Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

On 11 Nov, 21:46, Mizter T wrote:

Disagree most strongly in the case of London, although absolutely
acknowledge that fellow fellow passengers are capable of making
journeys distressing.

IMO, the Tube, especially the deep Tube, is a distress purchase in
central London. The bus is by far the most civilised way to get
around, offering a seat, a view and (if not on a Travelcard) a cheaper
fare as well. The only real downside is the lower speed.

Neil

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

On 11 Nov, 18:12, wrote:

And it hasn't stopped since. Fortunately, they are not as big on public
transport in the United States as in Europe, so the announcements don't
happen as frequently.

And you'd blatently end up with "Please stand clear of the doors.
Mind the doors. Doors closing" and such other useless nonsense.
There is a bleeper that quite effectively conveys that information,
just like "ding" is a perfectly clear indication that the bus is
stopping at the next stop.

If there is one thing that seriously grates on the Tube, it's the
continuous announcements on the stations when the train is stopped
there. None of them are necessary, except possibly stating once only
where the train is going for the benefit of the blind/partially
sighted. The Met line, for some reason, is the absolute worst for
this, particularly the announcer at Farringdon who just can't shut up.

Neil

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

On 11 Nov, 11:21, MIG wrote:

I conjectured that "Crystal Palace" must be the default announcment
that is recorded over ...

Not sure - I've been on one that was announcing things totally out of
sync.

Neil

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

On 11 Nov, 12:21, Martin Smith wrote:

you do get some funny ones sometimes, I was on a 484 a few weeks ago
which suddenly announced that there were more seats available on the
upper deck, unfortunately being a single decker we were unable to access
said upper deck, the bus only had a few people on board, we were all in
fits of laughter, including the driver, who apparently had no control over
the content of the messages.

I thought that one was only announced if the driver selected it, as
iBus itself clearly doesn't know if there are any seats available on
the upper deck or not.

Neil

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

On 12 Nov, 12:49, David Cantrell wrote:
On Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 10:01:43AM +0000, Stephen Furley wrote:
'The next bus stop is closed'

That one *really* needs to be automated so that drivers can't forget to
tell passengers.

It needs to be automated differently, so that you get an advance
warning at the stop before, something like:-

"X. The next bus stop at Y is closed. Passengers for Y are advised
to alight at X instead". Then *don't* announce Y at all.

Neil

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

On 14 Nov, 10:20, Neil Williams wrote:
On 11 Nov, 11:21, MIG wrote:

I conjectured that "Crystal Palace" must be the default announcment
that is recorded over ...

Not sure - I've been on one that was announcing things totally out of
sync.

Neil

This weirdness was completely in sync, just kept saying "Crystal
Palace" every time it displayed "21 to Lewisham Centre" while
correctly announcing all the stops beforehand. Also, I don't think
there's a bus stop called Crystal Palace, so this was like a
destination on its own, which isn't part of a normal announcement.
(And their buses don't go to Crystal Palace ...)

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

"Neil Williams" wrote...
It's also the case on the Enviros that do the 135 to Canary Wharf (by
far the most civilised way of getting there that you don't have to pay
extra for).

True 'nuff - except in the evening, when there's sometimes a 40min gap
between services.
Like yesterday, for example ;o)
(And that's not the first time ...)
--

Andrew

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

On Thu, Nov 13, 2008 at 08:45:36AM +0000, James Farrar wrote:
On Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:30:40 +0000, David Cantrell
wrote:
3) instead of saying "Denmark Street" say "Denmark Street, Charing Cross
Road" (and similar for other stops which aren't actually on the
street they're named after, or which are named for a nearby
building).
The announcements match the name of the stop as displayed on the flag.

Yes, I know. Some need renaming.

and get rid of the ones telling you what route you're on and where it's
going entirely. You already know that before you get on the bus.
True. What I would do is add an external speaker to announce the route
umber and destination to passengers waiting to board. That would help
blind passengers, and possibly others. OTOH, it might **** off
residents...

The number of residents it would **** off would far outnumber the number
of blind people in the entire country, never mind the fraction of them
who would use the bus. In this case, I'm inclined to say "**** the
blind".

Remember, there are very very few blind people. Activists for partially
sighted advocacy groups seem to like to confuse the issue, but people
with quite severe visual problems can read the really big day-glo signs
on buses without significant difficulty.

