Use of Back Door on Buses
Use of Back Door on Buses
One thing I can never understand when I travel on buses in the western suburbs, is the back door thing.
I most use buses in the eastern suburbs. Always exit the back door. I don't think I have ever got off the front door of a Sydney buses bus. Visiting the western suburbs, you can't get out the back door, and they seem to think it is strange to want to ! What the ! There must be at least one person, other than me, who has visited the western suburbs and tried to catch one of their buses. What's the deal with all that ?
It's going to be even worse, when they are all painted the same colour. I won't know whether to try the back door, or not.
I most use buses in the eastern suburbs. Always exit the back door. I don't think I have ever got off the front door of a Sydney buses bus. Visiting the western suburbs, you can't get out the back door, and they seem to think it is strange to want to ! What the ! There must be at least one person, other than me, who has visited the western suburbs and tried to catch one of their buses. What's the deal with all that ?
It's going to be even worse, when they are all painted the same colour. I won't know whether to try the back door, or not.
Re: Use of Back Door on Buses
It's dangerous apparently. Same reason why Action buses when they had 3 door artics never used the centre door (they were later removed) and all new deliveries are two door.
Now the question is why is it dangerous in some parts of a city, but not in others. Same too with Canberra and their artics. If anyone can find the answer would love to hear it.
PS. Once upon a time it was also dangerous for Canberra artics to run through the suburbs because it was dangerous. I believe an increase in the allowance for driving an artic made it safe.
Now the question is why is it dangerous in some parts of a city, but not in others. Same too with Canberra and their artics. If anyone can find the answer would love to hear it.
PS. Once upon a time it was also dangerous for Canberra artics to run through the suburbs because it was dangerous. I believe an increase in the allowance for driving an artic made it safe.
-
- Posts: 1685
- Joined: Thu Feb 15, 2007 4:15 pm
Re: Use of Back Door on Buses
If memory serves me correctly it stems back to a incident at East Wahroonga where a young school child was caught and dragged by the rear door. Subsequently private operators were advised not to use the rear door.
Last edited by crimsontide on Sun Dec 08, 2013 8:37 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Use of Back Door on Buses
In this day and age I would have though edge strips were mandatory. Also still doesn't explain the difference the OP mentioned.crimsontide wrote:If memory serves me correctly it stems back to a incident at East Wahroonga where a young school child was caught and dragged by the rear door.
-
- Posts: 1685
- Joined: Thu Feb 15, 2007 4:15 pm
Re: Use of Back Door on Buses
This was before the strips, and for whatever reason it is only the Privates that were affected and never changed even with the upgrades in safety.
- Fleet Lists
- Administrator
- Posts: 23803
- Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2004 12:49 pm
- Location: The Shire
Re: Use of Back Door on Buses
I thought it was an incident at Penshurst that resulted in the ban of the back door but subsequently unbanned after safety improvements but the unban was never implemented.crimsontide wrote:If memory serves me correctly it stems back to a incident at East Wahroonga where a young school child was caught and dragged by the rear door. Subsequently private operators were advised not to use the rear door.
Living in the Shire.
Re: Use of Back Door on Buses
I was once told by a hillsbus driver that the back door only opens "when it's busy".
- pgt
- Posts: 1224
- Joined: Fri Mar 17, 2006 8:05 pm
- Favourite Vehicle: MAN SL202/MB O305G/Volvo B10M
- Contact:
Re: Use of Back Door on Buses
I seem to recall there was a rash of incidents involving both STA and private buses with passengers getting trapped in the rear doors (some resulting in fatalities) that caused an initial ban, then relaxing once a alert system was retrofitted to the doors (I thought this was why the STA Mk2 Mercedes have a corner of the door cut out and changed into rubber but could be wrong).
That being said, on the old ACTION Mercedes buses, one I saw in Southtrans/Veolia use had a sticker at the rear door reading something like "This door only opens at interchanges".
Most private bus drivers are probably so used to driving single door buses they forget there's a working rear door on newer buses (that's my observation at least), so leaving those who aren't regulars puzzled when the rear door doesn't open (regulars seem to make a beeline for the front door anyway).
That being said, on the old ACTION Mercedes buses, one I saw in Southtrans/Veolia use had a sticker at the rear door reading something like "This door only opens at interchanges".
Most private bus drivers are probably so used to driving single door buses they forget there's a working rear door on newer buses (that's my observation at least), so leaving those who aren't regulars puzzled when the rear door doesn't open (regulars seem to make a beeline for the front door anyway).
