Allow me to reply to the various points as follows:-

James, Laurence and Nick:

The point I am making is that, if the purpose of a bus SERVICE is to
move as many passengers as possible as efficiently as possible, and the
final destination of the passengers is the same (e.g. if I am waiting
for a 295 to Clapham Junction, the diverted 49 also will end up there),
why should the bus on diversion NOT assist in this process? Or is the
purpose of the bus route merely to provide employment for bus drivers,
driving virtually empty buses?

Laurence, since most of us are using Travelcards etc., I doubt if much
revenue will go from one company to another if, say a 49 were to take a
few 295 passengers.

Peter, since for a large part of the day Wandsworth Bridge Road is at
crawling pace at best in one direction or another, the point you make
is of little importance.

Richard J: it is the look of smug satisfaction when seeing a queue,
with several of us hands outstretched and no attempt to slow down. Or,
for example, the other day, a diverted 49 was stuck right alongside the
Northbound bus stop, not moving for about 3 or 4 minutes, and then only
a few yards, and the driver sat there with his virtually empty bus
watching about 10 or 12 of us waiting in the pouring rain. Anyone with
an ounce of humanity would have opened the door to at least enquire
whether he could help anyone on their journey.

I have to say that some of the responses here rather suggest that some
contributors to this forum seem to think that those big red things
chugging along the road, for which we all pay through Council Tax etc.,
are there for some purpose OTHER than getting as many passengers from A
to B (whether via C or D or whatever) as efficiently as possible and
talk of extra stopping time, pirating or that they should not be
picking up "off route" is sheer humbug.

Marc.

On 24 Sep 2005 15:48:49 -0700, "
wrote:

There is now a long-term diversion of various London bus routes due to
the closure of Battersea Bridge for the foreseeable future, since it
was rammed last week by the M/V James Prior.

The routes involved include 49 and 239, now using Wandsworth Bridge.
Not only are these buses (and other traffic of course) now clogging up
the already clogged streets of Fulham (especially Wandsworth Bridge
Road), but the glee that the drivers are taking in refusing to pick up
any passengers on the diverted route is obscene. If ever there was
exemplicication of the sadism of certain bus drivers this is it. I hope
that their consciences allow them to rest easy at night.


http://www.londontransport.co.uk/tfl...e_rt_bus.shtml
Says that diverted buses on the 49 will serve all stops on the
diversion. If they aren't, then have you complained to London Buses or
direct to the operator of the 49 (London United)?
--
Thomas Covenant
Please observe reply to Address.
Unsolicited mail to "From" address
deleted unread.

On 26 Sep 2005 06:33:03 -0700, "
wrote:

Laurence, since most of us are using Travelcards etc., I doubt if much
revenue will go from one company to another if, say a 49 were to take a
few 295 passengers.

Don't they clock on Travelcard users in order to claim revenue
per-passenger? Not much may be lost. But some will be.


Richard J: it is the look of smug satisfaction when seeing a queue,
with several of us hands outstretched and no attempt to slow down.

What would YOUR face, as the driver, be showing? A reluctance to
catch the eye of passengers you COULD serve but have been instructed
not to?

I have to say that some of the responses here rather suggest that some
contributors to this forum seem to think that those big red things
chugging along the road, for which we all pay through Council Tax etc.,
are there for some purpose OTHER than getting as many passengers from A
to B (whether via C or D or whatever) as efficiently as possible and
talk of extra stopping time, pirating or that they should not be
picking up "off route" is sheer humbug.

Our elected representatives have chosen to privatise the 'bus system,
with companies competing for routes and passengers. There are
advantages and disadvantages. But the big advantage was the clean
start.

'Buses were originally nationalised to end the corruption of this
system. Privatisation was introduced to end the corruption and decay
of the nationalised system :-) Eventually we'll have another
shake-up, I expect.

In message .com,
" writes
So how many bus stops on the original routes do the diversions miss?
--
Nick Cooper

I really have no idea, but the diversion on the Fulham side of
Battersea Bridge involves a journey of about a mile and a half, and a
similar extra distance on the other side in Wandsworth. The number of
bus stops "passed" but not served is in the region of 10 or 12.

Marc.

