Around one in four bus drivers are failing to use the new system which triggers "real time" electronic displays at bus stops, says a leading city councillor (link below.)
http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144913&command=displayContent&sourceNode=231190&home=yes&more_nodeId1=144922&contentPK=19738787As a result, passengers are not being given the right information about waiting times.
At a public meeting at the Council House last night councillors challenged First Bus bosses to sort the problem out.
Real time information displays (
RTI▸ ) were installed at stops on some city bus routes last year.
The idea was to improve punctuality as well as keeping passengers informed as to how long they would have to wait for the next bus to arrive.
Councillor Gary Hopkins (Lib Dem, Knowle) said:
"People need to know when buses are coming.
"But a number of drivers are choosing not to operate the system properly.
"I've spoken to drivers. They regard it as a spy in the cab."
About 15 members of the public who turned up to tell First executives what they thought of services cheered Mr Hopkins.
First operations director Alan Willoughby denied the problem was so widespread, instead putting the figure at between one and two per cent.
Bristol City Council provided the RTI system. First just pays for its maintenance.
After last night's meeting, Mr Willoughby explained that drivers were given a card with timing information for each journey.
They have to dial in the card number and journey number to a box on the bus, which then allows the journey to be monitored.
Several members of the public told the meeting First ran a poor bus service.
Pete Taplin, of the Bristol Older People's Forum, said its management was appalling.
But First acting managing director Amelia Price said things would improve.
And David Bishop, the city council's director of transport and planning, said the second Showcase bus route, through east Bristol, was a success.
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