Demand Responsive Transport - Buses With No Timetables

There are several 'DRT' bus schemes running in the country - that's where you can order a bus using an App on demand, rather than having it scheduled to a timetable. The nice people down at Go Coaches down in Sevenoaks invited me down for the day to try out their service ... and ride on some buses, completely on demand!
Go Coach Sevenoaks Buses: www.go-coach.co.uk/

[@AndreiTupolev]

Bus services that don't follow any discernible timetable? We've had those for years.

[@mirisch64]

Not only buses, but trams, trolleybuses, marshrutkas...

[@Stefan-jk5gx]

@@mirisch64 No one ever said that trams will be included in the on demand service. I mean, trams can only run on track, so they can only take you anywhere along a specific route.

[@needn5796]

@@Stefan-jk5gx I think he means that they are not on time or not on a clear schedule.

[@ricktownend9144]

@@mirisch64 Here in Stara Zagora (Bulgaria) the buses do pretty much follow the timetable, but you can find out a route for a cross-city journey on the web (or app), and most of the bus-stops tell you when the next bus on each route arrives. The rural bus-stops don't do that, and services are not frequent, but seem to be pretty well used - as are the city buses

[@melissavredline1264]

@@Stefan-jk5gx In Melbourne Australia we have the largest tram route system in the world. Trams run down almost every street so this bus system can be used on our tram network. Oh, we also can ride kangaroos to and from work and school...

[@MIKIEC71]

The future of public transport in rural areas? Definitely seems more feasible than one bus a week. Good luck to them!

[@AstoundingAmelia]

It will also be better than Jane/John doe having to get up at 6:00 AM to catch the bus into town to get groceries only to have to wait till 4 PM to get back

[@katfoster845]

@@AstoundingAmelia Or in one village in Hampshire, having to get the bus to arrive in town at 11. It leaves at 1. That is the only bus service available and it runs 3 days a week. As you can imagine, everyone drives. It's completely useless.

[@fartingfury]

They've had this for years in the suburb of Toulouse, France, where I live, but you've to book two hours in advance and I've never used it because I'm not that organised. The service in the video is much better!

[@markwright3161]

@@fartingfury For rural areas it might develop into that so that a bus isn't driving 10+ miles with only 1 passenger/no passengers.

[@Synnystarstershy]

I live near Chulmleigh which has an hourly bus service to Exeter but only has a twice daily bus service to Barnstaple on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. If someone doesn't drive and needs to get to Barnstaple by train they need to get a bus to Eggesford station and the trains from Eggesford to Barnstaple are hourly the bus and train services don't match up so your could be waiting up to 50 minutes for a train. Also the bus drops you opposite the station on a T junction on a blind bend on the A377 so it's incredibly dangerous to cross and also there's no official bus stop or bus timetable at the station. You just gotta know when the bus is and hope the driver sees you.

[@RoamingAdhocrat]

I've spent miserable days driving "town service" routes in rural towns, typically an hourly service or at a 40-minute interval, and used by next to no-one. This looks so much more useful.

[@obel15k]

That sounds just like the service we had, which unsurprisingly the bus company withdrew after a couple of years. Be interested to see if this takes off in a more rural location.

[@tomirvin5555]

@@obel15k It has been used in rural Lincolnshire for a number of years now. The system is called Call Connect - the demand responsive buses in many cases feed into the inter urban buses in the market towns for people making longer journeys. The vast majority of the occasional buses are no more, there are high quality interurban runs and the Call Connect for the villages off the main runs. lincsbus.info/callconnect/

[@ianprince1698]

@@tomirvin5555 for a time I lived in Spalding Lincs.and saw this service advertised

[@Saroyus]

I had to take one of those services to get to college for two years. 80% of the time I was the only person on the bus.

[@hollyhales2831]

@@tomirvin5555 i live in rural lincolnshire and we get a main stagecoach bus every half an hour into the main bus station in town, i think ive seen call connect advertised but as we have main buses it isnt really used where i live.

[@JamesPetts]

A taxi-like service with 'bus prices? This is impressive value for money.

[@ignaciotorovillacura6342]

In Chile we have taxis that makes a specific route with some variations depending on where are going the passengers, they have an unique price and it is really useful in rural or small urban areas

[@sarips841]

@@ignaciotorovillacura6342 many countries also have routed taxi such as Russia, Indonesia, or Nigeria

[@GeorgiaOverdrive]

It’s probably not very profitable. That’s the main reason for things like these failing.

