(02 Mar 2021, 2:30 pm)mb134 wrote And would be totally avoided if the route number was placed on the nearside. I've raised the point before but nobody has ever provided a tangible benefit to having it on the offside, whereas there are numerous to following best practice.

I've seen comments that it 'reads better' and 'passengers can see it better at bus stations'.

I'd argue neither of those things are actually accurate. 
There's the whole discussion about the 28 to BChester le Street or 35 to ALow Moorsley. 
Then there's the fact that the proportion of bus stations to bus stops is massively in favour of bus stops and punters will potentially struggle to see which service is approaching.
The whole 'can see it better at bus stations' line seems to contradict all the comments we've had from drivers about passengers struggling to see short-running services - despite it being in the apparent prime viewing spot on the offside of the display in the past.

Whereas all the best practice (as you mention) has many positives.