"It's my way or the (side of the) highway".
Might be a way to lead life, but more like the way that some people drive.
Might be a way to lead life, but more like the way that some people drive.
Re: Use of Back Door on Buses
That would have been left over from the Action days. Ironically those buses had door edge sensors since new.pgt wrote: That being said, on the old ACTION Mercedes buses, one I saw in Southtrans/Veolia use had a sticker at the rear door reading something like "This door only opens at interchanges".
- Daniel
- Administrator
- Posts: 7062
- Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2005 9:03 pm
- Favourite Vehicle: Mercedes-Benz O405 / CC '510'
- Location: Sutherland Shire
Re: Use of Back Door on Buses
Reluctance to use the centre doors for the private operators is just a hangover from those past incidences. Drivers and operators don't want to deal with the possibility of an incident. However as routes have become more patronised, the government has insisted that centre doors are optioned on all new contract buses within Sydney. Whether or not they are used are up to the operators, drivers and of course the union! Private operators are annoyed at potential for passengers boarding through the rear and children stuffing about with the doors. They would actually prefer 4 extra seats... However, given the new importance of on time running perhaps we will see a change to this attitude for the benefit of speeding up dwell time.
- captainch
- Posts: 4629
- Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2004 2:37 am
- Favourite Vehicle: was 3533 m/o 687
- Location: INGHAM NTH QLD.GODS COUNTRY
Re: Use of Back Door on Buses
PS. Once upon a time it was also dangerous for Canberra artics to run through the suburbs because it was dangerous. I believe an increase in the allowance for driving an artic made it safe.[/quote
funny thing MONEY it changes 'SAFTEY'
funny thing MONEY it changes 'SAFTEY'
"CAPTAIN.C.H "Lives in the home of "SUGAR CANE' not "chickens" .........."INGHAM NTH QLD"
- MO-busfan
- Posts: 252
- Joined: Sun Dec 30, 2012 12:17 am
- Favourite Vehicle: PBC Scania K280UB CB80
- Location: Western Sydney
Re: Use of Back Door on Buses
In current bus models, the CCTV camera facing the centre door is interfaced with the Thoreb display. Any time the driver wants, he/she can open and close the centre door while watching from his/her seat. Better to open the centre door if the disembarking passenger is closer to it.
Public Transport Spotters Australia http://www.facebook.com/groups/341399882614204/
Cameras used: Canon EOS 650D / Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD, Canon PowerShot S120
Cameras used: Canon EOS 650D / Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD, Canon PowerShot S120
Re: Use of Back Door on Buses
This could be a big problem with passengers standing at the rear door and then having to squeeze past standing passengers to get to the front door or even worse getting stuck until the next stop if the bus takes off.
If it is impossible to have a standard policy then at least there should be real big signs everywhere informing the passengers that the back door is not in use.
If it is impossible to have a standard policy then at least there should be real big signs everywhere informing the passengers that the back door is not in use.
Parrahub, an extra option in the public transport menu http://www.parrahub.org.au/
Re: Use of Back Door on Buses
What are edge strips? Just the rubber bit on the inner vertical edge of the doors?ajw373 wrote:In this day and age I would have though edge strips were mandatory.
Re: Use of Back Door on Buses
It all started when a woman was getting off with her child and the child was stuffing around, the driver didn't look properly closed the door and trapped the girl resulting in her being dragged.bus 2771 at kingsgrove rd in the early 1990's can't remember when maybe 94 95
The Wahroonga incident was a child getting off and running around either in front or behind the bus to cross the road without looking, i remember it was the last day of the school year in the early 2000's
The Wahroonga incident was a child getting off and running around either in front or behind the bus to cross the road without looking, i remember it was the last day of the school year in the early 2000's
Re: Use of Back Door on Buses
Yes but some have sensors inbuilt. Action started using these in the early 80's when the Mercs were introduced, so nothing new.simonl wrote:What are edge strips? Just the rubber bit on the inner vertical edge of the doors?ajw373 wrote:In this day and age I would have though edge strips were mandatory.
-
- Posts: 304
- Joined: Fri Jul 04, 2008 5:11 pm
Re: Use of Back Door on Buses
Transdev South, formerly Veolia at the time, had earlier this year on many of their Metrobuses operating on M92 a computer written sign sticky taped on to the back door stating "we regret to inform you that this door is unserviceable, we are sorry for any inconvenience".
