Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Earthquake
Yesterday I heard a brief item on the radio about an earthquake in the Indian Ocean that had caused some damage and loss of life from the resultant Tidal Waves.
I didn't think a great deal about it at the time. Earthquakes are fairly common and the Indian Ocean is a long way away.
Now as the size of the disaster starts to become apparent. There can not be a person on the planet who does not know about this.
I feel I should write something but I really just don't know what.
Saturday, December 25, 2004
Stagecoach Half Price Offer.
Explorer Offer Between Friday 24th December 2004 and Tuesday 4th January 2005 Adult Explorer tickets will cost just £3.00 instead of the normal £6.00.
That's it!
You weren't expecting more were you?
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
Tip of the Day (1)
If you are the driver of a bus with 20 people on board and you have sparks coming from the engine and you can not turn the engine off then don't sit about wondering what to do.
Instead, Turn to your passengers and ask the quietly and calmly would they, merely as a sort of better to be safe than sorry sort of thing, mind getting off the bus. When they are off the bus, then you can sit about wondering what to do.
You may feel a bit of a prick when the bus doesn't explode in a roar of flame but not as big a prick as you would feel trying to answer such questions as, "Didn't you used to be a bus driver?"
P.S. The bus didn't, in the end, burst in to flames, with or without a roar.
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
If you are a Police Office in Torquay Please Read
Fleet Walk in Torquay is a Pedestrianised Street but buses and some other vehicles are allowed to drive down it. However lots of other people drive down and park there illegally. Please Devon and cornwall Police read the following and have a bright idea.
From The Herald Express
Monday 13 Dec o4.
POLICE BLITZ ON ROAD ROGUES
A blitz on motorists abusing a one-way road system in Kingsteignton netted 15 offenders in one three-hour police operation - and all those nabbed were local. Officers lay in wait for transgressors openly flouting the one-way and access-only restrictions in operation in Golvers Hill and Fore Street.The watchful eye of the law focused on the culprits last Tuesday after concerns were raised by parish councillors and local residents.
Director of Operations.
Well on Tuesday Mr Stevens, who is the Operations Director for the company, came down to Torquay to address drivers. He was coming to give a talk on where the company is going and to answer question put to him by the drivers at the meeting.
He is in effect the 2nd most important person in the company. So I rushed home from work, had my diner and rushed down to the Torquay Rugby Club with my pen and trusty notebook so I could report back to my readers on our company's expectations for the future.
Well I wish I could report that Mr Stevens was full of optimism, that the company is about to embark on a series of expansion programs that will secure all our futures, with big fat rises for the drivers and the shareholders.
But I can't.
I would like to have been at least able to report that things were running smoothly and though no big fat pay rises were foreseeable in the near future things did at lest seem secure and that none of us would be looking for work 3 days before Christmas.
But I can't.
Fortunately I can't report that we are about to go bust and Christmas is cancelled; though that may be the case for all I know.
In fact the only thing I can report is the fact that I was not allowed into the meeting. I am not in the Union and this was a Union meeting. So even though I had made the effort top get to the meeting I was refused admission by the senior union official present and could not listen while the Director of Operations explained which way the company was going. No Union business was held but only union members could attend. And 20 of them did. Out of 200.
Monday, December 13, 2004
Pre Christmas Farce.
Usually it is pantomime at Christmas but with us it is Farce; an expensive farce at that.
The Company decided to expand their bus routes into Plymouth and registered a new route with the Traffic Commission 6 weeks ago as per the rules. The Traffic Commission had no problem so Timetables were printed, newspaper and radio ads were placed, drivers were route learned, buses had stickers stuck on the sides to show the new routes, timetables were fixed to bus stops new flags were put up with the route number, 152, boldly displayed and this morning the drivers chosen to drive on the new route on the first day all proudly turned up for work and it is probable that passengers stood at bus stops waiting for them to turn up with their new destination blinds optimistically proclaiming Plymouth City Centre. Well the drivers sat around doing nothing all day and I hope the passengers didn't do the same because the bus didn't run. What's more it will never run.
An other bus company objected because part of our route followed part of one of their routes and it was decided by some one to withdraw the service before it had even turned a wheel.
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Jury's Corner and the Burst Water Main.
WELL AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF CALM ON THE ROADS WITH REGARD TO ROAD WORKS TO DAY WE HIT A VERY LARGE BRICK WALL. WE HAD BEEN PROMISED WEEKS OF MISERY WITH KINGS ASH IN PAIGNTON BEING DUG UP AND THE FIRST WEEK SLOWED US DOWN A BIT BUT NOW WE BARELY NOTICE IT. JW GLENDINNINGS COMPANY RESURFACED THE ROAD AT LAY WELL ON THE WAY DOWN TO BRIXHAM AND THEY WERE EXCELLENT. A MAN AT EACH END CONTROLLING THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS MADE SURE THE TRAFFIC FLOWED SMOOTHLY AND DELAYS WERE NEVER MORE THAN 5 MINS AND THE WORK WAS COMPLETED VERY QUICKLY.
THIS MORNING A WATER MAIN WENT BANG AND THE ROAD DIGGERS MOVED IN AND EVERY THING ELSE STOPPED. EXTRA TRAVELLING TIME TO AND FROM NEWTON OF 45 MINS WERE EXPERIENCED ALL DAY AND AT THE EVENING RUSH HOUR IT TOOK ME 2 HOURS TO DO A JOURNEY IT USUALLY TAKES 30 MINS. WHEN I GOT TO PAIGNTON AT 7:15 ON THE WAY TO BRIXHAM I SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT HOME EATING MY DINNER. THE BUS BEHIND ME WAS DUE OUT OF BRIXHAM AT 6:10 AND HE STILL HAD TO GET TO BRIXHAM, AN OTHER 20 MINS AWAY. WHAT THE REST OF THE NIGHT ENDED UP LIKE I DON'T KNOW.
AND THE ROAD WORKS ARE STILL THERE; waiting for us tomorrow!!!!
Sunday, December 05, 2004
Happy Campers
BLOKE IN HIS 50'S GOT ON THE BUS IN TORQUAY AND SAID, "PAIGNTON" NOW A SINGLE TO PAIGNTON IS £1.75 BUT A RETURN IS £2.75 SO IF HE WAS COMING BACK IT IS CHEAPER TO GET A RETURN SO I SAID, "SINGLE OR RETURN?" AS I ALWAYS DO.
HE SAID, "TO THIS DUMP. I'VE SEEM ENOUGH OF TORQUAY THANK YOU." ALWAYS ONE TO DEFEND MY HOME TOWN I TOLD HIM THAT TORQUAY WAS BEAUTIFUL. "YOU'VE BEEN READING TOO MANY BROCHURES MATE." AND STOMPED OF DOWN THE BUS.
YOU CAN'T WIN THEM ALL!
Thursday, December 02, 2004
A Tale of Two Passengers
PASSENGER ONE :-
WAS IN TORQUAY AND HAD BEEN TOLD TO GET A NUMBER 12 WHICH RAN EVERY 10 MINS AND TOOK 5 MINS TO GET TO TORQUAY RAIL STATION WHERE HE WAS TO CATCH A TRAIN TO NEWTON ABBOT TO CATCH A CONNECTION TO SHEFFIELD. HE HAD 40 MINS. HE WAS ALSO ON CRUTCHES. HE SAW A NUMBER 12 AND BY THE TIME HE HAD HOBBLED UP TO THE STOP IT HAD GONE. NO PROBLEM, WAIT 10 MINS, 5 MINS TO STATION STILL GOT 25 MINS. WHEN HE GOT ON THE BUS HE WAS TOLD ' SORRY MATE THIS BUS IS GOING TO NEWTON. YOU WANT THE BUS TO BRIXHAM. ROUND THE CORNER OVER THE ROAD AND 2ND BUS STOP DOWN.' WHILE WAITING FOR THE LIGHTS ON THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING TO CHANGE THE BRIXHAM BUS WENT BY. STILL NO PROBLEM, AN OTHER TEN MINS WAIT, 5 MINS TO STATION 10 MINS TO SPARE. NEXT BUS CAME PAID HIS FARE,£1.00 AND ASKED THE DRIVER TO GIVE HIM A SHOUT WHEN THEY GOT TO THE STATION. DRIVER PROMISED FAITHFULLY TO GIVE HIM A SHOUT. DRIVER FORGOT AND ONLY REMEMBERED WHEN THE BUS STOPPED AT LIVERMEAD CLIFF HOTEL 3/4 MILE PAST STATION AND MAN ON CRUTCHES SAID, 'ARE WE THERE YET.?' DRIVER USED RADIO TO SEE IF THERE WAS A NEARBY BUS GOING THE OTHER WAY. NO CHANCE; NEXT BUS WAS STILL IN PAIGNTON 15 MINS AWAY. THAT WOULD BE TOO LATE.
SO DRIVER TURNED HIS BUS AROUND AND TOOK THE PASSENGER BACK TO THE RAIL STATION. HE DID A LEFT HAND REVERSE INTO A SIDE ROAD. REMEMBER ON YOUR DRIVING TEST DOING A LEFT HAND REVERSE, QUIET ROAD, SMALL CAR, PLENTY OF TIME. THINK ABOUT DOING IT IN A 30 FOOT LONG, 8 FOOT WIDE BUS ON THE BUSIEST ROAD IN THE BAY AND TIME RUNNING OUT. THE PASSENGER CAUGHT HIS TRAIN AND THE BUS GOT BACK ON TIME EVENTUALLY.
PASSENGER TWO :-
GOT ON A 12 IN PAIGNTON BUS STATION WITH A RETURN TICKET FOR PRESTON SHELTER WHICH IS 8 MINS AWAY AT A LITTLE BEFORE MIDDAY. WHEN THE BUS GOT TO VICTORIA PARK IT TURNED LEFT AT THE MILK BOTTLE. IT SHOULD HAVE GONE STRAIGHT ON. PRESTON SHELTER IS A 15 MIN WALK FROM HERE. THE BUS CONTINUED UPTO THE RING ROAD AND FOLLOWED THE DIVERSION USED WHEN THE SEA FRONT IS CLOSED. THE NEXT STOP IS IN TORQUAY 30 MINS LATER. PRESTON IS HALF WAY TO TORQUAY. THE PASSENGER THEN HAD TO GET A 12 GOING BACK TO PAIGNTON WHICH WAS ABLE TO DROP HER IN EUGENE RD PRESTON WHERE SHE WANTED TO BE. THE WHOLE TRIP HAD TAKEN ALMOST AN HOUR AND A HALF INSTEAD OF 8 MINS BECAUSE THE DRIVER OF THE BUS SHE BOARDED IN THE FIRST PLACE HAD NOT TOLD HER THAT THE BUS WASN'T GOING TO PRESTON SHELTER AS THERE HAD BEEN A CRASH AT THE GAS WORKS AND THE ROAD HAD BEEN CLOSED BY THE POLICE.
PASSENGERS SOME TIMES REALLY HAVE REASONS TO REMEMBER THEIR BUS TRIPS.
Friday, 31 December 2004
Tuesday, 30 November 2004
November 2004
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
Police at Work on Paignton Bus Station.
Monday 28th November 2004 2:00pm
Four men walked through the bus station. Suddenly two police officers appeared giving chase. They stopped and questioned the men and then searched them. The men were then handcuffed and taken to a police van that had arrived during the search. One of the other drivers said he though they had been shop lifting but it could have been a drug bust. C
Going into Brixham
As you drive down new road into brixham there is a bend to the right, not very sharp, no real need to slow down a great deal. On the left there are a few shops, a doctor's surgery and....... A dentist's surgery. On the right is a forty foot high wall.
So far no problem, on both sides of the road there are double yellow lines which in the uk mean no waiting at any time; except in torbay. Here traffic wardens use a common sense approach to work. They don't do any. And everyone knows this and they park almost any where. I haven't seen anyone park against the wall yet but the day will come. I have however seen thousands of cars (not all at the same time) parked outside the shops and the surgeries.
To pass these idiots means going on the wrong side of the road on a blind bend and i usually pray to the god of blind bends whilst i am on the wrong side of the road. The prayers are simple, blow the horn repeatedly. Note the highway code says i should give audible warning of approach in this situation.
Well the other day the company got a nice letter from the dentist. In it he noted the problem with the blind bend and it's dangers but also pointed out that bus horns are very loud and in the surgery they were totally unexpected. Should, he went on, be drilling in the mouth of an elderly person this unexpectedness could cause the patient to jump with predictable consequences.
Now he felt he could get away with charging for an extra filling now and then but trying to sell the idea that tongue piercing was cool for the over seventy's; especially when done with a dentist drill, was pushing his luck a little too far.
So i expect i will have to pray to the blind bend god silently from now on and hope that i don't make the patients jump with the unexpected sound of a very loud crash.
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Monitoring Road Works
COURTS FINE UTILITY FIRMS
FROM THE HERALD EXPRESS
23 November 2004
Fines and costs totalling £18,281.92 have been imposed by magistrates on utility companies for offences in relation to roadworks in Devon.Gas company Transco was fined a total of £3,700 and ordered to pay a total of £4980.67 in costs for 10 offences including being fined £1,300 plus costs of £3,185 for three offences. South West Water was fined a total of £1,100 plus £1,658.75 for five offences.Devon County Council environment councillor David Morrish said: "With the appointment of a street works enforcement officer, the county is now in the strongest position ever to investigate offences and bring them to the notice of the courts."We currently have many cases pending and can assure the utility companies that we will not rest until they take responsibility for their actions. Our message to the utility companies is get it right or face the consequences."
torbay council should take note and appoint their own street works enforcement officer. many of the road works in torbay ( many run by firms mentioned above) have serious defects in traffic management. many a motorist has sat at temporary traffic lights in a queue of vehicles stretching as far as the eye can see for up to 15 mins only to get through the road works and discover that there are only 3 cars waiting on the otherside of the road works. Traffic management is not a science that has reached the west country yet.
Thursday, November 18, 2004
Right Time, Wrong Place.
Wednesday 17 november 04
Work rest day
I put my name down to work a rest day and got duty 3510 which is a coast duty. It is know as a coast duty as you drive up the coast to exeter and back two or three times. At our end there is the 85 from torquay harbour and the 85a from newton abbot. Both end up in exeter. As the duty started in the middle of the day i had to take over a bus from an other driver and i looked at the running board which started with the line, "travel passenger on service 12 bus". Usually when taking over a live bus we drive a shuttle bus which is much better than travelling on a service bus which take 3 times as long.
Well i got to newton and went to the 85a bus in sherbourne road. The driver said no he wasn't coming off and i looked at my running board more carefully and released that i should have been in torquay, 35 mins away to take over an 85 in 10 mins.
Hari kari was definitely an option.
Instead i rang control and told them i was in newton and i should have been in torquay. Now this has happened before though not to me. They got on the radio and told the driver coming off in torquay and he, one richard boston, a hero, agreed to drive the bus to exeter while i went back to the depot, got a spare bus and chased after him. I caught him up in exminster, which saved him the chore of going all the way into exeter.
Now richard didn't have to do what he did, he could have left all the people waiting for me and just brought the bus back to the depot and gone home. But that would have meant a lot of people waiting an hour for the next bus and like many of our drivers richard didn't want that to happen. Well done richard and thank you. Me, i'm dead upset that i could make such a stupid mistake.
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
South Devon College
No, I am not writing about the possible lack of buses to south Devon college when they move in September. I am talking about a bus that goes to the College which shouldn't.
Between 18:00 and 19:00 the number of 12's on the road falls from 17 to 8 as the service changes from a 10 minute service to a 20 minute service. some of the buses get to Brixham or Newton and run dead back to the depot. Two go from Newton to Paignton and one (at 18:01) goes only to the depot. However One, the 18:21 from Newton runs to Torquay Harbour and then dead back to the depot arriving there at 19:05. Some drivers, not all, don't go to the Harbour.
They only put South Devon College up on the destination blind and then return to the depot from the College. this saves them about 15 minutes. It also means that anyone wanting to go to the Harbour has to wait an extra 17 minutes for the next bus which does go to the Harbour.
No buses are at present scheduled to terminate at South Devon College.
So if you are waiting for a bus some where between Newton and torquay between 18:21 and 18:50 and a bus comes along with South Devon College on the destination Blind, get on and insist that the driver takes you to the harbour.
A Little more on the 34 route
NO ATTEMPT TO FIND A SOLUTION
From Herald Express13 November 2004
I would like to reassure Danny Ferguson (Your View, November 10) that I fully understand that, if bus drivers are being threatened physically, then action has to be taken to protect their safety.The main concern I have is that no effort seems to have been made to bring together Stagecoach, the council, the police and other agencies to discuss this problem.If they had been brought together then a solution may have been found, which would not have deprived* people of their 34 bus service.I look forward to working with Stagecoach and the police to find a solution to this problem.Cllr GORDON JENNINGSWatcombe WardTorquay
*Comment. The people have not been deprived of the 34 Service, just a small section of it. Which shows that people, not only councillors, will shamelessly manipulate facts for their own ends. Desfordave
Friday, November 12, 2004
Torbay Council V RMT Union and Stagecoach.
