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Bus driver training?
Do bus drivers get *any* sort of training in how to deal with the public?
This is an article from this week's East London Advertiser: /Quote BUS ATTITUDE NOT QUITE THE TICKET. Bus drivers are ignoring a wheelchair-bound East Ender and refusing to lower ramps which allow him to get on board. Pensioner John Clarke, 65, who lives on Mile End Road had his leg amputated in June 2003. He said: "I don't like going out any more," adding that: "Taxis are more sympathetic, but they're so expensive". Mr Clarke, a diabetic, protested to Bethnal Green and Bow MP Oona King - a move which won him an apology from London Buses. MP Oona said: "It's important that we encourage disabled pensioners like Mr Clarke to retain their independence. Drivers must be properly trained and supported in using ramps." All the bus routes Mr Clarke complained about have 'easy access' low floors, specially designed for wheelchair users, and are fitted with ramps that can be lowered when necessary, London Buses admitted this week. They are now consulting with bus operators on the routes he travels. /Endquote -- Phil ,,,^.".^,,, --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.588 / Virus Database: 372 - Release Date: 13/02/2004 |
Bus driver training?
"Redonda" wrote in message ... They are now consulting with bus operators on the routes he travels. /Endquote why are they only bothering to fix the problem on the route he uses. shouldn't they be fixing it *everywhere* tim -- Phil ,,,^.".^,,, --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.588 / Virus Database: 372 - Release Date: 13/02/2004 |
Bus driver training?
tim wrote:
"Redonda" wrote in message ... They are now consulting with bus operators on the routes he travels. /Endquote why are they only bothering to fix the problem on the route he uses. shouldn't they be fixing it *everywhere* tim Probably for the same reason that bus fare increases are being used to make up the revenue loss from the Congestion Zone instead of the CZ paying for better and cheaper public transport. Taxation in all its guises is the *only* priority for HMG and its local cohorts. Obviously giving access to disabled people is time consuming, time costs money, etc. and round we go again in the Circle Game!! -- Phil ,,,^.".^,,, --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.588 / Virus Database: 372 - Release Date: 13/02/2004 |
Bus driver training?
On Sun, 15 Feb 2004 12:21:25 -0000, "Redonda"
wrote: tim wrote: "Redonda" wrote in message ... They are now consulting with bus operators on the routes he travels. /Endquote why are they only bothering to fix the problem on the route he uses. shouldn't they be fixing it *everywhere* tim Probably for the same reason that bus fare increases are being used to make up the revenue loss from the Congestion Zone instead of the CZ paying for better and cheaper public transport. Congestion charging is generating cash, not as much as originally forecast. And yes. Charging revenue is supporting the bus service. Service is clearly falling short in some areas, but there is a recognised customer service training programme: This refers to the service controllers element http://www.tfl.gov.uk/buses/press-re...ress-918.shtml But note: he BTEC qualification is compulsory for all new bus drivers, conductors and all service controllers. The qualifications follow a structured training programme over 3-6 month period. Bus Driver BTEC is equivalent to NVQ level 2 and Service Controllers BTEC to NVQ Level 3. The BTEC is part of a national framework of industry vocational qualifications externally assessed by Edexcel. The areas that will benefit from the BTEC trained staff will be Sutton, Wimbeldon, Morden, Bexleyheath, New Cross, the City, Fulham, Putney, Vauxhall, Wandsworth and Streatham. - being rolled out all over London. -- rob at robertwoolley dot co dot uk |
Bus driver training?
"Redonda" wrote in
: Do bus drivers get *any* sort of training in how to deal with the public? This is an article from this week's East London Advertiser: /Quote BUS ATTITUDE NOT QUITE THE TICKET. Bus drivers are ignoring a wheelchair-bound East Ender and refusing to lower ramps which allow him to get on board. Pensioner John Clarke, 65, who lives on Mile End Road had his leg amputated in June 2003. He said: "I don't like going out any more," adding that: "Taxis are more sympathetic, but they're so expensive". Mr Clarke, a diabetic, protested to Bethnal Green and Bow MP Oona King - a move which won him an apology from London Buses. MP Oona said: "It's important that we encourage disabled pensioners like Mr Clarke to retain their independence. Drivers must be properly trained and supported in using ramps." Surely the training needed is for the recruiters to determine the ******s and not recruit them |
Bus driver training?
