Two 140 & 130 drivers unhelpful at 11:30pm

[Set in train]

Eas at the Cultural Centre outbound busway platform. The 140 bus arrived at 11:35pm and the 130 bus soo after.

Politely asked both drivers if they could set down at Greenslopes busway station.

Both refused, the 140 driver said the 111 would come along soon (sure, another 15 mins at the end of an exhausting day).

Asked both drivers if they could please stop at Greenslopes in light of the note on many timetables:

All outbound services departing the City after 9.30pm will set down passengers at any point on the route, where
it is safe to do so for both the driver and passenger

Response both times was, "no, we don't do that".

It's a few minutes away from midnight, both the buses have less than 10 people on them (probably less than 6) so the run is hardly going to be late due to one set down at Greenslopes station. (Edit to add: infact, these rigid parrots probably had to take timing stops along the route later anyway.)

Are these drivers so rigid and inflexible that they must refuse a polite request?

I have had many 130/140/150 drivers happily set down at Greenslopes or Holland Park West stations after 9:30pm.

After 15 mins on the platform in less than pleasant/less than savoury conditions, a 111 bus arrived. During the journey, I asked the driver if the after 9:30pm set down anywhere where safe initative still applied to those routes. He said yes, for every route and that it was unacceptable for them to refuse.

Thanks BT, customer service is a phrase inconsistently understood by your drivers. 

[ozbob]

I have requested advice on this.  Thanks for the post ...

[#Metro]

Thanks BT, customer service is a phrase inconsistently understood by your drivers. 

Privatise, Privatise!! 

[somebody]

Ha Ha Ha!

You actually expect the service to do what it's advertised to do?  Not likely.  You get the same issues with Nightlink.

[SurfRail]

Most drivers appear to be unaware of this, and I have also been told by certain other drivers that they don't like the public's attention being drawn to the fact that this rule is in place.

[Set in train]

Thanks Bob, keen to hear what the outcome is.

Most drivers appear to be unaware of this, and I have also been told by certain other drivers that they don't like the public's attention being drawn to the fact that this rule is in place.

Good point SR, when I have asked for an 'off stop' street address (rather than an unserviced busway station stop), I have encountered exactly that. One night I suggested the driver call bus control and confirm this, he then received his 'refresher' course on this matter.

Thanks also Lapdog and Simon.

[Andrew]

I would recommend if you feel it necessary to give feedback, even if it is to ask for clarification.  I personally have set down late at night on the busway after 930pm at stations I wouldn't normally (it was a while ago when I actually did some late night shifts).  The impression I get is that some drivers interpretation of "a safe place to set down for both driver and passenger" is a bus stop or even only designated bus stops on the service (i.e. no change to what they'd normally do).

[nathandavid88]

Maybe the running express rule for the 130/140/150 should be altered to only apply during times where there are frequent alternatives (say, 7am until 9pm) so that there's no question.

From my personal experience, I have to say that the attitude of some BT bus drivers can leave a lot to be desired. In general, the drivers on the Clarks LCBS seem to be a lot more polite to deal with. Surfside buses aren't bad either, usually (there are a few exceptions to the rule there though).

[achiruel]

I would recommend if you feel it necessary to give feedback, even if it is to ask for clarification.  I personally have set down late at night on the busway after 930pm at stations I wouldn't normally (it was a while ago when I actually did some late night shifts).  The impression I get is that some drivers interpretation of "a safe place to set down for both driver and passenger" is a bus stop or even only designated bus stops on the service (i.e. no change to what they'd normally do).

I understand that some non bus stops may not be safe to stop at but how can they argue it's not safe to stop at a busway station?  Or even say a non express stop on an express service?

[ozbob]

I have received advice to the following:

"After 9.30pm policy does definitely apply and that this policy should have been followed in this instance.

BT management are issuing a reminder to all drivers to make sure that they adhere to the policy."


Thanks for bringing the issue to everyones attention Set in train.

[SurfRail]

It's challenging with things like this.  In my view consistency is a lot more desirable than either having this rule in place or not.

Even now I come across drivers who can't use their machines correctly (and this appears to be one of the reasons behind that "fake" school bus from the other day which was just a normal Surfside bus with a new driver).

[somebody]

One wonders why only express stops are loaded into the Go Card system for runs like the N100, N130 etc.

[Set in train]

I have received advice to the following:

"After 9.30pm policy does definitely apply and that this policy should have been followed in this instance.

BT management are issuing a reminder to all drivers to make sure that they adhere to the policy."


Thanks for bringing the issue to everyones attention Set in train.

Thanks for your efforts Bob and to everyone who posted as well. A very helpful thread.

I did receive a reply from Translink via e-mail that said much the same.

[ozbob]

 

[somebody]

On this issue, it's pretty unhelpful that every stop is not loaded into the go card system for the Nightlink routes.  It reinforces the idea that the services should only stop at express stops.  Any ambiguity aids the drivers in getting away with it.