--
David Cantrell | top google result for "internet beard fetish club"

engineer: n. one who, regardless of how much effort he puts in
to a job, will never satisfy either the suits or the scientists

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

On Thu, Nov 13, 2008 at 09:54:51PM +0000, Neil Williams wrote:
On Thu, 13 Nov 2008 08:45:36 +0000, James Farrar
wrote:
I would agree, except that you know it would go "the next stop is big
pause Foo Street"...
And "the next stop" would get annoying.

Only to those who want to be annoyed, which is what started this thread
in the first place. "Foo Street" already annoys those people, so "the
next stop is Foo Street" wouldn't do any harm. "Naechste halt ... Foo
Strasse" doesn't seem to cause any problems on the local Munich trains
that people seem to like using as an example here.

--
David Cantrell | Cake Smuggler Extraordinaire

You may now start misinterpreting what I just
wrote, and attacking that misinterpretation.

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

"David Cantrell" wrote:
In this case, I'm inclined to say "**** the blind".
Remember, there are very very few blind people. Activists for partially
sighted advocacy groups seem to like to confuse the issue, but people
with quite severe visual problems can read the really big day-glo signs
on buses without significant difficulty.

There are many many people, who would never call themselves blind, or even
partially sighted, who have trouble reading bus blinds.

I think you may be confusing the large 43 and the rather smaller "Friern
Barnet".

But I'm not supporting talking bus stops, I promise!
--

Andrew

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

On Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:27:13 +0000, David Cantrell
wrote:

On Thu, Nov 13, 2008 at 09:54:51PM +0000, Neil Williams wrote:
On Thu, 13 Nov 2008 08:45:36 +0000, James Farrar
wrote:
I would agree, except that you know it would go "the next stop is big
pause Foo Street"...
And "the next stop" would get annoying.

Only to those who want to be annoyed, which is what started this thread
in the first place. "Foo Street" already annoys those people, so "the
next stop is Foo Street" wouldn't do any harm. "Naechste halt ... Foo
Strasse" doesn't seem to cause any problems on the local Munich trains
that people seem to like using as an example here.

German announcements are more verbose, yes. But I still say stick
with just the stop name, for me extra words don't add anything. The
announcements are necessary, but should be concise (if you want
examples - Paris-style).

BTW I don't think we're *that* far behind anyone else. In my
experience, bus announcements are as rare in Ireland, Spain, Portugal
and Belgium as they are here, and like us they never had a culture of
getting the driver do it as very common in Switzerland - much more fun
when done in a real Swiss accent.

Richard.

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

On 11 Nov, 10:01, Stephen Furley wrote:
Does anybody have a full list of the announcements available, other than the
route, destination and next stop?

"Ticket inspectors operate on this bus" (I think I've only ever heard
it on bendies)

U

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

On 13 Nov, 08:45, James Farrar wrote:
The announcements match the name of the stop as displayed on the flag.
There are some two-part stop names; if you have suggestions for
renaming of particular stops to avoid confusion in those cases, I'm
sure TfL would consider them.

Although they're not terribly consistent in how they read out the
subsidiary part of the stop name.

True. What I would do is add an external speaker to announce the route
umber and destination to passengers waiting to board. That would help
blind passengers, and possibly others. OTOH, it might **** off
residents...

Buses in Chicago have this featu
"This system features exterior announcements and electronic signs that
identify the bus route and its destination when the front doors are
opened. It also includes interior announcements and signs identifying
the next stop."

http://www.transitchicago.com/news/a...cleid =113976

U

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

On 14 Nov, 14:05, Mr Thant
wrote:
On 11 Nov, 10:01, Stephen Furley wrote:

Does anybody have a full list of the announcements available, other than the
route, destination and next stop?

"Ticket inspectors operate on this bus" (I think I've only ever heard
it on bendies)

U

I was at Euston bus station when a bus came round (people inside and
outside looking bemused) making an external announcement that "this
bus is under attack". I think this was before ibus though.

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

"MIG" wrote
I was at Euston bus station when a bus came round (people inside and
outside looking bemused) making an external announcement that "this
bus is under attack". I think this was before ibus though.

That was a pre-ibus thing. I've heard it a couple of times.
--

Andrew

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

"Andrew Heenan" wrote ...
I was at Euston bus station when a bus came round (people inside and
outside looking bemused) making an external announcement that "this
bus is under attack". I think this was before ibus though.
That was a pre-ibus thing. I've heard it a couple of times.

