No 'Hail & Ride' between official stops for R12 bus passengers

Salisbury Reds' bus drivers will no longer be stopping their vehicles on request between official bus stops to pick up passengers, or to let them alight.

The reason given by a bus driver on the R12 service this morning was 'Insurance' -passengers would not be covered in the event of fall or trip unless this took place at an official bus stop.

There was further advice that there is a single exception to this rule - when a bus is within a designated 'Hail & Ride' area. The PA system on this morning's R12 service alerted passengers when the bus entered Hail & Ride areas in Castle Street and Wyndham Road.

Residents who live in or near Castle Keep had been able to request the driver to stop at Castle Keep. However, the nearest bus stop for Castle Keep when returning to Stratford from Salisbury is 'Longcroft' and the driver will in future stop (on request) on the opposite side of Stratford Road to the bus stop shown in the image above. If the bell isn't rung shortly after passing Hathaway Close, passengers will find themselves en route to the Chancellor's Farm bus stop.

Mill Lane has been a popular 'request' pick up/set down point but note that the bus stop outside Stratford School is the nearest official bus stop.

The Salisbury Reds' website lists these as the official bus stops in Stratford sub Castle for the R12 service:

Stratford Bridge

Stratford School

Chancellor's Farm

Longcroft

Hathaway Close