please empty your brain below
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This was defintely annoying this Morning!
Rachel | 12.01.18 - 3:15 p.m. | #
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I was amazed to hear this announcement on my bus this morning especially as after a while it was coming on once the bus was moving. Couldn't understand why. Thanks for the enlightenment DG
Tones | 12.01.18 - 4:25 p.m. | #
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Compared to the equivalent on Met line trains where everything is in full sentences and we even have to be told where the gap is, I'd always thought the bus announcements were pleasingly minimalist, resisting all the padding such as telling us that it's a bus. It seems that is now over.
Andrew S | 12.01.18 - 4:27 p.m. | #
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When Norman Baker was transport minister, he took the bus companies to task over unnecessary announcements and there was a reduction. I really don't want to do the 'it's health and safety gone mad' reaction but in this case, I may have to make an exception.
Ned | 12.01.18 - 4:29 p.m. | #
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Just got off a bus. Blimey, that new announcement is infuriating.
IslandDweller | 12.01.18 - 4:29 p.m. | #
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I rode a local bus in Japan on my trip there last month and the driver made manual announcements pretty much the entire ride. (In Japanese, which I understand a little bit of.)
"Closing the doors, mind the doors please, moving off, hold on, turning left, be careful you don't fall over, next stop is __, approaching stop, opening doors, (you paid when you got off) thank you, thank you, good evening, thank you, bye bye" and then the same thing all over again.
Actually, I didn't find that annoying in the slightest. Yet I know that I'm going to dread riding buses in London from now on.
I still haven't gotten over becoming annoyed when London buses started annoucing all the stops. This is despite the same thing happening in many bus networks across Europe. For some reason, the intonation of that voiceover lady is very grating. And it isn't just because I might be familiar with the route. When I take a new London bus route for the first time and have no idea where I am, I still find it annoying.
John | 12.01.18 - 4:44 p.m. | #
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Does anybody get on a bus not expecting it to move?
PeterB | 12.01.18 - 4:53 p.m. | #
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The first time I got on a bus today the message played just before I got to my seat, and just before the bus started moving. That's clever, I thought.
Unfortunately at the next twelve stops it played after the bus had started moving, including on one occasion just as the bus stopped at some traffic lights.
The utterly maddening part is that the software making the announcement clearly has no idea when the bus is about to start moving, or that most of the time it already has.
diamond geezer | Homepage | 12.01.18 - 4:58 p.m. | #
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Are the announcements only in English?, what about deaf people - how will they cope?, perhaps they ought to be banned for their own safety.
Still Anon | 12.01.18 - 5:03 p.m. | #
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Didn't happen on the bus I was on, but will be really annoyed if it does
Geoff Lumley | 12.01.18 - 5:14 p.m. | #
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There is already a clear audible indication that the bus is about to move - it's made by the doors closing (with accompanying beeps).
timbo again | Homepage | 12.01.18 - 5:22 p.m. | #
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Not that this is any better but at least it seems to be the end of the announcement about the cycle lane at every bus stop.
dg writes: No, I've just checked, and they're still making that announcement too.
Jim Harte | 12.01.18 - 6:49 p.m. | #
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It's pretty pointless anyway as half the time it comes on whilst the bus is halfway to the next stop and at other times people haven't even finished getting off the bus yet@
LBOTG | 12.01.18 - 6:52 p.m. | #
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I’m disappointed to announce that this new announcement malarkey hasn’t reached deepest Dagenham yet.
Rob Healy | Homepage | 12.01.18 - 9:09 p.m. | #
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Heard this for the first time today and thought- wot? Then glanced round and realised everyone else was looking puzzled as we were well on our way to the next stop. Then the sense of humour of the travelling public took over and when asked to hold on, we all did so,some with both hands! We were all sitting down,by the way.
Coming home in the evening rush hour,the message was conspicuous by its absence-I wonder why?
Jo W | 12.01.18 - 9:18 p.m. | #
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When you look at police/TfL road accident data reports it sometimes includes accidents that have happened inside the bus when the driver breaks too hard or someone was not holding on and fell over. Not that this announcement will make any difference.
SJM | 12.01.18 - 9:33 p.m. | #
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Well, that's one way to decrease bus ridership...
James Scantlebury | 12.01.18 - 9:53 p.m. | #
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Please hold on.
There is about to be another comment.
TfL | 12.01.18 - 9:53 p.m. | #
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This is as bad as the one on the trams to be honest. They always seemed pretty pointless too.
Kirk | 12.01.18 - 10:07 p.m. | #
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There's also the problem that people have this mistaken belief that the EU puts this on us, but I hope this is proof that a lot of this "health and safety gone mad" is very much a British thing led from a tall tower in Chiswick.
Kirk | 12.01.18 - 10:09 p.m. | #
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The shrill chimes and the permababble of Southeastern's Public Annoyance system has made me go by car whenever possible.
That ghastly hectoring female voice (men are always banned in the interests of equality) endlessly repeating all the wretched stops amounts to cruel and unusual punishment.