[@hokanh579]

@@sarips841 what? Indonesia have one? I think you're mistaken. Never seen one in Indo

[@elizabethmh_465]

This is my local it’s great

[@GryphLane]

It's like Dial-A-Ride but dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century

[@Chrnan6710]

Jay Foreman reference?

[@375-Productions]

You mean the Twenty-Oneth century I'm sure?

[@michaelgreen1515]

Not quite like a dial a ride.

[@DavidShepheard]

They should definitely make a demand responsive version of Dial-A-Ride. But it wouldn't be good to let all the able-bodied passengers steal all the slots, so they should restrict it to Dial-A-Ride passengers.

[@Ash-vm6vy]

@@375-Productions no, you don't say "Twenty-Oneth", because it's "twenty first", idiot.

[@Lost_scotsman]

As a bus driver myself. Thanks for highlighting the great work Bus drivers up and down the country are doing keeping people moving.

[@geofftech2]

Bus drivers do stirling work, as they're right there facing the public, as they board. have always respected that!

[@Lost_scotsman]

@@geofftech2 Thank you.

[@alexanderip1003]

better than Uber Bigger passenger volume

[@Cadwaladr]

And hopefully they pay their drivers a bit better.

[@MannyAntipov]

Uber+

[@doveronefoxtrot4417]

That will last about six months.

[@kbtred51]

@@MannyAntipov UBERPool

[@kitchencadetgameplays6105]

And it's to compliment other services not to compete

[@jonistan9268]

Finally we're doing this. This is a great idea for areas with low demand, relatively low population density and/or destinations spread out in a way that is difficult for regular lines to connect. However, it's not the answer everywhere. Fixed routes and timetables are convenient if the service is frequent enough and usually on time.

[@SamSitar]

the FRTA should do this. their routes range from every other hour down to 4 trips per day.

[@JasperJanssen]

I’m not sure that given the passenger volume that is shown they really need these giant buses on these routes.

[@grahamsmith9541]

@@JasperJanssen In normal times they need the big busses. At the moment they are using this system. On routes that are normaly timetabled. Due to lack of passengers because of Covid-19. As well as it's normal purpose of providing the villages with a service. In the past I have used the service from Hildenborough village to Hildenborough Station. Using the larger busses and had to stand.

[@thecockerel86]

@@JasperJanssen I suspect they will adjust bus sizes in time.

[@reneartois616]

@@JasperJanssen Passenger Volume is low, not just because of COVID reduction in travel - now it's low because passengers don't want to use this service. Mostly these buses around the town during the day were used by the elderly, who don't want to use apps and don't want to call to "bother" the company. Imagine lots of people stuck at home and annoyed by these buses going past their bus stop with single passengers, but they can't put out their arm to stop them. Buses used to be fairly full on the central routes, especially down to Tesco in Riverhead if passenger demand rose back to that level, a level that as you say justifies using a bus, then the wait time would naturally be longer making it less useful than a known timetable. Residents are looking forward to the routes restarting in a couple of weeks.

[@timc1703]

Geoff doing a video about busses? Never thought I'd see the day.....

[@oliverbrelsford5472]

Ummm. He DEFINITELY hasn't before.

[@timc1703]

@@oliverbrelsford5472 yeah I posted that then realised he'd done some, like the hopper fare ones.

[@alexanderip1003]

I wish he also did a video on Route 9 as well the only route with the AEC Routemaster

[@dickmartino9933]

Now that Geoff has seen the light expect All the Bus Stations, Mercedes bus outfitting depots, weekly bus ticket reviews, electric buses etc.

[@gabri_maybe]

I was really surprised when he identified what type of bus was it

[@plasmauktransport1657]

Has to be one of the best ideas I've ever seen. Especially for social distancing. It does help with people who need to go for an interview or for some people who need to go home without having to inconveniently wait a longer time for a bus. Well done GoCoach!

[@FK-qh3mm]

Is still weird tho but atleast I have a new way to get to school😂💀

[@samrogers7896]

I agree with you Shaan! 👍

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

All the bus stops, all of them

[@1973Washu]

Least used bus stops ...

[@badbob1982]

You would do well to get a service to my nearest bus stop. Built about 10 years ago, and has never ever had a service.

[@Ypog_UA]

Why are you everywhere how many people are using that account

[@MattCamelly]

He actually did least used bus route doe xD

[@rogerperkins7198]

I live in Sevenoaks and think this a great, forward-thinking idea to give public transport the resurgence it deserves. Lovely team at Go. Thanks for highlighting this, Geoff.

