[Cross-posted to cam.transport and uk.transport.buses]

Recently I took a bus from Cambridge to Cambourne (Whippet's no. 1 
service) and wishing to alight at Cambourne, Business Park (opp) (ATCO 
0500SCAMB018, NAPTAN CMBGDWDT) I rang the bell and made my way to the 
front of the bus; however the bus driver told me "That's a Stagecoach 
stop, not a Whippet stop; we're not allowed to pick up or set down 
there".  Not a big problem -- he was happy to drop me at nearby 'Whippet 
stops' Cambourne, Sackville Way (opp) (ATCO 0500SCAMB009, NAPTAN 
CMBDTWJA) or Cambourne, De La Warr Way (opp) (ATCO 0500SCAMB007, NATAN 
CMBDTWGT) -- I chose the latter.

But Traveline shows the bus as stopping at the stop I wanted and 
although I take Traveline data with a pinch of salt, the VOSA site lists 
the service as 'normal stopping' (which I assume means it is registered 
to stop at all recognised bus stops?).

This isn't a service I use particularly often but when I've used it 
previously drivers have been willing to drop me there -- or in the other 
direction to pick me up at the stop across the road (Cambourne, Business 
Park (near), ATCO 0500SCAMB017, NAPTAN CMBGDWDP).  But I also did have a 
driver comment to me once that they're only allowed to pick up at 
Whippet stops, although they can drop passengers off at any stop.

And in support of that notion of operator-specific stops, it does have 
to be said that the standard bus stop flag design in the Cambridge area 
  bears the Stagecoach colours (although not the Stagecoach name) -- 
Stagecoach being the dominant operator.  And in the main it's true that 
the stops on Whippet routes do have an additional flag below the usual 
one saying "Whippet Bus Stop" -- a flag that the stops in question lack 
  -- although I'm pretty sure that's not universal.

I still think the drivers were wrong, but if that's the case I'm at a 
loss as to why Whippet would have their own flags on bus stops - or for 
that matter why the standard ones bear the Stagecoach colours?

Anyone understand how this works?

-roy

On Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:14:46 GMT, Roy Badami 
wrote:

>I still think the drivers were wrong, but if that's the case I'm at a 
>loss as to why Whippet would have their own flags on bus stops - or for 
>that matter why the standard ones bear the Stagecoach colours?
>
>Anyone understand how this works?

In some areas the operator rather than the Council seems to maintain
the flags - I assume this is a hang-over from the days of the operator
actually being the Council transport department.

Not sure why Whippet wouldn't serve all of them, though, unless it's
meant to be an express service of some sort?

Neil

-- 
Neil Williams
Put my first name before the at to reply.

Neil Williams wrote:

> Not sure why Whippet wouldn't serve all of them, though, unless it's
> meant to be an express service of some sort?

Not particularly (although it *is* more direct than the more frequent 
competing Stagecoach route).  But if it were intended to be an express 
service than I *think* VOSA would show it as 'limited stop' rather than 
'normal stopping'.  (That's just inference on my part, though.)

-roy