The Ultimate Bus Stop
London has very comprehensive bus stops as these pictures show.
Note.
- Most bus stops have a pole mounted roundel, that can be seen from a reasonable distance. In many cases, anybody with reasonable sight can see the roundel for the next stop.
- Where space permits, bus stops have a shelter with seats, maps and instructions on ticketing.
- Some stops have been extended into the road, so that it is a level step into and out of the bus.
- As shown in the pictures, so bus stops have displays showing the next ten buses, that will be arriving.
But I do think, they could be improved, with extra features.
Internet Connectivity
I feel strongly, that all bus stops should have good internet connectivity.
This could be 4G, 5G or just wi-fi, but I believe this could help with the safety of people on the street.
Comprehensive Lighting
To contribute to safety, I also feel that all bus stops should be well lit.
CCTV Issues
I also feel that all bus stops should have provision for CCTV, so if there was a need, it could be quickly fitted. But if the bus stop had good internet connectivity, then this shouldn’t be a problem.
Phone Charging
New buses have this feature, so why not at the stops?
Power Supply Issues
If we add all these features, we could be needed an uprated power supply.
- So could we see bus stops, with solar panels on the roof.
- Perhaps even a mini wind turbine?
- I think a vertical wind turbine, which was similar to a SeaTwirl, but smaller, could be ideal!
- Could it be called a StreeTwirl?
- A self-powered bus could be created with the addition of a battery.
Self-powered bus stops might be easier to install.
Conclusion
Bus stops will have more features in the future.
A Posh Bus Stop In Islington With A Carpet
Do your local bus stops have carpets?
This picture shows a stop in St. Paul’s Road in Islington!
Who Nicked The Display?
There used to be a Next Bus Display on this stop at the Angel.
Who Nicked The Display?
Why was it removed?
It is such a pain, as like many others, I’m often returning from shopping to Dalston without a spare hand to text the stop on my mobile phone.
I assume it will be replaced.
Someone’s Feeding the McFoxes
I took this picture at the scruffy end of Oxford Street, whilst waiting for the bus home.
Someone’s Feeding the McFoxes
No wonder we have foxes everywhere, with customers of McDonalds putting their litter everywhere!
London’s Step-Free Bus Stops Show Their Worth
The picture shows the bus stop I used to go to lunch today.
A Typical London Bus Stop
It is typical of many stops in London these days, with a wide pavement reaching out into the road, so the bus can draw close alongside.
This one has the standard shelter with a seat and I suspect a map inside showing all the local routes. It’s also got a litter bin.
It looks like too, that Hackney Council has been keeping the snow off the pavement to make it all very safe.
When I got off, there was no chance I would slip, as I only had a downward step of a few centimetres to get off the bus.
It would be interesting to look at the statistics of accidents where passengers are getting on and off buses. I suspect they’ll be some very bad anomalies.
I also think that the expense of these more spacious stops may well pay for itself in less accidents.
One Of London’s Step-Free Bus Stops
The picture shows one of London’s new step-free bus stops.
One Of London’s Step-Free Bus Stops
The stop was also changed from a Request stop to a Compulsory one.
They may make it easier to get on and off a bus, but in some ways because they stick out, it does seem that getting a clear view round the parked cars to see approaching buses is more difficult.
A High-Tech Bus Stop in Burslem
I saw this bus stop in Burslem.
A High-Tech Bus Stop in Burslem
It looks good, but as regards giving information to visitors and locals alike, it was supremely useless. Even the texting system didn’t give any sensible information. It was even more annoying, when you consider I had to wait nearly half-an-hour to catch a bus to somewhere I didn’t really want to go.
You also can’t see it in this shot, but there was a youth using the stop, as a nice place to have his can of strong lager.
It would have been much better, if they’d spent the money on a good draughtsman to make a nice map and poster to enable everybody to use the buses efficiently.
From what I’ve seen outside London, Harry Beck, would now be spinning faster in his grave than any of the basic atomic particles. And of course good well-drawn maps are as rare as hen’s teeth or elusive as Higgs bosons.
Smoking at Bus Stops
I hate it, especially as my son died of a smoking related disease and it seems to make my hay fever and breathing worse.
To make matters even worse, my local stop is a changeover point for drivers and sometimes there are half-a-dozen in the shelter puffing away.
My Local Bus Stop
My local stop is just around the corner and has buses that go everywhere, as this picture shows.
Mildmay Park (Balls Pond Road) Spider Map
Note that the actual spider maps, like this one have more information than their equivalent on the web.
The stop also has a Next Bus Information Number.
Next Bus Information Number
Note in the picture, the local street map.
The stop also has a Next Bus Display.
Next Bus Display
I wonder how long we’ll keep it though, as for many people the text message system will be better.
It is too much to expect all stops to be to this standard, but all important ones should have all the information, travellers might need.
I’m using the system in several ways now.
- I often check before I leave home when the next bus is due, to avoid waiting in the cold, say when I have an early train out of Kings Cross.
- If I’m expecting a visitor, I often ask them to text from say The Angel and then I can be at the appropriate stop to meet them.
- If a suitable bus doesn’t appear imminent, then I might change plan and say walk to Daldston Junction.
The only prediction is that these systems will get better and better. You might for instance text the number with say Euston attached to find the quickest way to get to that station. And I still haven’t brought up the subject of a smart phone. But then who needs one, for this purpose, if you have a smart text messaging system.
Suppose to find your way home in London, all you needed to do was text the stop code like 59415, followed by your post code to 87287. You would then be sent instructions on which bus to catch and where to change to get home.
As children, my friends and myself would wander all over London on Red Rovers. Children probably don’t do that now! But it was great fun. Being able to text to get you to your home, could make it safer.
The Anonymous Widower 