Torbay council's comments on changes to be made to the 31 and 34 routes.
below is the rmt union's response
SQUARING UP FOR BATTLE OF THE BAY BUS ROUTES BY GLENN PRICE
Torquay herald Express
28 October 2004
The fight is on to save one of Torquay's established bus routes.Councillors say they are outraged by Stagecoach's decision to alter the 34 service covering East and West Pafford Avenue and Willow Avenue on the Watcombe estate. They believe that by changing the route to incorporate Halstead Road, many people in Watcombe will be cut off from key destinations in Torquay.Cllr Steve Darling said: "This would disadvantage many people on the estate, and we have asked Stagecoach to reconsider their actions. Their proposals will be particularly hard on older residents and those who may be disabled, who will find it difficult climbing the hill from Fore Street in Barton to their homes on the estate. We won't roll over. The fight will continue."Stagecoach said one of the main reasons for the change is because of incidents of violence against its drivers and vehicles.Chris Hilditch, Stagecoach managing director, said: "We've had a lot of trouble up there - buses stoned and residents blocking drivers' routes with badly parked cars. The drivers don't like going there. So we think the change is a vast improvement."However, Cllr Gordon Jennings disputed this, saying that Stagecoach's decision was based on financial gain, not fears of antisocial behaviour.He added: "We've got policemen who are willing to go on the buses. They're keen to look at the issue and approach any offending youngsters. But Stagecoach isn't interested. We have been in touch with the sergeant who covers that area and, while he is aware of isolated incidents, he is not aware of Stagecoach informing the police of endemic antisocial behaviour."Stagecoach said the new 34 route would provide diversity and improvements to passengers, bringing more advantages than drawbacks.It will be linked with the 31 services to form a circular service which will join Barton and Hele with St Marychurch. However, the new services will no longer serve Shirburn Road, Studley Road and Watcombe estate.Mr Hilditch added: "With this route we're tying Watcombe and Barton. This will give a service to Halstead Road, so passengers will have a link with St Marychurch. Also, people in town will be able to get to Watcombe or Barton more quickly, with waits only being seven and a half minutes instead of 20 minutes. It gives customers more options and a better service. Not many people will be disadvantaged - a few will. We're giving the best service we can."We're trying to keep the customer base we've got while generating more customers. The councillors have an issue, but I think that when they really think about it they'll see this is for the better. It's a commercial bus service, no public money is put into it. We'll look at how the change goes, but I don't think we'll reconsider in the near future."
Thursday, November 11, 2004
RMT Respond to Torbay Council
SAFETY BEHIND SERVICE WITHDRAWAL From Readers Letters, the herald express. 10 November 2004
I feel it my duty to respond to the article about the loss of the 34 service through the Watcombe estate (Herald, Oct 28).Councillor Gordon Jennings claims Stagecoach have withdrawn the service purely on a financial gain. I beg to differ. The service was withdrawn for safety reasons because of the amount of trouble drivers had to contend with on a regular basis.Drivers were being threatened and robbed. Threats and intimidation became the norm.It was particularly bad in the evenings with youths throwing missiles at the buses. This was endangering the same members of the public that councillors represent.Two years ago we stopped the buses taking their lay over time at Willow Avenue, because of the trouble drivers had to contend with. Things have got no better since this was implemented.The last straw was the assault and robbery of a driver by a gang of youths. As for the police volunteering to travel around on the buses, we can't even get them to attend a robbery within a reasonable time, never mind travel on the buses.We used to meet the police on a regular basis to discuss hot spots, which included Watcombe estate, but alas this does not happen any more.As my members' representative, my union has a duty of care towards its members, as does Stagecoach. That's why this decision was taken, not for financial gain as intimated.I trust the decent law- abiding residents of Watcombe estate understand the reason why this has happened.DANNY FERGUSONRMT Senior Staff Representative & Health and Safety Representative Regent Close,Torquay
South Devon College
From an item in the Herald Express
South Devon College Principal Heather Maxwell disputed recent claims that the new site in Paignton would be inaccessible by public transport.Stagecoach boss Chris Hilditch feared students would be unable to get to the new Long Road site.But Ms Maxwell said: "I don't want people to think it's going to be difficult to get to. I know a regular bus service and the site is only four miles from Torquay."She added the college had been approached by a number of private transport organisations and said potential transport schemes were in the pipeline.
Well I am glad that's sorted out
Friday, November 05, 2004
Still Getting the Blame
BUS BLACKSPOT SOLUTION SOUGHT
From the Herald ExpressBY ABI PARKES11:00 - 01 November 2004
A solution to bridge the Bay's public transport blackspots is being investigated by Torbay Council.They believe a new quality bus partnership could be the way forward in getting better coverage and services for the public. Currently Stagecoach carries 97 per cent of the resort's bus passengers and will only operate commercially viable routes.Some services were cut and streamlined last year following strike action by drivers.The rest of this news item can be read by clicking here but abi parkes of the Herald Express seems to live on a different planet than the rest of us.
Monday, November 01, 2004
31 and 34
I stopped at castle circus going up union street heading for newton this evening when a lady boarded the bus and asked why she had been waiting for 1 hr 45 mins for a 31 and why had 2 thirty fours gone past her. The 34 should not go up union street past castle circus. It would appear that not only did the passengers not know any thing about the new route but some of the drivers didn't either. Lack of route learning is my guess. Will they get any? Latter, in abbey road i was called a ******** by some one who had been waiting a long time.
It can only get better; i hope.
Police at Work on Paignton Bus Station.
Monday 28th November 2004 2:00pm
Four men walked through the bus station. Suddenly two police officers appeared giving chase. They stopped and questioned the men and then searched them. The men were then handcuffed and taken to a police van that had arrived during the search. One of the other drivers said he though they had been shop lifting but it could have been a drug bust. C
Going into Brixham
As you drive down new road into brixham there is a bend to the right, not very sharp, no real need to slow down a great deal. On the left there are a few shops, a doctor's surgery and....... A dentist's surgery. On the right is a forty foot high wall.
So far no problem, on both sides of the road there are double yellow lines which in the uk mean no waiting at any time; except in torbay. Here traffic wardens use a common sense approach to work. They don't do any. And everyone knows this and they park almost any where. I haven't seen anyone park against the wall yet but the day will come. I have however seen thousands of cars (not all at the same time) parked outside the shops and the surgeries.
To pass these idiots means going on the wrong side of the road on a blind bend and i usually pray to the god of blind bends whilst i am on the wrong side of the road. The prayers are simple, blow the horn repeatedly. Note the highway code says i should give audible warning of approach in this situation.
Well the other day the company got a nice letter from the dentist. In it he noted the problem with the blind bend and it's dangers but also pointed out that bus horns are very loud and in the surgery they were totally unexpected. Should, he went on, be drilling in the mouth of an elderly person this unexpectedness could cause the patient to jump with predictable consequences.
Now he felt he could get away with charging for an extra filling now and then but trying to sell the idea that tongue piercing was cool for the over seventy's; especially when done with a dentist drill, was pushing his luck a little too far.
So i expect i will have to pray to the blind bend god silently from now on and hope that i don't make the patients jump with the unexpected sound of a very loud crash.
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Monitoring Road Works
COURTS FINE UTILITY FIRMS
FROM THE HERALD EXPRESS
23 November 2004
Fines and costs totalling £18,281.92 have been imposed by magistrates on utility companies for offences in relation to roadworks in Devon.Gas company Transco was fined a total of £3,700 and ordered to pay a total of £4980.67 in costs for 10 offences including being fined £1,300 plus costs of £3,185 for three offences. South West Water was fined a total of £1,100 plus £1,658.75 for five offences.Devon County Council environment councillor David Morrish said: "With the appointment of a street works enforcement officer, the county is now in the strongest position ever to investigate offences and bring them to the notice of the courts."We currently have many cases pending and can assure the utility companies that we will not rest until they take responsibility for their actions. Our message to the utility companies is get it right or face the consequences."
torbay council should take note and appoint their own street works enforcement officer. many of the road works in torbay ( many run by firms mentioned above) have serious defects in traffic management. many a motorist has sat at temporary traffic lights in a queue of vehicles stretching as far as the eye can see for up to 15 mins only to get through the road works and discover that there are only 3 cars waiting on the otherside of the road works. Traffic management is not a science that has reached the west country yet.
Thursday, November 18, 2004
Right Time, Wrong Place.
Wednesday 17 november 04
Work rest day
I put my name down to work a rest day and got duty 3510 which is a coast duty. It is know as a coast duty as you drive up the coast to exeter and back two or three times. At our end there is the 85 from torquay harbour and the 85a from newton abbot. Both end up in exeter. As the duty started in the middle of the day i had to take over a bus from an other driver and i looked at the running board which started with the line, "travel passenger on service 12 bus". Usually when taking over a live bus we drive a shuttle bus which is much better than travelling on a service bus which take 3 times as long.
Well i got to newton and went to the 85a bus in sherbourne road. The driver said no he wasn't coming off and i looked at my running board more carefully and released that i should have been in torquay, 35 mins away to take over an 85 in 10 mins.
Hari kari was definitely an option.
Instead i rang control and told them i was in newton and i should have been in torquay. Now this has happened before though not to me. They got on the radio and told the driver coming off in torquay and he, one richard boston, a hero, agreed to drive the bus to exeter while i went back to the depot, got a spare bus and chased after him. I caught him up in exminster, which saved him the chore of going all the way into exeter.
Now richard didn't have to do what he did, he could have left all the people waiting for me and just brought the bus back to the depot and gone home. But that would have meant a lot of people waiting an hour for the next bus and like many of our drivers richard didn't want that to happen. Well done richard and thank you. Me, i'm dead upset that i could make such a stupid mistake.
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
South Devon College
No, I am not writing about the possible lack of buses to south Devon college when they move in September. I am talking about a bus that goes to the College which shouldn't.
Between 18:00 and 19:00 the number of 12's on the road falls from 17 to 8 as the service changes from a 10 minute service to a 20 minute service. some of the buses get to Brixham or Newton and run dead back to the depot. Two go from Newton to Paignton and one (at 18:01) goes only to the depot. However One, the 18:21 from Newton runs to Torquay Harbour and then dead back to the depot arriving there at 19:05. Some drivers, not all, don't go to the Harbour.
They only put South Devon College up on the destination blind and then return to the depot from the College. this saves them about 15 minutes. It also means that anyone wanting to go to the Harbour has to wait an extra 17 minutes for the next bus which does go to the Harbour.
No buses are at present scheduled to terminate at South Devon College.
So if you are waiting for a bus some where between Newton and torquay between 18:21 and 18:50 and a bus comes along with South Devon College on the destination Blind, get on and insist that the driver takes you to the harbour.
A Little more on the 34 route
NO ATTEMPT TO FIND A SOLUTION
From Herald Express13 November 2004
I would like to reassure Danny Ferguson (Your View, November 10) that I fully understand that, if bus drivers are being threatened physically, then action has to be taken to protect their safety.The main concern I have is that no effort seems to have been made to bring together Stagecoach, the council, the police and other agencies to discuss this problem.If they had been brought together then a solution may have been found, which would not have deprived* people of their 34 bus service.I look forward to working with Stagecoach and the police to find a solution to this problem.Cllr GORDON JENNINGSWatcombe WardTorquay
*Comment. The people have not been deprived of the 34 Service, just a small section of it. Which shows that people, not only councillors, will shamelessly manipulate facts for their own ends. Desfordave
Friday, November 12, 2004
Torbay Council V RMT Union and Stagecoach.
Torbay council's comments on changes to be made to the 31 and 34 routes.
below is the rmt union's response
SQUARING UP FOR BATTLE OF THE BAY BUS ROUTES BY GLENN PRICE
Torquay herald Express
28 October 2004
The fight is on to save one of Torquay's established bus routes.Councillors say they are outraged by Stagecoach's decision to alter the 34 service covering East and West Pafford Avenue and Willow Avenue on the Watcombe estate. They believe that by changing the route to incorporate Halstead Road, many people in Watcombe will be cut off from key destinations in Torquay.Cllr Steve Darling said: "This would disadvantage many people on the estate, and we have asked Stagecoach to reconsider their actions. Their proposals will be particularly hard on older residents and those who may be disabled, who will find it difficult climbing the hill from Fore Street in Barton to their homes on the estate. We won't roll over. The fight will continue."Stagecoach said one of the main reasons for the change is because of incidents of violence against its drivers and vehicles.Chris Hilditch, Stagecoach managing director, said: "We've had a lot of trouble up there - buses stoned and residents blocking drivers' routes with badly parked cars. The drivers don't like going there. So we think the change is a vast improvement."However, Cllr Gordon Jennings disputed this, saying that Stagecoach's decision was based on financial gain, not fears of antisocial behaviour.He added: "We've got policemen who are willing to go on the buses. They're keen to look at the issue and approach any offending youngsters. But Stagecoach isn't interested. We have been in touch with the sergeant who covers that area and, while he is aware of isolated incidents, he is not aware of Stagecoach informing the police of endemic antisocial behaviour."Stagecoach said the new 34 route would provide diversity and improvements to passengers, bringing more advantages than drawbacks.It will be linked with the 31 services to form a circular service which will join Barton and Hele with St Marychurch. However, the new services will no longer serve Shirburn Road, Studley Road and Watcombe estate.Mr Hilditch added: "With this route we're tying Watcombe and Barton. This will give a service to Halstead Road, so passengers will have a link with St Marychurch. Also, people in town will be able to get to Watcombe or Barton more quickly, with waits only being seven and a half minutes instead of 20 minutes. It gives customers more options and a better service. Not many people will be disadvantaged - a few will. We're giving the best service we can."We're trying to keep the customer base we've got while generating more customers. The councillors have an issue, but I think that when they really think about it they'll see this is for the better. It's a commercial bus service, no public money is put into it. We'll look at how the change goes, but I don't think we'll reconsider in the near future."
Thursday, November 11, 2004
RMT Respond to Torbay Council
SAFETY BEHIND SERVICE WITHDRAWAL From Readers Letters, the herald express. 10 November 2004
I feel it my duty to respond to the article about the loss of the 34 service through the Watcombe estate (Herald, Oct 28).Councillor Gordon Jennings claims Stagecoach have withdrawn the service purely on a financial gain. I beg to differ. The service was withdrawn for safety reasons because of the amount of trouble drivers had to contend with on a regular basis.Drivers were being threatened and robbed. Threats and intimidation became the norm.It was particularly bad in the evenings with youths throwing missiles at the buses. This was endangering the same members of the public that councillors represent.Two years ago we stopped the buses taking their lay over time at Willow Avenue, because of the trouble drivers had to contend with. Things have got no better since this was implemented.The last straw was the assault and robbery of a driver by a gang of youths. As for the police volunteering to travel around on the buses, we can't even get them to attend a robbery within a reasonable time, never mind travel on the buses.We used to meet the police on a regular basis to discuss hot spots, which included Watcombe estate, but alas this does not happen any more.As my members' representative, my union has a duty of care towards its members, as does Stagecoach. That's why this decision was taken, not for financial gain as intimated.I trust the decent law- abiding residents of Watcombe estate understand the reason why this has happened.DANNY FERGUSONRMT Senior Staff Representative & Health and Safety Representative Regent Close,Torquay
South Devon College
From an item in the Herald Express
South Devon College Principal Heather Maxwell disputed recent claims that the new site in Paignton would be inaccessible by public transport.Stagecoach boss Chris Hilditch feared students would be unable to get to the new Long Road site.But Ms Maxwell said: "I don't want people to think it's going to be difficult to get to. I know a regular bus service and the site is only four miles from Torquay."She added the college had been approached by a number of private transport organisations and said potential transport schemes were in the pipeline.
Well I am glad that's sorted out
Friday, November 05, 2004
Still Getting the Blame
BUS BLACKSPOT SOLUTION SOUGHT
From the Herald ExpressBY ABI PARKES11:00 - 01 November 2004
A solution to bridge the Bay's public transport blackspots is being investigated by Torbay Council.They believe a new quality bus partnership could be the way forward in getting better coverage and services for the public. Currently Stagecoach carries 97 per cent of the resort's bus passengers and will only operate commercially viable routes.Some services were cut and streamlined last year following strike action by drivers.The rest of this news item can be read by clicking here but abi parkes of the Herald Express seems to live on a different planet than the rest of us.
Monday, November 01, 2004
31 and 34
I stopped at castle circus going up union street heading for newton this evening when a lady boarded the bus and asked why she had been waiting for 1 hr 45 mins for a 31 and why had 2 thirty fours gone past her. The 34 should not go up union street past castle circus. It would appear that not only did the passengers not know any thing about the new route but some of the drivers didn't either. Lack of route learning is my guess. Will they get any? Latter, in abbey road i was called a ******** by some one who had been waiting a long time.
