FOSTERING PASSENGER TRAVEL BY ROAD MOTOR.
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The Objects of an Association Formed to Develop and Protect the Interests of Road Users.
From Mr_ E. V. Rieu, the general secretary of the Travel-by-Road Association, we have received a copy of the prospectus of the Association, the offices of which are at 123, Pall Mall, London, S.W.1. We set out in the comments which follow the details of the scheme by which it is hoped to foster and to develop the passenger travel habit amongst lovers of the open road.
The association has been founded as a, natural result of the phenomenal growth of motor omnibus and motor coach traffic in recent years, and in order to create a central organization which shall voice the opinion and promote the welfare of all classes interested in this new mode of travel.
Each successive season emphasizes more strongly the lack of such an organization. This year, to take onee point, the inadequacy of the present catering arrangements for road parties has been notorious; and, though many restrictions on traffic have been advocated, little has been heard concerning the establishment for road-passengers of such comforts and conveniences as railways afford. Yet it is estimated roughly that 200,000,000 passengers are
carried annually in this country by longdistance motor omnibus and coach, quite apart from the enormous number who make use of local services. This is the ever-increasing public, unrepresented hitherto by any corporate body, which the Travel-by-Road Association is designed to represent and to serve.
Its aims are definite and practical.: tp re-establish, with modern improvements, on the modern road, the conveniences and amenities of the old coaching days; and, secondly, to promote facilities for road travel by the creation of a central bureau of advice and information for the benefit of all who love the road.
An important and immediate step is being taken towards the first goal by the careful selection and appointment of a chain of suitable hotels, restaurants and garages throughout the country. The committee has good reason to expect that by next season the oval T.B.R. sign, in orange letters on a black background, which is being issued to these members, will be seen in every town, and, where seen, recognized as the badge of good service.
For its second general purpose, the Association is availing itself of the existing organization centred in the "T.B.R Motor Omnibus and Coach Guide of England and Wales," which is appointed its official organ; and arrangements have been made with the publishers to issue copies every month free to all members, to include a list of hotels, repair service, and motor coach members for the guidance of travellers and those organizing tours, and, finally, to incorporate in the guide a monthly section devoted to the Association's literature, news of the road, touring maps, and general information.
It will be seen that the Association is being built up on a combination of the various classes who are interested in, or contribute to the facilities of, road travel. With a membership including not only the companies operating motor vehicles and the hotels, restaurants, and garages catering for their traffic, but also a representative number of the public using this form of transport, the T.B.R. Association will be in a strong position both to co-ordinate the varying requirements of its respective sections and to represent the interests of the whole body before local authorities or Government itself.
There are four principal and distinct sections of the Association, and we publish below details of the rules governing each, and their objects. It is hoped that they will meet with the approval and support of all who appreciate our most modern and most picturesque form of travel.
Private Members' Section.
The objects of the private members' section of the Association are as follow: (1) To create and foster a feeling of fellowship and communityof interest between all travellers by road.
(2) To promote the welfare of all who travel in public motor vehicles, and, by collecting ..a body of opinion on important general points, to ensure a hearing for such travellers as members of a cor porate body. • (3) To take up, as occasion may arise, any local questions, such as those relative to the opening of new routes, the closing 'of Toads to motor coaohes, the establishment of motor omnibus stations, and other conveniences, and to use its best endeavours to serve the public interest with the companies or other authorities concerned, (4) If and when its funds permit, to appoint travelling inspectors to investigate local difficulties, requirements, or eases of complaint.
(5) To supply its members, free of charge, with information concerning routes, connections, accommodation, tours, etc., throughout the country; and generally to act as a bureau of advice on road travel.
(6) The annual subscription for members of the private members' section of the Association is 10s. 6d., inclusive of one copy, post free, of each monthly issue of the T.B.R. Motor Omnibus Time table and Motor Coach Guide of England and Wales," for the term of the subscription.
