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.
"Please hold on, the bus is about to move" aka @tfl's latest PSA announcement pic.twitter.com/Fo2xXcKcjv
— Cherie Koh (@cherie_koh) January 13, 2018
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.
"Please hold on, the bus is about to move". As the bus is already moving. Every. Time. What were you thinking, @TfL ??
— Geoff Marshall (@geofftech) January 13, 2018
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 (@ReubenArthur) January 14, 2018
5.
What's with these new bus announcements that say "please hold on, this bus is about to move" when it's already fucked off at breakneck speed
— Tom Hagues (@trhagues) January 14, 2018
6.
when I close my eyes to sleep at night, all I'm gonna hear is "please hold on, the bus is about to move"
— Izi (@iziieva) January 12, 2018
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).
