New safety announcement is driving London bus passengers to despair
As if Blue Monday wasn’t bad enough – officially the glummest day of the year – Transport for London have come up with a cunning wheeze to tip bus passengers over the edge.
It goes something like this.
@tfl thanks for reminding me to please hold on the bus is about to move when then bus is already moving after every single bus stop. pic.twitter.com/dNbek765Wa
— Nathan Wade (@natewade87) January 13, 2018
That’s right, it’s an announcement telling passengers to ‘please hold on, the bus is about to move’.
Which would be irritating enough after every stop, but it’s even MORE IRRITATING when it never plays until the bus has already started moving.
Like this.
https://twitter.com/cherie_koh/status/952272097606356993
ARRRGGGGH!
And here’s what people made of it online.
1.
I have just searched Twitter for the words "please hold on the bus is about to move".
I estimate bloody revolution within eight days.
— Alix Mortimer (@alixmortimer) January 13, 2018
2.
These new “Please hold on, the bus is about to move” announcements on London buses, several seconds late, when the bus is already moving, aren’t annoying AT ALL, OH NO
— Michael Hogan (@michaelhogan) January 14, 2018
3.
https://twitter.com/geofftech/status/952098041485578240
4.
So TFL buses now (repeatedly) announce “please hold on, the bus is about to move”.
Ngl, if you get into a bus and aren’t anticipating movement, maybe you deserve to fall.
— reubs (@Rewwwbs) January 14, 2018
5.
https://twitter.com/trhagues/status/952634101273636864
6.
https://twitter.com/iziieva/status/951864345155293186
Here’s what Transport for London had to say about it.
Safety is our number one priority. The PA announcement is a trial to improve customer safety on the bus network. Thank you for your comments, we’ll take them on board.
— TfL Bus Alerts (@TfLBusAlerts) January 12, 2018
Not helping.
Please hold on the bus is about to move Please hold on the bus is about to move Please hold on the bus is about to move Please hold on the bus is about to move Please hold on the bus is about to move Please hold on the bus is about to move PLEASE HOLD ON THE BUS IS ABOUT TO MOVE
— Nathan Wade (@natewade87) January 13, 2018
That’s not to say it’s a bad idea in principle.
FYI as a visually impaired person who is frequently sent flying as I try to safely find a seat as the bus pulls off the correct use of this announcement is extremely helpful
— Dr Amy Kavanagh (@BlondeHistorian) January 14, 2018
But it needs some work. A lot of work.
@tfl If only you had told me to please hold on the bus is about to move on the tube. pic.twitter.com/XXf9k1ObZI
— Nathan Wade (@natewade87) January 14, 2018
(Mind the gap to the next story).