Looks like TfL's buses will now be equally unbearable without an expensive pair of noise cancelling headphones...
Gerry | 12.01.18 - 10:55 p.m. | #
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I'm on the number 25 bus.
I've just been on the number 69.
They're all doing it.
Bus doors close.
Bus pulls off from bus stop.
Bus announces number and destination.
Five second pause.
Please hold on, the bus is about to move.
Pre-programmed idiocy.
diamond geezer | Homepage | 12.01.18 - 10:55 p.m. | #
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When I moved here, I thought it was hugely annoying that buses in Manchester have no automated announcement systems, telling me where I was and other useful information.
Now I can see it as a bonus!
Andrew Bowden | Homepage | 12.01.18 - 11:12 p.m. | #
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On paper, good idea...
In reality, it doesn't really work because at no point was it ever said at the right time but I just used headphones for most of my journey so I took no notice. Not as bad as the trams though, I don't need to know that trams accelerate and brake very quickly when leaving Wimbledon station
Ethan | 13.01.18 - 12:07 a.m. | #
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Ok, so now it’s reached Dagenham and already it’s farcical as the bus has left stops before the announcement has played.
For some reason, the iBus dot matrix has two dots before the route number on all bus routes including the LO-T rail replacement. I wonder if there’s a connection between this and the new announcement?
Rob Healy | Homepage | 13.01.18 - 7:29 a.m. | #
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Coming back from the supermarket yesterday with an over-stuffed wheelie-bag, I thought it was very considerate of the driver to warn me, as quite often I'm halfway down the bus when it starts to move and then the weight of the wheelie-bag shoots me along the rest of it!!
But then I was vaguely aware it was happening after each stop so just turned up the volume on my headphones!
Problem solved - for me at least!
Cornish Cockney | 13.01.18 - 10:27 a.m. | #
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I've just vented my spleen elsewhere about this cretinous addition to the babble on the buses. It's all over SE London as well and performs exactly as you relate.
Should have known you would beat me to it!
Chris | 13.01.18 - 10:54 a.m. | #
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Why not have signs saying "If the bus is not moving it may start to do so".
OR..
"Why did you get on this bus if you didn't expect it to move ?"
kev | 13.01.18 - 11:34 a.m. | #
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in theory it could work - whenever i'm travel on a bus with my mum i always have to warn her to sit down quickly !
yesterday i saw the driver press a button to trigger the announcement after an older woman got on (not my mum) ... but the older woman completely ignored the announcement ! you can lead a horse to water ...
thankfully the announcement didn't happen at either of the next two stops that i was there for.
ADS | Homepage | 13.01.18 - 11:47 a.m. | #
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By way of some background, it's all to do with Mayoral policy.
[TfL pdf]
[Mayoral pdf]
PC | 13.01.18 - 12:01 p.m. | #
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Signs could also be placed at bus stops - "Buses stopping here are liable to move afterwards".
kev | 13.01.18 - 12:13 p.m. | #
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It reminds me of those stupid signs saying “Trip hazard”, that I nearly trip over every now and again!
Southern Heights (Light Railway) | 13.01.18 - 1:34 p.m. | #
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Am I wrong to recall that the 'next stop' announcements were brought in to assist blind / partially sighted passengers? (Sorry, "customers"). If so, I can't see the point with the new one (which also mystified me for the first time yesterday for reasons already stated by so many), given that a) blind people can also hear the doors closing and b) they'll be well aware through general life experience about the need to hold on.
It's the drivers I feel really sorry for though - imagine having to listen to that hundreds of times a day, every day, and quite possibly almost many comments from passengers about the stupidity of the timing.
Graham | 13.01.18 - 2:19 p.m. | #
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I don't think people need to be reminded that a bus is going to move. If TFL really feel they have to convey some sort of safety message then perhaps:
"Please hold on to any available grab poles when the bus is moving"
Is it still annoying... Definitely! But at least the timing wouldn't matter as much. The ibus announcement system is great and can really help when your in a new area but you only need to know where the bus is going and what the next stop is.
Ethan | 13.01.18 - 2:43 p.m. | #
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Today mostly the announcement came just as the bus started moving. Once, half way between stops. Several times well before the doors closed.
Roy | 13.01.18 - 3:06 p.m. | #
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This is incredibly crap. Have seen other stuff on this today as well. TfL introduce some of the most bizarre ideas in the hope that its complying with legislation when all it does is stick two fingers at other forms of disabilities, just essentially telling us to drop dead.
Rog | Homepage | 13.01.18 - 5:56 p.m. | #
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TfL should be taken to court over this. They have no idea what disability legislation entails and they never consult people like me or certain types of other disabilities. They are just looking for cheap shots to show they are 'providing'for others in compliance with legislation but that's not what the f.... legislation says and they are just so arrogant in that respect.
Rog | Homepage | 13.01.18 - 6:02 p.m. | #
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When I last checked, the number and destination announcement only occurs when the entrance doors have been opened. Set down only - nothing.
So the same for "hold tight"?
dg writes: Seemingly, yes.
