At Rep Conference we had lots of questions submitted about buses. We took these to the university for you and here are the updates we got...

Question: Can we get the trackers for unibuses running so the app works? (x2)

Response: The App is working as it should, based on information provided live from the ticket machines on the bus. However the format of timetables could be improved and the bus company and app company will be constantly be looking at ways to improve presentation. Any feedback and suggestions are always welcome. If you do have suggestions, please send them to your Vice President for Education, Scarlet Moss (vpeducation@derbyunion.co.uk), as she is taking part in a large-scale bus review in March.

Question: Can Busses leave on scheduled time, often end up leaving 15/20mins late? (x2)

Response: Buses always plan to leave on time. However, if there are unpredictable traffic conditions there may sometimes be an unavoidable delay. We have built in significant recovery time at the Kedleston Rd end to help keep to time. On days of exceptional incidents delays could still occur, but we cannot timetable for these scenarios as this would mean lots of standing time on days when traffic is clear as buses cannot leave early by law. 

Question: Can there be buses to Aldi/Lidl?

Response: The bus company have been tasked to contact supermarkets to see if any of them are willing to fund or subsidise a bus service to bring them student custom. In the past when fares have been charged on such services, demand has been too low to be viable. 

Question: Can there be a bus services that runs at the weekend? (x3)

Response: This will be discussed at the annual bus review in March. If you have any suggestions around this please send them to your Vice President for Education, Scarlet Moss (vpeducation@derbyunion.co.uk), as she will play a big part in the review.

Question: Can bus routes be more accessible for students living in private accommodation - buses only run from campus housing establishments

Response: Any students living in private accomodation on the Unibus route can use the Unibus. More and more private developments are taking place on the Unibus Route. Those off the Unibus route sometimes provide their own service. However, due to the vast number of locations we need to be strategic and keep our routes focused on the highest concentration of students, which corresponds with our own properties.

Question: Why is the last No6 bus 18.10 on a Friday? Two people suggested that the No.6 bus should run until 8pm on a Friday.

Response: In the past we have had very little demand on Friday evenings and been criticised for running empty buses. However, we try to prioritise to achieve the optimum routes that will be beneficial to the most students at most times. This will be discussed at the annual bus review in March. If you have any suggestions around this please send them to your Vice President for Education, Scarlet Moss (vpeducation@derbyunion.co.uk), as she will play a big part in the review.

Suggestion: Buses to run past 9pm to accommodate lectures that end at 9pm

Response: The last bus is at 21:05, though most weeks this runs later with the library service. This time provides the optimum exit for those finishing at 21:00 and prevents complaints from those who do not want to wait around.

Suggestion: More No.6 buses as they are too full. (x2)

Response: The No.7 has been provided as relief and the No.6 has an extra bus running on it all day this year. We also run duplicates in the rush hour. However, this will be discussed at the annual bus review in March. If you have any suggestions around this please send them to your Vice President for Education, Scarlet Moss (vpeducation@derbyunion.co.uk), as she will play a big part in the review.

Suggestion: Can we have double decker buses in the morning for the No.6 route?

Response: There are no current plans for this, except for duplicates at the morning peak. Over the course of the day double deckers would reduce capacity overall on such a busy route, due to the excessive time taken to load and unload. We also considered bendy buses, but these bring their own issues and we felt on balance would not offer the improvements we would hope for.

Suggestion: Promote walking to reduce pressures on buses

Response: Our Travel Plan does promote walking and we do have pleasant walking routes to University. We will look to do more to promote walking as it is good from a health point of view, too.

Suggestion: Please implement a mini bus between Derby and Buxton again (x2)

Response: The Transpeak public bus goes from the Broadway to Buxton. When we have run our own trial services in the past (most recently last year) we often found no students at all travelling at all on some days and never more than a few per day. This was not an optimum use of resources.

Question: Can there be a bus services that runs from the bus station to Ked Road, Brit Mill and Markeaton Street at a weekend?

Response: There is a limit to the number of services we can afford to provide. We try to prioritise to achieve the optimum routes that will be beneficial to the most students at most times. However, this will be discussed at the annual bus review in March. If you have any suggestions around this please send them to your Vice President for Education, Scarlet Moss (vpeducation@derbyunion.co.uk), as she will play a big part in the review.

Question: Poor driving from unibus drivers: There have been several incidents with poor driving from No.6 unibus drivers, involving reckless driving and swearing etc. How can we report this?

Response: Please let us know any specific issues and times / routes / dates of incidents so we can address issues. The next driver CPC training module will be focused on customer care and careful driving and how the 2 interact in response to this feedback. If you would like to report an incident of poor driving or behaviour from a unibus driver, please email her on T.Newton@derby.ac.uk.

Suggestion: Bring back the 5 bus! When I chose where to move, I moved where the number 5 was… this service was imperative to me.

Response: This will be taken to the annual bus review in March by your Vice President for Education, Scarlet Moss (vpeducation@derbyunion.co.uk), but the university’s response on the removal of the No.5 bus has been that the No. 55 replaces most of No. 5 route and students with accessibility issues will have the cost of a bus pass covered by the University.

Suggestion: Run the No.6 at the weekends.

Response: There is a limit to the number of services we can afford to provide. We try to prioritise to achieve the optimum routes that will be beneficial to the most students at most times. However, this will be discussed at the annual bus review in March. If you have any suggestions around this please send them to your Vice President for Education, Scarlet Moss (vpeducation@derbyunion.co.uk), as she will play a big part in the review.