has remained constant, though as passengers for stop X never wanted stop Y they really couldn't give a fuck.
I'm directing all complaints to the depot, asking passengers to phone rather than write, email or tweet (twat?). Not all passengers are dick heads. Around 2% are likely to spot what the company is doing and won't be happy. If they all phoned up, very little work would get done back at base.
Common Sense Solution: Firstly, you should always charge the correct fare, no matter how outraged the passenger is likely to be. Consistency is key, as ever. Any problems, direct them to the depot or even head office. Or both. Provided you've got an assault screen you could add something like: "Well we have to pay for our pay rise some how!" though you really need to be sure you don't say this to a crow bar-wielding black lad!
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
HAIL (and ride)
So I was driving my favourite shift on Saturday. It's a rural duty and I'm out in the sticks on my own, with my meal break out there and the gap in service covered by another driver who does 1 round trip as part of his own shift. It is nice out here. People are much more pleasant and polite, though this is not our bread-and-butter work, unfortunately. We ply our trade in "shit-kicker" territory, as one of my friends would say.
But although people are much nicer out here, they're still thick.
I was travelling along a road with houses on the left and the speed limit is 40mph. I was travelling at 40mph and noticed a number of pedestrians on the path to the left, between my and the houses. Some were walking and some were conversing while stationary. Suddenly, one of these stationary conversers shoved their hand out to get me to stop. Instinctively I indicated to pull over and stopped.
I'd gone past them by about a bus length. There was no bus stop in this area, it is technically hail-and-ride - the term that fills bus drivers with dread as passengers simply cannot be trusted to stand in a safe location or to simply HAIL the bus.
All four of the stationary conversers headed towards the front of my bus. They all seemed pleasant enough, so I thought I'd start in the same manner:
"I don't suppose next time you could put your hand out a little earlier, could you?"
"We didn't think we needed to."
"You looked like you were just chatting or waiting to cross the road."
"No. We wanted to catch you. We even phoned the depot and they said it was hail and ride."
"Yes it is. But you need to put your arm out so that I know!"
"Oh right, we just thought you'd stop."
This group had done the right thing. They'd contacted my depot before travelling. They'd been correctly told that where they wanted to board has no fixed bus stops and so we employ hail and ride. Clearly no further discussion had taken place. These people had no idea what hail and ride meant. They didn't seem thick or particularly under-class. I issued them their tickets and they sat down.
As I drove on, I couldn't help thinking to myself what they must have thought when the depot told them it was hail and ride. All I could imagine is that they assumed it meant the bus driver would stop for anyone who was motionless on the path. If that was the case, I'd be stopping everywhere.
Common Sense Solution: Make hail-and-ride sections of route ILLEGAL. Local authorities should refuse to accept registration documents for tendered services that have hail and ride sections. Local authorities are equally at fault as many are responsible for bus stop infrastructure in their area and can't be arsed to splash out a few quid for bus stop flags and timetable cases. You don't have this attitude in the railways. Nor do you have this attitude in the large urban areas. That's where the money is so all parties actually give a toss.
But although people are much nicer out here, they're still thick.
I was travelling along a road with houses on the left and the speed limit is 40mph. I was travelling at 40mph and noticed a number of pedestrians on the path to the left, between my and the houses. Some were walking and some were conversing while stationary. Suddenly, one of these stationary conversers shoved their hand out to get me to stop. Instinctively I indicated to pull over and stopped.
I'd gone past them by about a bus length. There was no bus stop in this area, it is technically hail-and-ride - the term that fills bus drivers with dread as passengers simply cannot be trusted to stand in a safe location or to simply HAIL the bus.
All four of the stationary conversers headed towards the front of my bus. They all seemed pleasant enough, so I thought I'd start in the same manner:
"I don't suppose next time you could put your hand out a little earlier, could you?"
"We didn't think we needed to."
"You looked like you were just chatting or waiting to cross the road."
"No. We wanted to catch you. We even phoned the depot and they said it was hail and ride."
"Yes it is. But you need to put your arm out so that I know!"
"Oh right, we just thought you'd stop."
This group had done the right thing. They'd contacted my depot before travelling. They'd been correctly told that where they wanted to board has no fixed bus stops and so we employ hail and ride. Clearly no further discussion had taken place. These people had no idea what hail and ride meant. They didn't seem thick or particularly under-class. I issued them their tickets and they sat down.
As I drove on, I couldn't help thinking to myself what they must have thought when the depot told them it was hail and ride. All I could imagine is that they assumed it meant the bus driver would stop for anyone who was motionless on the path. If that was the case, I'd be stopping everywhere.
Common Sense Solution: Make hail-and-ride sections of route ILLEGAL. Local authorities should refuse to accept registration documents for tendered services that have hail and ride sections. Local authorities are equally at fault as many are responsible for bus stop infrastructure in their area and can't be arsed to splash out a few quid for bus stop flags and timetable cases. You don't have this attitude in the railways. Nor do you have this attitude in the large urban areas. That's where the money is so all parties actually give a toss.
