DiPTAC Blind Requirements
Northampton Bus Driver
displays on new buses on the Side and Rear displays.
Neil Hilton
http://www.dptac.gov.uk/pubs/spec/index.htm#1
1. Bus Exterior
1.1:- All route number and destination displays must be clearly visible by
day and by night under all lighting conditions (including bright sunshine)
and must use white or bright yellow numerals and letters on a black
background.
1.2:- On the front of the bus above the windscreen there must be a route
number display at least 200mm high, preferably to the right (nearside) of an
ultimate destination name in letters at least 125mm high. A route number at
least 125mm high (together with the destination wherever possible) must also
be clearly displayed at or a little above eye level on the nearside,
adjacent to the entrance door. Ideally, the route number should be displayed
on the rear of the bus.
It also goes says
Many partially-sighted and elderly passengers find it difficult to identify
the bus they want amongst approaching traffic, especially a small bus. Good
destination and route number displays, clearly legible by day and by night,
are of vital importance. Commercial advertising should not detract from
them. Side and rear displays - at least of the route number - are an
important addition.
White or bright yellow lettering on black is most clearly visible,
especially for visually impaired passengers, and lower case lettering (as on
Motorway signs) is easiest to read. "Dot matrix" or-LED/LCD type indicators
should only be used if they give as clear a display as roller blinds -
particularly in conditions such as bright sunlight or darkness.
Front destination displays should preferably be fitted above the windscreen
so that they are not hidden by other traffic. If, less suitably, the
information is only provided at the top of, and inside, a tall windscreen,
care must be taken to ensure that it is clearly visible (e.g.: especially
where the display is fitted behind curved glass).
A front route number display to the right (i.e. nearside) of the destination
helps waiting passengers identify the service they want when the approaching
bus is hidden behind other vehicles. Other major points served on the
journey can also be included, especially for longer services or where
alternative routes are followed, but care should be taken not to sacrifice
legibility of the ultimate destination displayed.
Yours
Neil
--
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"Only a fool tests the depth of the water with both feet." - African Proverb
"Northampton Bus Driver" <londonb...@currantbun.com> wrote in message
news:3cd6e...@mk-nntp-1.news.uk.worldonline.com...
York Bus Driver
do not meet the requirements, due to the fact that they display a
destination, but not a route number.
Neil Hilton wrote in message ...
>The following can be found on Diptacs website below
>
>http://www.dptac.gov.uk/pubs/spec/index.htm#1
>
>1. Bus Exterior
>
>1.2:- On the front of the bus above the windscreen there must be a route
>number display at least 200mm high, preferably to the right (nearside) of
an
>ultimate destination name in letters at least 125mm high. A route number at
>least 125mm high (together with the destination wherever possible) must
also
>be clearly displayed at or a little above eye level on the nearside,
>adjacent to the entrance door. Ideally, the route number should be
displayed
>on the rear of the bus.
>"York Bus Driver" <londonb...@currantbun.com> wrote in message
Neil Hilton
means that you can get away with just numbers, some of DiPTACs
findings/conclusions I think are best practice. There is rather a lot of
use of the derivatives of the words Ideal, Preferable and possible in those
highlighted paragraphs
Yours
Neil
--
-------------
"Only a fool tests the depth of the water with both feet." - African Proverb
"York Bus Driver" <londonb...@currantbun.com> wrote in message
news:3cd6f...@mk-nntp-1.news.uk.worldonline.com...
Neil Williams
<Neil.H...@btopenworld.com> wrote:
>The fact that it says "together with the destination wherever possible"
>means that you can get away with just numbers, some of DiPTACs
>findings/conclusions I think are best practice. There is rather a lot of
>use of the derivatives of the words Ideal, Preferable and possible in those
>highlighted paragraphs
It also depends on the town. Many of Milton Keynes' bus services run
from Bletchley-Wolverton, or Bletchley-Newport Pagnell. Thus, on buses
heading south from the centre, the final destination is pretty much
useless, even to those actually heading for Bletchley (some buses take
much longer routes than others). The route number is, in this case,
much more important, as are via points (often not shown clearly
enough).
For MK, I'd argue a 2-line display with the same size font for all
places would be better, e.g.
9 Shenley Lodge/Brook End
Emer. Valley Furzton Bletchley
is rather more use than
9 BLETCHLEY
in large font. For a side display that was only able to show one
line, the route number and a display cycling through all the via
points would be much more useful than just showing the final
destination as they tend to do (where fitted).
Neil
Neil Hilton
London routes may not necessarily follow the most logical route they would
revert to via points again?
Neil
--
-------------
"Only a fool tests the depth of the water with both feet." - African Proverb
"Neil Williams" <wensl...@pacersplace.org.uk> wrote in message
news:3cd82a2d...@news.freeserve.net...
York Bus Driver
as would 26 Monks Cross
but Monks Cross would not be
??
Neil Hilton wrote in message ...
Neil Hilton
Neil
--
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"Only a fool tests the depth of the water with both feet." - African Proverb
"York Bus Driver" <londonb...@currantbun.com> wrote in message
news:3cd99f05$1...@mk-nntp-1.news.uk.worldonline.com...
Joyce Whitchurch
<Neil.H...@btopenworld.com> wrote:
>1.1:- All route number and destination displays must be clearly visible by
>day and by night under all lighting conditions (including bright sunshine)
[snip]
Interesting stuff.
There doesn't seem to be any reference to a minimum distance at which
displays should be visible. Standing at a bus stop in Sauchiehall
Street, Glasgow, recently, which is a fair old length, I couldn't read
the displays of any buses until they were half way up from Charing
Cross - say 200 yards away. Even then, I could only make out the
numbers on roller blinds. Dot matrix displays were just a blur. But it
was a /very/ bright, sunny day.
--
Joyce Whitchurch, Stalybridge, UK
=================================
Stevie D
> I interpret this as meaning that the side blinds on our new vehicles at York
> do not meet the requirements, due to the fact that they display a
> destination, but not a route number.
That would appear to be the case! A shame really - just as I was
beginning to think First York were doing something right, and I go and
find out that it is not legal :-( Does it help if the branded buses
have the route number displayed on the bodywork permanently?
BTW, do you know if First are planning to brand *all* the colour
routes, or just the 10-minute ones?
--
Stevie D
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