Author: Laura Li

Blackwall Tunnel: weekends January and February 2024

Contractors on behalf of the Silver Town Tunnel Project will be undertaking works on the A102 which will result in closing the southbound tunnel.

  • Weekend One: From 22:00 Friday 12 January until 23:44 Sunday 14 January 2024
  • Weekend Two: From 22:00 Friday 19 January until 23:44 Sunday 21 January 2024
  • Weekend Three: From 22:00 Friday 26 January until 23:44 Sunday 28 January 2024
  • Weekend Four: From 22:00 Friday 09 February until 23:44 Sunday 11 February 2024

Women in Bus and Coach

People of a certain age will remember that the Town and District Bus Company put up a notice saying “Due to the shortage of drivers the company has decided to employ women drivers” in the 1971 film version of On The Buses.

The male crews are outraged and do everything they can to sabotage the women (who are doing a great job) by putting spiders in their cabs and laxatives in their tea. Ultimately, the men do succeed in getting rid of the women.

We have come a long way since then – but nowhere near far enough.

I attended the Parliamentary launch of Women in Bus and Coach on 20 November, which followed on from the national launch in Birmingham earlier in the month. This initiative aims to create a national network to encourage, represent, support, and retain women in the bus and coach profession.

A number of issues were highlighted including the lack of suitable toilet facilities, inappropriate language in the workplace, unsuitable shift patterns and inflexible childcare options.

One woman spoke about her time working in engineering and being asked to change a light bulb on the bus. The men gathered round to see if she knew the right direction to turn the screwdriver!

Another woman, working as a safety manager at a major bus company, often has men challenge her instructions, refusing to comply until they are told the exact same thing by a male manager.

These scenes sound like they come straight out of a 1970s sitcom but incidents like these are happening every day all across the industry.

The launch was inevitably bus heavy but did include an interesting speech from Candice Mason of Mason’s Coaches. Candice pointed out that coach operators, which are mostly small companies, have an advantage as they can adapt much more easily and quickly than say, the big five bus companies.

Candice feels that the inclusion of women in the industry is inevitable but will get a much-needed push from this group and in 30 years’ time this conversation will be over.

Whilst issues like inappropriate workplace banter can be achieved at grassroots level, there are also wider policy decisions that need to be in place to support the goals of this initiative: poor rates of pay were mentioned.

We were given a call to action. It’s no good just talking a good talk  in plush surroundings. It has to be backed up with action out in the arena. It seemed to me that every person in the room was determined to play their part to ensure that bus and coach becomes an inclusive workplace not just for women, but also for people of all genders, races and religions.

The UKCOA is dedicating some of its resources towards supporting this initiative. And of course, we want to put the coach in women in bus and coach! We want to emphasise the importance of women and showcase their contribution to the sector.

I know from a number of conversations that our members truly appreciate their female staff, who play a key role in getting their coaches out on the road.

But we know there is more work to be done.

The UKCOA is delighted to be forming a sub-group specifically to consider how to eliminate the barriers to entry and create an industry and environment that appeals to women – and what we can do to push that forward. The sub-group will be led by one of our members, Rose Williams from Williams Coaches, who will also take a seat on our Board.

This new group will dovetail nicely with our existing Driver Training Academy group set up last year to address the driver shortage in the coach industry.

I hope Candice Mason is right: that this conversation will be over in 30 years – and that On The Buses will look even more ridiculous and outdated than it does now.

Laura Li
Membership and Administration Officer

 

Winter Wonderland until 1 January 2024

Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland is running until Monday 1 January 2024.

Coaches bringing groups to Winter Wonderland have the following facilities available:

Set down and pick up only locations:

Coaches should only use Park Lane southbound for setting down and picking up passengers:

  • 20-minute coach bay located just north of North Row – One space;
  • Bus stand Z2, just north of Woods Mews (this is only for the duration of Winter Wonderland) – One space;
  • Coach set down and pick up point just south of Upper Brook Street – One space;
  • Coach set down and pick up point next to the Dorchester Hotel – Three spaces, available 20:00 to 07:00 and 10:00 to 16:00 daily.

Parking

Parking is available at the following locations:

  • Park Lane southbound: south Upper Grosvenor Street – Two spaces, maximum stay one hour;
  • Park Lane southbound: ahead of bus stop B at the Hilton Hotel – One space, maximum stay one hour;
  • Park Lane northbound: to the rear of Apsley House – Two spaces, maximum stay one hour;
  • Park Lane northbound: alongside car park retaining wall – four spaces, maximum stay two hours. However, no boarding or alighting is permissible (or possible) at this location.

You can download an A4 version of the map.

If you require any further information please contact the TfL Coach Driver’s helpline on 0845 604 0770 or visit their webpage www.tfl.gov.uk/info-for/coach-drivers