As the driver passes a fare stage he updates his ticket issuing
equipment with the next code. How do you do this when you're off
route? And how do you account for passengers that you accrue whilst
off route? Are they insured etc..
--
Clive

In message .com,
" writes
Richard J: it is the look of smug satisfaction when seeing a queue,
with several of us hands outstretched and no attempt to slow down. Or,
for example, the other day, a diverted 49 was stuck right alongside the
Northbound bus stop, not moving for about 3 or 4 minutes, and then only
a few yards, and the driver sat there with his virtually empty bus
watching about 10 or 12 of us waiting in the pouring rain. Anyone with
an ounce of humanity would have opened the door to at least enquire
whether he could help anyone on their journey.

I have to say that some of the responses here rather suggest that some
contributors to this forum seem to think that those big red things
chugging along the road, for which we all pay through Council Tax etc.,
are there for some purpose OTHER than getting as many passengers from A
to B (whether via C or D or whatever) as efficiently as possible and
talk of extra stopping time, pirating or that they should not be
picking up "off route" is sheer humbug.
When I drove buses picking up anyone from anywhere other than recognised
stops was prohibited and uninsured. Perhaps you should turn your venom
at the big businesses instead of the man that's trying to do his job to
the best of his ability, or walk, or buy a car.
--
Clive

In ,
Clive typed:

As the driver passes a fare stage he updates his ticket issuing
equipment with the next code.

Fare stages on the 49?

Fare stages on London Buses?





--
Bob

On Mon, 26 Sep 2005 15:18:34 +0100, Thomas Covenant
wrote:

On 24 Sep 2005 15:48:49 -0700, "
wrote:

There is now a long-term diversion of various London bus routes due to
the closure of Battersea Bridge for the foreseeable future, since it
was rammed last week by the M/V James Prior.

The routes involved include 49 and 239, now using Wandsworth Bridge.
Not only are these buses (and other traffic of course) now clogging up
the already clogged streets of Fulham (especially Wandsworth Bridge
Road), but the glee that the drivers are taking in refusing to pick up
any passengers on the diverted route is obscene. If ever there was
exemplicication of the sadism of certain bus drivers this is it. I hope
that their consciences allow them to rest easy at night.


http://www.londontransport.co.uk/tfl...e_rt_bus.shtml
Says that diverted buses on the 49 will serve all stops on the
diversion. If they aren't, then have you complained to London Buses or
direct to the operator of the 49 (London United)?

And I would strongly recommend that you do complain as it is often the
case, IME, that communication between management and drivers about
diversions is lacking to say the least.

I have had to vehemently complain about Arriva drivers in the past [1]
as well as Stagecoach ones. First got a tick in the box as their drivers
understood what the hell was going on. I agree it should not be
necessary but in these sorts of emergency situations it can take more
than attempt to get the message across to people at the wheel - never
mind from TfL to the bus companies.

[1] I was held hostage by a driver who had picked me up on a local
planned and advertised diversion but completely refused to set me down
at my local stop instead carrying me on for about another half a mile.
Let's just say that London Buses and Arriva very quickly learnt what I
thought about that!
--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!

In message , Clive
writes

As the driver passes a fare stage he updates his ticket issuing
equipment with the next code. How do you do this when you're off
route?

I don't think fare stages are still used in London.

And how do you account for passengers that you accrue whilst off
route?

If they use Oyster it happens automatically. Otherwise I guess you just
press the button that records a travel card or bus pass, or you take the
little red Saver token or - once in a while - you take the flat fare in
cash and issue a ticket.

--
Paul Terry

"Paul Corfield" wrote in message
...

[1] I was held hostage by a driver who had picked me up on a local
planned and advertised diversion but completely refused to set me down
at my local stop instead carrying me on for about another half a mile.
Let's just say that London Buses and Arriva very quickly learnt what I
thought about that!

I've found the 'open door' button above the exit door exceedingly effective
in similar circumstances.

On 26 Sep 2005 06:33:03 -0700, "
wrote:

I have to say that some of the responses here rather suggest that some
contributors to this forum seem to think that those big red things
chugging along the road, for which we all pay through Council Tax etc.,
are there for some purpose OTHER than getting as many passengers from A
to B (whether via C or D or whatever) as efficiently as possible and
talk of extra stopping time, pirating or that they should not be
picking up "off route" is sheer humbug.

So? Many (most?) bus-stops are designated for certain buses only. I
could stand at certain stops on Wood Green High Street and wave my
arms as much as I like at a 329, but it isn't going to stop if that
stop isn't designated for that service.
--
Nick Cooper

[Carefully remove the detonators from my e-mail address to reply!]

The London Underground at War, and in Films & TV:
http://www.nickcooper.org.uk/