(25 Jun 2013, 8:17 pm)BJ10VUS wrote(25 Jun 2013, 7:37 pm)Daniel wrote Believe some Gateshead ones do. Actually heard it one time and refused to move from the centre doors because I heard the announcement play on the 24 one time. Stood there, waited, and the driver actually managed to press the button to open that door instead. Difficult task, it was. Despise how Deptford are completely unable to use these doors - don't get me started on the amount of e-mails I've sent about it.
I know they don't use the middle doors on the 57, or if they do, it's a very rare occurrence. But on the other hand, they do on the 58 - although, this is just usually at the 'main' stops like Heworth and Gateshead Interchange, Fewster Square and Newcastle Pilgrim/New Bridge Street.
To be honest, I don't think it's really all that safe to use the rear doors at some of the stops the 58 serves - for example, Felling Square (towards Heworth), although I've seen it happen a few times. Nothing against using them on the double-deckers or 'regular' single-deckers though.
I sent plently of emails too about centre and rear exits not being used - mainly on the citylink bendies. In rush hour especially when boarding/alighting was taking too long for a vehicle with two dedicated exits.
I think passengers were first put off trying to exit via the centre and middle when drivers wouldn't open them, so often people walk straight to the front.
I've noticed a few times passengers on the gateshead side (heworth to newcastle) seem a little more used to exiting properly compared to passengers on the newcastle side (hadrian park to newcastle).
I always exit via the centre or rear and recently haven't had any problems.