THE HAULIERS' INQUIRE WITHIN.
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A Novel System of Fare Collection on Country Bus Routes as Suggested by a Reader. How the Takings are Checked.
AVERY considerable interest is being shown by readers in the recent articles dealing with the organization of small bus services and it is quite evident that the correspondent, who, by his long letter of inquiry, started the series, is right in thinking that the subject is one which is uppermost in the minds of a good many men scattered
up and down the country. ' It is quite clear toiv that there are many hundreds of newcomers in the motorbus business, men who see, in the rapid development of housing schemes, prospect of workin conveying the future occupants of the houses to and from their homes and work. The number of housing schemes is legion, and so, likewise, is the nuniber of opportunities for the establishment, on paying bases, of bus services.
Not the least interesting part of. the discussion is apparently that about the system of fare collection and the issue of tickets. This is evidently a Matter which has been food for thought for a good many, and I have had more than one letter of appreciation covering points that I have raised, as well as another letter which I am about to discuss, in which a suggestion is put forward for an alternative system, on what is, to me at least, entirely novel lines. Before going on to deal with this suggestion I should explain that, as a rule, I do not, in any of these articles, recommend anything which has not already been tried and proved. In my view, the beginner in any industry of this kind (and I write mainly for the edification of the beginner) has his work cut out to make headway along more or less orthodox lines, without, handicapping himself by doing pioneer work as well. I am not, therefore, in the habit of springing untried experimental systems of organization on _those who consult me, nor do I believe in using my readers in general as subjects on Which to experiment. I give, therefore, in answering any inquiry, descriptions of best 'known and best reputed methods, supplementing them where necessary, as in the case of the accounting system which I have just described,' by suggestions designed to meet the special circumstances of any particular reader. Now, in describing the tickets in general use on motorbus services I referred to two main types! In one type the actual stage terminals are indicated by name, as "Nag's Head," "Bond Street," "Oxford Circus," and the like. In the other the stages are indicated by number only. The second type is generally more useful to the bus owner,
as I demonstrated in the former article ; it is not, however, ,so convenient to the passenger. If the latter has a ticket on which the stages are actually described he 'can ascertain, without reference to the conductor, the necessity for a further payment should he decide, after. having paid big fare, that it might be more convenient for him to travel. a little farther before alighting than had been his intention when he bought the ticket.' Frequently is it the case that a 'change of mind like this is not fraught with further fare expense ; the ticket already purchased will suffice for the additional journey, and with one which has printed destinations on the face the passenger may determine the matter for himself. With stages shown numerically he cannot.
The correspondent whose system I am about. to discuss thinks that the second type may aid the unscrupulous passenger who deliberately tries to ride beyond the limit to which he is entitled. I do not quite see how that can be, but will let it pass. He also raises the following point. He assumes two contiguous routes, as shown in the accompanying sketch map. There is a service of buses from A to B, passing through four Tillages, 0, D, E and F, en route; another one runs from j to 0, passing through K, L, M and N. The same proprietor runs the two services and wishes to extend such facilities to his passengers as will permit of their travelling from any one point on either route to any destination on either, so that, for example, a man entering a bus at F may travel to M without having to purchase a second ticket. In the opinion of this -correspondent, the tickets with stages shown numerically may not conveniently be. used in this manner. He suggests that the tickets be issued in book form, that they should be similar to those indicated in the accompanying illustration, and that the books should be duplicating, with counterfoils and carbon paper, . so that records could be kept of the tickets issued and amounts -received.
Letus assume, he writes; that the routes and sections are all numbered. From A to Ti would be route I, and from. J to 0 route II. Route I will have five sections, A to 0 being section 1, C to D '2; and so on: Similarly route II will have five sections,
from J to K being No. 1, K to L No. 2, etc. The section between E and F would therefore be known as route I, section 4, while from M to N would he recognized as route II, section 4. Every passenger would receive a ticket. from the conductor ; this would show the section in which he was picked p, the section to which he wishes to travel and for which he has paid a fare, the last-named being also indicated on the ticket.
Thus, in the examples shown. Ticket 0a2401 has been issued to apassenger entering in section 1 of route I and desiring p leave in section 4 of the same route. He has paid a fare of 2s. 6d. Ticket 0a2402 is for one who has entered the bus in section 2 of route I, and who is entitled to travel to the third section of the other route' the fare being is. Gd. The passenger with ticket No. 0a2403 has also paid ls. 6d., and for that is entitled to travel from the third section of route II, in whick-he entered the bus, to the first section of route I, where he wishes to .alight. The passenger for whom the ticket numbered 0a2404 is intended will travel from section 3 of route I to section 4 of the same route ; his fare is 4d.
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It is suggested that return • tickets should be thefl same in form as these, but that they should have the capital letter It overprinted in colour on them. The passenger would keep the ticket and hand it in on the return journey, being given an exchange ticket in its place. '
One advantage claimed for this system is that it is capable of being extended for employment in booking offices without alteration to the form of the tickets, which can be correctly interpreted on sight by either driver or conductor. A way-hill would still he needed, but it would be much simpler in form than usual, as there would be no necessity to record the cash value of the tickets sold, that being
shown on the counterfoil. The latter would be very useful in the offices of the bus owner, affording, besides a statement of cash received, information concerning the popularity of certain, stages, which nformation would be very helpful when qttestions of service reorganization were being discussed and would enable ti,he more efficient allocation of the vechicles on the various routes, That, as I understand it, is the ticket system which my correspondent has in mind. I have presented it without alteration and, for the time being, without comment, which I propose to -withhold until I hear what other readers think about it. I should ike in this matter to play the part of chairman, to eceive criticisms and commendations, balancing th them one against e other, adding my own, and hen delivering judgment. I appeal to all those who are interested (and especially to those who have written to me already concerning this matter) for otters dealing with this system, so that I, and my correspondent as well, may know what is thought about it, To enable such letters to reach me, I will hold my own criticisms over until the next article but one. •
The same correspondent raises a point in connection with the driver's and conductor's reports which I described recently. On many country routes it is the custom for the bus to stop several hours at a terminus. During that time the driver and conductor are both idle, and they are not paid for the period. He suggests that, to meet this "circumstance, I should add another column in which the men could record this time as " dead." I am afraid hat I do not agree. I left space so that they could ecord the times " on " and " off" several times a lay. That. I think, is all that is needed, since from I can be calculated the actual working time, which
s what we wish to know'. THE SKOTCH.
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