This example is from outside London:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=iDGHuNfQZjA

I think the London version sounds less panicky.
--

Andrew

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

On Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:19:17 +0000, David Cantrell
wrote:

The number of residents it would **** off would far outnumber the number
of blind people in the entire country, never mind the fraction of them
who would use the bus. In this case, I'm inclined to say "**** the
blind".

Sadly, the DDA gets in the way of that attitude.

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

"Neil Williams" wrote in message
...
On 11 Nov, 18:12, wrote:

If there is one thing that seriously grates on the Tube, it's the
continuous announcements on the stations when the train is stopped
there. None of them are necessary, except possibly stating once only
where the train is going for the benefit of the blind/partially
sighted. The Met line, for some reason, is the absolute worst for
this, particularly the announcer at Farringdon who just can't shut up.

Not surprising, considering that it Farringdon appears to actually be a
pretty important hub. I mean, besides FCC Thameslink, you have the Circle,
Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Line going through there. And I've
alsways found that the Met seems to get more attention than other lines in
terms of announcements.

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

"Mr Thant" wrote in message
...
On 13 Nov, 08:45, James Farrar wrote:
The announcements match the name of the stop as displayed on the flag.
There are some two-part stop names; if you have suggestions for
renaming of particular stops to avoid confusion in those cases, I'm
sure TfL would consider them.

Although they're not terribly consistent in how they read out the
subsidiary part of the stop name.

True. What I would do is add an external speaker to announce the route
umber and destination to passengers waiting to board. That would help
blind passengers, and possibly others. OTOH, it might **** off
residents...

Buses in Chicago have this featu
"This system features exterior announcements and electronic signs that
identify the bus route and its destination when the front doors are
opened. It also includes interior announcements and signs identifying
the next stop."


The U-Bahn in Hamburg also has external speakers, but normally it is just
the driver saying "zeuruck."

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

On 11 Nov, 11:21, MIG wrote:

I anecdoted in the past that I was on a 21 in the Old Kent Road which,
every time it was displaying "21 to Lewisham Centre" actually
announced "Crystal Palace" (although it was correct at announcing the
stops on the approach).

I failed to anecdote at the time, that about six months ago I was
on an A10 which at some point started to consistently announce itself
as two stops ahead of its real location.

It eventually announced the same one twice to catch up a bit, but
it's still a spectacularly unhelpful failure mode!

Hth

Henry

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

On 9 Nov, 17:15, (Neil Williams) wrote:
On Sun, 9 Nov 2008 15:27:49 -0000, "John Holt" wrote:
And this is called 'progress' ????!!!!

Yes. *It's very useful to those who don't usebusesfrequently, aren't
familiar with the route or aren't paying attention to where they are
and reading the paper. *Or, for that matter, those who are blind.

On the majority of buses I've been on in the past few months, the
audio announcements have been turned off - whether by switch
on control panel or enraged driver applying a heavy object to the
PA amp I don't know.

The only thing I'd change about it is to have the route announcement
either removed or only announced every few stops, as it's that (not
the stop announcements) that does grate a bit.

It only plays after stops at which the bus has stopped... which is
of course when it's needed.

On-board stop displays and announcements have been used for years in
mainland Europe, and it was about time they made it to the UK. *More,
please.

Yes, but all the bus systems on the continent that I've been on seem
to travel a much greater distance between stops, so the frequency
of announcements is much less.
By contrast London crams in so many that off-peak there are quite a
few that the bus would have difficulty stopping at, if you waited for
the
spoken announcement ("Hampton Court Green - Cardinal Wolsey"
being one I use a lot, and just its name shows the problem).

Hth

Henry

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

On Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:02:27 -0000, wrote:

Not surprising, considering that it Farringdon appears to actually be a
pretty important hub.

It is. But it doesn't make it necessary to constantly drone on about
minding the doors and moving down inside the carriages. In the
morning peak, almost every passenger was there yesterday and will be
tomorrow, so if they haven't learnt by now that walking to the end of
the platform often gets you a seat they aren't going to. The
announcements are completely and utterly superfluous.

I mean, besides FCC Thameslink, you have the Circle,
Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Line going through there. And I've
alsways found that the Met seems to get more attention than other lines in
terms of announcements.

I think it's an element of pride in their "big railway". It doesn't
stop it being grating and pointless, though.

Neil

--
Neil Williams
Put my first name before the at to reply.

