This bus is being held here to regularise the service

[skyscraper101]

They do this on the 83.

But it's adverts.

That sucks. They could at least have Sky News with ads inbetween like what they do in some train stations.

 

[berniedicters]

As I understand it, even on routes where the timetabling shows "every 7-8 minutes", there is still some kind of timetabling being operated. In addition to the "47 minutes end to end" point someone else has already made, some kind of regulation to ensure that "every 7-8 minutes" doesn't end up being "nothing for half an hour, then 5 buses come" is necessary, and I've certainly seen inspectors in the past (I expect it's done via radio now) telling a driver to hold for x minutes. I agree that it'd be nice for drivers to say to anyone getting on the bus "Sorry, mate, I'm not going to be leaving for 5 minutes" (in fact I'm sure I've been told that before), but want to bet why they don't all do that? Could it possibly be because people with attitudes like the OP's then give them a mouthful about how the bus driver's stealing their time, so they've learned through bitter experience that it's better just to shut up and leave the punters to it?

 

[paulhackett]

The OP also referred to being told something by the driver, did it not?

I'm not sure he did say that at all. If he was told something then of course he shouldn't have got on, but I don't see it in the OP?

Incidentally, there are ways to get off the bus, even if it's not a Routemaster. We could all see people piling off buses in front when there was a major accident andno-one was going anywhere. Our driver wouldn't let us off, so we hit the button ourselves - not recommended, but a later afternoon on a hot summers day and 20 minutes wedged on a non-moving bus, watching everyone else get off..

 

[maomao]

In Edinburgh the buses near my mum's house run exactly on time which is cool 'cause you only need to get to the bus stop 2-3 minutes early. Only bus route I use regularly in London is the 149 which doesn't follow a timetable anyway but if it did I would hope that they kept it regularised. Regular is good.

 

[TopCat]

They might as well not exist for all the relevance they have to the actual service - not in most parts of London anyway. Except of course, when it is the driver's convenience to observe them in order to regularise the service. And so it goes.

You should tell the drivers of your views, and enjoying walking everywhere....

 

[mincepie]

Tbh this does fuckme off too. It is well annoying especially when you are trying to get somewhere quickly.

I got on the 207 this morning (nad yesterday). Timeabled at "every 6 -8 minutes" so no one really pays attention to the timetable.

TBF when busses are timetabled like that I think it's fair enough that passengers expect the bus to move. It's not like you can complain if the bus turns up early or late cos effefcitvley there is no time for it to come.. it just comes. If it were tametabled 4.12, 4.22, 4.30, etc etc it would be fair enough. etc etc etc

As a fellow 207 user I guess the point is that, the busses get spaced out, so they don't become one 'uber-long bendy bus' made from 3x207 then nothing for 15mins???


As a relative newcomer to London I do find it funny how close some of the bus stops are together....no wonder so many kids are overweight! Try walking!!