(13 Sep 2013, 6:15 pm)Daniel wrote Hahah, must be!

I still insisted on sitting down on the grey space next to where the seat would usually be. Was tempted to sit on the metal framework and sit normally (the backrest was still there).
God knows where the cushiony bit was for the part you'd sit on though!

My mam told me a few weeks ago that there was a 16 bus going around with no front seat and another one further towards the back wasn't there either... I'd guess it was the same ALX300.

Seems mad that with all of this DDA stuff coming in dictating that half of the fleet need replacing because the poles aren't shiny enough (or whatever) they can have buses in service with a key part of the seat missing! Surely that poses more of a health and safety risk?! Not to mention presumably makes the bus look a bit shabby(er).

(13 Sep 2013, 6:26 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote Seems mad that with all of this DDA stuff coming in dictating that half of the fleet need replacing because the poles aren't shiny enough (or whatever) they can have buses in service with a key part of the seat missing! Surely that poses more of a health and safety risk?! Not to mention presumably makes the bus look a bit shabby(er).

I don't understand it either. There are some 'older' single deckers that have buggy bays and a dedicated wheelchair space, but aren't DDA compliant, because they "aren't suitable". Does the average wheelchair-bound passenger actually care, provided they can get on and off and have a safe journey?

(13 Sep 2013, 6:36 pm)BJ10VUS wrote I don't understand it either. There are some 'older' single deckers that have buggy bays and a dedicated wheelchair space, but aren't DDA compliant, because they "aren't suitable". Does the average wheelchair-bound passenger actually care, provided they can get on and off and have a safe journey?

I think that's the problem - if the wheelchair-bound person is alone, it is less likely that they can get on the bus.
The ALX300s don't have ramps, do they? Not even manual ones...

(13 Sep 2013, 6:39 pm)Daniel wrote I think that's the problem - if the wheelchair-bound person is alone, it is less likely that they can get on the bus.
The ALX300s don't have ramps, do they? Not even manual ones...

Ah, I forgot the ALX300s don't have ramps!

The ALX300 MANs do have ramps. They're stored in a box in the luggage rack on offside behind the cab.

(13 Sep 2013, 9:04 pm)tyresmoke wrote The ALX300 MANs do have ramps. They're stored in a box in the luggage rack on offside behind the cab.

Manual/automatic fitted ramps, we were referring to.
On many occasions I've seen drivers prefer to get out of their cabs and help the wheelchair-bound person on themselves rather than get their ramps out - or at least this is the case with Sunderland drivers.
"Sorry love, my ramp doesn't work" - typical every day line.

(13 Sep 2013, 9:07 pm)Daniel wrote Manual/automatic fitted ramps, we were referring to.
On many occasions I've seen drivers prefer to get out of their cabs and help the wheelchair-bound person on themselves rather than get their ramps out - or at least this is the case with Sunderland drivers.
"Sorry love, my ramp doesn't work" - typical every day line.

I'm not sure that the DDA requirement is for automatic/powered ramps though. The guidance document states:

"Wheelchair accessible vehicles are fitted with a lift, or a ramp (powered, manual or portable i.e. a detachable, usually folding ramp) stowed in a convenient place on the vehicle.
If a portable ramp is used, a driver or conductor must ensure at the start of the service that it is being carried on the vehicle."

So given the S, T & V reg MANs, and the ALX200 Darts for that matter, do have (albeit manual) ramps - what is it that makes them non-compliant with the new requirements?

(13 Sep 2013, 9:18 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote I'm not sure that the DDA requirement is for automatic/powered ramps though. The guidance document states:

"Wheelchair accessible vehicles are fitted with a lift, or a ramp (powered, manual or portable i.e. a detachable, usually folding ramp) stowed in a convenient place on the vehicle.
If a portable ramp is used, a driver or conductor must ensure at the start of the service that it is being carried on the vehicle."

So given the S, T & V reg MANs, and the ALX200 Darts for that matter, do have (albeit manual) ramps - what is it that makes them non-compliant with the new requirements?

DDA goes further than a wheelchair bay and a ramp, there's also gangway width to consider. As such, the S/T/V reg MANs don't meet DDA as their gangway isn't wide enough.

(13 Sep 2013, 9:34 pm)Kuyoyo wrote DDA goes further than a wheelchair bay and a ramp, there's also gangway width to consider. As such, the S/T/V reg MANs don't meet DDA as their gangway isn't wide enough.

The gangway isn't wide enough? Wheelchairs seem to have managed to fit through the gangway for the last 15 years.

(13 Sep 2013, 9:48 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote The gangway isn't wide enough? Wheelchairs seem to have managed to fit through the gangway for the last 15 years.

There's also tons of stuff to do with wheelchair turning areas and handrails etc...

By FB accident between bike and bus at stadiun of light

SAFC Park and Ride workings today:
- E400 19217
- Olympians 16833/4/9
- ALX200 33101
- E200 36092
- ALX300s 22072/22731

(14 Sep 2013, 1:00 pm)Daniel wrote SAFC Park and Ride workings today:
- E400 19217
- Olympians 16833/4/9
- ALX200 33101
- E200 36092
- ALX300s 22072/22731

Anyone know how well used these are? I know Sunderland don't have deckers but using darts on a footie P&R?? At least they could use the biggest they've got, if elsewhere are sending deckers!

