County Council Tells You How To Wait For a Bus, But Not How Long You'll be Waiting.

Lancashire County Council staff have been out and about across Lancaster putting up new signs on the bus shelters reminding passengers to "keep your distance" whilst waiting for a bus.  

The signs don't specify what that distance should be, although that is probably wise given the dithering by our ever-indecisive government over whether that should be 2 metres, 1 metre or something else entirely.

There are also new signs reminding us to plan ahead, to wear a face covering, maintain our distance on the bus and a whole host of other things, including of course to "wash our hands".

All sound advice, no doubt and obviously intended as something we should take seriously. What we should not take seriously, at least in the example above, is the departure list next to it, which is seriously misleading.

The council's timetable displays were not amended during the period of service changes immediately following lockdown on 23rd March and have continued to show the times that were current at that date.  Most services returned to normal levels on 1st June rendering the displays correct again (give or take the odd "University Terms Only" journeys not actually running), but services 7 (Vale) 49 (Warton), 55 (Carnforth) 80 (Ingleton) and 81 (Kirkby Lonsdale) did not revert to pre-lockdown times and have had completely different timetables introduced, deferred from April. Some other services have had more minor changes.

When BUG asked the council back in May why the timetables were out of date we were told that the members of staff whose job it was to update them had been re-deployed to other duties due to the COVID-19 emergency. The other staff who prepared the new timetables were working from home and could not access the specialst equipment needed.

It now appears that some staff can be spared to update bus shelters with health advice, but if the staff that produce new timetables still cannot do their job surely it should be possible for someone - anyone - to produce a simple notice warning passengers that the displays are incorrect, which could be inserted at the same time as the other posters are put up?

The council also told us that it didn't want to be seen to encourage people to use public transport at this time, which was another reason for not updating the cases. We see a correct list of departures at bus stops not as a means of "promotion" but as the provision of basic information aimed as helping those needing to make essential journeys to make sure they catch their bus. Even if it's not possible to produce an updated display, surely a notice drawing attention to that fact could have been placed in the relevant cases?

Making timetable information available - in all formats - is a condition of receiving the government's £1 per kilometre support grant, which is keeping services running, but it seems that the division of responsibility for information between the operators and the council means that the requirement is not being met.

More News on Face Masks and Exemptions

Following our post yesterday about face coverings and who must wear them, our local bus operators have updated their websites to include more details about their policies on the wearing of face coverings and possible exemptions.

You can read what Kirkby Lonsdale Coach Hire has to say about it here: https://klch.co.uk/news.  Passengers who cannot wear a mask for medical reasons are asked simply to explain that to the driver.

Meanwhile, Stagecoach has now updated its website to include details of its Journey Assistance Cards which can be used by passengers who are exempt from the need to wear a mask for medical reasons. These cards can be shown to drivers to explain why the passenger is not wearing a mask and might also come in useful to show to other passengers who might object to anyone not wearing one.

You'll need to download and complete an application form from the Stagecoach website, after which they'll email you a card that you can print off, or they will send one directly to your smart phone.

As it takes no fewer than FOUR clicks to find the application form on the site we've saved you the trouble by including a direct link: https://r1.dotdigital-pages.com/p/50SA-3RG/journey-assistance-card-request

Face Masks on the Buses From Today

Don't tell our friends in Burnley but actually it's the passengers that have to cover up!
Photo credit, with thanks, (c) Tom Culley

From Monday, 15th June, the wearing of face coverings is required on all public transport in England. There is very little information on our local operators' websites about this and what there  is is well hidden, so here's all you need to know.

Must I wear a mask?

The requirement is for "face coverings" of the type you can make at home. There is certainly no need to wear a surgical mask and supplies of these are needed for NHS and other key health workers. The covering should cover and protect your mouth and nose.

Is it a legal requirement?

The government originally announced that the requirement would be included in the "National Conditions of Carriage" for train companies and  the "Public Service Vehicles Conduct of Drivers, Inspectors, Conductors and Passengers Regulations 1990" for buses and coaches. However, in a late change to the plan, the requirement will now be brought in under the Public Health (Control of Diseases) Act 1984. 

Are there any exemptions?

Yes. Draft guidance from the Department for Transport says:

The requirement to wear a face covering does not apply to:

• a child under the age of 11
• an employee of the transport operator, when they are acting in the course of their employment (including bus drivers).
• if you have a physical or mental illness or impairment, or a disability that means you cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering
• if putting on, wearing or removing a face covering would cause you severe distress
• if you are travelling with, or providing assistance to, someone who relies on lip reading to communicate
• if you are travelling to avoid injury or escape the risk of harm, and you do not have a face covering with you
• if you need to remove it during your journey to avoid harm or injury or the risk of harm or injury to yourself or others
• if you need to eat, drink, or take medication you can remove your face covering
• if you are asked to remove your face covering by a police officer or other official, for example to check your railcard (or, presumably your concessionary bus pass).
• 
  

Some of the conditions that do confer exemption may not always be obvious and the BUG feels that passengers should give each other "the benefit of the doubt".  Stagecoach says on its website that it has updated its "Journey Assistance Cards" which passengers can use to explain "hidden" disabilities to drivers when boarding the bus.  The actual page on the website that holds the information about the cards didn't seem to have been updated when this piece was being written, but here is a link that you can check for yourselves:

https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/national/journey-assistance-cards

Some other operators have updated the information and their cards would be valid on our local buses. You can download a card from First Bus here:https://www.firstgroup.com/uploads/node_images/face-covering-exemption-extra-help-travel-assistance-card-12-06-20.pdf

Who will enforce the rules?

Enforcement, and the imposition of any penalties, will be a matter for the police. The British Transport Police, despite their name, only have jurisdiction on the rail network. Enforcement on the buses is a matter for local police forces.

Can the bus driver make me wear a mask?

The new regulations allow any "relevant person" to
a) require a passenger to wear a face covering
b) deny boarding onto the vehicle
b) require them to disembark from the vehicle
"Relevant persons" are police constables, community support officers and bus operators' staff, including drivers. However, only a police constable may forcibly remove anyone from a vehicle.

Why isn't the driver wearing a mask?

Drivers are specifically exempted (see above). The cab screen provides protection and wearing a mask could become a distraction whilst driving, particularly for drivers wearing glasses that might become steamed up.

What are the penalties for non-compliance?

There is a fixed penalty of £100, reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days. Penalties can only be issued by a police constable or a community support officer. Bus drivers have no power to issue penalties.