(7) The T.B.R. Guide has been appointed the official organ of the associa
tion, and arrangements have been made
with its publishers to include in it a monthly section which willcontain the
literature of the Association, notices and reports of meetings, announcements, general reading matter on road travel, touring maps and competitions; also the list of 'T.B.R.A. appointed hotels, restaurants, and garages. Gontributions and correspondence from members are invited.
(8) T.B.R.A. badges will be issued to members requiring them at the price of 2s. 6d. each.
Hotel and Restaurant Section.
The objects and rules of the hotel and restaurant section of the Association are as follow :— (1) To supply the growing demand of the motor coach and motor omnibus public, whether travelling singly or in parties, for sound and-reasonable accommodation and catering arrangements;' and to act as a link between hotels and restaurants on the one hand, and motor coach and omnibus operators on the other hand, throughout the country. (2) As a first step towards this end, to appoint in every locality, after careful inspection, such hotels and restaurants as are in a position best to cater for the increasing volume of road passenger traffic, (3) To keep at the headquarters of the Association a register of such houses as are appointed members, showing, in each case, prices, accommodation, notice required for touring parties, and ether details, (4) To hold such information at the disposal of all private members, and of the proprietors of motor coaches, with whom the Association will make itits business to keep in close touch and cooperate in the organization of tours and trips. , (5) Only one hotel and restaurant will be appointed for each district, and such appointment will be held only se long as a suitable service-is maintained.
(6) The annual subscription for membership of the hotel and restaurant section is £3 3s., inclusive of one copy, post free, of -each monthly issue of the T.B.R. Guide. Each member will be registered in the Hsi, of appointed hotels and restaurants.published monthly in the-guide.
(7) Hotel and restaurant proprietors desiring to, apply for membership should communicate with the general secretary of the Association, who will instruct the district representative to inspect their houses.
(8) Official signs are issued to mem
bers of this section on payment of a deposit of 10s. 6d. Such signs remain the property of the Association,
Repair Service Section.
The objects and rules of the repair service section of the Association are as follow : (1) To afford facilities throughout the country for proprietors of touring vehicles by appointing, as repair ser-Vide members, such garages as are in a position to render the best service.
(2) For this purpose, to select in every locality, after careful inspection, only such garages as are fully equipped for dealing with all sections of motor traffic, and are capable of affording accommodation for motor coaches, of executing their _repairs, and, where possible, in case of breakdown, of arranging for passengers to be carried to their destination.
(3) To keep a register of repair service members at the headquarters of the Association, with full details of the facilities they can offer, including particulars of bulk storage; to holdsuch information at the disposal of vehicle proprietors for the purpose of assisting them in their tours; and to give its members publieity by issuing, in the T.B.R. Guide, a list ot appointed garages.
(4) To assist its members by supplying them with information concerning the stability of any firna wishing to incur a repair account with them.
(5) Only one garage will be appointed for each district, and such appointment will be held only so long as a suitable service is maintained.
(6) The annual subscription for membership of the repair service section is £3 3s., inclusive of registration in the list of repair service members published monthly in the T.B.R. guide, and free copies of the guide for the term of the subscription,
(7) Garage proprietors desiring to apply for membership should communicate with the general secretary of the Association, who will instruct the district representative to inspect their garages. (8) Official signs are issued to members of this section on payment of a deposit of 10s. 6d. Such signs remain the property orthe Association.
Motor Coach and Motor Omnibus Section. :
Members entering the association under this section will enjoy the benefits of the organization created under the Hotel and Repair Service Sections, and, in particular, May • availthemselves,
• when arranging their tours or trips, of
• the information collected at headquarter concerning any particular hotel, or chain of hotels. Their interests will be promoted by the organized publicity which the Association propoSes, -through its information bureau, its Work among private members,and its official public organ, the T.B.R. Guide, to give to the
possibilities of travel' road.It may be added that the Association is giving special attention to the need for disseminating information and providing facilities for coach and omnibus touring among visitors from overseas.
The annual subscription for membership under this section is £3 3s., inclusive of one copy, post free, of each monthly issue of the T.B.R. Guide. Members of this section are also entitled to the registration in the guide of their motor-coach undertakings.