Buses World News
In brief: Worldwide montly news & informations about Buses, Busmakers, Passengers' and the Transport Industry
RAPID BUS slower that ACTUAL BUSES * USA
* Oregon - Portland's proposed rapid bus actually slower than existing bus
-- Portland’s first-ever rapid bus project has hit a speed bump, after a transit study found the new line would actually be slower than current buses on the same streets... Leaders in Gresham, Portland and the regional Metro government identified the Powell-Division corridor for rapid transit a few years ago. Passengers complained that current buses were so packed, the buses would routinely roll past would-be riders, waiting at bus stops... Portland-area planners prioritized hearing from the diverse communities of Gresham and Southeast Portland before mapping out a specific rapid bus line from Mount Hood Community College to downtown Portland. The route with the most support involved following Powell Boulevard near the river, and then jog over to Division, likely on 82nd Avenue... But Metro spokesman Craig Beebe said the new study found that route would be slower from end-to-end than current TriMet buses. “The reasons include design constraints on inner Powell and 82nd Ave, or 50th or 52nd Ave — the cross-over street from Powell to Division,” Beebe said... The transit study says the third option, of simply improving current bus lines, could begin in three to five years... But giving up on bus rapid transit would likely mean giving up eligibility for federal funding of $75 million — money that would have to be matched dollar-for-dollar from local sources. However, officials said the federal government is not likely to fund a bus rapid transit project that isn’t actually faster than the buses already running on the same streets...
(Photo by Thomas Le Ngo/TriMet: Passengers exit a TriMet bus) -- Portland, ORE, USA - OPB, by Rob Manning - March 23, 2016Labels: bus rapid transit - BRT, trips on buses debate
IDIOT's GUIDE DEBATE * UK - HOW TO USE A BUS
* AN ALTERNATIVE GUIDE ... There, that's the buses sorted out. Which way to Iraq?London,UK -The World of Misery Guts -22 January 2008: -- Stagecoach issue a leaflet on how to use the bus. The leaflet just comes across as rather patronising, especially to anyone with the slightest semblance of intelligence. Let’s take a look at the advice given: ... (PN: see yesterday's entry in this blog: "Only an Idiot... * UK - Would take the bus !!! ") ...There is certainly a missed opportunity and I’d like to add a few suggestions of my own to improve the use of public transport... * If you’re at the front of the queue: - Be positive and don’t dither...* If someone tries to jump the queue: - Confront them and shame them...* If you’re not sure what bus to get: - Do some research... * Be vigilant: - Don’t assume the driver knows where he’s going, especially on a route that constantly changes...- Don’t assume the driver knows how to use his ticket machine either... * Don’t:- Put your feet on the seats. It’s rude and disgusting. Other passengers have to sit there. Again, shame these people by pointing out what they’re doing. If you see someone else challenging a miscreant, back him or her up. Too many people sit back and do nothing, whilst moaning under their breath…mutter, mutter, youth of today, mutter...- Assume that every other passenger wants to hear all the dull details of your uninteresting and pointless existence, especially at a Spinal Tap-esque volume of 11. Not all passengers have headphones that they can use to block out your inane ramblings. Pipe down – we don’t care about your kitchen extension or your extended family.- Get on the bus without having performed some sort of personal hygiene routine. There’s nothing worse than sitting next to someone who has BO or stinks of wee.- Take up more than one seat. You only have one ticket and it entitles you to ONE seat...- Leave your litter on the bus. Take it with you. Most bus stops have a bin so you can drop it off when you get off the bus. Don’t stick it in the Used Tickets receptacle either.- Jump the queue. It’s rude. Be patient. Prepare to be confronted if you choose this rudest of habits. You’re not better than a murderer and should be treated accordingly...Labels: trips on buses debate
Only an Idiot... * UK - Would take the bus !!!
London,UK -Telegraph.co.uk, by Bryony Gordon -22 Jan 2008: -- Well thank goodness for that. Stagecoach have created an idiot's guide to taking the bus, because only an idiot would actually take the bus. No, that's not why. It's actually to encourage more people to use public transport... Step on board, take a seat, beware the smelly people: "Using the bus could not be easier," begins the guide, which then goes on to explain that you should signal for the driver to stop, step on board, take a seat, then press the bell when you want to get off. You may laugh at this ridiculous waste of money, but as someone who spends at least an hour on buses every day, I would like to add a few tips. Enjoy.
