GLA member calls for an end to the prison bus (From This Is Local London)

not a big priority to change the signage...but how about getting the drivers to learn how to slowly apply their brakes?! 'tis been more than once that myself and other passengers have gone flying upon a stop :p

oh get over it!!! how about mp's start trying to save our hospital instead of worrying about pathetic things like that! thats the most stupid story ive read.... how long has this bus been running with that sign! BOTHERED!!!

This seems a bit of nonsense to me that will cost money changing the destination blinds, bus stop information and online information. Who are the people anyway who are sitting in judgement on the passengers on the bus and how do the passengers know that some people think they are prisoners? People on the bus for the prison are more likely to be staff. Those sentenced for a jail term are not likely to have to report by bus! I doubt whether those released use the bus either.Surely Steve 6 Jobs has enough to do. What next? Will passengers on the S3 and S4 feel demeaned that folk might think they have some horrible perhaps infectious illness because it has Sutton Hospital on the destination or calls at the Royal Marsden Cancer Hospital? If this change goes ahead then those passengers who do need to visit the Prison for the first time will have to make a travel enquiry how to get there if the information on the bus is deleted and changed to something else and that might certainly be embarrassing asking the driver with everyone else listening. Steve 6 Jobs would do better to get the N213 restored to plug the night transport vacuum between Sutton and Croydon than tampering with something that is clearly understood and does the job.

lowl21 wrote:
oh get over it!!! how about mp's start trying to save our hospital instead of worrying about pathetic things like that! thats the most stupid story ive read.... how long has this bus been running with that sign! BOTHERED!!!

I agree. The Care Minister's priority this week was to visit the Surbiton Samaritans rather than anything to save St. Helier Hospital. It's enough to make one lose the will to live and for the nationally famous "Disgusted of Surbiton" to pen a comment.

emelem wrote:
not a big priority to change the signage...but how about getting the drivers to learn how to slowly apply their brakes?! 'tis been more than once that myself and other passengers have gone flying upon a stop :p

I blame their diet of Jerk Chicken. Meanwhile the "Heels" on the 80 Prison Bus go round and round.

There are several solutions to this issue...

(1) Extend the 80 route to terminate maybe in Banstead or Belmont Station.

(2) Change the signage...
Belmont - High Down Road
Belmont - Highdown / Downview
Reigate - (Same as above)

Alternatively, add this to a list of other worrying bus destinations. Im pretty sure there used to be a bus which terminated at "Sutton ****" to represent the "**** and Bull Pub" which always used to be amusing.

With all thats going on in the area that is represented by the GLA member, its good to see this right up there on his priority list!!! N213 being further above in my opinion.

When I board a bus, I do check the number and destination (To make sure its going the right way) Not once do I ever think "oh my god this bus is going to **** im not getting on it"!

andrewjames1982 wrote:
There are several solutions to this issue...

(1) Extend the 80 route to terminate maybe in Banstead or Belmont Station.

(2) Change the signage...
Belmont - High Down Road
Belmont - Highdown / Downview
Reigate - (Same as above)

Alternatively, add this to a list of other worrying bus destinations. Im pretty sure there used to be a bus which terminated at "Sutton ****" to represent the "**** and Bull Pub" which always used to be amusing.

With all thats going on in the area that is represented by the GLA member, its good to see this right up there on his priority list!!! N213 being further above in my opinion.

When I board a bus, I do check the number and destination (To make sure its going the right way) Not once do I ever think "oh my god this bus is going to **** im not getting on it"!

I feel sorry for passengers on routes 402, R5 and R10 who are seen by everyone to be passing through Pratts Bottom. I was overcome with embarrassment earlier in the year while searching for a ride on the Boris Bus on route 38 from Victoria Station. The one I was on had CLAPTON PONDS in large print on the front and you could see hoardes of passers by leering to check if everyone on board was a ducky.

When the 280 route's fron headboard display is not aligned properly and the destination is shown with a capital letter and the rest in small print.... I have actually seen the 280 going to Iooting, rather than Tooting!!!

Maybe a return on the 80 would be appropriate!

When the 280 route's front headboard display is not aligned properly and the destination is shown with a capital letter and the rest in small print.... I have actually seen the 280 going to Iooting, rather than Tooting!!!

Maybe a return on the 80 would be appropriate!

Michael Pantlin wrote:
This seems a bit of nonsense to me that will cost money changing the destination blinds, bus stop information and online information. Who are the people anyway who are sitting in judgement on the passengers on the bus and how do the passengers know that some people think they are prisoners? People on the bus for the prison are more likely to be staff. Those sentenced for a jail term are not likely to have to report by bus! I doubt whether those released use the bus either.Surely Steve 6 Jobs has enough to do. What next? Will passengers on the S3 and S4 feel demeaned that folk might think they have some horrible perhaps infectious illness because it has Sutton Hospital on the destination or calls at the Royal Marsden Cancer Hospital? If this change goes ahead then those passengers who do need to visit the Prison for the first time will have to make a travel enquiry how to get there if the information on the bus is deleted and changed to something else and that might certainly be embarrassing asking the driver with everyone else listening. Steve 6 Jobs would do better to get the N213 restored to plug the night transport vacuum between Sutton and Croydon than tampering with something that is clearly understood and does the job.

You are so right. One of the routes that I drive is the 219. It passes Wandsworth Prison, but on the "on board" announcement system you would not know it. The nearest stop is named after a pub, so day after day I get passengers, mainly visitors, asking where to get off. Leave the 80 as it is, & change the county arms pub stop to also say "alight here also for Wandsworth Prison".

Is this a case of nimbyism? (Not in my back-yard?). I don't imagine we think everybody on board the bus up to the Prisons is associated with the prisons and even if they were there is nothing to be ashamed of if they are members of staff or prison-visitors. People do get off before getting there as well. My Grandmother lived in Scrubs Lane near to Wormwood Scrubs. It is just a fact of life. We have prisons in our Society. Accept it. Boris, if he has any sense will see how stupid it is to even bring the subject up of a bus having 'Belmont Prisons' on the front, this is more a cosmetic issue than anything else. Has Mr O'Connell actually asked anybody about getting on the bus which says 'Belmont Prisons'?, Because every time I see it, it is jam-packed and no one is deterred. Who actually in the General-Public has complained or is it just a presumption?

Thousands of passengers take the Piccadilly Line to ARSEnal Station and I've not heard of one of them being embarrassed or fearful.