"Redonda" wrote in message ... tim wrote: "Redonda" wrote in message ... They are now consulting with bus operators on the routes he travels. /Endquote why are they only bothering to fix the problem on the route he uses. shouldn't they be fixing it *everywhere* tim Probably for the same reason that bus fare increases are being used to make up the revenue loss from the Congestion Zone instead of the CZ paying for better and cheaper public transport. Taxation in all its guises is the *only* priority for HMG and its local cohorts. Obviously giving access to disabled people is time consuming, time costs money, etc. and round we go again in the Circle Game!! But AIUI the cost of the equipment in the buses has been spent. What was missing was some common sense by the Bus operator to actually decide to instruct their drivers to use it. tim ,,, --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.588 / Virus Database: 372 - Release Date: 13/02/2004 |
Bus driver training?
tim wrote:
But AIUI the cost of the equipment in the buses has been spent. What was missing was some common sense by the Bus operator to actually decide to instruct their drivers to use it. tim Yes the equipment *is* in place - I actually meant the time and expense to train the drivers to use it and how to deal with members of the public, especially the disabled who, through no fault of their own, may hold the bus up for longer than able-bodied people while getting on and off. TfL's training initiative is all very well but surely it would be unnecessary if drivers had been trained in more than just the mechanics of driving a bus at the recruitment stage. People-management and diplomacy are even more important now that busses are used by more than just the 'Great Unwashed' (those who couldn't afford a car) since the introduction of Congestion Charges. -- Phil ,,,^.".^,,, --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.588 / Virus Database: 372 - Release Date: 13/02/2004 |
Bus driver training?
Steve wrote:
"Redonda" wrote in : Do bus drivers get *any* sort of training in how to deal with the public? This is an article from this week's East London Advertiser: /Quote BUS ATTITUDE NOT QUITE THE TICKET. Bus drivers are ignoring a wheelchair-bound East Ender and refusing to lower ramps which allow him to get on board. Pensioner John Clarke, 65, who lives on Mile End Road had his leg amputated in June 2003. He said: "I don't like going out any more," adding that: "Taxis are more sympathetic, but they're so expensive". Mr Clarke, a diabetic, protested to Bethnal Green and Bow MP Oona King - a move which won him an apology from London Buses. MP Oona said: "It's important that we encourage disabled pensioners like Mr Clarke to retain their independence. Drivers must be properly trained and supported in using ramps." Surely the training needed is for the recruiters to determine the ******s and not recruit them Unfortunately the question "Are you an antisocial ******?" is probably not on the application form. -- Phil ,,,^.".^,,, --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.588 / Virus Database: 372 - Release Date: 13/02/2004 |
Bus driver training?
Please dont tar us all with the same brush.
I for one am quite happy to lower my ramp for a wheelchair user, particularly when it means upsetting some woman with a baby in a pushchair, who seems to think that they have a right to use the bus ahead of everyone else, despite the fact that there is limited space for the storage of unfolded pushchairs. Please don't take this as a hatred of people with pushchairs, the majority of them are reasonable people, however, the small minority really grey the area for me. They really should appreciate the fact that they are lucky to have low floor easy access buses, where I come from originally maybe 1 in 10 buses have this facility, so perhaps unsurprisingly, people actually fold up their pushchairs to get on buses. |
Bus driver training?
DaveG73 wrote:
Please dont tar us all with the same brush. I for one am quite happy to lower my ramp for a wheelchair user, particularly when it means upsetting some woman with a baby in a pushchair, who seems to think that they have a right to use the bus ahead of everyone else, despite the fact that there is limited space for the storage of unfolded pushchairs. Please don't take this as a hatred of people with pushchairs, the majority of them are reasonable people, however, the small minority really grey the area for me. They really should appreciate the fact that they are lucky to have low floor easy access buses, where I come from originally maybe 1 in 10 buses have this facility, so perhaps unsurprisingly, people actually fold up their pushchairs to get on buses. I'm not tarring all bus drivers with the same brush. As in all groups it's always the exceptions that get the publicity, and those exceptions are the ones that get people's backs up. I agree with you about the pushchairs. Maybe the technology involved in folding a pushchair is just too much for the average young mum ;-) I remember my mum rushing to fold my sister's chair as the old RF on the 236 hove into view. And the practiced balancing act with the toddler, the shopping and the chair climbing those 2 steep steps at the front of the bus! In those days the chairs didn't fold down as efficiently or as small as modern ones. -- Phil ,,,^.".^,,, --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.588 / Virus Database: 372 - Release Date: 13/02/2004 |
Bus driver training?