It can only get better; i hope.
Sunday, 31 October 2004
October 2004
Sunday, October 31, 2004
British Summer Time.
Date saturday 30 october 2004
Time 7:00pm
Place in front of the tv
The cat jumps on my lap and starts head butting me in the guts.
Why? It's time for his supper. He does this every night at 7:00.
Date sunday 31 october 2004
Time 7:00pm
Place in front of tv
The cat is fast asleep. Off his food? No chance. He is the greediest cat we have ever had. No, he still thinks it's 6:00pm. And it is. 6:00 pm british summer time. As i type this it is 11:17pm gmt but my body feels like it is an hour later. I have been to australia a few times and i recognise jet lag when i feel it.
Twice a year we change the clocks for no better reason than the fact that we have done it for the last 100 years. Come on mr blair, you can goto war in a far away place just because your american lover asked you to, can't you get rid of this twice yearly change in time. Have a referendum and let the people decide.
Click on "ring the bell" and type yes to get rid of this twice yearly jet lag, type no to keep it and type "i love chris hilditch" if you are mad.
No One Knows Anything About The New 31 and 34 Routes.
I travelled on a 34 to day, saturday and spoke to the passengers re the changes taking place on sunday 31 oct 04 (tomorrow). None of them knew anything about it except for one person; the driver and he was not too sure what was happening.
Thursday, October 28, 2004
Changes to the 31 and 34 Routes
On sunday 31 october the 31 and 34 routes will be combined to make a circular route. The 31 will go up to barton as it does now but will return via watcombe and the 34 will go up to watcombe as it does now but return via barton. Whilst the 34 used to go into the watcombe estate to willow avenue neither of these routes will go onto the estate. I haven't walked round the watcombe estate for nearly 50 years but i would say the longest walk to the bus stop from any where on the estate would be 15 mins. Fine if you are fit and well but old and carrying a few days shopping, not so fine.
Closed Sea Front and The Diversion
Wednesday 27 october 2004
Well to day we had a spring high tide, a deep depression and gale force south east winds. In the morning the sea front was closed and the buses diverted over the "long" diversion via the ring road. This adds between 5 and 10 mins on to the journey time. If the roads are quiet this can be quickly made up.
At about 16:30 the sea front, as expected was closed. I went along at 16:00 and the waves were already coming over onto the road. When i got back to torquay an hour later we were being sent on the "short" diversion behind the grand hotel and along whetridge lane. One hour after leaving torquay i got to paignton. It usually takes 20 mins. The problem wasn't in the diversion but getting to it. The traffic lights at falkland rd were still working even though almost no traffic except the diverted traffic was using the junction. We were also faced with rush hour traffic along roads not really wide enough for deckers. Hopefully some one will have noted the problems and will have some plan for when the sea front is next closed.
One passenger when he saw all the traffic wanted to get off the bus and walk along the front. I explained that i could only open the doors at bus stops. Had I opened the doors and let him walk along the front he would never have been seen again. They were very, very big waves.
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
How to Cause Chaos in the Bay.
These few wooden carvings at the side of the Newton Road don't look much but every car driver that drove past slowed down to have a look. The result was a delay of upto 10 minutes in each direction. As the number 12 drives past every ten minutes in each direction it didn't take long for buses to be running up to 45 mins late. Add to this the problems we were having in Paignton with extra traffic in the town because of the road works on Kings Ash and chaos was in charge.
It got so bad that at one time I was passing Torre Station heading for Brixham with 2 other twelve's travelling with me and 4 number twelve's went past heading for Newton. At the same time a driver reported on the radio that he was in Preston and there were 3 buses travelling towards Newton all together. There are 17 twelve's out during the day and here we had 10 of them in 3 groups. Later the 19:01 from Newton ran on time but the next bus, the 19:21 did not leave until 19:50. Not a good day to be waiting for a bus. Still only 15 weeks and 3 days to go before the road works are completed.
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
Three Things Heard On The Radio.
Three things heard on the radio yesterday.
The first just irritates me a little. It goes like this.
Controller, "would all 12 drivers check their buses for lost property please. We are looking for a mobile phone/ bag of shopping/ wallet/ golf clubs/ pair of crutches/etc."
Now i have no problem with trying to reunite lost prorerty with the looser of said property. This is well and good. But there are 17 buses out there with the number 12 on the front, back and side. The chances are that it isn't on your bus and you are just coming into union street where you will drop 20 passengers off and pick up 30 more and union street is not the place to hang about looking for lost property. A little more detail such as when and where the looser got off the bus and which direction the bus was going in, were they upstairs or down. This little extra information will save 14 or 15 bus drivers hopelessly searching their bus for something that is not there.
The second item went on all day and went like this,
Driver, " i am running 25 minutes late."
Major road works at kings ash on the ring road sent hundreds of extra cars through paignton yesterday and delays of 25 and 30 minutes were common. Part of the problem was that in other parts of the bay there wasn't much extra traffic so passengers waiting a long time for a bus didn't understand why. Only 16 more weeks. I hope it will be worth it.
The third item annoyed me a great deal. In the midst of all this chaos at 5:00 pm at the height of rush hour, it went like this.
Controller, " papa one. That bus is required for servicing. The engineers will meet you on cary parade with a change of bus." (cary parade is in the centre of torquay.)
Driver," but i have 60 passengers on the bus and most of them have been waiting ages for a bus and you want me to ask them to change buses at this time of night."
Contoller," this is an engineering instruction. You must change buses."
This happens all the time. Engineering want a bus for servicing so they take it. No consideration for the passengers already on the bus. No, they get thrown off the bus in the middle of their journey for no good reason. Engineering could just as easily take a bus to the terminus at newton or brixham and change the bus over while there is no one on it. This professional approach however either has not occurred to them or it is just not matcho enough for them.
To make matters even worse, when engineering had slung all the passengers off the bus they then drove it up fleet walk. We have enough problems with vehicles driving illegally in fleet walk without our own engineering department doing it as well.
Friday, October 22, 2004
The new 31/34 Route.
I had a look at the new 31/34 timetable to day. The new routes will be two circular routes. The 31 going up through hele to barton and back via walcombe and plainmoor. The 34 will go up through plainmoor and marychurch to watcombe and back to town via barton and hele. Watcombe estate has been missed out, either to save time or to avoid the problems on the estate such as parked cars etc.
This change has been carried out to save operating costs. As i don't drive these routes and it is some years since i have done so i will have to wait and see what the drivers and passengers think of them.
On paper i can see how they work and to some extent i can not see why this change wasn't done sooner.
We will have to wait and see.
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
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Paying in for the Last Time.
THIS IS REG, PAYING IN FOR THE LAST TIME.
REG IS LEAVING US AS HE HAS REACHED RETIREMENT AGE.
REG IS WELL LIKED BY OTHER DRIVERS AND BY HIS PASSENGERS AND BY THE CONTROLLERS AND ALWAYS ENJOYED THE JOB.
REG DOESN'T WANT TO LEAVE .
THE COMPANY DON'T WANT REG TO LEAVE, IT WILL COST £3 500.00 TO TRAIN HIS REPLACEMENT.
TONY BLAIR DOESN'T WANT REG TO LEAVE, HE WILL HAVE TO PAY HIM HIS OLD AGE PENSION AND WILL LOOSE THE INCOME TAX REG WAS PAYING AS A WORKER. I AM SURE IF GOD WERE TO BE ASKED SHE WOULD SAY SHE WOULD LIKE REG TO CARRY ON.
SO WHY IS REG LEAVING, ILL HEALTH? NO, REG IS VERY FIT. A RETIREMENT HOME ON THE COSTA, NO, REG HAS A NICE HOME HERE.
SO WHY IS HE GOING? WHO IS FORCING HIM TO GO? WHO IS PUSHING HIM OUT INTO THE EMPTY VOID OF RETIREMENT? FROM THE HIS £14 300 WAGE AS A BUS DRIVER TO £4 100 OLD AGE PENSION. OVER NIGHT.
THE RMT UNION. THAT CHAMPION OF WORKERS RIGHTS THAT'S WHO. WHY HAVE THE UNION WHO HAVE FOUGHT SO HARD TO IMPROVE OUR PAY AND CONDITIONS VETOED REG'S DESIRE TO CONTINUE WORKING?
IF YOU KNOW THEN PLEASE RING THE BELL BELOW AND TELL US ALL. WE REALY WANT TO KNOW.
Saturday, October 16, 2004
Roadworks Ahead
I have just read an item in the local paper the Torquay "Herald Express" in which warns of "Roadwork Misery Looming"
£1M is to be spent improving Kings Ash Road in Paignton. The road works will last more than 3 months and are expected to cause major disruption. Kings Ash Road is not on the Twelve Route but it is on the Ring Road and drivers will look for other ways to get across town and there is only one other way and that is along the Twelve Route.
So expect reports of long delays over the next 3 months.
Friday, October 15, 2004
Not Good Passengers.
Most passengers, 99.9%, ARE OK. they GET ON THE BUS AND PAY THEIR FARE AND GET OFF AT THEIR DESTINATION NO PROBLEM.
NOW AND THEN THERE ARE PASSENGERS THAT CAUSE SLIGHT PROBLEMS,
LITTLE OLD LADIES WHO SEARCH THROUGH THEIR PURSES FOR THE RIGHT MONEY SAYING "I DON'T WANT TO TAKE ALL YOUR CHANGE DRIVER." WHEN YOU HAVE A TON OF CHANGE BUT ARE RUNNING LATE.
mums WITH PRAMS SLIGHTLY BIGGER THAN THE moon buggy WHO ALWAYS WANT TO GET ON WHEN THE BUS IS 3/4 FULL.
HOLIDAY MAKERS WHO DON'T USE A BUS BACK HOME AND GET ON AND ASK FOR 4 RETURNS TO BRIXHAM AND APOLOGISE FOR ONLY HAVING A FIVER. (THE FARE IS £14.00). THEN THEY SAY I WANT TO GO TO BRIXHAM NOT BUY IT.
THESE SORT OF PASSENGERS ARE RUN OF THE MILL AND ARE EASILY DEALT WITH.
THEN THERE ARE THE ONES LIKE I HAD YESTERDAY. I PULLED INTO PAIGNTON 3 MINS EARLY AND SWITCHED THE ENGINE OFF. A FEW PEOPLE GOT ON AND A MAN DETACHED HIMSELF FROM A GROUP OF 4 AND ASKED HOW LONG BEFORE I WENT. 3 MINS WAS THE ANSWER. HE RETURNED TO THE GROUP AND CONTINUED TALKING. 3 MINS LATER I STARTED THE ENGINE, SWITCHED ON THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS, SWITCHED ON THE HEADLIGHTS, SELECTED REVERSE, AND CLOSED THE DOORS. ALL THIS GOT NO RESPONSE FROM THE MAN TALKING SO I FIGURED THAT HE WAS GOING TO CONTINUE TALKING AND CATCH THE NEXT BUS. ONE LAST LOOK AT HIM. STILL NO MOVE TOWARDS THE BUS SO I REVERSED OF THE STAND. AS I DROVE AWAY HE SPAT ON THE WINDSCREEN OF THE BUS. SUCH A NICE PERSON.
THE OTHER NON PASSENGER WAS WAITING AT THE grand HOTEL AND TO MAKE SURE I SAW HER SHE TOOK TWO STEPS INTO THE ROAD AND PUT OUT HER HAND. NO PROBLEM SO FAR. I LIKE PEOPLE TO MAKE THEIR INTENTIONS CLEAR. I INDICATED LEFT AND TURNED INTO THE BUS LAY-BY. SHE WAS SO DETERMINED THAT I WOULD STOP THAT SHE REMAINED STANDING IN MY PATH FORCING ME TO BRAKE HARDER THAN I SHOULD. SHE SEEMED SURPRISED WHEN I REFUSED TO LET HER ON THE BUS BUT AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED NO ONE ENDANGERS THE BUS AND TRAVELS ON IT.
AS I SAY MOST PASSENGERS ARE FINE, NOW AND THEN ONE OR TWO ARE NOT.
Low Floor Buses on the 31 Route.
THE COMPANY LEASED SOME LOW FLOOR BUSES IN THE HOPE THAT IF PASSENGER NUMBERS WENT UP ENOUGH THEY WOULD BUY THEM. sadly THE NUMBERS DID GO UP BUT ONLY SLIGHTLY AND THEY ARE GOING AT THE END OF THE MONTH.
Sunday, October 10, 2004
'CRISIS' FEARS ON COLLEGE BUS LINK
South Devon College IS THE CLOSEST TORBAY WILL GET TO A UNIVERSITY.
IN RECENT YEARS THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS HAS GROWN AND NOW THEY HAVE SOLD THE SITE THEY OCCUPY, WHICH IS ON THE 12 ROUTE. TO BE ANY WHERE IN TORBAY YOU HAVE TO BE ON THE 12 ROUTE.
THEY ARE MOVING TO A PLACE ON THE RINGROAD WHERE NORTEL USED TO BE BEFORE THEY FAILED. IT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE AND NOT ON A BUS ROUTE.
NOW STAGECOACH SAY THAT THEY WILL HAVE DIFFICULTY IN PROVIDING A BUS SERVICE FOR THE STUDENTS. HOW TO MAKE YOURSELF POPULAR. the BROWN SMELLY STUFF IS DEFIANTLY HITTING THE FAN AT THIS VERY MOMENT.
Saturday, October 09, 2004
Waiting for a bus that doesn't come.
TO DAY WHILE I WAS ON MY BREAK AT PAIGNTON A DRIVER CAME IN FOR HIS BREAK. HE EXPRESSED SORROW FOR THE DRIVER OF THE NEXT BUS TO BRIXHAM. AS I WAS THAT DRIVER I ASKED HIM WHY. HE TOLD ME THAT HE HAD BROUGHT A NUMBER 12 FROM NEWTON ABBOT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO TO BRIXHAM AT 19:05 BUT THERE WAS NO DRIVER TO TAKE OVER FROM HIM AND HE HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED TO PUT UP PAIGNTON ONLY.
MY BUS WAS DUE TO LEAVE AT 19:25 WHICH WOULD MEAN PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR 40 MINUTES ON THE BUS STATION FOR A BUS FOR BRIXHAM. IT WOULD ALSO MEAN THAT OTHER PEOPLE WOULD HAVE BEEN WAITING ALL ALONG THE ROUTE FOR UP TO 40 MINS FOR A BUS. AT LEAST IT WASN'T RAINING.
AS EXPECTED I WAS ASKED BY SEVERAL UPSET PEOPLE WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO THE BUS IN FRONT. ALL I COULD SAY WAS THE DRIVER HAD NOT TURNED IN FOR WORK AND IF IT WAS ANY CONSOLATION THE MISSING BUS THAT THEY HAD BEEN WAITING FOR WAS ALSO THE ONE I WOULD HAVE BEEN CATCHING TO GO HOME AND THAT I TOO WOULD HAVE TO WAIT AN EXTRA 20 MINUTES TO GET HOME.
TWO OR THREE PASSENGERS THOUGHT THIS WAS FUNNY. ONE EVEN OBSERVED THAT I WOULD KNOW HOW IT FELT TO STAND AROUND HOPING AGAINST HOPE THAT THE BUS WOULD ONE DAY TURN UP. AT LEAST I KNEW IT WASN'T COMING AND STAYED IN THE OFFICE AND HAD A CUP OF COFFEE.
Thursday, October 07, 2004
New Information re 77 v 78
I wrote yesterday about my misgivings that the 77 route had been chosen in preference to the easier ( in my opinion ) 78 route around Buckland.I have been informed by a reliable source that Stagecoach Devon Management, The RMT Union, The Health & Safety Exec and the Local Authority had talks to decide which of the routes was to be withdrawn.It seems that the deciding factor was concern that problems could occur if there was a frost on the steep hill at Buckland Brake. It was felt that it was more dangerous for a bus to go down that hill in frosty weather than to go up it. The 77 goes up it; the 78 will shortly no longer go down it.I was also informed that the Local Authority had promised to look at the problems caused for the 77 route on the estate by parked cars.Once again it is nice to discover that some one does care about the well being of the drivers.
Posted at 00:11 by desfordaveRing the bell
Monday, October 04, 2004
Driving a 77 Round Buckland.
IN NEWTON ABBOT THERE IS AN ESTATE CALLED BUCKLAND. IT'S NOTHING LIKE TOLKIN'S BUCKLAND APART FROM THE FACT THAT BOTH ARE BUILT ON THE SIDE OF A HILL.
THERE IS ONE BUS ROUTE ROUND BUCKLAND BUT TWO BUS NUMBERS. THE 77 GOES ROUND ANTI CLOCKWISE AND THE 78 GOES THE SAME ROUTE BUT CLOCKWISE. THERE IS NO SENSIBLE REASON TO HAVE THIS ARRANGEMENT, IT TAKES MORE OR LESS THE SAME TIME TO GET FROM ANYWHERE IN BUCKLAND TO NEWTON AND NO ONE WAITS FOR ONE BUS IN PREFERENCE TO THE OTHER. from MY POINT OF VIEW AND OTHER DRIVERS I HAVE SPOKEN TO THERE IS A PREFERENCE.