[@hannahparsonson7272]

Yes yet what about those who do not have smartphones or phobes that are just basic,

[@theexcaliburone5933]

Well evidently you can just dial to ride with any phone

[@TallysVids]

That is a brilliant idea/scheme. In my neck of the woods, there is a lot of small villages, some of which have lost their bus service, or they have one that's pretty much of no use to the people who live there. In these small areas, a bus service is a lifeline. It would be great to see this kind of scheme rollout across the UK.

[@danieltoth-nagy5097]

And this would help reducing the reliance on cars in the country. There are a lot of places even in bigger towns or cities where you can't go without a car. A bus service like this would help so much.

[@RJH1971]

I live in a rural part of south east Ireland and a DRT minibus system would be a godsend. So many parts of Ireland are utterly car dependant because it's the same story as you described, like one bus once a day each way only on days starting with T, useless in this day and age!

[@QuantumScratcher]

Also a one-a-day or so bus service would be UTTERLY STUPID. Like, why have buses running that infrequent?

[@jovanweismiller7114]

We've had it in North Kansas City, MO, US for at least 15 years. It's a small town, and the service is called 'Dime-a-Time'. Ten cents a ride from anywhere to anywhere else in town.

[@danielscullane]

This was great timing - came up in my feed minutes before a 3hr drive to Sevenoaks. Used the service - was easy, so thanks, Geoff!

[@hannahk1306]

Thanks so much for explaining this - I've often wondered why there's no timetables (or waiting buses) at the bus station! They definitely need to advertise this service better, it's such a good idea.

[@ricktownend9144]

Yes, absolutely - why is the bus industry in general so bad at publicity - they have a network of locations (bus tops, bus stations) and moving locations (buses) free for them to use

[@EuroDC1990]

What a fantastic idea. Where my in-laws live there's only one bus in and out of their village a day but there's a main road about a mile away that gets an hourly service. I imagine it would be fantastic to have a semi-timetabled service that runs the main road as standard but then can go into the small villages for pick-ups on demand

[@ParkerTyler]

Super cool concept! I feel like this could really catch on in certain small to medium sized towns in the United States.

[@caw25sha]

Geoff said the software is American but I suspect Uncle Sam might not be the biggest user.

[@armorsmith43]

Parker Tyler This might be really good in New England where there are towns with old downtowns.

[@cco53587]

@@caw25sha It's based on Via, which originated in NYC and has been in major cities for a while now. Some other American cities do have services like this, but very sparsely and some failed altogether like Bridj. Transit agencies are largely stuck to the old models; the only way a service like this could be cost- effective in most places in the US is if the local transit agencies cooperate.

[@READYTEDDYBEAR]

I'm confused? Geoff in a non-railed video? This video derailed my mind into a new dimension and my body went loco..... I'll get my coat! 👍

[@kimberleyr8952]

It's like a muggle Knight Bus

[@davidlockwood9192]

What a great idea! Good to see the senior bosses not only hands on but passionate about their business! Thanks Geoff

[@sparkyprojects]

People in a lift ARE called 'passengers', that's why they are called passenger lifts, as opposed to goods lift ;)

[@JasmineJu]

This is like Uber Pool but with buses, even the app looks the same.

[@aldertravels]

Go-Coach is my local operator, and I love the video! Some buses are super new too! Good Video, keep up the work! Edit: the new buses are the Enviro 400s, replacing the Plaxton Presidents on school and busy services. The Sprinter minibus was added to Go-Coach in 2018, and was originally on the Heathrow 5 to Car Park shuttle before the pods came out.

[@MattCamelly]

hello human! Who r u? idk u (totally)

[@MattCamelly]

@@disappointingmarbleraces9028 ik him irl and it was funny that I saw his comment

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Oooh, Go-Coach - my local bus company! Sort of - they operate via where I live in Swanley, and I've always liked travelling with them the most out of the bus options available. I love the idea of this - seems like combining the best of bus and Uber/taxi travel together? Oh, and on Bat & Ball - last time I was there was 2017 too, I was regularly going to therapy sessions in Sevenoaks at the time and it was the nearest stop. Lovely to see it looking so nice now with the old SR style signage! :)

[@aldertravels]

My local operator too! Strangely, I was at the Bus Station at Sevenoaks a few mins before he came... What a shame I missed him!

[@bulcsudiossi4914]

Love your videos (I only just discovered your channel) you should definitely do a collab with Geoff.

[@charliedring4092]

Live near Swanley/Sevenoaks and never knew about this DRT.

