#guided bus

[metroli]

Spurrolle - Photo by Moritz Lötzgen

Photo by Moritz Lötzgen

Terelőkerék egy esseni Mercedes MB O 405 GN2 buszon. A vízszintes kerék az L alakú betonprofilon közlekedő kötöttpályás vagy kényszervezetésű busz kerekei elé van felszerelve és ez akadályozza meg hogy a busz eredeti kerekei nekiütközzenek a pálya függőleges oldalának.

[jdjhiston]

When is a bus stop not a bus stop @cambscc @stagecoachcambs ...

When is a bus stop not a bus stop @cambscc @stagecoachcambs …

Mon 16 Sep 19: … when there’s confusing information and bus drivers don’t understand what’s expected of them.Several things wrong:

multiple notices from different parties about the same issue;

reference to non-existent road works; and

misleading guidance regarding the right stop to use

Net result is that the B service which I wanted to use just did not stop. It didn’t help that the drier was too…

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[livias]

The North West’s first guided busway improves connections between Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley. Covering 4.5 miles, the bus-only guided section connects Leigh and Ellenbrook before joining with the East Lancs Road and running along a prioritised route – taking around 50 minutes from Leigh and Atherton to Manchester city centre.

[alltypenoface]

[oakapples]

The Cambridgeshire guided busway looking rather floriferous. 

[cambridgeuncut-blog]

Guided bus drivers told it's okay to run things over

According to the 'Cambridgeshire Guided Busway Operations Handbook v1.2', drivers will be tempted to relax concentration, be less likely to prevent minor incidents developing into major problems, and be prepared to run over small obstructions at speed.

"Whilst driving in a guideway you are faced with circumstances quite alien to everything you have previously faced in driving a bus or a car. Because you do not have to steer (are unable to steer!) and are physically removed from other vehicles there is an understandable temptation to relax concentration compared to that needed when driving in general traffic... It is certainly true that the frequency of potential incidents will be far lower in a guideway than in ordinary driving on road, but the probability of being able to avoid such incidents developing into problems is also significantly reduced."

Okay, so drivers will find it hard to stay fully focused, and if an incident occurs they will be less likely to stop it developing into something more serious. Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.

“Tail-gating or following too close to the bus in front, is particularly dangerous as neither bus can swerve to avoid a collision in the event of the lead bus stopping or braking hard. A distance of not less than 500 metres must be maintained between guided buses in normal operations. You must be vigilant of potential problems and develop a driving ‘culture’ whereby your speed is regulated so that you always have enough time and space to brake safely prior to reaching any potential problem."

Will be interesting to see how this is adhered to, especially considering the poor driving demonstrated on a regular basis by other Stagecoach drivers. The driving 'culture' currently on display is a little uncouth to say the least.

"If you see one or more people standing or moving close to a guideway section a light toot on the horn may be appropriate to highlight your presence."

Absolutely love the phrase 'a light toot'! Can just imagine a slightly stressed bus driver who is running late acting accordingly?

"A very small obstruction in the guideway can, in practice, be run over at speed in safety. However it is always better to try to stop safely before any such obstruction and remove it."

This section is just plain wrong. It's giving bus drivers carte blanche to mow down all unidentified small objects.

"When leaving a guideway you are returning to a normal highway environment in which vehicles and pedestrians will be encountered and are likely to do unpredictable things. Make sure you are back fully in a frame of mind for on-road driving before you reach the end of the guideway."

Shock horror! People are likely to act unpredictably. You have to feel for these guided bus drivers back at the mercy of real road users. Especially if they've not been able to get back in the right frame of mind...