AS YOU ENTER BUCKLAND THE 77 TURNS RIGHT AND CLIMBS UP A VERY STEEP HILL WITH A SHARP TURN HALF WAY UP. THE HILL IS SO STEEP IT HAS TO BE CLIMBED IN FIRST GEAR,THIS CLIMB LASTS 250 YARDS WITH LOTS OF NOISE FROM THE ENGINE TO THE ANNOYANCE OF THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE ROAD. THEN ALONG A NARROW ROAD WITH PARKED CARS ON THE LEFT. IF ANYONE ENTERS THE ROAD YOU HAVE TO PULL INTO THE LEFT IF THERE IS A SPACE OR EVEN REVERSE. IF THERE ISN'T. THEN A RIGHT TURN AND PARKED CARS AGAIN ON THE LEFT, THEN A LEFT TURN INTO A ROAD WITH CARS PARKED ON THE LEFT. AS YOU START THE TURN YOU CAN NOT SEE IF THERE IS ANYTHING COMING THE OTHER WAY. IF ANYTHING IS YOU HAVE TO REVERSE. further ON THE ROAD BENDS TO THE LEFT FOR A LONG WAY WITH PARKED CARS ON THE LEFT. IF ANYTHING COMES TOWARDS YOU AT THIS POINT IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE THEN ROUND THE BEND AND THERE ARE ONLY SMALL SPACES ON THE LEFT WHICH ARE DIFFICULT TO GET IN AND OUT OF WITH THE BUS. WHEN YOU GET TO THE EXIT FROM BUCKLAND ON A 77 YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE DONE 10 LAPS IN A STOCK CAR RACE.
ON THE 78 THE PARKED CARS ARE ALMOST ALL ON THE RIGHT WITH SPACES BIG ENOUGH FOR CARS TO MOVE INTO AND ALL THE TURNS ARE IN TO ROADS YOU CAN SEE ALONG WAY DOWN SO YOU CAN EASILY STOP IF ANY ONE IS COMING. the HILL UP TO THE TOP OF THE ESTATE IS LONG AND CAN BE DONE EASILY IN 3RD GEAR WITHOUT STRAINING THE ENGINE AND EARS. when YOU EXIT BUCKLAND WHILE YOU DON'T FEEL YOU HAVE BEEN FOR A DRIVE IN THE COUNTRY YOU ARE MUCH LESS STRESSED THAN THE POOR SOD ON THE 77.
AS I SAID THERE IS NO REAL NEED FOR THIS ARRANGEMENT AND THE COMPANY HAVE DECIDED TO DO AWAY WITH ONE OF THE BUSES. THERE WILL JUST AS MANY BUSES GOING ROUND BUCKLAND AS THERE EVER WERE. NOW THEY WILL ALL GO THE SAME WAY.
WHICH WAY WOULD YOU PICK? THE 77 WITH THE VERY STEEP CLIMB, THE BLIND CORNERS AND MOST OF THE TIME DRIVING ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE OF THE PARKED CARS?
NO. WHY Not? stagecoach have. From the end of this month the 77 will be the only bus driving round buckland. I wonder if anyone in head office has ever driven a bus round buckland or did they just flip a coin to decide which bus to keep.
Letter From Head Office.
A couple of changes have been made in the last week to our fare structure. One is the removal of the student tickets and their replacement with UniRiders. Uni being short for university. Any College or university student can buy these tickets on production of a NUS card or student ID. (see last posting)
The other change is the fact that Devon County Wide tickets (half price tickets for Pensioners and Disabled) are no longer rounded down to the nearest 5p. This means we have prices like £1.37, Torquay to Paignton return or £1.67, Return Brixham to Paignton. The problem of having to give copper in change adds to the time it takes to get people on the bus and only having 4 compartments in our cash tray is causing a problem; where do you keep the copper?
Well a letter was posted on the notice board explaining this introduction of copper in our change. The fact is rounding a fare down by 2p cost the company a large sum of money over a year.
It's the letter that is the interesting item here. Often in the past the company have not bothered to inform the drivers of their thoughts behind their actions. It would indicate a change of policy here that on this occasion they have and it is to be hoped that this trend will continue. At lest we know why we have to carry copper and put up with the extra aggravation caused by this failure to round down to the nearest 5p as we have in the past. The more cynical of my colleges may just think the company are just trying to pull the wool over our eyes. maybe they
British Summer Time.
Date saturday 30 october 2004
Time 7:00pm
Place in front of the tv
The cat jumps on my lap and starts head butting me in the guts.
Why? It's time for his supper. He does this every night at 7:00.
Date sunday 31 october 2004
Time 7:00pm
Place in front of tv
The cat is fast asleep. Off his food? No chance. He is the greediest cat we have ever had. No, he still thinks it's 6:00pm. And it is. 6:00 pm british summer time. As i type this it is 11:17pm gmt but my body feels like it is an hour later. I have been to australia a few times and i recognise jet lag when i feel it.
Twice a year we change the clocks for no better reason than the fact that we have done it for the last 100 years. Come on mr blair, you can goto war in a far away place just because your american lover asked you to, can't you get rid of this twice yearly change in time. Have a referendum and let the people decide.
Click on "ring the bell" and type yes to get rid of this twice yearly jet lag, type no to keep it and type "i love chris hilditch" if you are mad.
No One Knows Anything About The New 31 and 34 Routes.
I travelled on a 34 to day, saturday and spoke to the passengers re the changes taking place on sunday 31 oct 04 (tomorrow). None of them knew anything about it except for one person; the driver and he was not too sure what was happening.
Thursday, October 28, 2004
Changes to the 31 and 34 Routes
On sunday 31 october the 31 and 34 routes will be combined to make a circular route. The 31 will go up to barton as it does now but will return via watcombe and the 34 will go up to watcombe as it does now but return via barton. Whilst the 34 used to go into the watcombe estate to willow avenue neither of these routes will go onto the estate. I haven't walked round the watcombe estate for nearly 50 years but i would say the longest walk to the bus stop from any where on the estate would be 15 mins. Fine if you are fit and well but old and carrying a few days shopping, not so fine.
Closed Sea Front and The Diversion
Wednesday 27 october 2004
Well to day we had a spring high tide, a deep depression and gale force south east winds. In the morning the sea front was closed and the buses diverted over the "long" diversion via the ring road. This adds between 5 and 10 mins on to the journey time. If the roads are quiet this can be quickly made up.
At about 16:30 the sea front, as expected was closed. I went along at 16:00 and the waves were already coming over onto the road. When i got back to torquay an hour later we were being sent on the "short" diversion behind the grand hotel and along whetridge lane. One hour after leaving torquay i got to paignton. It usually takes 20 mins. The problem wasn't in the diversion but getting to it. The traffic lights at falkland rd were still working even though almost no traffic except the diverted traffic was using the junction. We were also faced with rush hour traffic along roads not really wide enough for deckers. Hopefully some one will have noted the problems and will have some plan for when the sea front is next closed.
One passenger when he saw all the traffic wanted to get off the bus and walk along the front. I explained that i could only open the doors at bus stops. Had I opened the doors and let him walk along the front he would never have been seen again. They were very, very big waves.
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
How to Cause Chaos in the Bay.
These few wooden carvings at the side of the Newton Road don't look much but every car driver that drove past slowed down to have a look. The result was a delay of upto 10 minutes in each direction. As the number 12 drives past every ten minutes in each direction it didn't take long for buses to be running up to 45 mins late. Add to this the problems we were having in Paignton with extra traffic in the town because of the road works on Kings Ash and chaos was in charge.
It got so bad that at one time I was passing Torre Station heading for Brixham with 2 other twelve's travelling with me and 4 number twelve's went past heading for Newton. At the same time a driver reported on the radio that he was in Preston and there were 3 buses travelling towards Newton all together. There are 17 twelve's out during the day and here we had 10 of them in 3 groups. Later the 19:01 from Newton ran on time but the next bus, the 19:21 did not leave until 19:50. Not a good day to be waiting for a bus. Still only 15 weeks and 3 days to go before the road works are completed.
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
Three Things Heard On The Radio.
Three things heard on the radio yesterday.
The first just irritates me a little. It goes like this.
Controller, "would all 12 drivers check their buses for lost property please. We are looking for a mobile phone/ bag of shopping/ wallet/ golf clubs/ pair of crutches/etc."
Now i have no problem with trying to reunite lost prorerty with the looser of said property. This is well and good. But there are 17 buses out there with the number 12 on the front, back and side. The chances are that it isn't on your bus and you are just coming into union street where you will drop 20 passengers off and pick up 30 more and union street is not the place to hang about looking for lost property. A little more detail such as when and where the looser got off the bus and which direction the bus was going in, were they upstairs or down. This little extra information will save 14 or 15 bus drivers hopelessly searching their bus for something that is not there.
The second item went on all day and went like this,
Driver, " i am running 25 minutes late."
Major road works at kings ash on the ring road sent hundreds of extra cars through paignton yesterday and delays of 25 and 30 minutes were common. Part of the problem was that in other parts of the bay there wasn't much extra traffic so passengers waiting a long time for a bus didn't understand why. Only 16 more weeks. I hope it will be worth it.
The third item annoyed me a great deal. In the midst of all this chaos at 5:00 pm at the height of rush hour, it went like this.
Controller, " papa one. That bus is required for servicing. The engineers will meet you on cary parade with a change of bus." (cary parade is in the centre of torquay.)
Driver," but i have 60 passengers on the bus and most of them have been waiting ages for a bus and you want me to ask them to change buses at this time of night."
Contoller," this is an engineering instruction. You must change buses."
This happens all the time. Engineering want a bus for servicing so they take it. No consideration for the passengers already on the bus. No, they get thrown off the bus in the middle of their journey for no good reason. Engineering could just as easily take a bus to the terminus at newton or brixham and change the bus over while there is no one on it. This professional approach however either has not occurred to them or it is just not matcho enough for them.
To make matters even worse, when engineering had slung all the passengers off the bus they then drove it up fleet walk. We have enough problems with vehicles driving illegally in fleet walk without our own engineering department doing it as well.
Friday, October 22, 2004
The new 31/34 Route.
I had a look at the new 31/34 timetable to day. The new routes will be two circular routes. The 31 going up through hele to barton and back via walcombe and plainmoor. The 34 will go up through plainmoor and marychurch to watcombe and back to town via barton and hele. Watcombe estate has been missed out, either to save time or to avoid the problems on the estate such as parked cars etc.
This change has been carried out to save operating costs. As i don't drive these routes and it is some years since i have done so i will have to wait and see what the drivers and passengers think of them.
On paper i can see how they work and to some extent i can not see why this change wasn't done sooner.
We will have to wait and see.
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
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Paying in for the Last Time.
THIS IS REG, PAYING IN FOR THE LAST TIME.
REG IS LEAVING US AS HE HAS REACHED RETIREMENT AGE.
REG IS WELL LIKED BY OTHER DRIVERS AND BY HIS PASSENGERS AND BY THE CONTROLLERS AND ALWAYS ENJOYED THE JOB.
REG DOESN'T WANT TO LEAVE .
THE COMPANY DON'T WANT REG TO LEAVE, IT WILL COST £3 500.00 TO TRAIN HIS REPLACEMENT.
TONY BLAIR DOESN'T WANT REG TO LEAVE, HE WILL HAVE TO PAY HIM HIS OLD AGE PENSION AND WILL LOOSE THE INCOME TAX REG WAS PAYING AS A WORKER. I AM SURE IF GOD WERE TO BE ASKED SHE WOULD SAY SHE WOULD LIKE REG TO CARRY ON.
SO WHY IS REG LEAVING, ILL HEALTH? NO, REG IS VERY FIT. A RETIREMENT HOME ON THE COSTA, NO, REG HAS A NICE HOME HERE.
SO WHY IS HE GOING? WHO IS FORCING HIM TO GO? WHO IS PUSHING HIM OUT INTO THE EMPTY VOID OF RETIREMENT? FROM THE HIS £14 300 WAGE AS A BUS DRIVER TO £4 100 OLD AGE PENSION. OVER NIGHT.
THE RMT UNION. THAT CHAMPION OF WORKERS RIGHTS THAT'S WHO. WHY HAVE THE UNION WHO HAVE FOUGHT SO HARD TO IMPROVE OUR PAY AND CONDITIONS VETOED REG'S DESIRE TO CONTINUE WORKING?
IF YOU KNOW THEN PLEASE RING THE BELL BELOW AND TELL US ALL. WE REALY WANT TO KNOW.
Saturday, October 16, 2004
Roadworks Ahead
I have just read an item in the local paper the Torquay "Herald Express" in which warns of "Roadwork Misery Looming"
£1M is to be spent improving Kings Ash Road in Paignton. The road works will last more than 3 months and are expected to cause major disruption. Kings Ash Road is not on the Twelve Route but it is on the Ring Road and drivers will look for other ways to get across town and there is only one other way and that is along the Twelve Route.
So expect reports of long delays over the next 3 months.
Friday, October 15, 2004
Not Good Passengers.
Most passengers, 99.9%, ARE OK. they GET ON THE BUS AND PAY THEIR FARE AND GET OFF AT THEIR DESTINATION NO PROBLEM.
NOW AND THEN THERE ARE PASSENGERS THAT CAUSE SLIGHT PROBLEMS,
LITTLE OLD LADIES WHO SEARCH THROUGH THEIR PURSES FOR THE RIGHT MONEY SAYING "I DON'T WANT TO TAKE ALL YOUR CHANGE DRIVER." WHEN YOU HAVE A TON OF CHANGE BUT ARE RUNNING LATE.
mums WITH PRAMS SLIGHTLY BIGGER THAN THE moon buggy WHO ALWAYS WANT TO GET ON WHEN THE BUS IS 3/4 FULL.
HOLIDAY MAKERS WHO DON'T USE A BUS BACK HOME AND GET ON AND ASK FOR 4 RETURNS TO BRIXHAM AND APOLOGISE FOR ONLY HAVING A FIVER. (THE FARE IS £14.00). THEN THEY SAY I WANT TO GO TO BRIXHAM NOT BUY IT.
THESE SORT OF PASSENGERS ARE RUN OF THE MILL AND ARE EASILY DEALT WITH.
THEN THERE ARE THE ONES LIKE I HAD YESTERDAY. I PULLED INTO PAIGNTON 3 MINS EARLY AND SWITCHED THE ENGINE OFF. A FEW PEOPLE GOT ON AND A MAN DETACHED HIMSELF FROM A GROUP OF 4 AND ASKED HOW LONG BEFORE I WENT. 3 MINS WAS THE ANSWER. HE RETURNED TO THE GROUP AND CONTINUED TALKING. 3 MINS LATER I STARTED THE ENGINE, SWITCHED ON THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS, SWITCHED ON THE HEADLIGHTS, SELECTED REVERSE, AND CLOSED THE DOORS. ALL THIS GOT NO RESPONSE FROM THE MAN TALKING SO I FIGURED THAT HE WAS GOING TO CONTINUE TALKING AND CATCH THE NEXT BUS. ONE LAST LOOK AT HIM. STILL NO MOVE TOWARDS THE BUS SO I REVERSED OF THE STAND. AS I DROVE AWAY HE SPAT ON THE WINDSCREEN OF THE BUS. SUCH A NICE PERSON.
THE OTHER NON PASSENGER WAS WAITING AT THE grand HOTEL AND TO MAKE SURE I SAW HER SHE TOOK TWO STEPS INTO THE ROAD AND PUT OUT HER HAND. NO PROBLEM SO FAR. I LIKE PEOPLE TO MAKE THEIR INTENTIONS CLEAR. I INDICATED LEFT AND TURNED INTO THE BUS LAY-BY. SHE WAS SO DETERMINED THAT I WOULD STOP THAT SHE REMAINED STANDING IN MY PATH FORCING ME TO BRAKE HARDER THAN I SHOULD. SHE SEEMED SURPRISED WHEN I REFUSED TO LET HER ON THE BUS BUT AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED NO ONE ENDANGERS THE BUS AND TRAVELS ON IT.
AS I SAY MOST PASSENGERS ARE FINE, NOW AND THEN ONE OR TWO ARE NOT.
Low Floor Buses on the 31 Route.
THE COMPANY LEASED SOME LOW FLOOR BUSES IN THE HOPE THAT IF PASSENGER NUMBERS WENT UP ENOUGH THEY WOULD BUY THEM. sadly THE NUMBERS DID GO UP BUT ONLY SLIGHTLY AND THEY ARE GOING AT THE END OF THE MONTH.
Sunday, October 10, 2004
'CRISIS' FEARS ON COLLEGE BUS LINK
South Devon College IS THE CLOSEST TORBAY WILL GET TO A UNIVERSITY.
