Since being elected I've started to receive quite a lot of mail from various groups and organisations - some of it pure junk mail and some of it quite interesting. Yesterday I received a newsletter from First, the bus operator, which fell into the second category. Entitled 'firstNEWS', the newsletter contained the usual news about improved services and awards for drivers but hidden away on the back page was an interesting article about certain selected services operated under Quality Partnerships which includes the 101 service through Stone.
I've always extolled the virtues of this every 20 minute service between Staford and the Potteries and it was interesting to read of further possible improvements. In partnership with local authorities, these services are provided with shelters, raised kerbs and bus priority measures and the operator commits to a service operated exclusively with high quality vehicles and enhanced driver training. The 101 already benefits from these provisions.
But the interesting part of the article was about plans for further enhancements. The article states that "talks have also included plans for the design and introduction of a Real Time Passenger Information system. Electronic Information displays would be placed at bus stops so that customers could know when the next bus will arrive, and on the bus itself there would be a display panel showing the bus's progress along the route."
I am in favour of any move to persuade people to use public transport and the 101 service is a very good example of a comfortable quick and efficient alternative to using a car. The proposed new information displays can only serve to encourage more people off the roads.
I've always extolled the virtues of this every 20 minute service between Staford and the Potteries and it was interesting to read of further possible improvements. In partnership with local authorities, these services are provided with shelters, raised kerbs and bus priority measures and the operator commits to a service operated exclusively with high quality vehicles and enhanced driver training. The 101 already benefits from these provisions.
But the interesting part of the article was about plans for further enhancements. The article states that "talks have also included plans for the design and introduction of a Real Time Passenger Information system. Electronic Information displays would be placed at bus stops so that customers could know when the next bus will arrive, and on the bus itself there would be a display panel showing the bus's progress along the route."
I am in favour of any move to persuade people to use public transport and the 101 service is a very good example of a comfortable quick and efficient alternative to using a car. The proposed new information displays can only serve to encourage more people off the roads.