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

On Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:02:56 -0000, "Andrew Heenan"
wrote:

True 'nuff - except in the evening, when there's sometimes a 40min gap
between services.

There is that - I have waited at Aldgate for 30mins plus for one. All
the more reason they should start either there or at Tower Hill - I
think they get delayed by being caught up in traffic in the City
proper.

Neil

--
Neil Williams
Put my first name before the at to reply.

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

On Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:07:27 -0000, wrote:

The U-Bahn in Hamburg also has external speakers, but normally it is just
the driver saying "zeuruck."

"zrkblbnt"[1] is what you usually get. It did strike me that this
(like the more verbose London version) is completely pointless now we
have hustle alarms.

[1] "Bitte zurueckbleiben" is what you're meant to get, but it took me
months to work out what it was because it is said so quickly.

Neil

--
Neil Williams
Put my first name before the at to reply.

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

On Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:02:57 GMT, "Richard J."
wrote:

No such word in German. Do you mean "zurueck" (zurück = back)? Is that
their equivalent of "mind the doors"?

If the driver is doing it properly in Hamburg, you get:-

doors released

"Richtung Norderstedt-Mitte bitte einsteigen" (towards
Norderstedt-Mitte[1] please board)

"Richtung Norderstedt-Mitte bitte zurueckbleiben" (towards
Norderstedt-Mitte please stand away[2])

doors closed

[1] Old habits die hard... :)

[2] Literal translation would be "stand back", but "stand away" is a
far more common UK term, at least on the mainline in the days of
slamdoors.

Few of them do, though, so you just get a mumble.

Neil

--
Neil Williams
Put my first name before the at to reply.

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

On Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:30:28 GMT, (Neil
Williams) wrote:

[2] Literal translation would be "stand back"

Sorry, "stay back".

Neil

--
Neil Williams
Put my first name before the at to reply.

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

Mr Thant wrote

On 11 Nov, 10:01, Stephen Furley wrote:
Does anybody have a full list of the announcements available, other
than the
route, destination and next stop?

"Ticket inspectors operate on this bus" (I think I've only ever heard
it on bendies)

How about "A ticket check is about to commence, please have your
{tickets and passes ready for inspection}"

On a 411, single decker, at 1604 Saturday 13th Sept '08.

Nothing whatever happened.


--
Mike D

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

On 14 Nov, 22:50, "Michael R N Dolbear" wrote:
Mr Thant wrote



On 11 Nov, 10:01, Stephen Furley wrote:
Does anybody have a full list of the announcements available, other
than the
route, destination and next stop?
"Ticket inspectors operate on this bus" (I think I've only ever heard
it on bendies)

How about *"A ticket check is about to commence, please have your
{tickets and passes ready for inspection}"

On a 411, single decker, at 1604 Saturday 13th Sept '08.

Nothing whatever happened.

--
Mike D

I've heard that too, only a ticket check did commence.

I've just remembered the most annoying bus announcement, and it's not
iBus.

I think it's Route 133 to/from Liverpool Street. When someone presses
the bell to get off, this loud, asthmatic alarm sound starts, with a
stilted 'Bus. Stopping. At. Next. Bus. Stop. Please. Stand. (Well.?)
Clear. Of. Doors'.

Every single stop. For the entire journey.

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

In message
,
Railist writes

I think it's Route 133 to/from Liverpool Street. When someone presses
the bell to get off, this loud, asthmatic alarm sound starts, with a
stilted 'Bus. Stopping. At. Next. Bus. Stop. Please. Stand. (Well.?)
Clear. Of. Doors'.

Every single stop. For the entire journey.


It reminds me of a comment by Heinlen in one of his books. That if we
get to the point where we need to put instructions on packets of tooth
picks then every sane person should leave and go live in the wilderness
:-)

Now where did I put those bear traps ? :-)


--
Edward Cowling "It's a thief in the night to come and grab you
It can creep up inside you and consume you"

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

How about "A ticket check is about to commence, please have your
{tickets and passes ready for inspection}"
Nothing whatever happened.

I've heard this several times on central London bendies; there's always a
few that get off at the next stop, and a few that 'remember' to touch in
their PAYG Oysters.

But not as many as the Evening Standard would have you believe ;o)

And I've yet to see the announcement followed by an inspection.
Real ones have no warning.