IN RECENT YEARS THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS HAS GROWN AND NOW THEY HAVE SOLD THE SITE THEY OCCUPY, WHICH IS ON THE 12 ROUTE. TO BE ANY WHERE IN TORBAY YOU HAVE TO BE ON THE 12 ROUTE.
THEY ARE MOVING TO A PLACE ON THE RINGROAD WHERE NORTEL USED TO BE BEFORE THEY FAILED. IT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE AND NOT ON A BUS ROUTE.
NOW STAGECOACH SAY THAT THEY WILL HAVE DIFFICULTY IN PROVIDING A BUS SERVICE FOR THE STUDENTS. HOW TO MAKE YOURSELF POPULAR. the BROWN SMELLY STUFF IS DEFIANTLY HITTING THE FAN AT THIS VERY MOMENT.
Saturday, October 09, 2004
Waiting for a bus that doesn't come.
TO DAY WHILE I WAS ON MY BREAK AT PAIGNTON A DRIVER CAME IN FOR HIS BREAK. HE EXPRESSED SORROW FOR THE DRIVER OF THE NEXT BUS TO BRIXHAM. AS I WAS THAT DRIVER I ASKED HIM WHY. HE TOLD ME THAT HE HAD BROUGHT A NUMBER 12 FROM NEWTON ABBOT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO TO BRIXHAM AT 19:05 BUT THERE WAS NO DRIVER TO TAKE OVER FROM HIM AND HE HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED TO PUT UP PAIGNTON ONLY.
MY BUS WAS DUE TO LEAVE AT 19:25 WHICH WOULD MEAN PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR 40 MINUTES ON THE BUS STATION FOR A BUS FOR BRIXHAM. IT WOULD ALSO MEAN THAT OTHER PEOPLE WOULD HAVE BEEN WAITING ALL ALONG THE ROUTE FOR UP TO 40 MINS FOR A BUS. AT LEAST IT WASN'T RAINING.
AS EXPECTED I WAS ASKED BY SEVERAL UPSET PEOPLE WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO THE BUS IN FRONT. ALL I COULD SAY WAS THE DRIVER HAD NOT TURNED IN FOR WORK AND IF IT WAS ANY CONSOLATION THE MISSING BUS THAT THEY HAD BEEN WAITING FOR WAS ALSO THE ONE I WOULD HAVE BEEN CATCHING TO GO HOME AND THAT I TOO WOULD HAVE TO WAIT AN EXTRA 20 MINUTES TO GET HOME.
TWO OR THREE PASSENGERS THOUGHT THIS WAS FUNNY. ONE EVEN OBSERVED THAT I WOULD KNOW HOW IT FELT TO STAND AROUND HOPING AGAINST HOPE THAT THE BUS WOULD ONE DAY TURN UP. AT LEAST I KNEW IT WASN'T COMING AND STAYED IN THE OFFICE AND HAD A CUP OF COFFEE.
Thursday, October 07, 2004
New Information re 77 v 78
I wrote yesterday about my misgivings that the 77 route had been chosen in preference to the easier ( in my opinion ) 78 route around Buckland.I have been informed by a reliable source that Stagecoach Devon Management, The RMT Union, The Health & Safety Exec and the Local Authority had talks to decide which of the routes was to be withdrawn.It seems that the deciding factor was concern that problems could occur if there was a frost on the steep hill at Buckland Brake. It was felt that it was more dangerous for a bus to go down that hill in frosty weather than to go up it. The 77 goes up it; the 78 will shortly no longer go down it.I was also informed that the Local Authority had promised to look at the problems caused for the 77 route on the estate by parked cars.Once again it is nice to discover that some one does care about the well being of the drivers.
Posted at 00:11 by desfordaveRing the bell
Monday, October 04, 2004
Driving a 77 Round Buckland.
IN NEWTON ABBOT THERE IS AN ESTATE CALLED BUCKLAND. IT'S NOTHING LIKE TOLKIN'S BUCKLAND APART FROM THE FACT THAT BOTH ARE BUILT ON THE SIDE OF A HILL.
THERE IS ONE BUS ROUTE ROUND BUCKLAND BUT TWO BUS NUMBERS. THE 77 GOES ROUND ANTI CLOCKWISE AND THE 78 GOES THE SAME ROUTE BUT CLOCKWISE. THERE IS NO SENSIBLE REASON TO HAVE THIS ARRANGEMENT, IT TAKES MORE OR LESS THE SAME TIME TO GET FROM ANYWHERE IN BUCKLAND TO NEWTON AND NO ONE WAITS FOR ONE BUS IN PREFERENCE TO THE OTHER. from MY POINT OF VIEW AND OTHER DRIVERS I HAVE SPOKEN TO THERE IS A PREFERENCE.
AS YOU ENTER BUCKLAND THE 77 TURNS RIGHT AND CLIMBS UP A VERY STEEP HILL WITH A SHARP TURN HALF WAY UP. THE HILL IS SO STEEP IT HAS TO BE CLIMBED IN FIRST GEAR,THIS CLIMB LASTS 250 YARDS WITH LOTS OF NOISE FROM THE ENGINE TO THE ANNOYANCE OF THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE ROAD. THEN ALONG A NARROW ROAD WITH PARKED CARS ON THE LEFT. IF ANYONE ENTERS THE ROAD YOU HAVE TO PULL INTO THE LEFT IF THERE IS A SPACE OR EVEN REVERSE. IF THERE ISN'T. THEN A RIGHT TURN AND PARKED CARS AGAIN ON THE LEFT, THEN A LEFT TURN INTO A ROAD WITH CARS PARKED ON THE LEFT. AS YOU START THE TURN YOU CAN NOT SEE IF THERE IS ANYTHING COMING THE OTHER WAY. IF ANYTHING IS YOU HAVE TO REVERSE. further ON THE ROAD BENDS TO THE LEFT FOR A LONG WAY WITH PARKED CARS ON THE LEFT. IF ANYTHING COMES TOWARDS YOU AT THIS POINT IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE THEN ROUND THE BEND AND THERE ARE ONLY SMALL SPACES ON THE LEFT WHICH ARE DIFFICULT TO GET IN AND OUT OF WITH THE BUS. WHEN YOU GET TO THE EXIT FROM BUCKLAND ON A 77 YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE DONE 10 LAPS IN A STOCK CAR RACE.
ON THE 78 THE PARKED CARS ARE ALMOST ALL ON THE RIGHT WITH SPACES BIG ENOUGH FOR CARS TO MOVE INTO AND ALL THE TURNS ARE IN TO ROADS YOU CAN SEE ALONG WAY DOWN SO YOU CAN EASILY STOP IF ANY ONE IS COMING. the HILL UP TO THE TOP OF THE ESTATE IS LONG AND CAN BE DONE EASILY IN 3RD GEAR WITHOUT STRAINING THE ENGINE AND EARS. when YOU EXIT BUCKLAND WHILE YOU DON'T FEEL YOU HAVE BEEN FOR A DRIVE IN THE COUNTRY YOU ARE MUCH LESS STRESSED THAN THE POOR SOD ON THE 77.
AS I SAID THERE IS NO REAL NEED FOR THIS ARRANGEMENT AND THE COMPANY HAVE DECIDED TO DO AWAY WITH ONE OF THE BUSES. THERE WILL JUST AS MANY BUSES GOING ROUND BUCKLAND AS THERE EVER WERE. NOW THEY WILL ALL GO THE SAME WAY.
WHICH WAY WOULD YOU PICK? THE 77 WITH THE VERY STEEP CLIMB, THE BLIND CORNERS AND MOST OF THE TIME DRIVING ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE OF THE PARKED CARS?
NO. WHY Not? stagecoach have. From the end of this month the 77 will be the only bus driving round buckland. I wonder if anyone in head office has ever driven a bus round buckland or did they just flip a coin to decide which bus to keep.
Letter From Head Office.
A couple of changes have been made in the last week to our fare structure. One is the removal of the student tickets and their replacement with UniRiders. Uni being short for university. Any College or university student can buy these tickets on production of a NUS card or student ID. (see last posting)
The other change is the fact that Devon County Wide tickets (half price tickets for Pensioners and Disabled) are no longer rounded down to the nearest 5p. This means we have prices like £1.37, Torquay to Paignton return or £1.67, Return Brixham to Paignton. The problem of having to give copper in change adds to the time it takes to get people on the bus and only having 4 compartments in our cash tray is causing a problem; where do you keep the copper?
Well a letter was posted on the notice board explaining this introduction of copper in our change. The fact is rounding a fare down by 2p cost the company a large sum of money over a year.
It's the letter that is the interesting item here. Often in the past the company have not bothered to inform the drivers of their thoughts behind their actions. It would indicate a change of policy here that on this occasion they have and it is to be hoped that this trend will continue. At lest we know why we have to carry copper and put up with the extra aggravation caused by this failure to round down to the nearest 5p as we have in the past. The more cynical of my colleges may just think the company are just trying to pull the wool over our eyes. maybe they
Thursday, 30 September 2004
September 2004
Thursday, September 30, 2004
Holidays and after.
Back to Work.
Well I have been back at work for almost a week and as usual it feels like I have not been away. We are back on winter running times which are 10 mins shorter than summer. Add on the delays caused by some road works in Brixham and everyone has been running late all week
We have also got a few new routes, none of which I drive on so I will have to listen to other drivers to find out what they are like.
We have also got rid of student single and return fares and replaced then with UniRiders. Students can now buy a weekly ticket that they can use to travel in either Torquay or in Paignton and Brixham for £6.00. The problem for those students living in Brixham and Paignton is the South Devon College is in Torquay so they will need both tickets. £12.00 per week. The problem for the drivers is that it takes 15 key strokes to issue these two tickets. Don't get on a bus in Brixham at 08:00 on a Monday morning when 50 students are getting on the bus and buying their tickets for the week. Then the bus will get to Paignton and 40 more students will get on. Don't blame the driver if your bus is late, it's not our fault.
Posted at 23:43 by desfordaveRing the bell
Saturday, September 25, 2004
Start your engines.
"Start your engines gentlemen". Those words are heard a few minutes before the start of a Formula One Race and the last thing a racing car driver wants to hear before the end of his race is the sound of his engine dying away and stopping. From the comments I heard on a Radio Devon phone in program to day it is also the last thing many bus drivers want to hear.
The first caller was complaining that he lives near a bus terminus and he has to endure the sound of a bus engine running for upto 10 minutes while the bus driver waits time. He asked the program presenter if there was a law or a rule that we had to switch our engines off while we waited at bus stops. Another caller said there was a law that the engine had to be switched of. This is true but only if the driver leaves the bus. If he sits on the bus the Law does not require him to switch off the engine.
Our company rule is that if a driver expects to be stopped for over 2 minutes he should switch off. Some follow this rule, others don't. First, in no particular order, lets look at why we should switch off. Environment, Global Warming, Cost, Peoples' Health, Good Manners, Company Rule, and others I may think of as I type.
Emission gases damage local vegetation add to greenhouse gases and damage peoples health, not just people with illnesses that produce breathing difficulties but children, babies the elderly and even healthy people who are breathing this sh.. these gases and one day they may have breathing difficulties.Why increase the chances. Cost, well it's the company that pays for the fuel so why care about that. Wrong the passengers pay for the fuel just as they pay for almost everything. And half of what the passengers pay goes in my wages. Half of what I waste standing there for ten minutes or so is mine to waste. It comes off next years pay rise. Company Rule, well the inspectors can not be every where all the time. In Torbay alone there are nearly a thousand trips a day, most of those trips involving some waiting time. Good manners, well the drivers in those buses sitting at a terminus with the engine running probably don't know anyone in the house across the road. Reasons for not switching off? Well in winter when you switch off the engine you switch off the heater. I may think of other reasons while I type.
When I listen to the radio phone in type of program I notice that some people just ring in for something to do but some of the people have rung the wrong number. Because the radio presenter wants people to phone in he keeps repeating the phone number, it fills two hours in the afternoon schedule. In return for this, maybe he should have some one in the back room looking up the right number.
Monday, September 20, 2004
Still on Holiday
20 SEPT 04 Monday.
I WENT INTO WORK THE OTHER DAY EVEN THOUGH I STILL HAVE AN OTHER WEEK BEFORE I AM DUE BACK. NOT TO WORK BUT TO SEE THE WINTER ROTAS. THIS TIME LAST YEAR AS PART OF THE STRIKE SETTLEMENT THE 12 ROTA AND TORQUAY LOCAL ROTA HAD BEEN JOINED AT THE HIP AND I HAD 30% LOCAL WORK ON MY ROTA. I HATE LOCAL WORK. HALF HOUR TRIPS THAT SEEM (TO ME) TO GO ON FOR EVER. THE ROUND TRIP ON THE 12 TAKES
2 HOURS 50 MINS AND IS MORE MY CUP OF COFFEE. (I DON'T LIKE TEA). I SPENT THE WHOLE OF LAST WINTER ASKING CONTROLLER FROST TO CHANGE MY DUTIES WHEN EVER A LOCAL DUTY CAME UP AND I AM SURE HE WAS A LOT MORE FED UP OF THE AFFAIR THAN I WAS. HE MANAGED TO CHANGE MOST OF THE LOCALS AND OTHER CONTROLLERS ALSO HELPED REDUCE THE NUMBER OF LOCALS I DID. THANKS GENTLEMEN.
WELL THIS YEAR THERE ARE NO LOCALS ON MY ROTA, JUST TWELVES. WHICH IS A RELIEF TO ME AND TO THE CONTPOLLERS AND THR PASSENGERS ON TORQUAY LOCAL SERVICES.
Monday, September 06, 2004
Away on holiday
Well the summer season ends in 3 weeks but I will miss the end of it as I am on holiday and don't have to drive a number 12 until 26th September 04. Isn't that nice.
I may go on a bus while I am away and if I do I will file a full report.
Wednesday, September 01, 2004
Traffic Jam
click HERE TO SEE SOME PHOTOS I TOOK IN LYMINGTON ROAD. THE TRAFFIC JAM YOU CAN SEE WAS CAUSED BY A LORRY DRIVER UNLOADING IN FLEET WALK AND BLOCKING THE ROAD. FLEET WALK IS 3/4 MILE FROM LYMINGTON ROAD. WHEN THE NEW TESCO STORE OPENS IN FLEET WALK WILL SCENES LIKE THIS BECOME COMMON PLACE? LETS HOPE NOT.
Holidays and after.
Back to Work.
Well I have been back at work for almost a week and as usual it feels like I have not been away. We are back on winter running times which are 10 mins shorter than summer. Add on the delays caused by some road works in Brixham and everyone has been running late all week
We have also got a few new routes, none of which I drive on so I will have to listen to other drivers to find out what they are like.
We have also got rid of student single and return fares and replaced then with UniRiders. Students can now buy a weekly ticket that they can use to travel in either Torquay or in Paignton and Brixham for £6.00. The problem for those students living in Brixham and Paignton is the South Devon College is in Torquay so they will need both tickets. £12.00 per week. The problem for the drivers is that it takes 15 key strokes to issue these two tickets. Don't get on a bus in Brixham at 08:00 on a Monday morning when 50 students are getting on the bus and buying their tickets for the week. Then the bus will get to Paignton and 40 more students will get on. Don't blame the driver if your bus is late, it's not our fault.
Posted at 23:43 by desfordaveRing the bell
Saturday, September 25, 2004
Start your engines.
"Start your engines gentlemen". Those words are heard a few minutes before the start of a Formula One Race and the last thing a racing car driver wants to hear before the end of his race is the sound of his engine dying away and stopping. From the comments I heard on a Radio Devon phone in program to day it is also the last thing many bus drivers want to hear.
The first caller was complaining that he lives near a bus terminus and he has to endure the sound of a bus engine running for upto 10 minutes while the bus driver waits time. He asked the program presenter if there was a law or a rule that we had to switch our engines off while we waited at bus stops. Another caller said there was a law that the engine had to be switched of. This is true but only if the driver leaves the bus. If he sits on the bus the Law does not require him to switch off the engine.
Our company rule is that if a driver expects to be stopped for over 2 minutes he should switch off. Some follow this rule, others don't. First, in no particular order, lets look at why we should switch off. Environment, Global Warming, Cost, Peoples' Health, Good Manners, Company Rule, and others I may think of as I type.
Emission gases damage local vegetation add to greenhouse gases and damage peoples health, not just people with illnesses that produce breathing difficulties but children, babies the elderly and even healthy people who are breathing this sh.. these gases and one day they may have breathing difficulties.Why increase the chances. Cost, well it's the company that pays for the fuel so why care about that. Wrong the passengers pay for the fuel just as they pay for almost everything. And half of what the passengers pay goes in my wages. Half of what I waste standing there for ten minutes or so is mine to waste. It comes off next years pay rise. Company Rule, well the inspectors can not be every where all the time. In Torbay alone there are nearly a thousand trips a day, most of those trips involving some waiting time. Good manners, well the drivers in those buses sitting at a terminus with the engine running probably don't know anyone in the house across the road. Reasons for not switching off? Well in winter when you switch off the engine you switch off the heater. I may think of other reasons while I type.
