bus shelter count downs..........

[jane1]

can someone tell me, why is it all the bus shelter count downs screens are slowly being taken down, i think they are a brilliant idea in and around East Dulwich,does any one know if they are going to be replaced with some thing else, and they are really reliable, if it says the bus is due, it comes along, and being a single woman that uses a lot of buses and these dark evening ahead of us, i just find it a little bit reassuring to know how long i am going to be waiting at the bus shelter in the cold this winter......

[sedm]

This may be no use to you, but if you have a iphone there is a very good app called Live Bus Times which you can use at any bus stop.

I agree it would be better to keep the count down screens up

[StraferJack]

I hadn't noticed any coming down but these days there are apps which allow to to check ANY bus stop (regardless of wether it had a countdown or not)

If you don't have a smartphone you can text a number (on the bus stop pillar) with a code for the stop and it will text you back with next buses

There is an argument that says waving technology around at bus stops isn't very wise but in all the years I have been doing it I have never had a problem - I'm not advocating not paying attention to your surroundings... just be alert and you should be fine

[Townleygreen]

I have a smartphone but I find it is quickest just to text the stop number to tfl (the number's on the pillar as SJ says). You get an instant response. It's a great system IMHO.

[lane lover]

Agree with the two responses below - it may be a case of TfL saving money given so many people have the said bus apps. They are a godsend, especially in winter!

For the second question - yes, they are very accurate. The only problem is some buses arent picked up; so you tend to get more buses than you expect. Otherwise the boards and app are reliable (they are both linked to the same data source).

[Countrlass22]

Yes also noticed being taken daown and as yet not replaced..also word woarnign the text number on bus stops is charged at multimedia rate by orange/ee cpst ?1.50 a text.

the free aps are best my spouse uses them fine if internet package on mobile....

countrlass22

[Penguin68]

A couple of points

(1) - Bus users include those who do not have, do not wish to use, may find it difficult to use (sight, dexterity - i.e. the old) smart phones.

(2) - Encouraging those who have smart phones to take them out in the street is also an encouragement to those who wish to steal them - and even gives thieves a good predictable spot to predate on users.

Leading me to think that removing the signage at bus stops thus making people rely on smart phones or have no knowledge is a step backwards.

Tech-savvy ED forum-ites are not the only fruit.

[cactus]

Countrlass22, I often use the text service at the bus stop, but I have wondered how much the service costs, I need to check my phone bills a bit more closely from now on. ?1.50 per text is way too much in my opinion.

I don't have a smart phone yet, but I will have to upgrade sooner or later! However I'd rather not be fumbling with my phone at bus stops late at night.

[jane1]

It would be better just to leave the count downs up on the bus shelter for every one that doesn't have smart phones like the elderly,

[ianr]

> also word woarnign the text number on bus stops is charged at multimedia rate by orange/ee cpst ?1.50 a text.

The SMS text charge is said to be "12 pence per text over your standard network rate" according to http://www.tfl.gov.uk/termsandconditions/20914.aspx. It is just a text message, isn't it? The only other thing I can think of is the free web service, which costs whatever you have to pay for data downloads.

[Nigello]

Perhaps the bus shelters are being upgraded? I thought that the new Adshel ones - like the one near to Waterloo, at the Sainsbury's - had been deprived of its countdown but it took a few extra weeks for it to be put in.

[ladyinred]

Not everyone has got or an afford a smart phone/ or any phone that show when the bus will be arriving............... I hope the stop outside Nero's will soon be reconnected.

[jane1]

Yes me to lady in red, that is the bus stop I use every day, and I'm totally lost with out the count down screen.

[pipsky2008]

You raise some good points here.

[pipsky2008]

Penguin68 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> A couple of points

>

> (1) - Bus users include those who do not have, do

> not wish to use, may find it difficult to use

> (sight, dexterity - i.e. the old) smart phones.

>

> (2) - Encouraging those who have smart phones to

> take them out in the street is also an

> encouragement to those who wish to steal them -

> and even gives thieves a good predictable spot to

> predate on users.

>

> Leading me to think that removing the signage at

> bus stops thus making people rely on smart phones

> or have no knowledge is a step backwards.

>

> Tech-savvy ED forum-ites are not the only fruit.

You raise a very good point here especially point 2 where I would agree, taking out ones ?500 phone and waving it about, to all and sundry, has become quite unconscious.

[jane1]

Oh dear, I think I might of started some think on here, but does any one know if the 1s that have been taken down, are they gone for good or are they being replaced...........

[Siduhe]

From the TFL site http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/11560.aspx - not sure how current this info is:

  Quote

Noticed the Countdown sign has disappeared from your stop?

London Buses are working hard to keep our shelters up to date and fully operational. To enable repair or upgrade shelter work to take place we have to temporarily remove the Countdown signs.

Click here to see which bus stops are currently affected (PDF 62.25KB)

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/corporate/temporary-countdown-sign-removals.pdf

Depending on the complexity of the works required, it can take some time before we can reinstall your sign. Until then, why not use web, mobile web or SMS to get live bus arrival information.

[HonaloochieB]

Arse Biscuits to using a portable telephone, shouldn't have to, ever.

In the absence of accurate paper timetables then wobbly LED readouts all the way, in my experience mainly reliable and accessible to all.

Except of course the 484 disinformation at the Camberwell Butterfly stop.

It does nothing but turn that bus shelter into THE BUS SHELTER OF LIES!.!.!.

I haven't read many of the previous posts so if I've repeated any points then well done to the pointmakers, good to see some right-thinking people hereabouts.

[Sue]

sedm Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> This may be no use to you, but if you have a

> iphone there is a very good app called Live Bus

> Times which you can use at any bus stop.

> I agree it would be better to keep the count down

> screens up

xxxxx

Also for Android phones, showing on my phone as "LT free" so I presume that's what you'd have to search for.

You can click on any bus stop in the area (on a map, not on the actual bus stop, obviously, duh) and it will show you times of arrival of all the next buses.

ETA: I agree no use if you don't have a smart phone, but hey, not so long ago we all just had to stamp our feet and moan if no bus appeared, now at least many of us know when it's likely to arrive .....

And the person above who has a ?500 phone - well, lucky lucky you, I hope it's ?500 worth better than the perfectly adequate smart phone I got "free" with my ?10-ish a month contract :))

[northlondoner]

If I've busted my balls all day at work , I'm only fiddling on my phone to programme music , do some texting or montor events on the almighty forum .

Not to check frigging bus times. It's the companies' job to keep me up to date with timetables .

[Sue]

northlondoner Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

It's the

> companies' job to keep me up to date with

> timetables .

xxxxxx

How? Why?

[northlondoner]

Cos I'm the customer and they're the service provider. That's how businesses work. They can keep me updated via the countdown board. Or have a guy posted at the stop to keep me informed and make me coffee. He'd be my own personal guy so you'd need to get your own.

[Bic Basher]

Just use http://m.countdown.tfl.gov.uk on your mobile browser, when prompted type the bus stop code and it'll bring up the bus times on your phone.

[scotslass]

Also you can't use the number at bus stops to check if you are on a monthly bundle as the number is blocked

[northlondoner]

So it's simple. Upload the download through the sideload of the wifi. Connect to the micro blog site through your hands free pod. Then keep tweeting your dongle until you google all over somebody's Facebook.