Fine An Etcher
There has been a thread on the London-Bus SmartGroup (originally setup by me when I lived down there), about Transport for London's alleged forthcoming policy to fine the bus operators when they have a bus running around with etched windows. For those not in the know, graffiti is most common when done with a sharp point, like a drill bit, rather than the marker pens and the like used elsewhere. In South-East london, etching is common on every window, and we've heard stories before of the drivers cab window being etched, and even a CCTV glass lens being etched with "F**k the CCTV".... TfL's idea is that the operators have CCTV, so they can catch those responsible. (It's like saying the Met Police have a phone book, so they can catch those responsible...) TfL did of course get funding for a "transport crime unit" or something similar not too long ago. In the case of fining operators for no wheelchair ramps - yes, 9 times out of 10, that is within the operator's control. Fining the operators is the equivalent of getting the bill from the hotel you hire for a party, just because someone p155ed in the sink.
So, following a reply about the pros and cons, I decided to put it another way... and thought of some ways that the operators could do to get some money back...
1. Invoicing TfL for fines incurred due to the once-in-a-blue-moon "100 Man March" style revenue control checks that add at least 10mins per trip (for some operators that is a high proportion of running time!) One bus delayed by 10 minutes on a 10-mins service route can make a hole wide enough to qualify as a service failure.
2. "North Circular" tax - as TfL wanted to widen the road, but subsequently did not, despite owning a large chunk of the road. Operators invoice TfL every time there bus gets caught at a traffic light on/across the NCR.
3. Public Relations tax - every time a politician gets their picture taken in front of a London bus, £100 fixed penalty fine, collected by TfL for the Operator. Double fine for Routemasters, Triple fine for those who failed to become Mayor (i.e. the public didn't want them, so take the hint and get out of my paper!) and still can't stop winging about it.
4. Silly Press release week - Claim compensation every time TfL send out a press release that does nothing to improve relations with the operators and passengers i.e. we might be losing money and fares might have to go up in six years but for now we shall say how good we are doing... Operators must see such items being drip-fed to the London media and retch every time they see one.
Of course these are slightly tounge in cheek, but they show the wider picture - etching is just one of the problems London Bus operators and passengers face. Whilst fining operators if etching is still on the bus might make TfL think they can clear the problem, removing offensive graffiti is only doing what is required to pass the MoT test ! Same applies to all buses with wheelchair ramps must work - again, this is only an MoT requirement. The way TfL charge in, you think they'd reinvented the wheel. Of course if they did, it would be an articulated wheel, painted 100% red, with no etching, driven by a wheelchair-using cuddly newt, and a matching ecliptical roadside ticket machine....
Then, a former CCTV operator pointed out how difficult it is to make people out in these pictures. Well, true enough. Travel West Midlands last year had to publish pictures from their CCTV system when an individual appeared to have an on-fire seat when he got up. Talk about alighting the bus... They got him in the end - but interesting to think, if the camera can't show who it is, "phone a friend the police) or "ask the audience" (the passengers)...
CCTV quality has improved greatly over the years, but if someone covers heir face or the lens, it's not much cop. Sorry... not much use...
posted by Suzy Scott @ 22:39
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