South Birmingham Consultation 2017

[Justin Tyme]

I did a ride from the city centre to University Station and back yesterday - an X22 both ways as it happened.

Outbound between Holloway Head and Pritchatts Road some bus stop flags showed X21, but not X20 or X22.  This was in line with on-bus announcements on my X22, which said it would next stop at Pritchatts Road.

Coming back the on-bus announcement said (when we left Pritchatts Road) that the next stop would be Smallbrook Queensway.  The bus stop opposite Edgbaston Old Church showed 1 and X21, but my X22 stopped there for a passenger who hailed us - which I took as being good customer service.

[Mike K]

You know what 'up to' means right?

With 'Up to every 5 mins' you'd expect that to mean that buses run at that frequency over a part of the day, not some 5 minute and some 10 minute gaps in every hour. I think up to every 5 minutes is misleading here. Up to 10 buses an hour would be a more accurate description.

[Sh4318]

With 'Up to every 5 mins' you'd expect that to mean that buses run at that frequency over a part of the day, not some 5 minute and some 10 minute gaps in every hour. I think up to every 5 minutes is misleading here. Up to 10 buses an hour would be a more accurate description.

I agree, it is misleading (although technically correct), I'm surprised they included the X21 in the branding when it's predominantly allocated B7RLEs

[MasterPlan]

I took 'up to' to mean up to a maximum waiting time of...

So I'd have thought it'd be more like up to every 10 minutes. But fair enough!

[Sh4318]

I took 'up to' to mean up to a maximum waiting time of...

So I'd have thought it'd be more like up to every 10 minutes. But fair enough!

It's actually the opposite, minimum waiting time. The 301 & 302 are 'up to' every 3 mins, when the maximum waiting time is 6 minutes

[MW]

They can't intepret it as maximum waiting times. It doesn't make business sense to do that. If they did, would they have to use early morning/late night frequencies? So say a route is every 5 mins during the day and 30 mins in the evening. Would they put 'upto every 30 mins?'

[MasterPlan]

They can't intepret it as maximum waiting times. It doesn't make business sense to do that. If they did, would they have to use early morning/late night frequencies? So say a route is every 5 mins during the day and 30 mins in the evening. Would they put 'upto every 30 mins?'

Well no because it says Mon-Sat daytime.

[Straightlines]

Well no because it says Mon-Sat daytime.

All this reminds me of:

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/eurostar-gatwick-express-advertising-standards-authority-claims-29-fares-train-times-a8471866.html

I wonder what the ASA would have to say about it?

[Busmapper]

In a case like this my suggestion would be for the branding to loose the 'Up to' and instead simply state 'Every 5-10 minutes Mon to Sat daytimes'. Might not have quite the same hook, but it's correct and less open to interpretation.

[MasterPlan]

In a case like this my suggestion would be for the branding to loose the 'Up to' and instead simply state 'Every 5-10 minutes Mon to Sat daytimes'. Might not have quite the same hook, but it's correct and less open to interpretation.

Yes this would be more appropriate.

[MW]

Is the 4 serving Olton Station now?! The stop at Olton Station towards Solihull has the 4 & 58 on the flag

[Bus1237]

Is the 4 serving Olton Station now?! The stop at Olton Station towards Solihull has the 4 & 58 on the flag

No, one Saturday morning journey starts from that stop

[MW]

No, one Saturday morning journey starts from that stop

I was just going to say I stand corrected. I've just seen 4528 on the 4 parked at Olton Station towards City with its hazard lights on.

[2206]

Heartlands needs updating still from the East B'ham changes last year as well.
It still says the 73 stops on Yardley Green Road, whereas it now stops closer to the entrance on Bordesley Green East.
It says the 97A stops on Bordesley Green East, thought the Airport 97A extension was witdrawn last year.
And where it links to associated routes, it links to the 28B, no 28's have used that route number for some time.
https://nxbus.co.uk/west-midlands/links/hospitals/heartlands-hospital
The map shows the 73 goes to the City Centre and at a 30 minute frequency as well, though it no longer does..
https://nxbus.co.uk/files/NX-West-Midlands/maps/Hospital-maps-2017/GettingtoHeartlandshospital2017.pdf

And Solihull which still mentions the 71 and 966.
https://nxbus.co.uk/west-midlands/links/hospitals/solihull-hospital-heartlands-nhs-trust
The map still shows the 58, 72, and 73 going to the City Centre. It shows the old 70, S1, 71 and 966 routes.
Plus the 37 has been renumbered 4.
https://nxbus.co.uk/files/NX-West-Midlands/maps/Hospital-maps-2017/NXWMgettingtoSolihullhospital2017.pdf

Just noticed this error, the NX website says Heartlands Hospital is in Small Heath.

28 Small Heath (Heartlands Hospital) - Bordesley Green - Fox & Goose - Erdington - Great Barr (Scott Arms)

https://nxbus.co.uk/routes/west-midlands/B028/?timetable[day]=&tab=

[Squiz1971]

Just noticed this error, the NX website says Heartlands Hospital is in Small Heath.https://nxbus.co.uk/routes/west-midlands/B028/?timetable[day]=&tab=

Don't some of the journeys still extend to Small Heath (evenings & weekends)?? @2206. So that may be why it says Small Heath (Heartlands Hospital) possibly???