I'm not tarring all bus drivers with the same brush. As in all groups it's always the exceptions that get the publicity, and those exceptions are the ones that get people's backs up. I agree with you about the pushchairs. Maybe the technology involved in folding a pushchair is just too much for the average young mum ;-) I remember my mum rushing to fold my sister's chair as the old RF on the 236 hove into view. And the practiced balancing act with the toddler, the shopping and the chair climbing those 2 steep steps at the front of the bus! In those days the chairs didn't fold down as efficiently or as small as modern ones. In defence of "lazy" or "stupid" young mum's with pushchairs. As the above says. Its impossible to look after a kid, get on a bus and fold a pushchair all at the same time while everyone on the bus is tutting about the amount of time the mother is taking. Buses that kneel down to the curb (when the driver bothers to stop within a one mile raduis of the curb of course) and buses that have ramps are great ideas. Wheelchair spaces are very good for making public transport accessible for all but buses aren't exactly crammed with wheelchairs. So providing that space for a baby able to stay in a parm/pushchair is a much better idea than providing space for a wheelchair. Where I come from I remember when I was young buses waiting for ages while the bus driver got out to help some helpless mother fold her pushchair and put it in the luggage bit while the mother carried or hung on to her child. They now have a small number of buses with wheelchair spaces and the mother simply ups the wheels of the pushchair pushes it up onto the bus pays her fare and slides it into the space. Much easier. |
Bus driver training?
"Redonda" wrote in message ...
Do bus drivers get *any* sort of training in how to deal with the public? This is an article from this week's East London Advertiser: There is a nationwide shortage of bus drivers. Most bus companies are busy recuirting for bus drivers. Combined with stressful driving condtions in London makes it hard to recurit bus drivers. Hence the reason why a majority of bus drivers have absoutley no customer service skills. If there was a lot more people applying then maybe they could take on more people with customer service skills. At the end of the day you have to decide whether you want a lot of bus drivers with only some of them having good customer service skills. Or a shortage of bus drivers but those we do have, having good customer service skills. I think most people in London as long as the bus stops at their stop they are happy. |
Bus driver training?
In defence of "lazy" or "stupid" young mum's with pushchairs. As the
above says. Its impossible to look after a kid, get on a bus and fold a pushchair all at the same time while everyone on the bus is tutting about the amount of time the mother is taking. Buses that kneel down to the curb (when the driver bothers to stop within a one mile raduis of the curb of course) and buses that have ramps are great ideas. Wheelchair spaces are very good for making public transport accessible for all but buses aren't exactly crammed with wheelchairs. So providing that space for a baby able to stay in a parm/pushchair is a much better idea than providing space for a wheelchair. Where I come from I remember when I was young buses waiting for ages while the bus driver got out to help some helpless mother fold her pushchair and put it in the luggage bit while the mother carried or hung on to her child. They now have a small number of buses with wheelchair spaces and the mother simply ups the wheels of the pushchair pushes it up onto the bus pays her fare and slides it into the space. Much easier. As I said earlier, I have no problem with having pushchairs on my bus, but officially we can carry ONE open. Most of the drivers I know will carry 2 (as they will fit into the wheelchair bay), what really p*sses me off is when u get groups of 3 or 4 together and they all expect to get in without folding their pushchairs. If we were to let them on they block up the isle making it impossible to load other passengers up. Of course should a wheelchair user then wish to board, we have to tell these people with pushchairs to fold them as a wheelchair takes priority. In this situation the abuse that is given to a driver is violent. I, personally, would rather take the abuse from a Nightbus full of drunks, than from 2 women asked to fold down their pushchairs. Maybe that is just life in SW london. |
Bus driver training?
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Bus driver training?
