Doors

Lates this week and until yesterday ran on time. Bank Holiday Friday's are always bad but an accident at J5 did not help.
For those of you who have not been to Victoria Coach station you will not have seen the new driver operated doors. These are only able to be opened from the outside by the driver when the coach is ready to board. This is great as it stops heard of people milling around the coaches when you are having a break. However, it also means if you go to the loo or go to get a coffee of something to eat. You cannot get back through the doors!! You have to walk to the end and walk across the concourse. This also gives rise to some funny situations. The passengers who press the button and wait for the door to open (it is manual) having not the first one to work they try ALL of them. The passenger who pushes on the sign that tells them about the door and gets angry when it will not open! ( they may not be able to read English) All in all it has improved the safety at VCS and does stop the 'are you going to Bath?' brigade from disturbing your rest.

Schools, Women and Mobile Phones

Just come off the overnight. Not bad, surprised at how light the traffic has been. One thing to note was when I was doing the '10's' I had pulled up a stop on the route. I did not pay much attention until the bus came the other way and stopped. He could not get past due to a car parked opposite the school and on double yellow lines. We both gave a gentle toot on the horn only to be met with a mouthful of abuse. On closer inspection the 'lady' was on her mobile phone. By the time she had finished her life and death conversation the queue was way up the hill. I expect she is one of the protesters who complain about 'other' people speeding past the school!!!!

The Coach won't go

Today was 'Street Up' So empty from Bath Depot to Street. Nice drive out that way all across the Mendip's. Stopped at my usual lay-by to get my passenger list and set the destination etc. As I pulled away there was a noise which sounded like a flat tyre, but louder, much louder. The coach got slower, and stopped dead. It seemed like the brakes had stuck on. Contacted the depot and they said a replacement coach would be out to me within the hour. Finally got going in the replacement 55 minutes late. Apologies all the way to Bath. Change of driver here and after loading the passengers he got away 30mins late. Still haven't found what the trouble was. Rest of the day spent on the '17' bus around Bath. Off now for a week!!