Bus and Coach Operators to answer Members’ questions
Minutes:
Mr Bailey, Commercial Manager, Stagecoach (Exeter) attended and spoke at the invitation of the Committee on developments affecting bus services and the network in Exeter and environs since the last meeting and, in particular on:
· Mobile phone ticketing: since January, Day rider tickets had been available to purchase by smart phone, where the customer shows the driver the ticket on the smart phone; this had been very successful and from mid-April, customers would also be able to purchase weekly tickets on their smart phone;
· Smart Cards: Smart Cards had been in use and are very popular and Stagecoach would be introducing a 50p charge for driver issued smart cards (although the cost of supply is higher) to encourage their re-use and discourage people having a new card each week;
· Green Park & Ride: the Matford and Sowton Park & Ride services were linked in January and this had proved very popular; however increasing traffic delays in Heavitree and Exe Bridges had caused reliability issues and from 18th April, the Company would be adding another bus to improve reliability of the service at key times in the morning and afternoon peak periods for a short period and the service frequency would also increase to 10 minutes.
Additionally issues and/or observations identified during the course of discussions, included:
· the possibility of ‘off-bus’ ticketing, taking the responsibility away from the driver and Mr Bailey undertook to discuss this idea with the Commercial Director;
· issues relating to drivers’ knowledge of alternative/temporary bus stops due to changes as a result of street works, for example with the recent working the high street and information for passengers; Mr Bailey explained that drivers should be fully briefed via the company’s local intra net and notices should also be in situ (although sometimes removed) and the Company would continue to endeavour to keep drivers fully informed;
· confirmation that following the ballot for strike action there was now a full staffing complement and that additional bus transport services for drivers on early and later shifts for the new Matford location had been provided and the proposed industrial action had been resolved;
· concerns by the County Councillor for Duryard and Pennsylvania about problems which had been reported to him by a constituent with vision impairment relating to a long delay in respect of the ‘B’ service, the possibility of ‘talking buses’ (for some routes) for the visually impaired and ‘tactile’ paving at bus stop locations. Mr Bailey undertook to report back to the local member about the reported delays in the ‘B’ service and that he would raise the matter of ‘talking buses’ with the Commercial Director;
· the County Council member for St David’s and St James intention to visit Matford Depot with the local MP and she would raise the matter of ‘talking buses’ and improved visual ‘real time’ information at stops at that visit;
· concerns about loss of shelters in Barley Lane (serving residential care homes) and in Alphington and Cowick and the Neighbourhood Highway Group Manager reminded Members of the presentation to the last meeting regarding the Clearwater replacement programme and there would be a delay between old shelters being removed and new ones installed; it was noted that any concerns by Members about the removal/replacement of shelters should be taken up with their local neighbourhood highways officer;
· concerns by the local City Councillor about the removal and delay by the contractor in replacing bus shelters in Causey Lane, Pinhoe and at Sainsbury, Pinhoe, causing discomfort for passengers. The local City Council Member indicated that the contractor at the time of removal should have been aware about any practical difficulties in these two examples.
It was MOVED by Councillor Harvey, SECONDED by Councillor Morse and
RESOLVED that the County Council requests that the contractor provides a notice in situ at the time of removal showing the anticipated installation date of a new shelter for each location, as part of the replacement programme.