When I listen to the radio phone in type of program I notice that some people just ring in for something to do but some of the people have rung the wrong number. Because the radio presenter wants people to phone in he keeps repeating the phone number, it fills two hours in the afternoon schedule. In return for this, maybe he should have some one in the back room looking up the right number.
Monday, September 20, 2004
Still on Holiday
20 SEPT 04 Monday.
I WENT INTO WORK THE OTHER DAY EVEN THOUGH I STILL HAVE AN OTHER WEEK BEFORE I AM DUE BACK. NOT TO WORK BUT TO SEE THE WINTER ROTAS. THIS TIME LAST YEAR AS PART OF THE STRIKE SETTLEMENT THE 12 ROTA AND TORQUAY LOCAL ROTA HAD BEEN JOINED AT THE HIP AND I HAD 30% LOCAL WORK ON MY ROTA. I HATE LOCAL WORK. HALF HOUR TRIPS THAT SEEM (TO ME) TO GO ON FOR EVER. THE ROUND TRIP ON THE 12 TAKES
2 HOURS 50 MINS AND IS MORE MY CUP OF COFFEE. (I DON'T LIKE TEA). I SPENT THE WHOLE OF LAST WINTER ASKING CONTROLLER FROST TO CHANGE MY DUTIES WHEN EVER A LOCAL DUTY CAME UP AND I AM SURE HE WAS A LOT MORE FED UP OF THE AFFAIR THAN I WAS. HE MANAGED TO CHANGE MOST OF THE LOCALS AND OTHER CONTROLLERS ALSO HELPED REDUCE THE NUMBER OF LOCALS I DID. THANKS GENTLEMEN.
WELL THIS YEAR THERE ARE NO LOCALS ON MY ROTA, JUST TWELVES. WHICH IS A RELIEF TO ME AND TO THE CONTPOLLERS AND THR PASSENGERS ON TORQUAY LOCAL SERVICES.
Monday, September 06, 2004
Away on holiday
Well the summer season ends in 3 weeks but I will miss the end of it as I am on holiday and don't have to drive a number 12 until 26th September 04. Isn't that nice.
I may go on a bus while I am away and if I do I will file a full report.
Wednesday, September 01, 2004
Traffic Jam
click HERE TO SEE SOME PHOTOS I TOOK IN LYMINGTON ROAD. THE TRAFFIC JAM YOU CAN SEE WAS CAUSED BY A LORRY DRIVER UNLOADING IN FLEET WALK AND BLOCKING THE ROAD. FLEET WALK IS 3/4 MILE FROM LYMINGTON ROAD. WHEN THE NEW TESCO STORE OPENS IN FLEET WALK WILL SCENES LIKE THIS BECOME COMMON PLACE? LETS HOPE NOT.
Tuesday, 31 August 2004
August 2004
Monday, August 30, 2004
Crashes
WELL WE HAD TWO CRASHES TO DAY, IN THE SAME PLACE. AN HOUR APART. NOT BUSES, CARS. BUT THERE IS ONLY HAS ONE MAIN ROAD IN AND OUT OF TORBAY AND WHEN IT IS BLOCKED ALL CRASHES BECOME OURS. WE ARE ALL DEEPLY INVOLVED.
BOTH CRASHES HAPPENED AT COVENTRY FARM ESTATE. JUST NORTH OF THE ROUNDABOUT. TRAFFIC APPROACHES THE ROUNDABOUT FROM THE SOUTH ON A TWO LANE DUEL CARRIAGEWAY ROAD AND FROM THE WEST ON THE TOWN BY PASS. ON LEAVING THE ROUNDABOUT THE ROAD IS TWO LANES FOR 100 YARDS BEFORE REDUCING TO ONE LANE. SOME DRIVERS TAKE MAD RISKS TO GET IN FRONT OF 1 OR 2 CARS WITH THE STUPID IDEA THAT THIS IS GOING TO GET THEM SOMEWHERE FASTER BUT ALL THEY DO IS SIT IN BUMPER TO BUMPER, 5 MPH TRAFFIC FOR THE NEXT 3 MILES. IT IS THE START OF A 3 MILE BOTTLENECK THAT IS KINGSKERSWELL.(TORBAY HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET A BY PASS FOR YEARS BUT TONY BLAIR WOULD SOONER SPEND THE MONEY ON MAKING WAR NOT BY PASSES)
WELL TO DAY SOMEONE'S RISK TAKING DIDN'T PAY OFF AND THEY ENDED UP IN MANGLED WRECK'S ON THE HIGHWAY AND TRAFFIC CAME TO A DEAD STOP. WELL IT CAME TO A HALT AFTER THE BOYS IN BLUE ARRIVED TO RESTORE ORDER. the FIRST BUS HEADING FOR Torquay MANAGED TO GET BY WITH A DELAY OF ONLY 10 MINS BEFORE THE POLICE ARRIVED. THE NEXT ONE CRAWLED TO WITH IN 4 CARS OF THE PROBLEM AND WAS ONLY 15 MINS DOWN WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVED AND SIGNALLED THE SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC TO STOP. THEN FOR 10 MINS THE TRAFFIC COMING OUT OF TORQUAY WAS WAVED ON. THEN ALL TRAFFIC WAS HALTED WHILE AN AMBULANCE ARRIVED. THEN THE TRAFFIC COMING OUT OF TORQUAY WAS WAVED ON FOR A FURTHER 10 MINS.
RESULT, THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF PASSENGERS ALL OVER TORBAY WONDERING WHAT STAGECOACH WERE UP TO AND WHAT KIND OF BUS SERVICE THEY WERE RUNNING.
THE PROBLEM IS THE POLICE ROUND HERE DON'T SEEM TO HAVE A CLUE WHEN IT COMES TO DIRECTING TRAFFIC. WHEN I LIVED IN WEMBLEY THE POLICE THERE WERE EXPERTS AT GETTING 80 000 PEOPLE AWAY FROM THE STADIUM IN A VERY SHORT SPACE OF TIME. MAYBE WHILE WEMBLEY IS CLOSED DEVON AND CORNWALL CONSTABULARY COULD BORROW A FEW OFFICER FROM THE MET POLICE TO TEACH THEM A THING OR TWO ABOUT DIRECTING TRAFFIC.
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
Late Running Buses On a Grand Scale.
BUS COMPANY FINED FOR LATE-RUNNING SERVICES From the Torbay Herald Express
Transport watchdogs have fined Stagecoach £18,600 for its buses failing to meet punctuality standards in Exeter. And Traffic Commissioner Philip Brown has told the firm it must try harder to provide reliable services in the city. Mr Brown, the independent watchdog for public transport in the South West, has fined the company £60 for each of the 310 buses it operates in Exeter and Torbay.During the investigation, punctuality was measured for a sample group of buses in Exeter following complaints from the public and city MP Ben Bradshaw. It was revealed that only 83.7 per cent of those monitored by an independent group met the standard of arriving between a minute early and up to five minutes late. The target is 95 per cent.SOME QUESTIONS.
DID STAGECOACH KNOW THAT THEY WERE NOT MEETING THE REQUIRED TARGET BEFORE THE TRAFFIC COMMISSION TOLD THEM?
IF THEY DID, WHAT DID THEY DO TO IMPROVE THEIR PERFORMANCE?
IF THEY DIDN'T, WHY DIDN'T THEY?
Posted at 22:50 by desfordaveRing the bell Monday, August 23, 2004
Photos
23 AUG 04
while I WAS AT NEWTON ABBOT THIS MORNING I SAW A WOMAN DRIVE A BIG 4 WHEEL DRIVE OFF ROAD VEHICLE INTO THE BUS STATION AND PARK ON THE SANDYGATE STOP. Sorry I have lost this photo due to lack of memory.
NOW THE BUS STATION HAS NO ENTRY EXCEPT FOR BUSES SIGNS AT EACH END AND NO PARKING SIGNS ALL AVER THE PLACE. I HAD MY CAMERA WITH ME AND I DECIDED TO TAKE A PHOTO TO WHICH I WOULD HAVE ADDED A WITTY CAPTION SUCH AS "DRIVER SPENDS SO MUCH TIME OFF ROAD SHE HAS FORGOTTEN WHAT NO ENTRY MEANS."
WHEN I HAD TAKEN THE PHOTO I TURNED TO GO BACK TO THE BUS AND RIGHT BEHIND ME WAS AN OTHER CAR JUST DRIVING INTO THE BUS STATION. SO I TOOK A PHOTO OF THAT CAR AS WELL. Click Here to see this photo; You can if you want but it's just a car.the DRIVER, A YOUNG WOMAN STUCK HER HEAD OUT OF THE WINDOW AND SAID SHE WAS LOOKING FOR A CAR PARK. I TOLD HER NICELY THAT SHE SHOULD NOT DRIVE THROUGH THE BUS STATION BUT REVERSE BACK AND TURN ROUND. I THEN GOT BACK ON THE BUS.
NEXT THING SHE IS ON THE BUS DEMANDING THAT I DELETE THE PHOTO. SHE HAD JUST SEEN THE NO ENTRY SIGN.
I REFUSED. SHE CALLED ME A PERVETE AND SAID I HAD NO RIGHT TO TAKE HER PHOTO. I TOLD HER SHE WAS IN A PUBLIC PLACE BREAKING THE LAW AND I COULD TAKE HER PHOTO. SHE CALLED ME A VERY RUDE NAME AND GOT TOLD OFF BY SOMEONE ON THE BUS. ANY WAY SHE STORMED OFF SAYING SHE WAS GOING TO REPORT ME TO THE POLICE. WHAT A GOOD IDEA.
the WEATHER HERE IN DEVON HAS BEEN VERY UNSETTLED ALL MONTH. UNLIKE LAST YEAR WHEN WE HAD LOTS AND LOTS OF SUN.
Friday, August 20, 2004
Unauthorised Bus Stops.
To day, I got called a jobsworth, a mother....ing jobsworth. Plus one or two more or less similar nasty things by an upset passenger. To some extent I could see his point of view so I refrained from seriously headbutting him half to death.
The reason he called me all these names was because I drove past the Casino stop in Abbey Road with out stopping and he wanted to get off there. The problem is the number 12 doesn't stop at the Casino Stop, only the 32 stops there. However some drivers do stop there. The stop is handy for two hotels that cater for the older holiday maker who find it difficult to climb the hill up from Castle Circus or from the bottem of Abbey Road where the 12 does stop. The other day when I was a passenger on a 12, four elderly ladies got on in Paignton and asked for the Casino stop. The driver said the bus didn't stop there but he took pity and said he would let them off there. So he stopped and the ladies got off. So did my foul mouthed passenger from to day. He did not know the bus should not have stopped there and when I drove past to day he demanded to know why. My explanation that Torbay Council wont let us stop there fell on deaf ears but my ears got the full force of his abuse. Verbal only, fortunatly.
The reason the Coucil wont let us stop there is because Abbey Road is a two lane One way street and the stop is 150 yards from a set of traffic lights at which the 12 turns right. The Council think it is too dangerous for us to stop the bus and then pull away and change lanes to make the right turn in 150 yards. The 32 turns left at the lights, no danger there.
The council don't think pulling away from the stop at Windy Corner too dangerous; we only have to pull out of a bus lay-bye, across two lanes whilest watching for traffic coming from behind us at 40 mph, traffic emerging from a road on our left, traffic turning right across us into the road on our left and traffic coming out of a road 20 yards behind us on our right while watching the traffic lights just in front of us. The worst bus stop in Britain to pull away from. To help us the Council put up a notice saying "Please let the bus out" The notice is the size of a cornflake packet, a small cornflake packet.
CYCLISTS, BRAVE SOULS.
ARE CYCLIST MAD?
nO, I WILL REPHRASE THAT.
cYCLISTS ARE MAD.
nOW I KNOW THAT CYCLISTS ARE DOING THEIR BIT FOR GLOBAL WARMING AND WHEN I GET STUCK BEHIND ONE I KNOW THAT IT ISN'T FOR EVER. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE FOR EVER. SO I JUST FOLLOW CAREFULLY, BIDING MY TIME UNTIL I CAN SWOOP PAST AND GET ON MY WAY.
WELL TO DAY I GOT STUCK BEHIND THIS MAN ON A BIKE AND WAS THERE FOR A LITTLE WHILE. I JUST FOLLOWED HIM AND HE GOT A LITTLE NERVOUS EVEN THOUGH I WAS KEEPING A STEADY DISTANCE BEHIND HIM AND NOT REVVING THE ENGINE IN HIS EAR OR PRETENDING TO KNOCK HIM OF HIS BIKE.
WHEN I FINALLY GOT PAST HIM HE MADE A GESTURE WHICH SUGGESTED THAT HE HAD JUST HAD THE WORST TWO MINS OF HIS LIFE.
A LITTLE WAY DOWN THE ROAD I STOPPED AT SOME RED LIGHTS. I WAS THE FIRST VEHICLE IN THE QUEUE AND WHAT DID OUR BRAVE CYCLIST DO? HE CAME UP ON THE OUT SIDE OF THE BUS AND PULLED ACROSS IN FRONT OF ME. THIS MEANT I NOW HAD TO EITHER PROCEED TO NEWTON AT 10MPH (16 KPH) OR, YES YOU'VE GUESSED IT, OVER TAKE HIM.
wELL IT TOOK A LITTLE WHILE AND THIS TIME HE INDICATED THAT IT HAD BEEN THE WORST ONE MINUTE OF HIS LIFE.
nEXT LIGHTS, SAME AGAIN. THIS TIME A FLOCK OF HUNGRY SEAGULLS RIPPED HIM APART BEFORE I COULD OVERTAKE HIM.
IT MUST BE THE ADRENALINE RUSH THAT MAKES PEOPLE RIDE BIKES AND TOO MUCH ADRENALINE ROTS THE BRAIN CELL.
Thursday, August 19, 2004
It's a dog's life.
What ever you do;DON'T TURN ROUND.
A car cuts you up.
You flash the lights,blow the horn, suggest the driver's
parents aren't married, make a friendly guesture.
The car stops and 18 stone of solid muscle dressed all in
black gets out of the car and heads for the bus.
That how this pussy feels right now.
The photo has been moved to save memory
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Rain, in summer, in the Bay.
IF IT RAINS IN TORBAY PLEASE DON'T GO FOR A DRIVE.
WE ONLY HAVE ONE MAIN ROAD THROUGH THE BAY. SO IF YOU ARE ON HOLIDAY AND IT'S RAINING WATCH TV, READ A BOOK, SLEEP, GO FOR A WALK IN THE RAIN BUT DON'T GET YOUR CAR OUT. IT IS BORING SITTING IN A TRAFFIC JAM. I SHOULD KNOW. because EVERY TIME IT RAINS IN THE SUMMER, PRESTON, WHICH IS BETWEEN TORQUAY AND PAIGNTON COMES TO A DEAD STOP. ALL THE TRAFFIC HAS TO GO THROUGH THE JUNCTION AT HEADLAND PARK ROAD AND TORQUAY ROAD. hUNDREDS OF CARS AN HOUR DRIVE VERY SLOWLY ALONG TORQUAY ROAD (THE MAIN ROAD THROUGH THE BAY) AND TEN CARS AN HOUR DRIVE OUT OF HEADLAND PARK ROAD. FOR SOME REASON KNOWN ONLY TO TORBAY COUNCIL BOTH ROADS GET THE SAME LENGTH OF TIME ON GREEN AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS. IT SHOULD TAKE 9 MINS FOR THE BUS TO GET FROM PAIGNTON BUS STATION TO HEADLAND PARK ROAD AND WHEN IT IS DRY IT USUALLY DOES. A BIT OF RAIN AND ALL THE HOLIDAY MAKERS SAY, "IT'S RAINING. WE'LL GO FOR A DRIVE." DON'T GO FOR A DRIVE. PLAY SCRABBLE, STRIP POKER, RUSSIAN ROULETTE, GOTO THE NEAREST PUB OR JUMP OFF BERRY HEAD. IF YOU GO FOR A DRIVE IT WILL TAKE YOU 35 MINS TO GET TO HEADLAND PARK ROAD. IF YOU GO FOR A DRIVE TAKE PEN, WRITING PAPER ENVELOPE AND STAMP AND WRITE TO TORBAY COUNCIL AND ASK WHAT THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT DOES ALL DAY.
Monday, August 16, 2004
Stay Calm
A study has found that there is Prozac in the drinking water. Fair enough but now the funny bit.The Water Standards Agency has urged people to stay calm.
Saturday, August 14, 2004
God hates us.
GOD HATES US.
