On Tue, 20 Jul 2004 12:40:40 +0100, "John Rowland"
wrote:

Is scrapping a huge fleet of buses a reasonable modification?

Where ex-London two-doored high-floor buses are reused elsewhere in
the country where single-door operation is the norm, the centre door
could have a wheelchair lift fitted. I've seen precisely that on
Manchester Airport's staff buses.

Scrapping lots of buses is indeed not the way forward, as it'd only
result in service cuts, as there isn't the money for a full fleet
replacement outside London, and isn't likely to be given the rather
pathetic attempt at a transport plan just issued by the Government.

Neil

--
Neil Williams in Milton Keynes, UK
To e-mail use neil at the above domain

"Neil Williams" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 20 Jul 2004 12:40:40 +0100, "John Rowland"
wrote:

Is scrapping a huge fleet of buses a reasonable modification?

Where ex-London two-doored high-floor buses are reused elsewhere in
the country where single-door operation is the norm, the centre door
could have a wheelchair lift fitted. I've seen precisely that on
Manchester Airport's staff buses.

Scrapping lots of buses is indeed not the way forward, as it'd only
result in service cuts, as there isn't the money for a full fleet
replacement outside London, and isn't likely to be given the rather
pathetic attempt at a transport plan just issued by the Government.

Perhaps there'll be a Bus Grant.....


Neil Williams in Milton Keynes, UK
To e-mail use neil at the above domain

"Neil Williams" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 20 Jul 2004 12:40:40 +0100, "John Rowland"
wrote:

Is scrapping a huge fleet of buses a reasonable modification?

Where ex-London two-doored high-floor buses are reused elsewhere in
the country where single-door operation is the norm, the centre door
could have a wheelchair lift fitted. I've seen precisely that on
Manchester Airport's staff buses.

Which totally screws the idea of front door for entry, centre door for
exit. Having said that, some London double deckers do have a ramp fitted
to the centre doors, as do the bendy-buses. I know, when I last tried to
board one with my wheelchair bound brother, the ramp broke when the driver
tried to retract it..! This in the middle of Whitehall, I should add, with
the bus behind halfway up our exhaust pipe..! (Rule 1 of bus driving,
*never* drive so close to the bus in front that you can't get out round
him..!)

The rest of the passengers were not amused ;-)

Ivor

On Tue, 20 Jul 2004 20:28:13 -0000, "Ivor Jones"
wrote:

Which totally screws the idea of front door for entry, centre door for
exit.

Indeed, but...

1) Most bus operations outside London are single-door.
2) Many bus operators outside London thrive on second-hand high-floor
buses from London.
3) These buses tend to be converted, replacing the rear door with a
window (or in the case of really cheapo operations, simply bolted
shut). In the former case, the loss by retaining the door only for
wheelchair use is about 4 seats, while in the latter it's zero (plus
actual wheelchair room, of course).

That said, the kind of wheelchair lift required would need the driver
to leave his cab to operate it, which tends to be discouraged for
safety/security reasons, certainly in city areas.

Neil

--
Neil Williams in Milton Keynes, UK
To e-mail use neil at the above domain

"Alex" wrote in message
...
This in the middle of Whitehall, I should add, with
the bus behind halfway up our exhaust pipe..! (Rule 1 of bus driving,
*never* drive so close to the bus in front that you can't get out round
him..!)


Rule 2. Don't tell passengers to **** off if they moan about the gap
when you can't get the bus close enough to the kerb without getting up
the pipe of the one in front.......

Rule 3. Don't stick two fingers up at passengers when running a stop
because there's 6 buses already attempting to shoehorn into a stop
designed for 2.

I could go on....

Please do, this is getting fun ;-)

Ivor

This in the middle of Whitehall, I should add, with
the bus behind halfway up our exhaust pipe..! (Rule 1 of bus driving,
*never* drive so close to the bus in front that you can't get out round
him..!)


Rule 2. Don't tell passengers to **** off if they moan about the gap
when you can't get the bus close enough to the kerb without getting up
the pipe of the one in front.......

Rule 3. Don't stick two fingers up at passengers when running a stop
because there's 6 buses already attempting to shoehorn into a stop
designed for 2.

I could go on....

Alex