[@mdrocks7842]

goes all the way down to westerham as well

[@elizabethmh_465]

It’s my local too

[@Adam-mt7jd]

Great video Geoff! This in theory seems like a great idea to work alongside fixed routes and should help people living in rural areas not serviced by fixed routes the opportunity to use public transport.

[@chriswilkes236]

That's amazing, Geoff. Thanks or putting it up. Keep safe and healthy, you two.

[@ChrisCoombes]

Great to see people happy in their work. Well done everyone involved!

[@petercotton89]

I hope this is a success because it’s fantastic! Not only is it a more personal service for customers but it could make much more sense than councils having to shell out huge sums in subsidies for a service that is barely used!

[@martasturmey7102]

Great video, I have used Go2 a few times and it is always a great service. The drivers have always been very friendly. Once again a great video highlighting a very good little bus operator.

[@grahamarmstrong3136]

I think if this allows those communities that have become disconnected from the standard bus routes t be reconnected then this is a great idea and service. And also, the power of the data will allow them to clearly see popular routes and hopefully reduce the number of empty buses that move around.

[@MilesLougheed]

A first time pass rate of 100% for safety inspections. That's incredible. If they give out a medal for that sort of thing, these guys have earned it.

[@dfbiker]

That’s amazing and we need more of this where you can call a bus. Fantastic. Also nice to see the boss really involved and passionate about the business. Congrats to all.

[@garryhammond7616]

Superb video as always. I love this idea. I Don't need to use buses in my daily life, but what a brilliant idea if you were on a weekend away. I would definitely use it. No need to stress about directions or parking, you know when a bus is coming, super simple, good luck to the Go team.

[@Danburybeeches]

Brilliant vid Geoff and a fantastic idea. Something that has been debated and discussed for years, very good to see it and know it’s doing so well!

[@stevies.1975]

What a great video! And what a great little company with a great product idea. People have been talking about the problems with rural services for years and operators running loss making services that people don’t need, usually due to the impractical times. I truly hope this is the re-incarnation of services people want and it gets supported! Love it!

[@Bellabambina123]

Very interesting idea! It would be good for the elderly or less able people to get around to get to the shops, hospital appointments etc! It is vital that communities don’t get cut off! I grew up in the surburbs & the bus service was awful! This sounds great & all the drivers seemed very friendly!!

[@DAFPvnk]

I could see this style of service growing over the next few years and timetabled buses being reduced, or even removed completely for less used routes.

[@InsideInterpreting]

That's not good news for rural areas.

[@tvandbeermakehomergo]

@@InsideInterpreting It acutally could be better for low demmand routes, as busses will only be sent if there is a need

[@InsideInterpreting]

That's true. I misread.

[@MannyAntipov]

I have an estate in my urban town that has a very frequent (10 minute intervals) bus service to/from the town centre. Would the DRT work in this case?

[@grahamsmith9541]

@@MannyAntipov Probably would not work in that situation. Go Coach run nomal timetabled routes in busy areas. All the places in the video have normal services in addition. But due to Covid-19 lack of passengers. The timetabled services have been temporarily dropped.

[@dorahumphries4650]

Thank you soooo much for your fun and very informative videos, my train and bus crazy 4 years old has been driving us nuts watching trains driving and bus routes for so long when he suddenly found you and we really enjoyed watching you too! He loves you :)

[@stephenharper9961]

Loved watching this video and its amazing over time to see how the technology can be used even on fixed routes and in different ways

[@Fs3i]

I can see this so useful for (a group of) small villages! You don't need to have a crappy bus service that runs maybe once every two hours, just have this. I bet that average wait and journey duration will go down with the same amount of busses and drivers! This might make busses viable where they aren't, I'm honestly more excited about that possiblity than another bus in the (already well-connected) city.

[@probattles]

We had this for 3 years in liverpool with arriva click, that had high end minibus. Sadly they are ending the service the end of this month and I'm already missing it

[@almostthere3733]

Great video Geoff showcasing a great service! This is an amazing game-changer to compliment fixed lines and eliminate underused fixed service. I wish this was in our cities.

[@simonhutton1]

Awesome service, great video Geoff 👍🏼

[@DickHolman]

I was thinking this idea sounds familiar, & then I remembered a Tomorrow's World piece, I think in the 70's, about a similar computer-controlled scheme in Stuttgart. IIRC, the stops were fitted with a call-button.

[@buddyclem7328]

I was also expecting call buttons, or call boxes.

[@TuiCatNZ]

If the wait time is constantly under 10min it sounds like a great idea.