ON WEDNESDAYS IN THE SUMMER THERE IS A CARBOOT SALE COME GENERAL MARKET IN A FARMERS FIELD IN CHURSTON ON THE WAY TO BRIXHAM. FARMERS WILL DO ANYTHING FOR MONEY. tHIS TENDS TO SEND MORE TRAFFIC DOWN THE ONLY ROAD INTO BRIXHAM AND THE ONLY WAY OUT IS THROUGH THE JUNCTION AT WINDY CORNER.
WELL TRAFFIC, INCLUDING THE BUSES GETS HELD UP. LAST WEDNESDAY IT WAS HELD UP FOR 25 TO 30 MINS AND BUSES ENDED UP RUNNING LATE. WHO GETS THE BLAME? WE THE POOR SODDING BUS DRIVERS DO. BY THE TIME THE TWO HUNDREDTH PASSENGER GETS ON AND SAYS, "WE'VE BEEN WAITING 1/2 HOUR WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? WHAT KIND OF BUS SERVICE ARE YOU RUNNING HERE?" THE ANSWER GETS TO SOUND A BIT FLAT.
Thursday. NO MARKET AND BUSES WERE RUNNING FINE AND GOD LOOKED DOWN AND SAW THAT STAGECOACH TORQUAY WAS HAVING A GOOD DAY AND THOUGHT,"THAT'S NOT RIGHT." SO OVER Newton ABBOT THE Heavens opened and the roads were flooded and buses were running a half hour late. IN TORQUAY AND PAIGNTON THE SUN WAS SHINING SO THE ANSWER TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS RE WAITING TWO DAYS FOR A BUS SOUNDED A BIT FLAT.
FRIDAY GOD MUST HAVE BEEN IN IRAQ OR SOME WHERE HE WASN'T NEEDED AND THE BUSES RAN MORE OR LESS ON TIME BUT NO ONE SAID," WHAT A GOOD BUS SERVICE YOU HAVE HERE."
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
Day off and I nearly set the bus station on fire.
10 Aug 04
I seem to be getting into trouble a lot recently, nothing serious but still a pain.
To day I went to Cartridge World in Paignton to get some ink for the printer. They said the ink would be 1/2 hour so I decided to go to my favourite pub in Paignton. Winstons. Round the corner from the bus station. Two or three pints later I went round to the bus station to get the bus down to Cartridge World. As I had 5 mins I rolled a cig and had a quick smoke. Then I stubbed the cig out (or so I thought) and dropped the butt in the bin. No litter lout me. I got on the bus and sat down. Then an other passenger said, "Oh look, that litter bin is on fire." And sure enough smoke was billowing out. I could have let it burn the bus station down but some one would be sure to recognise me on the CCTV and I am sure burning a company bus station down would be classed as Gross Misconduct.
So I got of the bus to make a quick dash to dial 999 but Lawrence Fielding, a controller came out with a kettle of water and put the fire out. Well done Lawrence.
Monday, August 09, 2004
Running Early
To day I ran early; sort of. The Time Table on the bus stop says leave Newton at 18:30. But the one on the running board says 18:35. Now the passengers don't care what the running board says so I ran by the Time Table. Why should people have to wait an extra 5 mins for a bus just because some one in the office has made a mistake. Now I noticed this mistake 7 weeks ago and reported it. It's only a small mistake but I had hoped something might have been done about it. I think I will give up hoping.
Any way a controller saw me leave at 18:30 and consulted his running board which is a copy of mine and reported me for running early.
I will report further developments.
Turning at Jury's Corner.
Sunday 8 Aug 04
I started from Paignton 20 mins late due to heavy traffic at the Steam Fair in Churston.
Then when I got to Scott's Bridge another driver reported trouble at Aller Brake. A car driver had a lapse of concentration and when he (or she ) looked up it was either crash into the car in front or drive onto the pavement. Driving onto the pavement (sidewalk in the USofA) ripped a front wheel off and the car ended up side on and blocking the Newton bound side of the road. within 5 mins traffic was stationary for 2 miles. Including me and 2 other buses. So I passed my 2 passengers over to Reg in one of the other buses and turned at Jury's Corner and headed for Torquay. It was 4:30pm and all the holiday makers were heading home and I was the first bus they had seen for 1/2 hour. Then 9 people got on with the wrong type of ticket. An other driver had sold them by mistake. By the time that was sorted I was well late.
The second half went smoothly.
Saturday, August 07, 2004
Running early
THOSE WHO KNOW ME WILL KNOW THAT I REGARD RUNNING EARLY AS THE WORST THING A BUS DRIVER CAN DO. well YES THERE IS LOBBING A HAND GRENADE ON TO THE TOP DECK OF THE BUS DURING A SCHOOL RUN OR telling sOME SWEET OLD LADIES THAT THE CRAZY HORSE PUB IS A NICE QUIET PLACE TO HAVE AFTERNOON TEA. bUT EVEN I DRAW THE LINE AT RUNNING EARLY. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE THE LAST BUS.
wELL ONE OF OUR DRIVERS MANAGED TO RUN 10 MINS EARLY OUT OF NEWTON ABBOT THE OTHER NIGHT FOLLOWING A MIX UP OVER SOME WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING ROAD WORKS IN TORQUAY.
fortunately AN OTHER DRIVER SAVED THE DAY. hE GOT TO nEWTON ABBOT FROM BRIXHAM AND WAS DUE TO RUN EMPTY (DEAD IN BUS TALK) BACK TO THE DEPOT. hE FOUND ALL THESE PEOPLE WAITING FOR THE BUS THAT HAD GONE AND TOOK THEm TO THEIR DESTINATIONS. wELL DONE THAT DRIVER. iF I FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DRIVER THAT RAN EARLY I WILL LET YOU KNOW.
Friday, August 06, 2004
An ordinary day
Well I went out and spent the whole day more or less on time while all a round me other drivers were hitting traffic or broken down cars or hordes of students or breaking down themselves or just running late.
It did help having the bus in front of the one in front of me off the road for a while. This means that the one in front of me has to pick up more passengers and starts to run slower and starts to do some of my work. If it gets bad enough I will be able to catch him or her up and help them.
The bus in front of the one in front of me was of the road because the engine cover had come off. A bit of brute strength and ignorance instead of reading the instructions on how to close the engine cover.
warm, sunny and dry day, the only thing that went wrong was that I spilt a cup of coffee down my leg. I had only had a small sip of it as well.
Thursday, August 05, 2004
Children and buses in Fleet Walk
To day , as usual, I drove down Fleet Walk. Fleet Walk is a semi pedestrianised section of road leading down to the harbour and is well used by holiday makers. It is also used by about 50 buses an hour during the day. People walking along Fleet Walk are some times supprised when a bus turns up, buses these days are very quiet and company rules say they must travel at less than 10 mph and have the headlights on.
The reaction of people when they see the bus varies; most see that they are in no danger ( which they are not) and just move out of the way, some panic a little and hurry out of the way. Those with small children are the ones that cause me the biggest problem. The problem is the way they treat their children when they see the bus. They tend to grab the child, drag them to the side and shout at the child for being in the road. They always blame the poor child for not looking out for the bus even when they them selves didn't see the bus coming. No one is in any danger from buses in Fleet Walk but some parents seem to want to find fault with there children's actions even though there is no fault to be found. I suppose to some extent it is a natural reaction: child appears to be in danger, shout at it for being apparently in danger so child will be more careful in future. But now the child gets upset without reason. Parents are upset without reason and everyone blames the bus.
We always drive slowly down Fleet Walk and no one has ever been hit by a bus but I think it would save dozens of unpleasant incidents a day in the summer if the council could paint warning signs in the road way or erect notices at each end of Fleet Walk saying "Buses Drive Down This Road".
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
Two miles in 45 mins
Today I started in Paignton and went first to Newton Abbot. Got there on time then headed for Brixham as usual. Got to Torquay and Paignton and on the Windy Corner no problem. Windy Corner is 2 miles from Brixham and usually takes 8 mins. Well to day it took 8 mins but there was a queue of traffic coming all the way out of Brixham to Windy Corner and I passed 5 buses heading for Windy Corner. When I loaded up in brixham I warned the passengers that the usual 20 min trip to Paignton would take 50 mins. It took an Hour.
The traffic was due to a Market in a field. People come on holiday and just want to go shopping.
I ended up getting exactly 30 mins for my meal break. I have to have 30 mins, that's the law. Buses were running late all over the place.
Monday, August 02, 200
dyslexic bus driver
From the Herald Express
RESIGN OR BE SACKED, DYSLEXIC BUS DRIVER TOLD 11:00 - 02 August 2004 A bus driver who drove in the wrong direction, ran out of petrol and left stops too early was unfairly treated because he was dyslexic, an industrial tribunal has ruled. Tom Adams, 32, claimed that he was told to "resign or be sacked" by operators Stagecoach because of his disability.He quit because he feared that he would be dismissed.An employment tribunal ruled that the firm discriminated against Mr Adams because it had not taken his needs into account, even though he had informed his employers of his condition.The hearing was told that Mr Adams had been given a final warning for using a mobile phone while driving the minibus.He had also been disciplined for failing to refuel the bus, and for leaving stops too early.Mr Adams claimed that the reason for this was because he could not understand his running card - the timetable that tells drivers when they should be leaving a stop.On one occasion, Mr Adams headed for Stoke Canon, near Exeter, instead of his home town of Crediton because of his difficulties.He told the hearing in Exeter: "When I went for the interview, I said I had dyslexia."The tribunal heard that he would often stand his bus on the wrong side of the road because he misread his card.Once he ran out of fuel going to Sidmouth in East Devon because he failed to refer to his running card, which gives details of how much petrol is left.Stagecoach Devon denied knowing that Mr Adams suffered from the condition.But the tribunal ruled unanimously that Mr Adams was treated less favourably because of his disability, and that Stagecoach had failed to discharge its duty to make reasonable adjustments.They said that although Mr Adams was "a disorganised individual, we nonetheless judge him to be a truthful person".A hearing to decide how much compensation Mr Adams is entitled to receive will be held at a later date.
I now know the Law is an Ass.
Posted at 15:35 by desfordavethe bell has been rung (1) Permalink
Crashes
WELL WE HAD TWO CRASHES TO DAY, IN THE SAME PLACE. AN HOUR APART. NOT BUSES, CARS. BUT THERE IS ONLY HAS ONE MAIN ROAD IN AND OUT OF TORBAY AND WHEN IT IS BLOCKED ALL CRASHES BECOME OURS. WE ARE ALL DEEPLY INVOLVED.
BOTH CRASHES HAPPENED AT COVENTRY FARM ESTATE. JUST NORTH OF THE ROUNDABOUT. TRAFFIC APPROACHES THE ROUNDABOUT FROM THE SOUTH ON A TWO LANE DUEL CARRIAGEWAY ROAD AND FROM THE WEST ON THE TOWN BY PASS. ON LEAVING THE ROUNDABOUT THE ROAD IS TWO LANES FOR 100 YARDS BEFORE REDUCING TO ONE LANE. SOME DRIVERS TAKE MAD RISKS TO GET IN FRONT OF 1 OR 2 CARS WITH THE STUPID IDEA THAT THIS IS GOING TO GET THEM SOMEWHERE FASTER BUT ALL THEY DO IS SIT IN BUMPER TO BUMPER, 5 MPH TRAFFIC FOR THE NEXT 3 MILES. IT IS THE START OF A 3 MILE BOTTLENECK THAT IS KINGSKERSWELL.(TORBAY HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET A BY PASS FOR YEARS BUT TONY BLAIR WOULD SOONER SPEND THE MONEY ON MAKING WAR NOT BY PASSES)
WELL TO DAY SOMEONE'S RISK TAKING DIDN'T PAY OFF AND THEY ENDED UP IN MANGLED WRECK'S ON THE HIGHWAY AND TRAFFIC CAME TO A DEAD STOP. WELL IT CAME TO A HALT AFTER THE BOYS IN BLUE ARRIVED TO RESTORE ORDER. the FIRST BUS HEADING FOR Torquay MANAGED TO GET BY WITH A DELAY OF ONLY 10 MINS BEFORE THE POLICE ARRIVED. THE NEXT ONE CRAWLED TO WITH IN 4 CARS OF THE PROBLEM AND WAS ONLY 15 MINS DOWN WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVED AND SIGNALLED THE SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC TO STOP. THEN FOR 10 MINS THE TRAFFIC COMING OUT OF TORQUAY WAS WAVED ON. THEN ALL TRAFFIC WAS HALTED WHILE AN AMBULANCE ARRIVED. THEN THE TRAFFIC COMING OUT OF TORQUAY WAS WAVED ON FOR A FURTHER 10 MINS.
RESULT, THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF PASSENGERS ALL OVER TORBAY WONDERING WHAT STAGECOACH WERE UP TO AND WHAT KIND OF BUS SERVICE THEY WERE RUNNING.
THE PROBLEM IS THE POLICE ROUND HERE DON'T SEEM TO HAVE A CLUE WHEN IT COMES TO DIRECTING TRAFFIC. WHEN I LIVED IN WEMBLEY THE POLICE THERE WERE EXPERTS AT GETTING 80 000 PEOPLE AWAY FROM THE STADIUM IN A VERY SHORT SPACE OF TIME. MAYBE WHILE WEMBLEY IS CLOSED DEVON AND CORNWALL CONSTABULARY COULD BORROW A FEW OFFICER FROM THE MET POLICE TO TEACH THEM A THING OR TWO ABOUT DIRECTING TRAFFIC.
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
Late Running Buses On a Grand Scale.
BUS COMPANY FINED FOR LATE-RUNNING SERVICES From the Torbay Herald Express
Transport watchdogs have fined Stagecoach £18,600 for its buses failing to meet punctuality standards in Exeter. And Traffic Commissioner Philip Brown has told the firm it must try harder to provide reliable services in the city. Mr Brown, the independent watchdog for public transport in the South West, has fined the company £60 for each of the 310 buses it operates in Exeter and Torbay.During the investigation, punctuality was measured for a sample group of buses in Exeter following complaints from the public and city MP Ben Bradshaw. It was revealed that only 83.7 per cent of those monitored by an independent group met the standard of arriving between a minute early and up to five minutes late. The target is 95 per cent.SOME QUESTIONS.
DID STAGECOACH KNOW THAT THEY WERE NOT MEETING THE REQUIRED TARGET BEFORE THE TRAFFIC COMMISSION TOLD THEM?
IF THEY DID, WHAT DID THEY DO TO IMPROVE THEIR PERFORMANCE?
IF THEY DIDN'T, WHY DIDN'T THEY?
Posted at 22:50 by desfordaveRing the bell Monday, August 23, 2004
Photos
23 AUG 04
while I WAS AT NEWTON ABBOT THIS MORNING I SAW A WOMAN DRIVE A BIG 4 WHEEL DRIVE OFF ROAD VEHICLE INTO THE BUS STATION AND PARK ON THE SANDYGATE STOP. Sorry I have lost this photo due to lack of memory.
NOW THE BUS STATION HAS NO ENTRY EXCEPT FOR BUSES SIGNS AT EACH END AND NO PARKING SIGNS ALL AVER THE PLACE. I HAD MY CAMERA WITH ME AND I DECIDED TO TAKE A PHOTO TO WHICH I WOULD HAVE ADDED A WITTY CAPTION SUCH AS "DRIVER SPENDS SO MUCH TIME OFF ROAD SHE HAS FORGOTTEN WHAT NO ENTRY MEANS."
WHEN I HAD TAKEN THE PHOTO I TURNED TO GO BACK TO THE BUS AND RIGHT BEHIND ME WAS AN OTHER CAR JUST DRIVING INTO THE BUS STATION. SO I TOOK A PHOTO OF THAT CAR AS WELL. Click Here to see this photo; You can if you want but it's just a car.the DRIVER, A YOUNG WOMAN STUCK HER HEAD OUT OF THE WINDOW AND SAID SHE WAS LOOKING FOR A CAR PARK. I TOLD HER NICELY THAT SHE SHOULD NOT DRIVE THROUGH THE BUS STATION BUT REVERSE BACK AND TURN ROUND. I THEN GOT BACK ON THE BUS.
NEXT THING SHE IS ON THE BUS DEMANDING THAT I DELETE THE PHOTO. SHE HAD JUST SEEN THE NO ENTRY SIGN.
I REFUSED. SHE CALLED ME A PERVETE AND SAID I HAD NO RIGHT TO TAKE HER PHOTO. I TOLD HER SHE WAS IN A PUBLIC PLACE BREAKING THE LAW AND I COULD TAKE HER PHOTO. SHE CALLED ME A VERY RUDE NAME AND GOT TOLD OFF BY SOMEONE ON THE BUS. ANY WAY SHE STORMED OFF SAYING SHE WAS GOING TO REPORT ME TO THE POLICE. WHAT A GOOD IDEA.
the WEATHER HERE IN DEVON HAS BEEN VERY UNSETTLED ALL MONTH. UNLIKE LAST YEAR WHEN WE HAD LOTS AND LOTS OF SUN.
