Green LCT Buses

chamusdarrach · Post by **chamusdarrach** » Mon 21 Jul, 2008 12:12 am

rangieowner wrote: Maybe someone will correct me but I belive buses are no longer allowed by law to reverse while there are passengers aboard. Is this true, or not? You are quite correct, buses carrying fare paying passengers are not allowed, by law to reverse on the public highway, unless they have a banksman (Either a bus company/metro official, or police officer /PSCO in uniform) watching the reverse manouvere from the rear of the bus.However, bus stations are on private land, so exempt from the above rule.But did you know that metro charge the bus company in question, for every visit they make to a bus station, which is the reason, in Leeds at least, why most services don't call at the bus station ???

Post by **tyke bhoy** » Mon 21 Jul, 2008 2:34 pm

History is the original reason First don't run to Cas/Ponte. In the de-regulation carve up Arriva took over most of the West Riding routes that ran from Leeds to towns/cities across Yorkshire while First's predecessor took mainly the LCT services that didn't cross boundaries. Services to Bradford being the exception).I suspect if First were allowed to compete on Arriva routes Arriva would do the same on some First Routes and in my opinion First would end up with a metaphorical bloodied nose as I think Arriva are much the better operator. My opininon is probably coloured by yhe fact that most of my Arriva travel is on their flag ship 110 route but then other than the purple slug which I haven't been on I would find it difficult to identify a First flagship route due to the poor customer service and state of almost the entire fleet.

Trojan · Post by **Trojan** » Mon 21 Jul, 2008 10:04 pm

tyke bhoy wrote: but then other than the purple slug which I haven't been on I would find it difficult to identify a First flagship route due to the poor customer service and state of almost the entire fleet. Bring back Black Prince!

Post by **tyke bhoy** » Tue 22 Jul, 2008 9:53 am

Well the fleet might have been only slightly more decrepit than First's is now becoming but they certainly were very goood competition and kept First on their toes. Unfortunately First now has a monopoly on almost every route it operates.

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Wed 23 Jul, 2008 8:46 pm

The fact First have no competition is why they can charge £2.30 for a 4 mile journey, whilst I paid 80p to travel the same distance in Manchester last week, on a route that had four different companies competeing and a bus every 5 minutes....And don't get me started on the "every 10 minutes service". I live less than a mile from the terminus and the buses run when they feel like....

Post by **tyke bhoy** » Wed 23 Jul, 2008 11:00 pm

Yup, surprised they get away with the "at least every 10 minutes" boast. They don't run more than 6 an hour and don't even replace missing drivers. If one bus runs within 10 minutes of its predecessor it stands to reason that one oif its successors will be more than 10 minutes behind its predecessor

Trojan · Post by **Trojan** » Thu 24 Jul, 2008 12:24 am

raveydavey wrote: The fact First have no competition is why they can charge £2.30 for a 4 mile journey, whilst I paid 80p to travel the same distance in Manchester last week, on a route that had four different companies competeing and a bus every 5 minutes.... I paid nowt to travel on Cornwall's buses last week - but then I'm over sixty - age has its compensations

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Fri 25 Jul, 2008 6:47 pm

I don't want to sound like a traitor, and I hate having to say this, but I've just had my annual few days in Belgium and have travelled around all over on what must be one of the finest transport networks in the World. Trains are run by the Belgian state, spotless and politely and smartly staffed, with clockwork precision. Buses and trams in Flemish Flanders are run by the state owned "de Lijn" organisation. Services are frequent - all the staff are immaculate and helpful - and the fares are so cheap as to be unbelievable. There are only two main fares on the buses and trams (and on the only trolleybus route in Belgium, sadly again dieselised for good recently) - two zones 80 cents (about 65p at present) and anywhere else One euro 50 cents (about £1.20 just now) Virtually all tickets are sold in shops and offices etc and anywhere but on the vehicle - this excellent system shines out in the minimum time at stops - aided of ocurse (here I go again) by anything between two and five doorways on the vehicles - Metro, Arriva, First and the rest here please note !!

Trojan · Post by **Trojan** » Sat 26 Jul, 2008 9:09 pm

BLAKEY wrote: I don't want to sound like a traitor, and I hate having to say this, but I've just had my annual few days in Belgium and have travelled around all over on what must be one of the finest transport networks in the World. Trains are run by the Belgian state, spotless and politely and smartly staffed, with clockwork precision. Buses and trams in Flemish Flanders are run by the state owned "de Lijn" organisation. Services are frequent - all the staff are immaculate and helpful - and the fares are so cheap as to be unbelievable. There are only two main fares on the buses and trams (and on the only trolleybus route in Belgium, sadly again dieselised for good recently) - two zones 80 cents (about 65p at present) and anywhere else One euro 50 cents (about £1.20 just now) Virtually all tickets are sold in shops and offices etc and anywhere but on the vehicle - this excellent system shines out in the minimum time at stops - aided of ocurse (here I go again) by anything between two and five doorways on the vehicles - Metro, Arriva, First and the rest here please note !! We travelled the entire length of Belgiums' coastline (not that long) from the French border to Zeebrugge on a tram. You could get on and off at will at no extra cost. Unfortunately it was a dreadful day for weather (in March) We travelled the entire distance from Ostende down to the French border up to Zeebrugge and back to Ostende (exploring a Russian submarine in Zeebrugge in the process) we were frozen through and walking along the front at Ostende were attracted by the sea food stalls. There were cauldrons with what were described as Warme Wallocks. Which looked and smelled like some kind of spicy fish stew. We got a couple of cups - they were whelks - like eating rubber bands But the tram trip was great!

liits · Post by **liits** » Sat 26 Jul, 2008 11:25 pm

BLAKEY wrote: tyke bhoy wrote: rangieowner wrote: Maybe someone will correct me but I belive buses are no longer allowed by law to reverse while there are passengers aboard. Is this true, or not? You had better tell WYPTE (Metro) then, as Leeds City Bus Station and Wakefield Bus Station to name but two require Bus's to reverse from the stands. Indeed I would imagine most large WY Bus stations are built to similar models. I agree completely tyke bhoy - I am very seriously against the modern trend for "reverse off the stands" bus stations.....it can be a very genuine accident caused by a foot slipping from the brake for a second, or by grease on the roadway. Much as I hate to say this, this "modern trend" is not quite as modern as you seem to think it is. I can think of a few off of the top of my head; Wellington St, Vicar Lane, Wetherby, Darlington, Oxpens [Oxford] and I'm sure that there are many, many more. The Genuine accidents that occour very, very infrequently are just that, genuine accidents. The perception that they COULD and WOULD happen on an hourly basis is the staple diet of the "elfin-safety" gestapo.If Mr OPTARE or his cohorts hadn't intended busses to reverse, he wouldn't have endowed them with a gear so to do.Have a look at the RoSPA site and you'll find where most accidents occour. Busses [and public transport in general] and bus stations don't even make it onto the list.