[@danieldaniels7571]

Right? Where I live I usually wait 25 minutes to an hour or more for a bus.

[@will16320]

Yeah thats innovation, love it - thanks jeff and the go coach team

[@Sam-hh9fr]

I love how they still have such a personal touch, personally if I was there I'd use the app but many older people would love to call up and I think it's so great they actually accommodate for that.

[@alextucker6219]

My home town!!!!! I always walk by the station and wonder why there aren’t any timetables!!! V impressive and informative, thanks Geoff!! :)

[@MichaelDreksler]

I had that exact thought. I am slightly surprised I didn't know about this already. Geoff, you should have got a coffee at the Bat and Ball coffee shop!

[@ricktownend9144]

Publicity? - why is bus publicity so amateur?

[@ricktownend9144]

How about a few giant posters at the railway and bus stations? - and posters you can read from across the road on all bus-shelters?

[@hesterclapp9717]

I had this sort of idea with Autonomous pods, but thought the new infrastructure made me think it would be too expensive. Never thought to do it with buses.

[@PeteS_1994]

Charlie Clapp Maybe it makes lots of sense with autonomous buses as they would use algorithms to work out quick routes.

[@Matthewsbuses1997]

They should do that in London but they used to have buses when you only pay In cash in 2000 I think

[@gold119]

I agree, this is a great way to solve the first mile / last mile barrier that isolates many smaller communities that lack enough density to support full service fixed route. Great video, thanks Geoff :)

[@ThisIsARubbishName]

Oh, I like this. I would definitely use it - my regional center doesn't have a direct route to the shop, or from work to different shops etc. I'd totally use it. I'd use it at Mum's too - there's buses twice a day to hers. The buses run empty when I knock off at work, and usually run mostly empty when I go to work. On demand transport would be a winner!

[@BusDriverLife]

This seems like a great idea for areas that don’t demand frequent bus service!

[@Daniel_Nye]

I really love this idea and I'm really jealous that I don't have it in my area, so much use I could have with this service to get to work

[@alrightboblive]

Great video, this type of service was supposed to have a trial around my local area around a year ago but never happened. Such a shame because it would come in very handy for plenty of users. Thanks Geoff great video

[@6.tatertots]

Great to see a bus video today! And the Optares are called Solos. It's like a play on words, as they're "so low". They're the pacers of the bus network really. Some love them, some hate them

[@jasonadle7304]

We did a trial of a similar service over here in Vancouver, Canada. Unfortunately the app platform used didn’t work so well but the service itself was amazing

[@420greatestqueen]

Hopefully they bring it back with an improved app. I was just thinking how great this would be especially for night busses Vancouver

[@greaterlondonbuses8100]

Nice concept, I might try this out on the weekend!

[@david-stewart]

At the weekend

[@lewisbryant6786]

This is a brilliant idea. Its really easy for me to get from my house to the town centre, but a right pain to get from my house to a different part of the town, and this would be a great solution.

[@Gaspode_]

That service looks fantastic. Another great video Geoff!

[@torchris1]

This would be great in a lower density city like where I live. I often see empty buses whizzing by following pointless routes that are not used. I’d be concerned how seniors and the less tech savvy would adjust.

[@marcscattolin1554]

As he mentioned it is possible to book by phone

[@torspedia]

I can certainly see this being rolled out into other places, especially countryside towns where the outlaying villages may only see a bus every couple of hour or more (like where I am).

[@dillshiba9376]

Where i live the bus time tables are so short like the last bus is at 2pm to get back home from a bigger town to my small town which is at the end of the bus line it's so annoying. Luckily my town got a rail connection but u gotta change a lot to get home when u miss a direct bus home I live in North Shropshire.

[@amandaclarke1490]

I live in Sevenoaks and I did not know what this service was all about so thank you for showing me

[@clembu2275]

In my village, our main bus service got re-routed last year, leaving us with one local company that only pick up 3 times early in the day. Something like this would be amazing to villages that miss out on regular public transport. Cheaper and more economical than a taxi and beats walking in the rain!

[@ecoomber]

Sutton had one of those too. I saw it all over the place.

[@burlfromlondon]

GoSutton was a year long trial that was due to finish end May 2020, but was then going to be extended (for 6 months?). When lockdown started it was suspended. After a couple of months it reported that it wasn't returning. Most the passengers were using Freedom Passes rather that PAYG. So not sure if it was financially viable.

[@hedgehog3180]

This seems interesting and a lot more innovative than something like Uber, which is really just a way to further exploit workers.

