Isnt it time the West Midlands caught up with London and installed audio and visual announcements on buses here.
This would help partially sighted or blind people, deaf people and people who are travelling on a route for the first time. Taking pressure off the driver to remind people when to get off.
I know this is on the 22 and 23, but it could be put on every bus. The technology isnt hard to install, the hardest part is for the person doing the voice to speak all of the stops!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTGE4v7WFDA
Quote from: Bham Central Driver on November 10, 2012, 01:58:17 PM
Isn't it time the West Midlands caught up with London and installed audio and visual announcements on buses here.
This would help partially sighted or blind people, deaf people and people who are travelling on a route for the first time. Taking pressure off the driver to remind people when to get off.
I know this is on the 22 and 23, but it could be put on every bus. The technology isn't hard to install, the hardest part is for the person doing the voice to speak all of the stops!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTGE4v7WFDA
I most definitely agree with you, Birmingham buses need to have the same audio/visual announcements as the London buses. It is very helpful !!
However, the male voice for the announcements is not really good compared to the voice on the buses in London and also the way they have done the announcing on the 22 and 23 would be better if it was the same as the one in London (e.g. when it keeps on saying 'next stop' and also how it doesn't mention the destination as the ones in London).
QuoteHowever, the male voice for the announcements is not really good compared to the voice on the buses in London
That's because its the voice of local DJ Phil Upton! :o
Voice announcements for 'next stop' are useful for those travelling on routes they are unfamiliar with (I did find it a godsend when travelling in London), but I can imagine they would 'grate' after a while if you caught the same bus every day! ???
I personally can't stand them, I am so glad the hybrids are off the 56 I have been taking the longer route through Walsall just to avoid that annoying "Celebrity's voice" (dont make me laugh, Centro) every 5 seconds. It wouldn't be as bad if it was someone a bit more sane doing the announcements, the ones on the trains for example don't bother me in the slightest I don't even notice them anymore, but Phil Upton seems so excited at the prospect of arriving at Kingstanding Circle, it makes me wonder if hes ever even seen the place. If they are done with a bit more tact like ibus then maybe it could be a good thing to have them (on certain main routes like the 37 or 50), but Phil Upton just gets on your nerves. Personally I wouldn't have them on any bus but with the ever changing times I suppose it is going to have to happen sooner or later. Rant over :P
Could be worse.
He could mention his family after every stop!
(It was a running joke on Digital Spy!)
Yeh, the womans voice is much better...
Earlier this year Centro were the most successful bidder to the DfT Better Bus Area which will see a transformation of the bus network facilities around Brierley Hill Town Centre.
Amongst the benefits are:
On Vehicle Displays (Talking Buses) on strategic routes, which are:
- 002 Merry Hill - Weoley Castle
- 81 Merry Hill - Wolverhampton via Dudley
- 222 Merry Hill - Dudley
- 226 Merry Hill - Dudley
- 246 Stourbridge - Dudley
- 255 Merry Hill - Wolverhampton
- 297 Halesowen - Stickley via Merry Hill
- X96 Wollaston - Wrens Nest via Merry Hill and Dudley
Could be worse. Could be that annoying kid on NCT!
Think the audio & visual announcements are really helpful in London, just one problem, your visually impaired and get on a bus, the bus pulls out and then the lady announces and you realise your on the wrong bus. Seen it happen myself!
Have been reading through the better bus agreement and it says that services 81, 222, 246, 255, 297 & X96 will talk. Does this mean that wolverhampton will receive new deckers for the 255 or will they just fit the equiptment to the tridents ?
Doubt they will receive new buses, but then are they going to fit the equipment to every trident or just a select few?
Same with the 246, Enviro 400s, B7RLEs, Mercs, B6s and Enviro 200s are used on their. Will PE fit every bus with the equipment?
Also according to the document a number of routes will also be branded
where can you see this document?
Quote from: mranon on May 04, 2013, 08:48:26 PM
where can you see this document?
If you go to this page, you can see the link on the right hand side, where you can download the Better Bus submission document.
http://www.centro.org.uk/bus/services.aspx (http://www.centro.org.uk/bus/services.aspx)
Interesting that the document suggests that ROTALA (Diamond) and HANSONS are involved in this scheme to, but have seen no sign of them participating!
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on May 04, 2013, 09:58:26 PM
Interesting that the document suggests that ROTALA (Diamond) and HANSONS are involved in this scheme to, but have seen no sign of them participating!
The system is operated through GPS maybe some of the Diamond & Hanson buses don't have this facility at the mo??
Quote from: Andrew (a1991) on May 04, 2013, 07:06:29 PM
Also according to the document a number of routes will also be branded
222 has already got branding on new buses, that's one down.
Shame the old system in some of the mercs which the 404 used has not been reused in some of the omnilinks it would need some updating as a few stops around West Bromwich has changed for example 'cronehills linkway' which does not exist anymore. There were 15 talking buses for the 404 which NXWM had and Pete's travel back then had the other 8 for their 404E service.