"Robert Woolley" wrote in message ... On Sun, 15 Feb 2004 12:21:25 -0000, "Redonda" wrote: tim wrote: "Redonda" wrote in message ... They are now consulting with bus operators on the routes he travels. /Endquote why are they only bothering to fix the problem on the route he uses. shouldn't they be fixing it *everywhere* tim Probably for the same reason that bus fare increases are being used to make up the revenue loss from the Congestion Zone instead of the CZ paying for better and cheaper public transport. Congestion charging is generating cash, not as much as originally forecast. And yes. Charging revenue is supporting the bus service. Service is clearly falling short in some areas, but there is a recognised customer service training programme: This refers to the service controllers element http://www.tfl.gov.uk/buses/press-re...ress-918.shtml But note: he BTEC qualification is compulsory for all new bus drivers, conductors and all service controllers. The qualifications follow a structured training programme over 3-6 month period. Bus Driver BTEC is equivalent to NVQ level 2 and Service Controllers BTEC to NVQ Level Jeez ! They'll be teaching them to drive SAFELY next ! |
Bus driver training?
Yes Dave G U are on the Money.
The entire reason for this type of vehicle was to facilitate the DISABLED who were seriously disadvantaged in relation to using public Bus services. The attitude of a sizeable number of persons in charge of Pushchairs is now making it every bit as difficult for genuinely disabled people to use the Bus service. Our rule is equally simple,ONE occupied Buggy when the space is NOT required for a WHEELCHAIR. Commonsense,Safety,and the interests of EVERYBODY on the bus dictates that. Posession of an Infant and Buggy is NOT carte blanche for selfish ignorant behaviour either ON the Bus OR at the stop. I for example will scan a stop as I approach and if,as is the norm,the Buggy Pusher suddenly darts out from a shopfront or suchlike I will have NO hesitation in stopping them in their tracks and making them join the Q behind everybody else. On rare occasions I have had to resort to using the Ferrylift to RAISE the step in order to re-inforce this simple principle. Commonsense is the key to safety and particularly where infants are concerned. |
Bus driver training?
On Sat, 21 Feb 2004 14:56:29 -0000, "Alek" wrote:
Yes Dave G U are on the Money. The entire reason for this type of vehicle was to facilitate the DISABLED who were seriously disadvantaged in relation to using public Bus services. The attitude of a sizeable number of persons in charge of Pushchairs is now making it every bit as difficult for genuinely disabled people to use the Bus service. Our rule is equally simple,ONE occupied Buggy when the space is NOT required for a WHEELCHAIR. Commonsense,Safety,and the interests of EVERYBODY on the bus dictates that. Posession of an Infant and Buggy is NOT carte blanche for selfish ignorant behaviour either ON the Bus OR at the stop. I for example will scan a stop as I approach and if,as is the norm,the Buggy Pusher suddenly darts out from a shopfront or suchlike I will have NO hesitation in stopping them in their tracks and making them join the Q behind everybody else. On rare occasions I have had to resort to using the Ferrylift to RAISE the step in order to re-inforce this simple principle. Commonsense is the key to safety and particularly where infants are concerned. Could I ask what is the situation when the bus is neigh on full when arriving at a stop, so that already there is not sufficient room for a disabled passenger to board? Are some able bodied passengers asked to leave or is the disabled out of luck? Keith J Chesworth www.unseenlondon.co.uk www.blackpooltram.co.uk www.happysnapper.com www.boilerbill.com - main site www.amerseyferry.co.uk |
Bus driver training?
On the general subject of bus driver training,
I believe the old London Transport bus training depot at Chiswick had a world-wide reputation. I remember thinking "gee whiz!" watching somebody doing wheelies with a double-decker in the skid-pans. Where do bus drivers train now, especially as there are so many different operators? |
Bus driver training?
Could I ask what is the situation when the bus is neigh on full when arriving at a stop, so that already there is not sufficient room for a disabled passenger to board? Are some able bodied passengers asked to leave or is the disabled out of luck? AFAIK the low floor buses are to provide EQUAL travel rights for disabled passengers. Therefore in my experience if I am driving a bus which is full and a wheelchair user wishes to board, then they have the same right as any other passenger. They have the right to wait for the next bus. (Not being nasty just realistic) :-) |
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