[@wertuias1511]

To be fair, Uber IS a really innovative way of exploiting workers.

[@CyrilDance]

Congratulations for one more superb video. This looks like the future of public transport in non-metro areas

[@trebuh]

A genious and revolutionary service, somthing so simple yet so clever im surprised it's taken this long to come out!

[@gillchatfield3231]

Hope it works better than Call Connect in Lincolnshire. All done by phone. When it works it's good, but most of the time it isn't. Sad really, in such a rural county.

[@jonny5alive123]

Going to need a lot more customers for it to be profitable. For most of his trips he was the only customer, the price of his tickets wasn’t even going to cover the drivers wages.

[@Ulleskelf]

As a frequent visitor to Lincolnshire, CallConnect isn't too bad. They have buses 80% of the time I need one. It's just that when they don't, getting a taxi is so bloody expensive.

[@AutoGamerZ_]

@@jonny5alive123 It usually isn't: Public transport is quite heavily subsidised by design, where the income is split between the taxpayer and the passenger. The system really only works in a few very specific sub-type of areas: One of which being Relatively low density suburbs of towns which have a small radial design with mostly non-centralised passenger streams, with relatively high passenger numbers. The SevenOaks area is one of only a few such areas in Europe. In more rural areas they are so expensive prices have to be jacked up and guaranteed transit connections become practically impossible. This is the failure of such systems in the netherlands. The only place it's really worked here is the Island of Texel: Which is reasonable because the tourism, boat times and layout of the island simulates a similar environment to SevenOaks despite being a lot less dense, while covering only a relatively small area making the guaranteed connections easier. In denser areas and suburbs a regular bus is generally more appreciated by working people, students and the elderly, the three groups that disproportionately use public transport: Even if it often allows less journey options and is usually cheaper as set timetables in denser areas usually better combine more passengers because it in those situations segnificantly reduces the amount of trips compares to a flexible system. Tl;dr: SevenOaks is in the golden zone where it works, but it's very small: And attempts outside of that golden zone are consistently failing around Europe.

[@gillchatfield3231]

@@Ulleskelf You're very lucky then. More often than not I can't get anything.

[@ccityplanner1217]

Demand-responsive buses are not a new concept: they have completely replaced scheduled services across most counties of the midwestern United States. Their prevalence in this particular region is significant: they are a sign that an operator has decided to focus on the elderly as there is very little demand from other age groups. Interesting concept, but I still think not for me. I like my transport to take no notice of me & be 100% predictable regardless of passenger behaviour.

[@mostlyguesses8385]

... Many US demand responsive buses are ONLY available to seniors and handicapped, so the poor especially minorities are slowly losing their buses they rely on (this shows seniors vote and sorta watch out for themselves). I think England doesn't allow this kind of favoritism. ......... I have no idea why we need a 50 person bus to carry the 2-3 people that ever would be on the same demand-responsive bus. I also suspect in addition to the $5 fee there is $20 govt subsidy. I wish everyone well, but need ideas that make sense. ...............I am in Houston, with good bus system, but honestly there are few rich or nonminority users it is weird. ....

[@michaelcallummayaka]

@@mostlyguesses8385 There are services like that in the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), that are for the elderly or disabled only, afaik always publicly (govt) funded so that kind of favouritism is allowed. In the city of Edinburgh there used to be a demand responsive bus to the airport but I can't quite remember how it worked, they used little Ford Transit 16 seaters but it was cancelled either due to lack of ridership or due to taking revenue from the company's main Airport bus route, which is contracted by the Airport Authority or owners of the airport.

[@mostlyguesses8385]

@@michaelcallummayaka ... Uber makes all but the busiest bus lines unneeded, just switch subsidy from unbusy bus areas to $5 subsidy if a person Ubers,,,,, Uber honestly is such a help to old people we sorta forget how bad hiring a taxi use to be, , ,,, , To be honest English cities are so small why not walk everywhere maybe we could give people $100 monthly and tell them they can save all if they walk rather than pay for buses for people not living by their work n shops,,,,,, at 3mph/5kmh a person can walk far,,,,, oh well luckily tech like Uber pops up and helps ,,,,, and w Amazon and internet grandma really can never leave the house so that is huge 2nd tech benefit,,,,,, lastly US honestly has x3 longer distance commutes and EVs really are OK there but in US probably never will dominate we need 500 mile roadtrips some months to see grandma or work trip to next metropolis area---just saying we differ,,,,,, I myself bike everywhere and save $10,000 yearly so I have to work half as much to live as well you drivers/busers are idiots JUST HALF JOKING,,,,

[@saintuk70]

Spatial loveliness too, absolutely love this

[@EM81YT]

This is a great concept! Need this in every town and city, rather than running timetables that not everyone uses.

