Forum Topic

85 Bus

Just made the mistake of choosing to catch the 85 back from Kingston instead of the train.  It was pretty crowded the whole journey but when we got to the stop by St John’s Avenue on Putney Hill, it got really hot and lacking in any breeze inside the bus.  
We were getting off opposite Putney station.  Everytime the lights signalled green, the bus couldn’t move across URR because it would have been stationary on the yellow box, so we had to wait about 4 changes of traffic signal until PHS had a gap for the bus to go into. People asked several times for the bus doors to be opened, but the driver wouldn’t do so.  I love the hot weather, but I got to the point where I thought I had had enough and might faint. The reason for this situation was the traffic jam on PHS.

Martine Guy ● 1d10 Comments

In an 'emergency' the driver would ensure a full and safe evacuation of a bus. If a patient had a medical emergency he woukd radio for assistance and again ensure the bus was evacyayed safely.He would not put the rest of his passengers at risk by allowing an uncontrolled unsafe evacuation.Quite frankly a hot bus on the hottest mayday in history is not an emergency and this link was about discomfort not emergency conditions.

Andy Pike ●

The 85 bus has been a nightmare for some time now.  It has sort of become a fashion for it to stop at the Green Man when its original route indicated Putney Bridge Station.  On the opposite direction, it stops by Litton Grove and the proceeds empty to the Green Man.....  It is infuriating! By the way, are you aware that PHS will be totally closed tomorrow and on Sunday?  Grrrr

Ivonne Holliday ● 12m

Yes, Ivonne, what does the driver do in the event of a passenger having a medical emergency because of the heat? Doesn't he/she have a duty of care to the passenger in then case?Interestingly, I was meeting a friend for lunch in the Rocket who was coming from Kingston on an 85 bus which decided to terminate at the Green Man rather that it scheduled Putney Bridge destination. (He still arrived 2 minutes before me, I had warned him of Putney's buses!) But he returned by train ...

Michael Ixer ● 20m

In an emergency you can only get off at a designated bus stop?  Really?I am not saying what Martine experienced was an emergency, but in a real emergency the situation will be completely different!

Ivonne Holliday ● 44m

Not only would there be a potential sacking risk for the driver, but there's probably a problem for the disembarking passenger, as insurance cover is normally limited to getting off a bus at a designated bus stop

James Dixon ● 1h

Presumably there are emergency evacuation procedures in the even of a fire or dangerous fumes emissions? Should they not be invoked in a bus becomes dangerously hot?

Michael Ixer ● 8h

That is a rule Andy, but what if passengers are unable to breath because it's so hot. I suppose they are all meant to pass out. Putney High Street is a complete failure, the sooner they get rid of cycle lanes the better.

Barbara Stevens ● 12h

If the driver had opened the door and oeople leaving the bus were hit by a cyclist or motorcyclist who would lose their job? The bus driver.They are under strict orders only to let folk off at a designated bus stop.Of course there are some who break this rule but most adhere.

Andy Pike ● 21h

Thanks Ivonne, that is a kind message.  I thought it was just me getting uncomfortable, but some of the other people complaining to the driver were a lot younger than me.  I don’t think the ventilation is that good on the new buses.  I guess the bus driver was able to have the window down on his right hand side, so wouldn’t have known what the passengers further back were experiencing.  I don’t think I have the nerve to press the emergency button! PHS traffic is still bad.  I was crossing PHS by the Norroy Junction the other day and people coming from the library road were getting really angry and frustrated.  Like the bus situation today, drivers are rightly worried about getting caught on the yellow box, so they sometimes wait several traffic light changes for a big enough gap to move onto.

Martine Guy ● 1d

Hello Martine,That is really horrible!!!  We had a similar experience on a 14 bus near Fulham Broadway.  The driver was asked to open the doors and would not do so.  A young chap just pressed the emergency button, the doors opened and we all got off! The traffic on PHS is beyond a joke, totally unacceptable!I hope you are OK now.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1d