On Mon, 17 Dec 2007 10:13:03 -0800 (PST), Mr Thant
wrote:

On 17 Dec, 17:31, (Neil Williams)
wrote:
The version I've seen (on the 73 and 168) doesn't have any such
announcements - its vocabulary is just a list of stops, the number and
the destination. I do hope the rolled-out version doesn't have all
the rubbish added.

I've not heard any nagging either (on the 123).

Oh a fellow 123 user.

I have heard a range of announcements but only used sparingly. I know
some people have been on buses where it seems a never ending stream of
messages was allowed to run. I might not have the exact text correct
below but they give the right flavour.

The helpful extra messages on the 123 have been :-

"Passengers cannot alight at the next stop as the stop is closed" - this
was correct as the stop was oos due to roadworks.

"Please move right down inside the bus" - this at a stop where the bus
is often overloaded.

"There are seats available on the upper deck" - played after the message
just above as an encouragement for people to make space.

"The Victoria Line service is suspended. Please choose an alternative
route" - the line was suspended so this was good real time information.
I was quite shocked to see a Tube reference on a bus.

"Please do not play your music loudly" - this was out of context as the
bus was silent at the time!

"This bus is now being diverted" - used when the bus route was subject
to a long diversion due to a traffic accident.

I actually don't have an issue with these messages being used in
context. They are helpful in terms of showing the driver is "managing"
his bus or to help passengers cope with disruption on the transport
system.

I understand why people are fed up with lots of noise but I think the
I-Bus concept is very good and will be a genuine aid to people given
that the stop names tie up directly with names on bus stop flags and in
the TfL Journey Planner. Once people can tie the three elements
together to help them get about London then I think it will be seen as a
boon. Now if only it was a bit more reliable - that's the problem with
being the first garage (Tottenham) to trial the system.

--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!