[@PaulFisher]

I will admit to being skeptical about this from a larger-city perspective. It looks like a cool concept but I worry about efficiency and access. If you do not have a mobile phone at the moment you are locked out. There are certainly some things that could be ironed out-it is strange to me that they use the full license plate to identify the bus rather than, say, a large bus number (“get on bus #77”). I like the idea of being able to feed this information back into fixed-route scheduling to mix the best features of DRT with the predictability of fixed routes where they are more beneficial.

[@skyblazeeterno]

I think you make great points as the number plate thing and app use may put off the elderly

[@lv-ag6129]

I’ve never seen you do a bus video before!

[@SK_3PT1]

i think these are his others: m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZmciapmgpiZl8k and m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/mH2ZcqamZZaFlck

[@jrisner6535]

So interesting! I'm really glad this is happening, been imagining a system like this for years

[@GreenJimll]

Brilliant idea! Looking forward to seeing this spread up to the Midlands.

[@TIB1245L]

Singapore did a trial for driver responsive transport for certain bus routes for awhile but sadly it didn’t really work out that well..

[@dickmartino9933]

Singapore is only 50 square miles.

[@caw25sha]

@@dickmartino9933 Still too far to walk.

[@zulpoolliverpool]

A demand response bus service will certainly work well for countryside areas which are lacking the regularity of bus and train services. For Singapore context, people are used to the abundance of regular fixed timetable bus services and accessibility to nearby train stations. Therefore, the need for an on-demand bus service is simply not there and is redundant to the already built-up public transport infrastructure in Singapore.

[@alvizuet]

Feels like big Uber Pool with specific stations; looks promising

[@mostlyguesses8385]

.... with demand-buses they make old people and handicapped walk blocks to the bus station, rather than let them get a Uber at their doorstep,,,, that seems stupid when Uber is available,,,,,,,, my Mother is so spoiled she is not going to walk 3 blocks for the bus station but at 70 years old she should NOT be driving it is unsafe,,,,, this demand-bus is great but Uber just is cheaper counting govt subsidies I bet but I guess we can't admit that,,,

[@internetguy692]

@@mostlyguesses8385 Uber, even Uberpool is not cheaper than £2.20 - £5 per journey

[@mostlyguesses8385]

@@internetguy692 .... I agree Uber costs up to 5, ,,,, but how can a huge bus carry on average maybe 10 people an hour cheaper (inlcuding govt subsidy) of a Uber carrying maybe 3 an hour. To guess buses cost 200,000 pounds but cars 20,000.... I feel silly to state the obvious but more silly to have video where its all praise and no one mentioning why use a bus not a heck Minivan/Stationwagon/LondonTaxi.... . Good ol geof.

[@internetguy692]

@@mostlyguesses8385 Bruh, where do you live? Here an Uber costs £5 minimum not up to. The bus is only cheaper if enough people use it, which won't happen because if enough people use it so that it can make a profit journeys will be too long. Its a good idea on paper but will never work in practice. Plus the people that actually need this (rural towns) will not be able to because getting there, picking them up, dropping them off back home and driving back to the depot makes it economically unviable again.

[@mostlyguesses8385]

@@internetguy692 ... We may be agreeing with each other... In a low density area where even with customers requesting locations, since only 3-4 passengers will be onboard, just use a Van not a 10x heavier bus. Only if you can fill up a bus then use a bus. ,,,, I honestly think Uber is the best system with ok mix of speed and cost and just subsidy it in the countryside so the poor and old can get to work and shop and not be unable to function - - so spend 20 pounds a week a poor person on subsidy don't run a bus system. With Covid of course mass transit is looking unsafe, which aint fair but a fact. Facts matter. If I walk to the bus station 1km, wait 10minutes, travel at low speed, get off walk .3km, yes I would save 3 of the Uber price of 7, and spend 1 hour versus 20 minutes so losing 20poounds of wages.... Plus there is 3pound a passenger govt subsidy. .So if counting everything Uber beats bus. Uber is run by such jerks we want to not use it, but compared to taxis they are sooooooooo cheap those old days sucked, I bet in 10 years Uber lyft etc have taken place of buses and maybe even trains/subways in most countries ,,, yes I could be wrong but I remember thinking smartphones were a silly cost.