(The boy who cried wolf will set in eventually, I'm sure)
--

Andrew

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

On Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:30:28 GMT, (Neil
Williams) wrote:

[2] Literal translation would be "stand back", but "stand away" is a
far more common UK term, at least on the mainline in the days of
slamdoors.

These days, of course, it's invariably "stand clear".

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

On Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:38:09 -0000, "Andrew Heenan"
wrote:

"Andrew Heenan" wrote ...
I was at Euston bus station when a bus came round (people inside and
outside looking bemused) making an external announcement that "this
bus is under attack". I think this was before ibus though.
That was a pre-ibus thing. I've heard it a couple of times.

This example is from outside London:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=iDGHuNfQZjA

I think the London version sounds less panicky.

That looks like a London bus but it's going to Brighton...

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

"James Farrar" wrote:
This example is from outside London:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=iDGHuNfQZjA
I think the London version sounds less panicky.
That looks like a London bus but it's going to Brighton...

Metrobus (Go-Ahead Group) operates from SE London through a lot of of Sussex
to the south coast.

Their allover red buses are mostly confined to SE London, however.
--
Andrew
seo2seo.com
sick-site-syndrome.com

"She plays the tuba.
It is the only instrument capable
of imitating a distress call."

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

On Sat, 15 Nov 2008 01:28:24 -0800 (PST), Railist
wrote:

I've just remembered the most annoying bus announcement, and it's not
iBus.

I think it's Route 133 to/from Liverpool Street. When someone presses
the bell to get off, this loud, asthmatic alarm sound starts, with a
stilted 'Bus. Stopping. At. Next. Bus. Stop. Please. Stand. (Well.?)
Clear. Of. Doors'.

Every single stop. For the entire journey.

Yup. That happens on the 213 (Sutton-Kingston) too. I occasionally
speak on the phone to a commuter on the said route, and tend to join
in with the announcement to avoid being driven mad...

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

Edward Cowling London UK wrote:


It reminds me of a comment by Heinlen in one of his books. That if we
get to the point where we need to put instructions on packets of tooth
picks then every sane person should leave and go live in the
wilderness :-)


Wasn't that Douglas Adams?

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

"Neil Williams" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:02:27 -0000, wrote:

Not surprising, considering that it Farringdon appears to actually be a
pretty important hub.

It is. But it doesn't make it necessary to constantly drone on about
minding the doors and moving down inside the carriages. In the
morning peak, almost every passenger was there yesterday and will be
tomorrow, so if they haven't learnt by now that walking to the end of
the platform often gets you a seat they aren't going to. The
announcements are completely and utterly superfluous.

Yeah, but people still don't go to the far ends of the platforms,
particularly on the westbound track.

I think it's an element of pride in their "big railway". It doesn't
stop it being grating and pointless, though.

Do you mean the Met? Yes, I've heard many a time that they have a
holier-than-thou attitude. But still, there are many destinations and
several variants on how to run trains, so it is not surprising that there
are so many announcements.

Also, look at how many monitors there are at Baker Street at the transfer
between the Bkerloo and Jubilee lines.

In fact, the Met sometimes reminds me of the RER, in Paris.

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

"Richard J." wrote in message
om...
wrote:

The U-Bahn in Hamburg also has external speakers, but normally it is
just the driver saying "zeuruck."

No such word in German. Do you mean "zurueck" (zurück = back)? Is that
their equivalent of "mind the doors"?
--
Indeed.

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

In message , solar penguin
writes

Edward Cowling London UK wrote:


It reminds me of a comment by Heinlen in one of his books. That if we
get to the point where we need to put instructions on packets of tooth
picks then every sane person should leave and go live in the
wilderness :-)


Wasn't that Douglas Adams?


Ahh you might be right. Though I'm sure Lazarus Long must have
had similar musings :-)

--
Edward Cowling "It's a thief in the night to come and grab you
It can creep up inside you and consume you"

Constant anouncements on London Buses
 

On Nov 15, 11:06*am, "Andrew Heenan" wrote:
"James Farrar" wrote:
This example is from outside London:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=iDGHuNfQZjA
I think the London version sounds less panicky.
That looks like a London bus but it's going to Brighton...

Metrobus (Go-Ahead Group) operates from SE London through a lot of of Sussex
to the south coast.

Their allover red buses are mostly confined to SE London, however.

They seem to be better at keeping the right colours in the right
places now. Till fairly recently, it was common to see garish yellow
and blue buses on routes like the 261 (London), but it doesn't seem to
happen any more.