Re: Buses (Victoria)

["Michael Walker" <walker@hotkey.net.au>]

Peter Parker wrote in message <3569dd96.0@newshost.pcug.org.au>...
>I was just looking for the webpage of Westbus (and National Bus Company)

There isn't one.

>
>I also experimented Vic Trip.  One of the problems is that you are asked
>to select which bus company you want.

Actually, there is an option to search by shopping centre, railway station
and other landmark. Presumably you would have some idea which landmark you
are near although it is by no means a comprehensive list and some bus routes
run near but not to major landmarks. However, last year Victrip ran a survey
from their site which I completed and part of the answer received back was
that when the new public transport map comes out this year, it will be
incorporated as part of the Victrip site which should solve this problem. As
a side issue, this map which used to come out more or less yearly has been
very spasmodic of late. I don't know why but the PTC should get their act
together - with all the changes being implemented it is important passengers
be kept up to date with events happening both in their local area and
outside and a frequently updated and released map used to be and still is
one of the best ways I know of to do this.

>The company providing the
>service is only secondary.  This makes public transport different from
>goods at a supermarket because the system should be seamless (including
>access to information and the fares system) to attract patronage.
>
I'm not sure I quite agree. To use my situation, it may be feasible that I
may not know bus times or even route numbers but I do know that Bell Street
Buses run the local service. It is hard to miss a big white and red bus with
the company name clearly labelled on the side turning the corner past my
house every 40-60 minutes. If a company is consistent in its use of the
company name and colours and logo on its buses, it wouldn't be difficult to
find their name on the list.
    As another issue with the difference a company makes, I have used a
number of bus companies services in my local area and the difference between
them is very marked. Dysons provides friendly drivers on more or less fixed
local runs and provide a service from early morning to mid-evening roughly.
Their route buses have always in my memory been reasonably modern. Bell
Street provide a mixed bag of drivers - some are rude and rigid in their
practices eg won't pick up passengers apart from a bus stop no matter what;
whilst others are quite good. This would be a hangover from when all their
drivers were rude and drove like maniacs and I would guess their staffing
policy must have changed about 4-5 years ago towards hiring human staff
instead of communists and retraining the least hopeless cases to remind them
that no customers = no bus service = no drivers. Their buses used to old
heaps but the current ones are reasonably modern if a little utilitarian.
East West provide bare minimum frequency and until about 4 or 5 years ago
crappy old underpowered buses. Their drivers are generally alright although
you get the odd rude schmuck.
    To summarise - I would be more likely to catch a Dysons (or National)
bus if I lived near the route than a Bell Street or East West bus as they
run more modern comfortable vehicles on a better frequency and early and
later operating hours in general.

>All bus companies having websites would be an improvement but is not a
>panacea.  This is because of the above reason about people knowing their
>origins and destinations, but not necessarily the companies providing the
>service.

See above.

 Therefore, like the fare system, it would seem desirable that
>each city have a single site with all timetables/maps and some sort of
>tripfinder facility for all public transport services operating in that
>city.

I belive Victrip is trying to achieve this. Certainly it provides a central
point for finding train and tram timetables and the limited range (although
it is increasing) of private bus timetables available. It has some way to go
but remember it is still relatively early days yet and there are obviously
plans in the pipeline. If you have any ideas, Adrian Webb, Victrip
coordinator, I am sure would be happy to hear from you - he struck me as
very friendly and personable and I have kept his email.