The 222's talking woman seems much better than the one on the 1, no mistakes and a smoother voice
828 is the first E200 I know that talks. Matt when you say the 1 do you mean WN1?
Quote from: Ashley 4569 on May 05, 2013, 08:46:26 PM
828 is the first E200 I know that talks. Matt when you say the 1 do you mean WN1?
Yes he does ;)
Quote from: Ashley 4569 on May 05, 2013, 08:46:26 PM
828 is the first E200 I know that talks. Matt when you say the 1 do you mean WN1?
Yes he is talking about WN 1. 5415's audio anouncements are not working but the visuals are.
No I was just checking because friday I was on the 1 (like most days now it seems) and no audios were working yet but if they are now then that's good
827 can. Bit on the quiet side though
All of the E200s are talking except 823 as far as I know
Any chance of the WB Enviros 'talking' would love to see a talking E200 on the 46
Been on the 222 today & noticed unlike the 1 the announcer doesn't say "This stop is...." And it also takes longer after the bus has left the stop to say the next stop.
the buses should be like the London buses where the bus and destination is mentioned every time someone gets on the bus
*for example - it should say 222 to Dudley*
it is better ;D
Quote from: OH25 on May 06, 2013, 06:21:12 PM
the buses should be like the London buses where the bus and destination is mentioned every time someone gets on the bus
*for example - it should say 222 to Dudley*
it is better ;D
I do agree there, obviously the talking announcements are brilliant for people who are blind, or have trouble with their vision, but if they don't know what bus they are on, it makes the system a little pointless
I always think that the London i bus system could be improved by actually announcing the service number and destination as people get on, rather than when the bus has pulled away from the stop.
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on May 06, 2013, 06:58:58 PM
Quote from: OH25 on May 06, 2013, 06:21:12 PM
the buses should be like the London buses where the bus and destination is mentioned every time someone gets on the bus
*for example - it should say 222 to Dudley*
it is better ;D
I do agree there, obviously the talking announcements are brilliant for people who are blind, or have trouble with their vision, but if they don't know what bus they are on, it makes the system a little pointless
I always think that the London i bus system could be improved by actually announcing the service number and destination as people get on, rather than when the bus has pulled away from the stop.
I definitely agree with that as well ... but the current text/font that they use on the Hybrids on the upper deck is pretty bad ... the text used in London seems it would be more effective and it looks better anyways
Quote from: Andrew (a1991) on May 05, 2013, 10:25:31 PM
Been on the 222 today & noticed unlike the 1 the announcer doesn't say "This stop is...." And it also takes longer after the bus has left the stop to say the next stop.
Lol like the Metro the 'New' audio says 'please hold tight, this tram is now departing' but by the time the announcement has finished the tram is doing 20mph and 10 people have fell over :P :o :P :o
Currently on 827 toward dudley, announcements impossible to hear over engine noise! Only one speaker working!
Quote from: OH25 on May 06, 2013, 06:21:12 PM
the buses should be like the London buses where the bus and destination is mentioned every time someone gets on the bus
*for example - it should say 222 to Dudley*
it is better ;D
Don't agree with this, as for any length of journey beyond a couple of stops the repeated audio intrusion gets very irritating indeed. As a regular user of London buses for several years I longed for the relative peace of our local TWM buses.
Quote from: The Real 4778 on May 08, 2013, 04:35:29 PM
Quote from: OH25 on May 06, 2013, 06:21:12 PM
the buses should be like the London buses where the bus and destination is mentioned every time someone gets on the bus
*for example - it should say 222 to Dudley*
it is better ;D
Don't agree with this, as for any length of journey beyond a couple of stops the repeated audio intrusion gets very irritating indeed. As a regular user of London buses for several years I longed for the relative peace of our local TWM buses.
but do you take notice and count to every single time it says the bus number and destination or do you just naturally blank it like most people probably do .. :o
After my ride on 827 today, had a ride on a few WN1 hybrids including my first E400H which happened to have its announcements working (5412 i think).
The announcements were definitely different to the ones on the 222, the woman appears to have a definite Black Country accent, although at one stage the announcements did seem to go wrong.
What i don't understand is why is the stop you are at announced when the door are being shut for the bus to pull off?
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on May 08, 2013, 10:07:32 PM
...although at one stage the announcements did seem to go wrong.
Was this around the junction with Parkfield Road? (where the Dudley Road becomes the Wolverhampton road)
Quote from: OH25 on May 08, 2013, 06:45:11 PM
but do you take notice and count to every single time it says the bus number and destination or do you just naturally blank it like most people probably do .. :o
I can't blank it out, that's the problem. In the day job I deal with all sorts of transport passenger info systems and I'm attuned to them.
There's certainly a time and place, but the London example is extreme overkill. It's mainly because of the sheer number of 'foreign' transport users that TfL have it cranked up so high. It's not especially appropriate in urban areas like the West Midlands, it's a form of dumbing down for the lowest common user lacking in common sense.
