Birmingham Central Garage

[2206]

Strange that, passengers actually wanting to go across town on the same bus rather than walking from one route across town to another just to travel just three stops
*cough* 66 *cough* cross city *cough*

Whenever I use the 22 there are always  passenger who've come into the City Centre on the 22 wanting to go to the other side of Town.
For example it's a long walk from the Markets to Colmore Row, the 22 provides better access for passengers wanting to go to the Markets area of the City as they can get the 22 to Smallbrook Queensway and can then use the stairs/lift down to the Markets.

[Mike K]

Whenever I use the 22 there are always  passenger who've come into the City Centre on the 22 wanting to go to the other side of Town.
For example it's a long walk from the Markets to Colmore Row, the 22 provides better access for passengers wanting to go to the Markets area of the City as they can get the 22 to Smallbrook Queensway and can then use the stairs/lift down to the Markets.

I think it depends on when you use it. In the rush hour coming into town, a lot of people get off at the ICC and by the time it gets to Livery Street it's largely emptied. I'm sure at other times people are continuing to the Bull Ring, Grand Central, New St and the markets.

[Jack]

Strange that, passengers actually wanting to go across town on the same bus rather than walking from one route across town to another just to travel just three stops
*cough* 66 *cough* cross city *cough*

Isn't that the point of the 16? Just get off on Priory Queensway and jump on the 16. The 16 is the best loop around the City, has been for years.

[Trident 4194]

Isn't that the point of the 16? Just get off on Priory Queensway and jump on the 16. The 16 is the best loop around the City, has been for years.

Agreed

[Jack]

Agreed

I do think more services should do a loop. Especially those on Colmore Row. I'd like the 7 and 101 (possibly the 46) do a loop a round like the 16. I think it's handy for people. Like the 82/87, the new 80/A loop is quite good.

It means no buses are shoved at Colmore Row all the time.

[Stu]

I do think more services should do a loop. Especially those on Colmore Row. I'd like the 7 and 101 (possibly the 46) do a loop a round like the 16. I think it's handy for people. Like the 82/87, the new 80/A loop is quite good.

I agree, its probably handy for less-abled people. However on the other hand, I once got off an X1 at Moor Street, waited a couple of minutes for an 87, then caught that to Colmore Row to connect with the 120. But for me, it was no quicker than just walking.

If there are going to be more 'loops', some that work in the opposite direction would be more handy. For example, for my reverse journey, there is currently no bus from Colmore Row back round to Moor Street. (Apart from changing on Broad Street onto a 22/23/24/29).

But the city centre (and the gap between interchanges) isn't as big as some people think it is. Maybe in another 20 years when I am less able-bodied, I might be more concerned. And by then, who knows how much the city centre layout will have changed?

[2206]

I agree, its probably handy for less-abled people. However on the other hand, I once got off an X1 at Moor Street, waited a couple of minutes for an 87, then caught that to Colmore Row to connect with the 120. But for me, it was no quicker than just walking.

If there are going to be more 'loops', some that work in the opposite direction would be more handy. For example, for my reverse journey, there is currently no bus from Colmore Row back round to Moor Street. (Apart from changing on Broad Street onto a 22/23/24/29).

But the city centre (and the gap between interchanges) isn't as big as some people think it is. Maybe in another 20 years when I am less able-bodied, I might be more concerned. And by then, who knows how much the city centre layout will have changed?

There is a bus from Colmore Row to Moor Street, catch the 22, etc from the Livery Street stop which is right next to Snow Hill Station and get of on Moor Street. No need to change at Broad Street.

[Jack]

There is a bus from Colmore Row to Moor Street, catch the 22, etc from the Livery Street stop which is right next to Snow Hill Station and get of on Moor Street. No need to change at Broad Street.

What do you mean the 22? Have you forgotten about the 23/24/29. All of them go there.

I agree, its probably handy for less-abled people. However on the other hand, I once got off an X1 at Moor Street, waited a couple of minutes for an 87, then caught that to Colmore Row to connect with the 120. But for me, it was no quicker than just walking.

If there are going to be more 'loops', some that work in the opposite direction would be more handy. For example, for my reverse journey, there is currently no bus from Colmore Row back round to Moor Street. (Apart from changing on Broad Street onto a 22/23/24/29).

But the city centre (and the gap between interchanges) isn't as big as some people think it is. Maybe in another 20 years when I am less able-bodied, I might be more concerned. And by then, who knows how much the city centre layout will have changed?

