(24 Jul 2022, 8:10 pm)F114TML Tbh, the stop should probably be called "Birtley Morrisons" in that case? We already have "Murton Co-Op" and "Leechmere (Road) ASDA", and probably many others I can't think of.

This implementation just feels a little tacky though and feels like it's being sponsored by Microbus and Axis. With MG's constant plugging of it on his Twitter, it's quite easy to call bs on this, at least a little bit. Would be a bit weird hearing "Next stop: Gateshead - Ocean Road; for Machine Mart and The Alexandra Steakhouse" wouldn't it? Especially considering there are other businesses in the immediate area.

In any case - what if I was going to Hungry Shack, heard the announcement plug Microbus and Axis, think "it's not here" before watching it sail past the window  because I was relying on the NSAs to tell me where it is?

(24 Jul 2022, 8:10 pm)F114TML This implementation just feels a little tacky though and feels like it's being sponsored by Microbus and Axis. With MG's constant plugging of it on his Twitter, it's quite easy to call bs on this, at least a little bit. Would be a bit weird hearing "Next stop: Gateshead - Ocean Road; for Machine Mart and The Alexandra Steakhouse" wouldn't it? Especially considering there are other businesses in the immediate area.

In any case - what if I was going to Hungry Shack, heard the announcement plug Microbus and Axis, think "it's not here" before watching it sail past the window  because I was relying on the NSAs to tell me where it is?

(24 Jul 2022, 8:31 pm)Adrian Birtley High Street would be better. If you started naming stops after shops, then how do you decide which one to name it after? Birtley Snooker Club might have something to say, if it was renamed Birtley Morrisons...

The leisure and hospitality industry is likely to be a huge draw for a bus operator, so there's got to be benefits to working like this in order to try and convert some of those taxi journeys into bus journeys. I'm not saying it's the magical solution to all their problems, but it seems like they're damned if they do and damned if they don't! 

Gilbert might be plugging it a lot on his twitter, but I'd say he plugs Beamish just as much, which again GNE have a working partnership with and have done for many years. Plus, it's his personal twitter feed, so it's really up to him what he wants to babble on about.

(24 Jul 2022, 10:15 pm)omnicity4659 When he moves to Lumo, Martijn will be installing a station directly above Microbus with a lift to the bar.

(24 Jul 2022, 10:20 pm)Ambassador I’m assuming he’s the link, it’s cringeworthy 

Sure Dan will be along to defend it soon!

(24 Jul 2022, 10:26 pm)Andreos1 https://www.meet-and-drink.co.uk/microbus-gateshead

Here's the official tale about asking for some leaflets.

(25 Jul 2022, 9:06 am)Rob44 What happens when morrisons get taken over by Familey shopper at birtly. People will be jumping of the 21 to get the Morrisons deals years after its changed hands just to find its a happy shopper.. Bit like high fell social club which has been flats for x number of years but is still mentioned on the Old durham road service.

(25 Jul 2022, 9:14 am)LeeCalder I note the audio/visual on services 4, 58 and X58 display and announce "Amazon".

Cringeworthy head-in-the-clouds management from those in the Ivory Tower!

Undoubablty, some back-handed deal with Jeff Bezos.

(25 Jul 2022, 9:20 am)Adrian It's two completely different things. One is adding a descriptive point of interest, which users may find helpful, whereas your example is the actual name of the stop - something GNE have no control over.

Stop names come from the NaPTAN database, which i believe is the responsibility of local authorities to update and maintain data within their areas. Looking at the latest version, High Fell Club is still listed.

I'd suggest GNE would be quicker in changing the announcement, should Morrisons or whichever business it mentions, be taken over.

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

(25 Jul 2022, 9:24 am)Rob44 i was actually going to post that i realise GNE have no control over takeovers and closures but if they are going to mention them in the OSA surely they need to make sure they are up to date. The high fell club has been shut for years. Maybe they should stick to street names which never change?

(25 Jul 2022, 6:46 am)Adrian Defend what? People getting butt hurt over something as simple as listing a point of interest on a next stop system? GNE aren't the first to do this, nor will they be the last.

Bus operator advertises an independent local business, and in return, the local business promotes the use of buses. In a reciprocal fashion, the business displays when the next bus is due: https://twitter.com/MicrobusG/status/1547716157741772801?t=hhhdxGuSk0VtGB2a9Tuljg&s=19

Isn't this the kind of thing we want to see more of?



Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

(25 Jul 2022, 10:24 am)F114TML The Microbus and Axis are businesses (and not the only businesses there), not points of interest.

"Next stop: Holmeside, for the Port of Call and Subway"
"Next stop: Murton Colliery Inn, for Whitworth's Pharmacy and Dee's Thai Cafe"
"Next stop: Peterlee Bus Station, for Sambuca's and Home Bargains"
These are name checking specific businesses, not listing points of interest.

(25 Jul 2022, 9:14 am)LeeCalder I note the audio/visual on services 4, 58 and X58 display and announce "Amazon".

Cringeworthy head-in-the-clouds management from those in the Ivory Tower!

Undoubablty, some back-handed deal with Jeff Bezos.

(25 Jul 2022, 10:37 am)Adrian A point of interest is something that someone may find useful or interesting. Just because you don't find it useful or interesting, doesn't mean that others won't.

As with everything on this forum, posters tend take things to the extreme to try and labour their point. Listing every pharmacy, which by their nature tend to be a local services with their own catchment area, would be ridiculous. As would listing every Subway or McDonald's franchise.

On the other hand, buses informing where to alight for places like the Grainger Market, Quayside, Durham Riverwalk or Trinity Square, is likely to prove very helpful to those unfamiliar with the area.

What is it you're actually against here? This particular decision or next stop announcements overall?

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

(25 Jul 2022, 9:14 am)LeeCalder I note the audio/visual on services 4, 58 and X58 display and announce "Amazon".

Cringeworthy head-in-the-clouds management from those in the Ivory Tower!

Undoubablty, some back-handed deal with Jeff Bezos.

(25 Jul 2022, 11:49 am)Ambassador Sorry you are comparing massive global employer Amazon to a tiny bar that the MD of the Bus Company repeadtedly tweets about?

We'll ignore the route to the Quayside or the Hilton and focus on this tiny bar.

Yet more croynism from GNE employees showing how out of touch and arrogant they are with their customers