please empty your brain below
In most cases whoever writes the notices has probably never been there, they are merely briefly visiting before zooming off in the van to the next job/rta/random incident.

As a result they do the best they can in the time available, hence they inconsistent information.

| 06.10.15 - 7:30 a.m. | #

It has taken many years to educate railway managers and engineers that a railway is a tightly coupled system and how changing any aspect can affect some other aspect. This is now managed through systems engineering. One of the outputs is the various configurations of projects where change is implemented gradually so that all aspects of that change - equipment, software, paperwork, processes and people are all considered and verified to be in place.

Your blogs have convinced me that the bus network has become a tightly coupled system. I suspect that the TfL failed to recognise that the consequential changes to the bus network were at least as important as the cycle super highway and that they needed bus people and information people embedded in the programme team.

100andthirty | 06.10.15 - 7:50 a.m. | #

i bet TFL really love you now!

dave | 06.10.15 - 8:04 a.m. | #

DG, you will need to keep monitoring the situation.

My judgement is that the guy that I spoke to yesterday was there to make some changes on site to calm down the situation (ie, to try and stop your blogs), but I doubt that he is part of TfL's management (for reasons that I won't go into here - I didn't tell the whole story). He was a guy who was sent from the depot in a red van to talk to a guy in a hard hat from the Cycle Superhighway project.

The joined-up thinking that you are hoping for (correct information, corrections to the consultation, etc) is more likely if you continue blogging, now that you have their attention.

RayL | 06.10.15 - 8:35 a.m. | #

Dave - TFL probably do love DG. They can now sit in a dry office until DG points out a problem they need to address. DG is even kind enough to give hints and tips to fine tune corrections.

Martin | 06.10.15 - 8:40 a.m. | #

DG, Route 8 stopped at stop M when I was a Conductor in 1984, and about 15 years later in another job I lobbied to get them to go down Payne Rd to eliminate delays at the roundabout where most traffic turns right, and generally has a queue. Too late Mickey D had put in for their restaurant, and within about a week the site was cleared and the McDonalds built, with Payne Rd having to stay westbound only because of access to the car park.

dg writes: Date tweaked, thanks.

Scrumpy | 06.10.15 - 9:12 a.m. | #

Someone once said, "In a city of over eight million people, why should one voice be more important?"

Now we know why.

Well done DG!

Peter Cameron | Homepage | 06.10.15 - 9:18 a.m. | #

@ 100 and thirty - the bus network most certainly is now a great big connected system because of all of the data used. In addition to the points DG raises about the live consultation about route 25 there will be a load of other issues like stop codes for Busnet (not the same as the Countdown codes) plus asset codes for the stop, the flag, the shelter and the related advertisting, cleaning and maintenance contracts. Managing all those aspects does require effort.

The bus ETMs and Oyster readers will need accurate updated data to reflect the new stop "M" and removal of the other stops so that when people board they're shown as boarding at the right place as TfL capture stop specific ticketing data.

@ RayL - from your description sounds like the local controller was sent out in his red van to sort out the situation. As I've said before he probably had a list of 100 other priority issues given they cover several boroughs.

PC | 06.10.15 - 10:13 a.m. | #

I do think you should send a bill to TfL for Consultant's fees based on a word count of the posts you have made?(Bus User Consultant for Knowledge Understanding and Programming-BUCKUP?)At 1 pound a word, that should keep your Oystercard topped up for a year or two?

South London Lad | 06.10.15 - 10:17 a.m. | #

It should be very simple - a bus stop is a road sign, and should be obeyed like any other. If you are driving a bus and see a sign saying BUS STOP you should do so. The only exception would be if there is a list of route numbers that does not include yours - if there is no list then all buses should stop.

Therefore if TfL have not yet got around to putting a hat on it (or the hat has blown away) you should continue to stop there.

timbo | 06.10.15 - 10:43 a.m. | #

TfL Spin Central really missed a trick here.

They could have posted a comment thanking DG for all his valued input, followed by some Boris Blurb about their hard-working contractors heroically beating the timescale to deliver an early Christmas Winterval present, enabling sinuous cyclists to glide blissfully along their fantastic new azure carpet from the beating heart of the City, whizzing through the vibrant East End and thrusting valiantly onwards to the royal glories of the QE Olympic Park, pausing only momentarily to pop a few blind pedestrians back onto their feet...

Gerry | 06.10.15 - 11:30 a.m. | #

DG - Please don't apologise for writing about local issues on your blog!
Even if people don't know the geography of the area, they will understand the situation you've uncovered. You could be talking about Morden or Golders Green.
Keep up the good work.

Chris | 06.10.15 - 1:08 p.m. | #

Update: Old Bus Stop M is now surrounded by barriers, to ensure it looks really closed.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 06.10.15 - 6:20 p.m. | #

I reckon that TfL will be generally delighted with DG's blogs - or at least the thinking people will. He is generally clear in his criticisms, explains why he's critical and points to possible solutions. He rarely rants (at least not too angrily) and presents generally the view of "the man on the Clapham omnibus". If it were me (and once upon a time for aspects of the Tube, it was!), I'd be delighted to receive such constructive feedback. I might prefer that it was more private, but one can't have everything!

100andthirty | 06.10.15 - 9:00 p.m. | #

This is probably one of those rare cases that having output *ahead of* schedule becomes a crime. On the other hand, why people only care about what they are assigned?

Patrickov | 07.10.15 - 12:41 a.m. | #

Wednesday morning update: At Bus Stop E, the 'Bus stop closed' notice has been removed from the bus shelter overnight. Not helpful. Wasn't me.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 07.10.15 - 6:51 a.m. | #

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Geofftech | 08.10.15 - 8:54 a.m. | #











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