I only said Colmore Row as it feels like your halfway out of the city. Pretty much every route that served Corporation Street did a loop. Saying that, i think the tram extension was daft. People who live in the south had their buses moved to different parts of city for the tram that doesn't even serve them. The City Centre is fine as it is in my opinion, it was just as bad in 2012 when they closed off Corporation Street. I do think that Lane from Digbeth onto Moat Lane at the gyratory should be reopened to traffic. Ever since it closed there is so much congestion in the right hand lane for Rea Street and it causes delays to the 2/3/5/31/35/50. Not only that but I see so many cars zig-zag around the bollards!

[Stuharris 6360]

What do you mean the 22? Have you forgotten about the 23/24/29. All of them go there.
I only said Colmore Row as it feels like your halfway out of the city. Pretty much every route that served Corporation Street did a loop. Saying that, i think the tram extension was daft. People who live in the south had their buses moved to different parts of city for the tram that doesn't even serve them. The City Centre is fine as it is in my opinion, it was just as bad in 2012 when they closed off Corporation Street. I do think that Lane from Digbeth onto Moat Lane at the gyratory should be reopened to traffic. Ever since it closed there is so much congestion in the right hand lane for Rea Street and it causes delays to the 2/3/5/31/35/50. Not only that but I see so many cars zig-zag around the bollards!

Slightly off topic but I agree with you there, I always thought that part of the point of the tram extension was to link Snow Hill & New Street being as no bus service could. Now by the time you walk to the tram stop from Snow Hill, you might as well have walked to New Street.

It's a shame that a bus service couldn't link all three stations in Birmingham.

[Jack]

Slightly off topic but I agree with you there, I always thought that part of the point of the tram extension was to link Snow Hill & New Street being as no bus service could. Now by the time you walk to the tram stop from Snow Hill, you might as well have walked to New Street.

It's a shame that a bus service couldn't link all three stations in Birmingham.

The 16 served all three of them. Just a short walk from Snow Hill.

And yet all the confusion that happened in 2012 was just terrible.

[2206]

What do you mean the 22? Have you forgotten about the 23/24/29. All of them go there.
I only said Colmore Row as it feels like your halfway out of the city. Pretty much every route that served Corporation Street did a loop. Saying that, i think the tram extension was daft. People who live in the south had their buses moved to different parts of city for the tram that doesn't even serve them. The City Centre is fine as it is in my opinion, it was just as bad in 2012 when they closed off Corporation Street. I do think that Lane from Digbeth onto Moat Lane at the gyratory should be reopened to traffic. Ever since it closed there is so much congestion in the right hand lane for Rea Street and it causes delays to the 2/3/5/31/35/50. Not only that but I see so many cars zig-zag around the bollards!

No I haven't.
Etc means and the rest.

[Westy]

Slightly off topic but I agree with you there, I always thought that part of the point of the tram extension was to link Snow Hill & New Street being as no bus service could. Now by the time you walk to the tram stop from Snow Hill, you might as well have walked to New Street.

It's a shame that a bus service couldn't link all three stations in Birmingham.

Surely that was the point of the Centrebus, which no one caught last time it ran.

(I know I tried it once & I was the only passenger!)

[CL]

Surely that was the point of the Centrebus, which no one caught last time it ran.

(I know I tried it once & I was the only passenger!)

Also more recently (mid noughties) we had the Stationlink. Free service(?) operated with Optare Solos. Used to always see them bunched up at New Street's drop off point near Smallbrook Queensway (or where the Taxis stop these days) from the window in the bridge connecting the Pallasades to Bullring

https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3956/34120691656_d3a747c458_b.jpg

[Lukeee]

Also more recently (mid noughties) we had the Stationlink. Free service(?) operated with Optare Solos. Used to always see them bunched up at New Street's drop off point near Smallbrook Queensway (or where the Taxis stop these days) from the window in the bridge connecting the Pallasades to Bullring

https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3956/34120691656_d3a747c458_b.jpg

Shame no one used this as it was quite useful, however I suppose the majority found walking quicker than cueing in city traffic

[Kevin]

Shame no one used this as it was quite useful, however I suppose the majority found walking quicker than cueing in city traffic

Alas it's the contrast between no one using a free bus that just serves the stations in the city centre (notable when a chunk of the city centre was still open) and people now making use of buses that do all that and serve other important places ie Broad Street (22/3/4/9) and the markets (16)

Other parts of the expanding city centre (Aston Uni / Eastside) are crying out for something similar. Look at how many people get the 66 from town and get off before the ring road, or how many people are boarding buses at Aston Uni heading inbound
The X61 is the only bus that comes close to doing this with where it terminates, but I'd say something needs to do more than that, say extending out via Jennens Road, looping round Aston Uni campus to come back in via Lancaster Circus