Saturday, 22 October 2011
2p short
Sometimes a passenger does not have sufficient money on him to pay his fare. Our contract of employment clearly states that on these occasions he may not travel. There are no exceptions, not even for children. It is the responsibility for the minor's parent to ensure they have sufficient money to pay the bus driver. Not my words, but the words of my company. We are told to waive the above ruling on the last bus of the day and if the minor shows clear signs of distress.
One of the drivers at work was recently disciplined for not allowing a passenger to board when he was 2p short. A stinking letter has been written by the teen's disgruntled mother. He was summonsed to appear with representation before one of the managers. He reported that he was exonerated of all blame when it was pointed out that he followed procedure to-the-letter. It was not the last bus of the day and the college student showed no sign of distress.
What annoyed him and what made me put finger to keyboard is the comment put to him by the manager. He was told that he should have just let him off the 2p. This would have solved the issue. While this is clearly accurate, the driver would then have been 2p short in his takings and would have been stopped the 2p from his wages. The money is immaterial. The principle is everything. Giving a free ride and telling the student to keep all of his (insufficient) money is even more serious - gross misconduct, for which dismissal is likely.
At no point was the option of overriding the ticket machine mentioned. A specific key sequence enables the driver to key in the exact amount of money tendered and this is printed on the ticket. I've used this on many occasions. I've also made it known to one of the supervisors that I've done this as £1.68 is better than zero if the passenger is turned away for being 2p short of his £1.70 fare.
I'm going to continue doing it. This way, everyone is happy. Probably. The passenger travels and, more importantly, is issued with a ticket. The company also receives more money than it would if its own procedure was followed. My worry, though, is that I will still be severely disciplined for it. I think I should raise this officially and get written advice on a number of scenarios I shall put to them.
Sadly, this is an issue than no one at work gives a fuck about until it blows up in everyone's face. Then they care a lot and all hell can be let loose.
Common Sense Solution: If a passenger is 10p short of his fare it is surely better to issue a ticket for that amount and to allow travel than to turn the passenger away, receiving no money. If the passenger becomes a serial offender, this is another matter. But in most cases, the passenger is genuine. Large bus companies have very strict rules about their takings while in their drivers' hands yet refuse to offer guidance and advice on specific scenarios. If this issue is potentially so serious, they need to get real and issue unequivicable guidance that covers all situations.
One of the drivers at work was recently disciplined for not allowing a passenger to board when he was 2p short. A stinking letter has been written by the teen's disgruntled mother. He was summonsed to appear with representation before one of the managers. He reported that he was exonerated of all blame when it was pointed out that he followed procedure to-the-letter. It was not the last bus of the day and the college student showed no sign of distress.
What annoyed him and what made me put finger to keyboard is the comment put to him by the manager. He was told that he should have just let him off the 2p. This would have solved the issue. While this is clearly accurate, the driver would then have been 2p short in his takings and would have been stopped the 2p from his wages. The money is immaterial. The principle is everything. Giving a free ride and telling the student to keep all of his (insufficient) money is even more serious - gross misconduct, for which dismissal is likely.
At no point was the option of overriding the ticket machine mentioned. A specific key sequence enables the driver to key in the exact amount of money tendered and this is printed on the ticket. I've used this on many occasions. I've also made it known to one of the supervisors that I've done this as £1.68 is better than zero if the passenger is turned away for being 2p short of his £1.70 fare.
I'm going to continue doing it. This way, everyone is happy. Probably. The passenger travels and, more importantly, is issued with a ticket. The company also receives more money than it would if its own procedure was followed. My worry, though, is that I will still be severely disciplined for it. I think I should raise this officially and get written advice on a number of scenarios I shall put to them.
Sadly, this is an issue than no one at work gives a fuck about until it blows up in everyone's face. Then they care a lot and all hell can be let loose.
Common Sense Solution: If a passenger is 10p short of his fare it is surely better to issue a ticket for that amount and to allow travel than to turn the passenger away, receiving no money. If the passenger becomes a serial offender, this is another matter. But in most cases, the passenger is genuine. Large bus companies have very strict rules about their takings while in their drivers' hands yet refuse to offer guidance and advice on specific scenarios. If this issue is potentially so serious, they need to get real and issue unequivicable guidance that covers all situations.
Diversion
Today I made the unilateral decision to deviate from my prescribed bus route owing to a significant traffic jam due to temporary roads works. My diversion route would see me omit no bus stop and so no one would be inconvenienced in any way. Moreover, my actions would help ensure my passengers got to their destinations faster than would otherwise be the case.
I could have told everyone as they boarded that I would be making a slight detour en route, or even shouted it out as I was about to turn off, but I'm not really like that. The former would have seen scores of needless questions asked as I told each passenger and the latter is just oafish. I can't stand drivers who shout out loud. Also, those upstairs at the back won't hear and there'll be others who detect the driver shout something but won't have caught what it was exactly, so confusion is caused.
No sooner had I turned when I heard mutterings from behind. One elderly chap was getting very distressed. I was expecting comments, but not a grown man in tears, which was the ultimate outcome. A woman ventured forward and asked me if I knew I was going the wrong way.