Quote from: nitromatt1 on May 08, 2013, 10:43:12 PM
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on May 08, 2013, 10:07:32 PM
...although at one stage the announcements did seem to go wrong.
Was this around the junction with Parkfield Road? (where the Dudley Road becomes the Wolverhampton road)
Yes you got it Matt.
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on May 09, 2013, 05:36:18 PM
Quote from: nitromatt1 on May 08, 2013, 10:43:12 PM
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on May 08, 2013, 10:07:32 PM
...although at one stage the announcements did seem to go wrong.
Was this around the junction with Parkfield Road? (where the Dudley Road becomes the Wolverhampton road)
Yes you got it Matt.
Lol she won't say "The Fighting Cocks"
Quote from: SMK on May 09, 2013, 06:07:33 PM
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on May 09, 2013, 05:36:18 PM
Quote from: nitromatt1 on May 08, 2013, 10:43:12 PM
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on May 08, 2013, 10:07:32 PM
...although at one stage the announcements did seem to go wrong.
Was this around the junction with Parkfield Road? (where the Dudley Road becomes the Wolverhampton road)
Yes you got it Matt.
Lol she won't say "The Fighting Cocks"
I noticed that today too. Funny how they won't say it but they'll gladly display it on the scrolling text ::)
Quote from: JackC on May 09, 2013, 08:01:32 PM
Quote from: SMK on May 09, 2013, 06:07:33 PM
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on May 09, 2013, 05:36:18 PM
Quote from: nitromatt1 on May 08, 2013, 10:43:12 PM
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on May 08, 2013, 10:07:32 PM
...although at one stage the announcements did seem to go wrong.
Was this around the junction with Parkfield Road? (where the Dudley Road becomes the Wolverhampton road)
Yes you got it Matt.
Lol she won't say "The Fighting Cocks"
I noticed that today too. Funny how they won't say it but they'll gladly display it on the scrolling text ::)
Shouldn't even be displayed on the text - the Fighting Cocks dunt exist any more
Quote from: 4006 on May 10, 2013, 01:59:24 AM
Quote from: JackC on May 09, 2013, 08:01:32 PM
Quote from: SMK on May 09, 2013, 06:07:33 PM
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on May 09, 2013, 05:36:18 PM
Quote from: nitromatt1 on May 08, 2013, 10:43:12 PM
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on May 08, 2013, 10:07:32 PM
...although at one stage the announcements did seem to go wrong.
Was this around the junction with Parkfield Road? (where the Dudley Road becomes the Wolverhampton road)
Yes you got it Matt.
Lol she won't say "The Fighting Cocks"
I noticed that today too. Funny how they won't say it but they'll gladly display it on the scrolling text ::)
Shouldn't even be displayed on the text - the Fighting Cocks dunt exist any more
Apart from being the name of the fare stage!!
Perhaps they kept it as the name of the fare stage just for a laugh?
Quote from: 4006 on May 10, 2013, 01:59:24 AM
Quote from: JackC on May 09, 2013, 08:01:32 PM
Quote from: SMK on May 09, 2013, 06:07:33 PM
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on May 09, 2013, 05:36:18 PM
Quote from: nitromatt1 on May 08, 2013, 10:43:12 PM
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on May 08, 2013, 10:07:32 PM
...although at one stage the announcements did seem to go wrong.
Was this around the junction with Parkfield Road? (where the Dudley Road becomes the Wolverhampton road)
Yes you got it Matt.
Lol she won't say "The Fighting Cocks"
I noticed that today too. Funny how they won't say it but they'll gladly display it on the scrolling text ::)
Shouldn't even be displayed on the text - the Fighting Cocks dunt exist any more
There is a small convenience store on the corner called The Fighting Cocks
Would be better having phoenix park on there even though the fighting cocks is on the flag for the bus shelter
Quote from: trainbasher on May 10, 2013, 02:16:16 AM
Quote from: 4006 on May 10, 2013, 01:59:24 AM
Quote from: JackC on May 09, 2013, 08:01:32 PM
Quote from: SMK on May 09, 2013, 06:07:33 PM
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on May 09, 2013, 05:36:18 PM
Quote from: nitromatt1 on May 08, 2013, 10:43:12 PM
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on May 08, 2013, 10:07:32 PM
...although at one stage the announcements did seem to go wrong.
Was this around the junction with Parkfield Road? (where the Dudley Road becomes the Wolverhampton road)
Yes you got it Matt.
Lol she won't say "The Fighting Cocks"
I noticed that today too. Funny how they won't say it but they'll gladly display it on the scrolling text ::)
Shouldn't even be displayed on the text - the Fighting Cocks dunt exist any more
Apart from being the name of the fare stage!!
I thought it was 'Aldi - Parkfield Road'
I'm not generally known for sending praise in NX's direction, but I'm going to make a notable exception. Today I had a ride on 5513 & was struck by the audio stop announcements. So much preferable to the usual soulless accent, well done NXWM, bostin'!
Besides, they complemented well with me Bathams tae shaert.. :D