(14 Sep 2013, 1:14 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote Anyone know how well used these are? I know Sunderland don't have deckers but using darts on a footie P&R?? At least they could use the biggest they've got, if elsewhere are sending deckers!

Incredibly well used. Every bus ends up full.
I believe Sunderland's allocation is meant to be older ALX300s, not Darts... I certainly haven't seen an E200 on there before either.

Forgot to mention - Stockton's blinds have been updated. Now shows "Football Special".

Aaand 33101 has died...on the roundabout at Southwick as you head down to the SoL. Havoc? Of course!

(14 Sep 2013, 1:27 pm)Daniel wrote Aaand 33101 has died...on the roundabout at Southwick as you head down to the SoL. Havoc? Of course!

Still being seen to... Engineering Support van YG10KUU is in attendance.
Some sort of sand for oil is being spread across the affected area.

(13 Sep 2013, 5:13 pm)Daniel wrote 22735 on 16s today going around without a front seat... Lovely! :p

735 has now had her front seat reinstated. Again on 16s.

I don't know why they use Darts on there, they can't handle the loadings! Last time I did it one of them was used and the suspension broke on it because it was heavily loaded. Ideally it should be all deckers to handle the loads but obviously Sunderland don't have any.

(14 Sep 2013, 2:03 pm)Daniel wrote Still being seen to... Engineering Support van YG10KUU is in attendance.
Some sort of sand for oil is being spread across the affected area.

Now arrived at Wheatsheaf. Alpha will be chuffed.

(14 Sep 2013, 2:51 pm)tyresmoke wrote I don't know why they use Darts on there, they can't handle the loadings! Last time I did it one of them was used and the suspension broke on it because it was heavily loaded. Ideally it should be all deckers to handle the loads but obviously Sunderland don't have any.

Was going to say they'd be better off just getting Stockton to send 8 of the deckers as theoretically they should be free in the depot all day Saturday anyway (or even give a bunch of Sunderland drivers a car to go down and pick up the buses if Stockton don't have the drivers to spare) ...but I guess Stagecoach don't need to care how rammed the buses are as they must just get a set amount of £, regardless of loadings (they're free to board, aren't they?)

Bit worrying if the suspension broke as a result of the loadings though as that would suggest they were allowing them to fill over capacity (unless they were just a load of bloaters on board!)

39731 is 33101's replacement.

Sunderland have Enviro 200s all over today:
39728,36087 are on the 13
36090 is on the 3
36088 is on the 16
36085 is out on the 20
And 36094 is vor

As a result of the above, 33484 is being used on 23s today and 22079 on 4s.
I believe another E200 is on 20s too?

EDIT: Shields' 22050/67 are also on E duties today.
EDIT #2: Yes - 36083 is on 20s today also.

(14 Sep 2013, 3:22 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote Was going to say they'd be better off just getting Stockton to send 8 of the deckers as theoretically they should be free in the depot all day Saturday anyway (or even give a bunch of Sunderland drivers a car to go down and pick up the buses if Stockton don't have the drivers to spare) ...but I guess Stagecoach don't need to care how rammed the buses are as they must just get a set amount of £, regardless of loadings (they're free to board, aren't they?)

Bit worrying if the suspension broke as a result of the loadings though as that would suggest they were allowing them to fill over capacity (unless they were just a load of bloaters on board!)

Yeah the whole reason Stockton drivers do them now is because it was cheaper than having Sunderland drivers go down every week to pick the deckers up...
They are free at point of use yes, Sunderland FC pay for it.
As for overloading.... No comment!

(14 Sep 2013, 1:19 pm)Daniel wrote Incredibly well used. Every bus ends up full.
I believe Sunderland's allocation is meant to be older ALX300s, not Darts... I certainly haven't seen an E200 on there before either.

Forgot to mention - Stockton's blinds have been updated. Now shows "Football Special".

'Football Special' I think has been in the screen list all this time, Stagecoach previously provided free runs from the Elm Tree Social Club in Stockton for Middlesbrough FC Home games using said screen.

(14 Sep 2013, 9:57 am)Michael wrote By FB accident between bike and bus at stadiun of light

News on the accident earlier.

http://m.sunderlandecho.com/news/cyclist...-1-6050816

Unfortunately haven't been able to get confirmation as to which vehicle was involved in this incident - I was just told it was a vehicle in line to be withdrawn later this year.

In addition to the above, a breakdown occurred at 5am this morning. No further details on that one though - typical Andreos1 vague post!

(14 Sep 2013, 8:02 pm)Daniel wrote News on the accident earlier.

http://m.sunderlandecho.com/news/cyclist...-1-6050816

Unfortunately haven't been able to get confirmation as to which vehicle was involved in this incident - I was just told it was a vehicle in line to be withdrawn later this year.

In addition to the above, a breakdown occurred at 5am this morning. No further details on that one though - typical Andreos1 vague post!

Fingers crossed the cyclist survives and makes some sort of recovery.
Far too many collisions involving cyclists and usually, there is only one winner.

14669/70/71 have all just departed Wheatsheaf depot in a convoy. Made a lovely photo.

Forgot to mention in the above post that 22040 was the planned 'closed top vehicle' that was on the South Shields Shuttle service today - covering for its branded Olympian which was at Wheatsheaf as noted above.

Why was 14669 14670 and 14671 at the wheatsheaf???? There former home when they were Sunderland busways vehicles