Mike D | 13.01.18 - 6:04 p.m. | #
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I suspect someone could now take them to court for causing injury if they fail to make the announcement !
kev | 13.01.18 - 7:11 p.m. | #
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Just been out (taking the bus of course) on way home I thought what about this important announcement?Obviously one that TfL's overlooked!
"Please hold on tight. The bus is about to make an emergency stop."
Rog | Homepage | 13.01.18 - 9:26 p.m. | #
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What's wrong with a jaunty "Hold very tight please, Ding Ding" ?
petras409 | 13.01.18 - 10:44 p.m. | #
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Not only jaunty, but more significantly, the "Ding Ding" was the instruction to start moving the bus.
kev | 14.01.18 - 9:59 a.m. | #
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Yesterday on my journey, the announcement was made and then the bus waited so long I could have got off again before it moved.
MikeR | 14.01.18 - 10:18 a.m. | #
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I'd like a Ding Ding, but fear there are too many Dings already!
Why does every single passenger wanting to alight feel the need to signify they too want the bus to stop? If the 'Bus Stopping' sign is showing, others don't need to keep repeatedly pressing the button!
Nor is it necessary to press it if it's obviously going to stop - ie our local bus garage! Some people ding just as the bus is pulling into it when it is obvious it's stopping there! Others ding if the doors don't open within a millisecond of the bus stopping!
Far too much dinging going on!!
Cornish Cockney | 14.01.18 - 10:30 a.m. | #
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I didn't realise that the announcements were a London wide thing. Heard them yesterday. I went on two different buses and I don't think any of the announcements were made until after the bus was moving, and mostly up to about 15 seconds later. Totally useless!
Regarding Bus Stopping multiple Ding Dongs:
Most times when I want to get off the bus, I will ring the bell whether the Bus Stopping sign is shown or not. The only time I don't is if I see somebody else press a button and hear the bell myself.
I've got caught several times where (I assume) the Bus Stopping sign is faulty, possibly permanently lit, and the bus hasn't stopped because there's been nobody waiting at the bus stop. I assume some other passengers do the same. The annoying thing is where the same passenger repeatedly rings the bell (or may be leaning on a button).
Roger | 14.01.18 - 11:35 a.m. | #
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Thea accident statistics are interesting, but don't appear to distinguish between people not holding on when the bus starts, and the general hazards of driving in cut and thrust traffic / sudden breaking etc.
I find that the acceleration of hybrid buses is much smoother, making this announcement much less needed.
If they really need to do this nonsense, then they should add a quick "hold tight please" after the door beep, and job done. Still annoying, but properly timed.
NickW | 14.01.18 - 1:04 p.m. | #
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Been on the buses in and around Greenwich this morning. At over 50 stops the 'hold on' announcement was played just the once before the bus actually moved off.
Otherwise it was while the bus was moving already, most when it was at the maximum pace between stops!
Chris | 14.01.18 - 1:35 p.m. | #
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I've just ridden home on the 205 bus.
Here's when the message played at each of the 23 stops.
» Perfect
» 30 secs early
» 1 sec late
» 2 secs early
» 4 secs late
» Perfect
» Perfect
» 11 secs late
» 3 secs late
» Perfect
» 5 secs late
» 11 secs early
» 4 secs early
» 7 secs late
» 5 secs late
» 6 secs late
» 7 secs late
» 18 secs early
» Perfect
» 7 secs early
» 7 secs late
» 8 secs late
» 3 secs late
That's early 26%, on time 22%, late 52%
The timing seems to work best when the bus is busy, with several people getting on and/or off.
But most of the time the announcement comes too late to be relevant.
It needs retiming, rewording or removing - preferably the latter.
diamond geezer | Homepage | 14.01.18 - 3:23 p.m. | #
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Here's how the timing actually works:
Bus reaches bus stop.
Bus doors open.
[10 second pause]
Announce route and destination
[5 second pause]
Please hold on, the bus is about to move.
If it takes five seconds to announce the route and destination, then the 'please hold on' announcement will always play 20 seconds after the doors open.
And that's why the message keeps playing at completely the wrong time, generally after the bus has left.
diamond geezer | Homepage | 14.01.18 - 6:39 p.m. | #
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Not just social media now: the BBC has picked it up. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-42681106
Andrew | 14.01.18 - 8:08 p.m. | #
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It can't be long now before there are announcements being made continually with no break throughout a bus journey. Seems headphones are now essential to taking a bus in London. Glad that my local bus (outside of London) doesn't have any automatic announcements and you can still enjoy comparative quiet.
Jon Combe | 14.01.18 - 10:37 p.m. | #
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Utterly annoying - it kept going off whilst the bus was moving. My fellow passengers were getting quite irate about it. If it keeps happening then I’m going to start working from home more and switch to the tube.
Patrick | 15.01.18 - 9:11 a.m. | #
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You'd think this would be something that would be tried out on one or two vehicles or routes first, to see if it makes any difference, and to iron out any bugs. This doesn't seem to have happened here?
Moogal | 15.01.18 - 2:49 p.m. | #
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