1. There are more mad/drunk/smelly people on buses than on any other form of public transport. I think this is because they are simple souls who appreciate being able to look out of the windows at the sky. For example, the other day, on the 148, I found myself sitting next to an old man who was having a conversation with his dictaphone, which he had christened John. Don't be disturbed; just smile sweetly and stare in the other direction. Remember, they probably think you are mad too. And maybe you are.2. You will also find more anti-social teenagers on buses than on any other form of public transport. My advice is to move to the front of the vehicle, next to the driver, and not to ask the youths to turn down that racket that is emanating from their mobile phone thingymebob.3. Nobody ever cleans buses, so always carry a plastic bag with you to sit on, and watch where you put your feet. 4. Your bus driver probably can't drive very well, though he no doubt thinks that he is Lewis Hamilton. So hold on to the seat in front of you (checking first for chewing gum).5. Nor will he be able to speak fluent English (even if he was born here) so don't bother asking which stop you should get off at, because he won't have a clue.6. Be prepared for the vehicle to stay at a stop for half an hour. This is normal. The driver is just ensuring 'gaps' between buses, so that 16 don't come at once. 7. Don’t be surprised when the driver announces 'all change here' four miles before the bus's destination. Another one will be along in a moment, honest!8. Take your car.
Any more you'd like to add? ... And about those who can not travel by other means? That's not a joke !!!
* How to get on a bus: idiot's guide published
London,UK -Telegraph.co.uk, by Sophie Borland -22 Jan 2008: -- An idiot’s guide explaining how to get on and off a bus has been produced for people who have a phobia of public transport... According to Stagecoach, which has created the step-by-step manual, a large proportion of Britain’s population are now so used to travelling by car that they have become scared of buses... In order to encourage use of public transport, the firm has come up with the “Using the Bus” guide which sets out the most basic information possible... The guide begins reassuringly with: “Using the bus could not be easier”... It goes on to warn that passengers should “first of all decide on what bus you need” and once the right bus has been spotted, with the “number and destination on the front”, one should then “signal for the driver to stop”... The guide continues: “Wait until the bus is stopped and the doors are fully opened and step on board”... The guide even goes as far as setting out procedures for disembarking and says: “When you want to get off, press the bell once. For your safety we recommend you remain seated until the bus has arrived at the stop”... A spokesman for Stagecoach, which runs 7,000 buses and coaches from Devon in the south west to Inverness in the Scottish Highlands, said that research had shown many members of the public do not know how to use public transport... A Stagecoach campaign encouraging more use of public transport has now contacted 610,000 people across the country, giving out versions of the guide and offering free travel passes... Labels: trips on buses debate
London,UK -Telegraph.co.uk, by Bryony Gordon -22 Jan 2008: -- Well thank goodness for that. Stagecoach have created an idiot's guide to taking the bus, because only an idiot would actually take the bus. No, that's not why. It's actually to encourage more people to use public transport... Step on board, take a seat, beware the smelly people: "Using the bus could not be easier," begins the guide, which then goes on to explain that you should signal for the driver to stop, step on board, take a seat, then press the bell when you want to get off. You may laugh at this ridiculous waste of money, but as someone who spends at least an hour on buses every day, I would like to add a few tips. Enjoy.
London,UK -Telegraph.co.uk, by Sophie Borland -22 Jan 2008: -- An idiot’s guide explaining how to get on and off a bus has been produced for people who have a phobia of public transport... According to Stagecoach, which has created the step-by-step manual, a large proportion of Britain’s population are now so used to travelling by car that they have become scared of buses... In order to encourage use of public transport, the firm has come up with the “Using the Bus” guide which sets out the most basic information possible... The guide begins reassuringly with: “Using the bus could not be easier”... It goes on to warn that passengers should “first of all decide on what bus you need” and once the right bus has been spotted, with the “number and destination on the front”, one should then “signal for the driver to stop”... The guide continues: “Wait until the bus is stopped and the doors are fully opened and step on board”... The guide even goes as far as setting out procedures for disembarking and says: “When you want to get off, press the bell once. For your safety we recommend you remain seated until the bus has arrived at the stop”... A spokesman for Stagecoach, which runs 7,000 buses and coaches from Devon in the south west to Inverness in the Scottish Highlands, said that research had shown many members of the public do not know how to use public transport... A Stagecoach campaign encouraging more use of public transport has now contacted 610,000 people across the country, giving out versions of the guide and offering free travel passes... 
