BOURNEMOUTH'S MOTOR COACH FLEET.
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Some Impressions Gained by a Member of our Staff whilst on Tour in Hampshire and Dorset. Drivers That Pay Heed to the Requirements of Other Users of the Roads.
TIERING a recent visit to Bourne
mouth one of the members of our staff was very much impressed by the fine fleet of motor coaches that ply for hire in Bournemouth. All vehicles are now equipped with giant pneumatics and are turned out as spick and span as though they had just come out of the paint shop. The Royal Blue line still pin their faith to Daimlers, while Dennis, Leyland and Lancia coaches are popular amongst the remaining proprietors. The last-named make of coach, now used on the ShamrockRambler excursions, is particularly fine. Such machines are all equipped_ with four-wheel brakes, easily manipulated hoods, and ample protection from draughts is afforded to the passenger by means of metal-framed glass panels which extend the whole length of the coach.
During a road tour in Hampshire and Dorset one gained a good impression of the mechanical condition of the vehicles —that is, judging by the noiseless manner in which all these coaches ran and the excellent way in which they were driven; almost without exception the coaches have driving mirrors mounted on the off-side windscreen support. In addition, a guide is usually posted on the right-hand side of the driver and besides informing the occupants of points of interest, keeps a sharp lookout for overtaking traffic.
On no occasion was it found necessary to sound the horn when overtaking a coach, the drivers keeping close on their proper side of the road and giving One far more room to pass than the average car owner. This is indeed refreshing after the experiences in and around London, where coaches frequently hold to the middle of the road and are in some cases driven in somewhat reckless fashion. For really efficient handling one would have to go a long way to see a set of men who are more courteous and skilful in their work than those employed on the coaches running in this part of the country.
Other points of interest are the remarkably cheap fares and the variety of
• trips which are offered. For example, most of the proprietors run it trip from Bournemouth awl round the Isle of Wight. The return fare is 12s. 6d., which includes a taxicab ride when passengers are picked up in the morning. Another popular excursion at the same price is a 150-mile drive to Cheddar Gorge. The company running the Royal Blue fleet also maintain a daily service to London, which, judging by the number of people who patronize this service, is very popular.
The service by a fleet of runabouts inaugurated by the Bournemouth Corporation Tramways on the sea front some time ago has proved an outstanding success, and the fleet has now been increased from three to five machines, whilst at the same time the fare between Bournemouth and Boscoinbe piers has been reduced from 6d. to 4d. These runabout; which take the form of low load-line Guy chaRia with special bodies, have proved eminently
successful both from thq point of service and from a commercial aspect, so much so that members of varioua corporations in other parts of the Country have paid special visits to Bournemouth with the object of considering the possibility of inaugurating similar services. It has also been decided to open another corporation service from Lansdowne to the Square, via the Undercliff Drive.