Posted by Andrew Wright on July 1, 2009, 4:43 pm, in reply to "Re: Translink Bus Driving Standards"
217.41.240.15
First of all in response to 6000 I am not "blaming" or getting at drivers but simply wanted to open this subject up as a general discussion about bus driving - perhaps driving in general. As Noel said everyone is driving faster these days than they would have done even twenty years ago I suspect. But since this is a bus message board I suppose we should confine it to bus driving. I said at the end of my previous post how much respect I have for all bus drivers in Translink for how they carry out a difficult and demanding job, regardless of what I personally think about some of the driving. I would also comment that it's not always just about speed - it is possible to drive fast and still be in control - and the one-handed approach doesn't bother me particularly, but I respect Noel's views, and those of anyone else who wants to contribute.
Noel also mentioned the fact that buses are subject to speed limits. Another question that has often come to my mind is what the point is of fitting buses with speed limiters which seem to stop most buses that have been built in the last almost twenty years from going any faster than 60 mph. The speed limit for buses in the UK is 70 mph on motorways - what is the point of limiting a bus to 60 when Tigers, Leopards and so on could sit at 70?
As someone who uses buses on an almost daily basis, I genuinely don't want to be seen to be criticising bus drivers. However I think that Noel's point regarding running times, which Stephen also mentioned, is a valid one. An example of one problem, which I think has now been changed, and Metro drivers can correct me if I'm wrong on this, was the last 4A of the evening, 2300 from City Centre to Ballybeen. I'm pretty sure the same duty also used to cover the 2200 out and in as well and it looked to me an almost impossible task. Ulsterbus drivers used to have at least 55 minutes to and from Ballybeen and that was only from Oxford Street / Laganside with a first set down point at the Ulster Hospital. Metro appeared to me to be expected to do the same, picking up and setting down all the way in both directions, with the added length to and from the City Hall. I could list many examples I've seen where I feel Metro and Ulsterbus drivers are not given enough time on certain routes and journeys, and I'm very sympathetic to them and the pressure they must feel under where this is the case.
Anyone else, drivers or passengers, any views on routes or journeys devoid of sufficient running time?
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