Friday, August 20, 2004
Unauthorised Bus Stops.
To day, I got called a jobsworth, a mother....ing jobsworth. Plus one or two more or less similar nasty things by an upset passenger. To some extent I could see his point of view so I refrained from seriously headbutting him half to death.
The reason he called me all these names was because I drove past the Casino stop in Abbey Road with out stopping and he wanted to get off there. The problem is the number 12 doesn't stop at the Casino Stop, only the 32 stops there. However some drivers do stop there. The stop is handy for two hotels that cater for the older holiday maker who find it difficult to climb the hill up from Castle Circus or from the bottem of Abbey Road where the 12 does stop. The other day when I was a passenger on a 12, four elderly ladies got on in Paignton and asked for the Casino stop. The driver said the bus didn't stop there but he took pity and said he would let them off there. So he stopped and the ladies got off. So did my foul mouthed passenger from to day. He did not know the bus should not have stopped there and when I drove past to day he demanded to know why. My explanation that Torbay Council wont let us stop there fell on deaf ears but my ears got the full force of his abuse. Verbal only, fortunatly.
The reason the Coucil wont let us stop there is because Abbey Road is a two lane One way street and the stop is 150 yards from a set of traffic lights at which the 12 turns right. The Council think it is too dangerous for us to stop the bus and then pull away and change lanes to make the right turn in 150 yards. The 32 turns left at the lights, no danger there.
The council don't think pulling away from the stop at Windy Corner too dangerous; we only have to pull out of a bus lay-bye, across two lanes whilest watching for traffic coming from behind us at 40 mph, traffic emerging from a road on our left, traffic turning right across us into the road on our left and traffic coming out of a road 20 yards behind us on our right while watching the traffic lights just in front of us. The worst bus stop in Britain to pull away from. To help us the Council put up a notice saying "Please let the bus out" The notice is the size of a cornflake packet, a small cornflake packet.
CYCLISTS, BRAVE SOULS.
ARE CYCLIST MAD?
nO, I WILL REPHRASE THAT.
cYCLISTS ARE MAD.
nOW I KNOW THAT CYCLISTS ARE DOING THEIR BIT FOR GLOBAL WARMING AND WHEN I GET STUCK BEHIND ONE I KNOW THAT IT ISN'T FOR EVER. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE FOR EVER. SO I JUST FOLLOW CAREFULLY, BIDING MY TIME UNTIL I CAN SWOOP PAST AND GET ON MY WAY.
WELL TO DAY I GOT STUCK BEHIND THIS MAN ON A BIKE AND WAS THERE FOR A LITTLE WHILE. I JUST FOLLOWED HIM AND HE GOT A LITTLE NERVOUS EVEN THOUGH I WAS KEEPING A STEADY DISTANCE BEHIND HIM AND NOT REVVING THE ENGINE IN HIS EAR OR PRETENDING TO KNOCK HIM OF HIS BIKE.
WHEN I FINALLY GOT PAST HIM HE MADE A GESTURE WHICH SUGGESTED THAT HE HAD JUST HAD THE WORST TWO MINS OF HIS LIFE.
A LITTLE WAY DOWN THE ROAD I STOPPED AT SOME RED LIGHTS. I WAS THE FIRST VEHICLE IN THE QUEUE AND WHAT DID OUR BRAVE CYCLIST DO? HE CAME UP ON THE OUT SIDE OF THE BUS AND PULLED ACROSS IN FRONT OF ME. THIS MEANT I NOW HAD TO EITHER PROCEED TO NEWTON AT 10MPH (16 KPH) OR, YES YOU'VE GUESSED IT, OVER TAKE HIM.
wELL IT TOOK A LITTLE WHILE AND THIS TIME HE INDICATED THAT IT HAD BEEN THE WORST ONE MINUTE OF HIS LIFE.
nEXT LIGHTS, SAME AGAIN. THIS TIME A FLOCK OF HUNGRY SEAGULLS RIPPED HIM APART BEFORE I COULD OVERTAKE HIM.
IT MUST BE THE ADRENALINE RUSH THAT MAKES PEOPLE RIDE BIKES AND TOO MUCH ADRENALINE ROTS THE BRAIN CELL.
Thursday, August 19, 2004
It's a dog's life.
What ever you do;DON'T TURN ROUND.
A car cuts you up.
You flash the lights,blow the horn, suggest the driver's
parents aren't married, make a friendly guesture.
The car stops and 18 stone of solid muscle dressed all in
black gets out of the car and heads for the bus.
That how this pussy feels right now.
The photo has been moved to save memory
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Rain, in summer, in the Bay.
IF IT RAINS IN TORBAY PLEASE DON'T GO FOR A DRIVE.
WE ONLY HAVE ONE MAIN ROAD THROUGH THE BAY. SO IF YOU ARE ON HOLIDAY AND IT'S RAINING WATCH TV, READ A BOOK, SLEEP, GO FOR A WALK IN THE RAIN BUT DON'T GET YOUR CAR OUT. IT IS BORING SITTING IN A TRAFFIC JAM. I SHOULD KNOW. because EVERY TIME IT RAINS IN THE SUMMER, PRESTON, WHICH IS BETWEEN TORQUAY AND PAIGNTON COMES TO A DEAD STOP. ALL THE TRAFFIC HAS TO GO THROUGH THE JUNCTION AT HEADLAND PARK ROAD AND TORQUAY ROAD. hUNDREDS OF CARS AN HOUR DRIVE VERY SLOWLY ALONG TORQUAY ROAD (THE MAIN ROAD THROUGH THE BAY) AND TEN CARS AN HOUR DRIVE OUT OF HEADLAND PARK ROAD. FOR SOME REASON KNOWN ONLY TO TORBAY COUNCIL BOTH ROADS GET THE SAME LENGTH OF TIME ON GREEN AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS. IT SHOULD TAKE 9 MINS FOR THE BUS TO GET FROM PAIGNTON BUS STATION TO HEADLAND PARK ROAD AND WHEN IT IS DRY IT USUALLY DOES. A BIT OF RAIN AND ALL THE HOLIDAY MAKERS SAY, "IT'S RAINING. WE'LL GO FOR A DRIVE." DON'T GO FOR A DRIVE. PLAY SCRABBLE, STRIP POKER, RUSSIAN ROULETTE, GOTO THE NEAREST PUB OR JUMP OFF BERRY HEAD. IF YOU GO FOR A DRIVE IT WILL TAKE YOU 35 MINS TO GET TO HEADLAND PARK ROAD. IF YOU GO FOR A DRIVE TAKE PEN, WRITING PAPER ENVELOPE AND STAMP AND WRITE TO TORBAY COUNCIL AND ASK WHAT THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT DOES ALL DAY.
Monday, August 16, 2004
Stay Calm
A study has found that there is Prozac in the drinking water. Fair enough but now the funny bit.The Water Standards Agency has urged people to stay calm.
Saturday, August 14, 2004
God hates us.
GOD HATES US.
ON WEDNESDAYS IN THE SUMMER THERE IS A CARBOOT SALE COME GENERAL MARKET IN A FARMERS FIELD IN CHURSTON ON THE WAY TO BRIXHAM. FARMERS WILL DO ANYTHING FOR MONEY. tHIS TENDS TO SEND MORE TRAFFIC DOWN THE ONLY ROAD INTO BRIXHAM AND THE ONLY WAY OUT IS THROUGH THE JUNCTION AT WINDY CORNER.
WELL TRAFFIC, INCLUDING THE BUSES GETS HELD UP. LAST WEDNESDAY IT WAS HELD UP FOR 25 TO 30 MINS AND BUSES ENDED UP RUNNING LATE. WHO GETS THE BLAME? WE THE POOR SODDING BUS DRIVERS DO. BY THE TIME THE TWO HUNDREDTH PASSENGER GETS ON AND SAYS, "WE'VE BEEN WAITING 1/2 HOUR WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? WHAT KIND OF BUS SERVICE ARE YOU RUNNING HERE?" THE ANSWER GETS TO SOUND A BIT FLAT.
Thursday. NO MARKET AND BUSES WERE RUNNING FINE AND GOD LOOKED DOWN AND SAW THAT STAGECOACH TORQUAY WAS HAVING A GOOD DAY AND THOUGHT,"THAT'S NOT RIGHT." SO OVER Newton ABBOT THE Heavens opened and the roads were flooded and buses were running a half hour late. IN TORQUAY AND PAIGNTON THE SUN WAS SHINING SO THE ANSWER TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS RE WAITING TWO DAYS FOR A BUS SOUNDED A BIT FLAT.
FRIDAY GOD MUST HAVE BEEN IN IRAQ OR SOME WHERE HE WASN'T NEEDED AND THE BUSES RAN MORE OR LESS ON TIME BUT NO ONE SAID," WHAT A GOOD BUS SERVICE YOU HAVE HERE."
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
Day off and I nearly set the bus station on fire.
10 Aug 04
I seem to be getting into trouble a lot recently, nothing serious but still a pain.
To day I went to Cartridge World in Paignton to get some ink for the printer. They said the ink would be 1/2 hour so I decided to go to my favourite pub in Paignton. Winstons. Round the corner from the bus station. Two or three pints later I went round to the bus station to get the bus down to Cartridge World. As I had 5 mins I rolled a cig and had a quick smoke. Then I stubbed the cig out (or so I thought) and dropped the butt in the bin. No litter lout me. I got on the bus and sat down. Then an other passenger said, "Oh look, that litter bin is on fire." And sure enough smoke was billowing out. I could have let it burn the bus station down but some one would be sure to recognise me on the CCTV and I am sure burning a company bus station down would be classed as Gross Misconduct.
So I got of the bus to make a quick dash to dial 999 but Lawrence Fielding, a controller came out with a kettle of water and put the fire out. Well done Lawrence.
Monday, August 09, 2004
Running Early
To day I ran early; sort of. The Time Table on the bus stop says leave Newton at 18:30. But the one on the running board says 18:35. Now the passengers don't care what the running board says so I ran by the Time Table. Why should people have to wait an extra 5 mins for a bus just because some one in the office has made a mistake. Now I noticed this mistake 7 weeks ago and reported it. It's only a small mistake but I had hoped something might have been done about it. I think I will give up hoping.
Any way a controller saw me leave at 18:30 and consulted his running board which is a copy of mine and reported me for running early.
I will report further developments.
Turning at Jury's Corner.
Sunday 8 Aug 04
I started from Paignton 20 mins late due to heavy traffic at the Steam Fair in Churston.
Then when I got to Scott's Bridge another driver reported trouble at Aller Brake. A car driver had a lapse of concentration and when he (or she ) looked up it was either crash into the car in front or drive onto the pavement. Driving onto the pavement (sidewalk in the USofA) ripped a front wheel off and the car ended up side on and blocking the Newton bound side of the road. within 5 mins traffic was stationary for 2 miles. Including me and 2 other buses. So I passed my 2 passengers over to Reg in one of the other buses and turned at Jury's Corner and headed for Torquay. It was 4:30pm and all the holiday makers were heading home and I was the first bus they had seen for 1/2 hour. Then 9 people got on with the wrong type of ticket. An other driver had sold them by mistake. By the time that was sorted I was well late.
The second half went smoothly.
Saturday, August 07, 2004
Running early
THOSE WHO KNOW ME WILL KNOW THAT I REGARD RUNNING EARLY AS THE WORST THING A BUS DRIVER CAN DO. well YES THERE IS LOBBING A HAND GRENADE ON TO THE TOP DECK OF THE BUS DURING A SCHOOL RUN OR telling sOME SWEET OLD LADIES THAT THE CRAZY HORSE PUB IS A NICE QUIET PLACE TO HAVE AFTERNOON TEA. bUT EVEN I DRAW THE LINE AT RUNNING EARLY. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE THE LAST BUS.
wELL ONE OF OUR DRIVERS MANAGED TO RUN 10 MINS EARLY OUT OF NEWTON ABBOT THE OTHER NIGHT FOLLOWING A MIX UP OVER SOME WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING ROAD WORKS IN TORQUAY.
fortunately AN OTHER DRIVER SAVED THE DAY. hE GOT TO nEWTON ABBOT FROM BRIXHAM AND WAS DUE TO RUN EMPTY (DEAD IN BUS TALK) BACK TO THE DEPOT. hE FOUND ALL THESE PEOPLE WAITING FOR THE BUS THAT HAD GONE AND TOOK THEm TO THEIR DESTINATIONS. wELL DONE THAT DRIVER. iF I FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DRIVER THAT RAN EARLY I WILL LET YOU KNOW.
Friday, August 06, 2004
An ordinary day
Well I went out and spent the whole day more or less on time while all a round me other drivers were hitting traffic or broken down cars or hordes of students or breaking down themselves or just running late.
It did help having the bus in front of the one in front of me off the road for a while. This means that the one in front of me has to pick up more passengers and starts to run slower and starts to do some of my work. If it gets bad enough I will be able to catch him or her up and help them.
The bus in front of the one in front of me was of the road because the engine cover had come off. A bit of brute strength and ignorance instead of reading the instructions on how to close the engine cover.
warm, sunny and dry day, the only thing that went wrong was that I spilt a cup of coffee down my leg. I had only had a small sip of it as well.
Thursday, August 05, 2004
Children and buses in Fleet Walk
To day , as usual, I drove down Fleet Walk. Fleet Walk is a semi pedestrianised section of road leading down to the harbour and is well used by holiday makers. It is also used by about 50 buses an hour during the day. People walking along Fleet Walk are some times supprised when a bus turns up, buses these days are very quiet and company rules say they must travel at less than 10 mph and have the headlights on.
The reaction of people when they see the bus varies; most see that they are in no danger ( which they are not) and just move out of the way, some panic a little and hurry out of the way. Those with small children are the ones that cause me the biggest problem. The problem is the way they treat their children when they see the bus. They tend to grab the child, drag them to the side and shout at the child for being in the road. They always blame the poor child for not looking out for the bus even when they them selves didn't see the bus coming. No one is in any danger from buses in Fleet Walk but some parents seem to want to find fault with there children's actions even though there is no fault to be found. I suppose to some extent it is a natural reaction: child appears to be in danger, shout at it for being apparently in danger so child will be more careful in future. But now the child gets upset without reason. Parents are upset without reason and everyone blames the bus.
We always drive slowly down Fleet Walk and no one has ever been hit by a bus but I think it would save dozens of unpleasant incidents a day in the summer if the council could paint warning signs in the road way or erect notices at each end of Fleet Walk saying "Buses Drive Down This Road".
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
Two miles in 45 mins
Today I started in Paignton and went first to Newton Abbot. Got there on time then headed for Brixham as usual. Got to Torquay and Paignton and on the Windy Corner no problem. Windy Corner is 2 miles from Brixham and usually takes 8 mins. Well to day it took 8 mins but there was a queue of traffic coming all the way out of Brixham to Windy Corner and I passed 5 buses heading for Windy Corner. When I loaded up in brixham I warned the passengers that the usual 20 min trip to Paignton would take 50 mins. It took an Hour.
The traffic was due to a Market in a field. People come on holiday and just want to go shopping.
I ended up getting exactly 30 mins for my meal break. I have to have 30 mins, that's the law. Buses were running late all over the place.
Monday, August 02, 200
dyslexic bus driver
From the Herald Express
RESIGN OR BE SACKED, DYSLEXIC BUS DRIVER TOLD 11:00 - 02 August 2004 A bus driver who drove in the wrong direction, ran out of petrol and left stops too early was unfairly treated because he was dyslexic, an industrial tribunal has ruled. Tom Adams, 32, claimed that he was told to "resign or be sacked" by operators Stagecoach because of his disability.He quit because he feared that he would be dismissed.An employment tribunal ruled that the firm discriminated against Mr Adams because it had not taken his needs into account, even though he had informed his employers of his condition.The hearing was told that Mr Adams had been given a final warning for using a mobile phone while driving the minibus.He had also been disciplined for failing to refuel the bus, and for leaving stops too early.Mr Adams claimed that the reason for this was because he could not understand his running card - the timetable that tells drivers when they should be leaving a stop.On one occasion, Mr Adams headed for Stoke Canon, near Exeter, instead of his home town of Crediton because of his difficulties.He told the hearing in Exeter: "When I went for the interview, I said I had dyslexia."The tribunal heard that he would often stand his bus on the wrong side of the road because he misread his card.Once he ran out of fuel going to Sidmouth in East Devon because he failed to refer to his running card, which gives details of how much petrol is left.Stagecoach Devon denied knowing that Mr Adams suffered from the condition.But the tribunal ruled unanimously that Mr Adams was treated less favourably because of his disability, and that Stagecoach had failed to discharge its duty to make reasonable adjustments.They said that although Mr Adams was "a disorganised individual, we nonetheless judge him to be a truthful person".A hearing to decide how much compensation Mr Adams is entitled to receive will be held at a later date.
I now know the Law is an Ass.
Posted at 15:35 by desfordavethe bell has been rung (1) Permalink
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