Bus stop time tables

[noel]

I've noticed that the time tables posted at bus stops have been taken down. Now to find the time of the next bus you have to text a number which charges 25p and gives the time of the next 3 buses. Really handy if you haven't got a mobile as don't many senior citizens.
Why has the council done this?

[Martin]

Don't they have electronic signs at the bus stops?

[noel]

quote:

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Originally posted by Martin

Don't they have electronic signs at the bus stops?

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Not where I live Martin. Photo to follow methinks.

[Leyland Guardian]

We did a story about this a few weeks ago -

25p text now needed for bus timetables

http://www.leylandguardian.co.uk/news/lo...-1-4257324

[cllrmatt]

The 'real-time' bus information displays, which told you which bus was coming next and how long it would take to arrive, where originally funded through a European scheme called Civitas. This involved Preston, South Ribble and LCC joining up with 25 other European cities to explore ways to improve and promote public transport and minimise the number of unneccesary car journeys. Each city (for this project Preston/South Ribble was treated as a city!)was invited to share ideas, host conferences and bid for European funding to deliver projects which promoted public transport. Preston/South Ribble used their funding to do some interesting research (did you know that 70% of all car journeys in South Ribble cover a distance of less than 1000 metres?) and some practical measures such as the signs at bus stops and improving bus shelters.
The European funding has now ended (the current administration refuses to even attend conferences in Europe as a cost cutting measure) and LCC has decided that it isnt going to pay for them out of its on money. Hence, the signs have been switched off and are being removed.
Allegedly!

[noel]

Hope you don't mind me copying that article Kay, not everyone can access your website, and even so, why pull down the written timetables totally irrespective of funding? It's cost more to pull them down than to leave them up for heaven's sake! I'd happily post the time tables at our bus stops if it helps the council.

Taken from Leyland Guardian
http://www.leylandguardian.co.uk/news/lo...-1-4257324


Commuters are angry after discovering they have to text to find out when their bus is due at some stops.

Lancashire County Council has launched a new initiative to save money on printed and electronic timetables, meaning people now have to send a 25p text to get information.

More than 50 bus stops across Leyland are left without timetable information now, leaving customers furious.

Jeff Lostock was waiting at a bus stop on the A6 in Whittle-le-Woods when he saw the notice telling him to text the council.

He said: “I think this is discriminating against older people, because a lot of pensioners don’t have mobile phones.

“Some people who use the bus services regularly might know when their bus is due to arrive, but some people will be from out of the area and will have to rely on this texting service.

“I’m only using the buses while my car is being fixed, but I feel sorry for anyone who has to use the bus often.”

LCC said the move is part of a long-term plan to save more than £170m in the run up to 2014.

Tim Ashton, Cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “The timetables at certain bus stops have been removed, as part of county council’s wider plans to save £179m up to 2014.

“We had to make some tough decisions in finalising our budget to protect frontline services and spend £133m less on management and administration over the next three years.”

He added: “There are still many different ways for passengers to find out travel details.

“The county council will continue to provide bus timetable information on posters at bus stations/interchanges, and it will still be available over the internet or by phoning Traveline.”

[APFaz]

Yet another uncosted brainwave reliant on funding but sold as a wonderful and much needed thing, when the timetables (which as suppliers the bus providers should provide) were never a problem.

Wonder were the bright spark who thought them up now is - probably sat at another desk to make their next 'wonderful suggestion'.

Texts are for one reason only, no matter what spin the council put on it and that's to generate revenue!

Tim Ashton by the way is the Tory councillor most in favour of dumping the waste plant in Farington who branded everyone nimbies despite warnings of smells being reported at the sister site in Australia, so if anyone is thinking of complaining to him I'd say don't bother, stamps went up yesterday (so the Tories could make Royal Mail better to sell) and you'd be better off saving the money.

[noel]

Yet the labour Lancs CC were the group behind the waste centre. Let's get it right Andy and let's not go off track.

[APFaz]

quote:

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Originally posted by noel

Yet the labour Lancs CC were the group behind the waste centre. Let's get it right Andy and let's not go off track.

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Reminding everyone who the Tim Ashton you mentioned is wasn't going off track.

Some may actually think contacting him is a good idea but it isn't.

[Martin]

What they need is something like this.

http://countdown.tfl.gov.uk