[@michaelpilling9659]

What a brilliant idea. Great video Geoff - thank you

[@johnwyldbore73]

Great video Geoff, HST’s have gone from where I live on the ECML apart from the 2 Cross Country sets we get daily. 91’s have now stopped from our neck of the woods, only Hitachi rubbish to see from my front garden now!!

[@MannyAntipov]

This didn't age well...

[@ryangordon3011]

Can you bus pass concessions on go 2

[@Topboy53]

No as Go Coach Hire is prebooked

[@caw25sha]

@@Topboy53 I don't see why it isn't possible. When you register and add your credit card details it should be possible to indicate if you are a pensioner or whatever and automatically get a discount every time.

[@metrowake11]

Yes you can

[@CheekyBandit]

Zero fare bus pass concessions should be accepted by hackney carriages in Sheffield. I have often waited at bus stop #37020360 in the city where such vehicles have illegally clogged up the lay-by outside the 0015-0500 window when I to have to jaywalk to avoid being unsighted by a bus I try and hail.

[@dianea2697]

I really enjoyed this video Geoff. Thank you 😊

[@OofusTwillip]

I grew up in a semi-rural town, near Toronto, Canada. In the 1970s & 80s, we had Dial-a-Bus. You'd phone to book it, and a minibus would turn up sometime in the next hour or so. Usually. We called it "Dial-a-Tour", because you'd get to your destination eventually, but you never knew when or by what circuitous journey, or how many other people would be along for the ride. There were no apps or GPS tracking; the only way the dispatcher could track them was by CB radio. As the town grew into a city, Dial-a-Tour was replaced by a regular half-hourly bus service.

[@MrOneWorld123]

So, you are telling us all the Pros. I can't take you serious if you don't cover any flaws if the system. Sounds more like they paid you for that advert.

[@MarloSoBalJr]

The cons would be: *Lack of utilization *Waste of fuel operating large buses instead of mini buses *TOO demand could also hurt *(may work for Kent but doesn't mean it could for cities like Birmingham or Manchester)*

[@marleisampson6852]

You're a picky one, eh...

[@ianwhite4821]

Geoff?!? Are you feeling okay? Buses? I’m worried about you

[@royhumphrey49]

Looking good. I'll try it soon and seen if it can take me, my walking boots, packed lunch and camera to parts of this area more easily than last year.

[@mylim4020]

great video! Lots of small town stations have non-existence transport for the last mile journey or a hourly bus service that don't fit with the railway scale, that turn people off using the train. This schemes seems to be really great for improving mobility, far much cheaper, environmental friendly than Taxi and more inclusive than dedicated shuttle buses

[@warmachineuk]

This is the kind of solution smartphones can create but this can't be financially viable. You need enough buses 'in the field' to be responsive and enough passengers per bus to cover running costs without an expensive ticket price. Strikes me that if passenger density in a region is high enough to make this work, fixed timetables would be viable in the first place. Mind you, responsiveness is more useful and a useful but non-financially viable service can be subsidised by local councils. As long national austerity doesn't kick in again.

[@go2535]

areas that have little bus use and already subsidised by local authority. We hope in time our new service is more a efficient way of serving these areas.

[@harrylau1699]

So it’s like a carpool, but for a bus. A car-bus?

[@lonmar0612]

wouldn't that be a buspool?

[@harrylau1699]

Mark Long oh that makes much more sense!

[@locustreaper1179]

Love your videos Geoff very interesting keep them coming awesome stuff keep up the fantastic work 👍🏻

[@elizabethmh_465]

Been on that E400 9003,9006,9012,9011 E400s I love the seats on them. I use them everyday

[@Peter_B_]

-Trying to get home after a long day -Low on money -Phone battery flat -Sees bus stop -You need a phone to book this bus -Dies

[@samjeffs2700]

*cough* not sponsored *cough*

[@zork999]

Geoff does say upfront: "The nice people down at Go Coaches down in Sevenoaks invited me down for the day to try out their service..."

[@liamtahaney713]

I was skeptical but this is actually amazing. Data at work!!!

[@davidperlmutter9441]

Great video! You really captured the passenger's perspective of a DRT service.

[@radders261]

What a brilliant idea, I hope it works out for GO. Quality video as always!

[@maplady572]

Loved this. I hope it is rolled out throughout the UK. Our buses here stop at about 7pm which is not much use!

[@chasstevens729]

Great video. I think this is definitely the future for more rural areas.

[@Lyndalewinder]

wow what a great system - hope it spreads ! Also another great vid Geoff