I can understand on one bus but it was across many vehicles.
One day I was let off the bus at Bankstown interchange through the rear door of a Metrobus - one with the above mentioned sign on it.
I do remember reading somewhere that in the contracts for these private operators all new vehicles had to be fitted with two doors, it just seems nobody has stated why they have to all have rear doors in the bus.
I can understand on one bus but it was across many vehicles.
One day I was let off the bus at Bankstown interchange through the rear door of a Metrobus - one with the above mentioned sign on it.
I do remember reading somewhere that in the contracts for these private operators all new vehicles had to be fitted with two doors, it just seems nobody has stated why they have to all have rear doors in the bus.
- BroadGauge
- Posts: 3740
- Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2005 1:20 pm
- Favourite Vehicle: Car
- Location: NSW
Re: Use of Back Door on Buses
Unless anything's changed in the 2 years since I last visited Canberra, all ACTION buses still have that sticker. I'm not sure what the problem is with using the back door at other stops when they're happy to use it at the four main bus interchanges.pgt wrote:That being said, on the old ACTION Mercedes buses, one I saw in Southtrans/Veolia use had a sticker at the rear door reading something like "This door only opens at interchanges".
The strangest rear doors in Australia are the ones fitted to high floor buses in Adelaide (now of which there is only a handful left) which have to be manually pushed open (outwards) by passengers, and are unlocked/locked at the same time as the driver opens/closes the front doors. On at least some of the low floor buses they have a sticker noting that they have a "Driver Operated Door".
Re: Use of Back Door on Buses
I use Busways region 1 and they use the back doors at interchanges with only some drivers using it at other locations.
Re: Use of Back Door on Buses
This would presumably be like the "electric train allowance" Melbourne drivers get?ajw373 wrote:PS. Once upon a time it was also dangerous for Canberra artics to run through the suburbs because it was dangerous. I believe an increase in the allowance for driving an artic made it safe.
Elvis has left the building!
- captainch
- Posts: 4629
- Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2004 2:37 am
- Favourite Vehicle: was 3533 m/o 687
- Location: INGHAM NTH QLD.GODS COUNTRY
Re: Use of Back Door on Buses
when we had conductors,the PTC offered drivers a extra $1 to drive the buses one man using both doors,I was at that union meeting ,up went the hands and end of conductors so the drivers sold their work mates out for a lousey $1 including the UNION!
"CAPTAIN.C.H "Lives in the home of "SUGAR CANE' not "chickens" .........."INGHAM NTH QLD"
-
- Posts: 49
- Joined: Sun Mar 24, 2013 9:37 pm
- Favourite Vehicle: Anything with vinyl seats
- Location: Sutherland Shire, NSW
Re: Use of Back Door on Buses
I've never seen the back door (or middle door on articulated/"bendy" buses) opened except on State Transit buses. Once I saw someone stand at the back door on a Transdev South (formerly Veolia) bus and the driver actually said that they could only exit from the front door, so they do seem aware of the back, I guess they just don't want to use it or have been told not to use it. Might ask my bus driver friend and see what he says.
Re: Use of Back Door on Buses
This rules appears to of been changed & those stickers are/have been removed from the newer buses (just like the rule about students standing for adults rule has gone). But you still get the older bus drivers enforcing the old rules, if only they would enforce the old fares.....BroadGauge wrote:Unless anything's changed in the 2 years since I last visited Canberra, all ACTION buses still have that sticker. I'm not sure what the problem is with using the back door at other stops when they're happy to use it at the four main bus interchanges.pgt wrote:That being said, on the old ACTION Mercedes buses, one I saw in Southtrans/Veolia use had a sticker at the rear door reading something like "This door only opens at interchanges".
- Gusbus
- Posts: 474
- Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2012 11:14 am
- Favourite Vehicle: MAN SL202 ZF
- Location: Eastern Suburbs
Re: Use of Back Door on Buses
On top of what has already been said I feel it also gives a bit of extra control over the behaviour of passengers on the bus because passengers have to walk back past the driver preventing a speedy exit (out the back door) after an act of vandalism, for example.
Good riddens to Westbus...
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 5810
- Joined: Sat Jun 06, 2009 12:18 pm
- Favourite Vehicle: Anything German
- Location: Sydney, NSW
Re: Use of Back Door on Buses
If Sydney private operators can't handle two doors, I'd hate to see how they go with five doors!