"Oh my god! So I am. We're lost, what the fuck should I do?" I would love to have said. As it was I managed a more subtle: "Actually, I'm going the right way if you want to stand any chance of getting home on time".
It was a little sharp, but struck the balance well. Did she honestly think I had no idea what I was doing? Yes, occasionally a bus driver can make a wrong turn, but he or she will soon realise and 'about turn'. I was fundamentally heading in the right direction still, parallel to the road where the hold up was.
I'm surprised the silly old sod in tears knew where we were as he always seems a little ga-ga to me whenever he travels.
Anyway, 2 minutes behind schedule, I regained my normal route and normality ensued. Tissues were put away and the sobbing ended.
Common Sense Solution: Everyone is different is a phrase often banded about our depot. Aint that the case! A small detour on an urban bus route is nothing out of the ordinary. A guy in his 80s bursting into tears because he thinks he's being abducted is.
I could have told everyone as they boarded that I would be making a slight detour en route, or even shouted it out as I was about to turn off, but I'm not really like that. The former would have seen scores of needless questions asked as I told each passenger and the latter is just oafish. I can't stand drivers who shout out loud. Also, those upstairs at the back won't hear and there'll be others who detect the driver shout something but won't have caught what it was exactly, so confusion is caused.
No sooner had I turned when I heard mutterings from behind. One elderly chap was getting very distressed. I was expecting comments, but not a grown man in tears, which was the ultimate outcome. A woman ventured forward and asked me if I knew I was going the wrong way.
"Oh my god! So I am. We're lost, what the fuck should I do?" I would love to have said. As it was I managed a more subtle: "Actually, I'm going the right way if you want to stand any chance of getting home on time".
It was a little sharp, but struck the balance well. Did she honestly think I had no idea what I was doing? Yes, occasionally a bus driver can make a wrong turn, but he or she will soon realise and 'about turn'. I was fundamentally heading in the right direction still, parallel to the road where the hold up was.
I'm surprised the silly old sod in tears knew where we were as he always seems a little ga-ga to me whenever he travels.
Anyway, 2 minutes behind schedule, I regained my normal route and normality ensued. Tissues were put away and the sobbing ended.
Common Sense Solution: Everyone is different is a phrase often banded about our depot. Aint that the case! A small detour on an urban bus route is nothing out of the ordinary. A guy in his 80s bursting into tears because he thinks he's being abducted is.
Thursday, 13 October 2011
How much?
Some people with a free bus pass are not allowed to use them before 0930 on weekdays, as this is the basic legislation, that was introduced in 2007. One old lady boarded my bus this morning at 9am and asked to go to a town 12 miles away. She didn't produce a pass and argue the toss about how badly done to she is that she has to pay. Instead she put a £2 coin on the cash top. The fare was £2.90.
She was so annoyed at how extortionate the fare was, I thought she was going to smack me, at one point. She went absolutely mental.
£2.90 for 12 miles equates to 24p per mile. I'd like to see anyone who uses a car to beat that, when all costs are considered. This woman wasn't known to me, so I suspect she doesn't often have to make this journey, if at all.
Her perception was that £2 was 'about right' for the 12 miles. She did ask if £2.90 was the return fare. Sadly not, that is a fair amount more. She was probably returning for free, after 0930, legitimately using her bus pass.
Anyway, I got the extra 90p out of her and all was well... for me. She was absolutely sickened.
Common Sense Solution: People rate value for money differently to others. Bus fares are no different. 12 miles on a train would cost double the fare I was requesting her to tender. Would she have caused a scene there? 24p per mile may not offer 'exceptional' value for money, but compared to a taxi (I reckon you're looking at £20) or the actual cost of using a car for that specific journey (building in tax, insurance, MOT, depreciation, fuel) the saving is enormous. Would this woman have caused the scene she did had the free bus pass scheme not have been introduced? I suspect not.
She was so annoyed at how extortionate the fare was, I thought she was going to smack me, at one point. She went absolutely mental.
£2.90 for 12 miles equates to 24p per mile. I'd like to see anyone who uses a car to beat that, when all costs are considered. This woman wasn't known to me, so I suspect she doesn't often have to make this journey, if at all.
Her perception was that £2 was 'about right' for the 12 miles. She did ask if £2.90 was the return fare. Sadly not, that is a fair amount more. She was probably returning for free, after 0930, legitimately using her bus pass.
Anyway, I got the extra 90p out of her and all was well... for me. She was absolutely sickened.
Common Sense Solution: People rate value for money differently to others. Bus fares are no different. 12 miles on a train would cost double the fare I was requesting her to tender. Would she have caused a scene there? 24p per mile may not offer 'exceptional' value for money, but compared to a taxi (I reckon you're looking at £20) or the actual cost of using a car for that specific journey (building in tax, insurance, MOT, depreciation, fuel) the saving is enormous. Would this woman have caused the scene she did had the free bus pass scheme not have been introduced? I suspect not.
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