Central London Bus Ticket Machines: drivers ability to know if they are in order ?
 

Sorry if this has been mentioned befo
I travel once or twice a week on buses between various parts of London
and when I have forgotten to buy the Savers I pay cash. Yesterday
(Thursday 14.00) I travelled from Leicester Square to Victoria on a
"29". The ticket machine at the stop was not working, it merely
suggested that I "please wait". i was with a friend who also needed a
ticket.

I guessed that the drivers still issue tickets in these circumstances
and
indeed we were issued with appropriate fares.

However, this was not without a rant on the drivers behalf. He pointed
at the machine and told us it was working and that he could tell,
couldn't we ? He was not polite in his explanation and accused us of
being "ignorant and unale to use the machine properly". My skin is
thick and I ignored his customer care advisce. My only suggestion, as
indeed was my freinds, was that the he step off the bus. Indeed at
this point a woman was also having trouble with the machine.

So my questions to those in the know a

Is there a device that transmits a message to the Bus when it is
alongside the machine or is there supposed to be a visible light or
some such indicator on the actual machine if it is out of order ?

Will bus drivers continue to take money in the future ?

Are the machines reliable enough yet ? Before the "compulsory"
purchase started recently, I have lost £3 so far and been unable to
use machines at both Kings Cross and Victoria at various times.

Thanks in advance,

Richard Howe.

Central London Bus Ticket Machines: drivers ability to know if they are in order ?
 

Paul Corfield wrote in message . ..
On 5 Sep 2003 09:32:51 -0700, (Fat Richard)
wrote:

A "24" actually. A 29 would be a bit lost if it got to Victoria.

Sorry ! I caught one the day before from the next stop down with a
machine that worked, hence the confusion.

Thnaks for the other info as well

Fat Richard

Central London Bus Ticket Machines: drivers ability to know if they are in order ?
 

"Billy" wrote in message
...
Certainly this is going to be a very contentious area.
One area where we in The Republic have a slightly different approach is in
how we have allowed the Civil Courts to determine how our services
operate.
By this I mean if a similar situation were to exist in Dublin within a
very
short time an intending passenger who had no cash or whose ticket machine
did not work would probably be involved in some form of accident or
altercation in which they suffered a physical or emotional injury.
In the resultant court case the Bus Company would be joined as a
respondent
and most likely would be cited by the Judge for failing to recognize its
duty of care etc etc .
A minimum five figure sum would most likely be awarded and the Bus Company
would scurry off and review its operational procedures in the light of
court
decisions etc etc....
I am unsure of the exact Legal position in the UK but I rather suspect
that
TfL will eventually be making appearances in Her Majestys Courts of
Justice
on an increasing basis to explain to M`Lud exactly what an electronic
ticket
machine is having regard to his honours last venture on public transport
being on a Trolleybus.
This will see how cut and dried TfL`s policy really is but I rather
suspect
that in the end responsibility will be offloaded onto the driver as at
present..


I doubt it Billy - we are no way as litigious a society as you are. I doubt
anyone would care except a few local newspapers. I don't think our courts
can make an award for "emotional injury" only for financial loss. But no
doubt someone smarter than me will correct me.

Lovely Bus Drivers
 

Joe Patrick wrote:
I was on the 205 on Wednesday and there was a cyclist in the bus lane and
just as the bus got behind him he started beeping. The cyclist got off his
bike, put it by the bus and started shouting at the driver. I felt like
going down to the driver asking him what the .. he was doing. Just as the
driver was pulling off after the cyclist was on his way, the driver overtook
really close and the cyclist banged on the doors causing the bus to stop
suddenly and the doors to open.

If you know date and time, please report this dangerous driver to his
management (a description of him may help if the route is frequent).

Colin McKenzie