Forum Topic

New Transport Service

Theres a new ride sharing service called SLIDE. You can call their number anytime between 6am and 1am. Rides are only £3.50, free if you have a Freedom Pass which needs to be registered with them.  Your journey must be within the Borough of Ealing. There is a map and all details on their website. Its a pilot service from TFL and can be used by anyone, under 13s must be accompanied. Ive used it several times and its really good. Only thing I would say is that if you use it for an appt, over estimate the journey time as others may already be on it and they may be dropped off first. You can book a journey from anywhere in the Borough and they will give you a pick up point closest to you, be ready to go though. It doesnt take bookings, and wait time is only minutes. Its been great for me. https://www.slideealing.com/faqs

Barbara Ayres ● 2332d21 Comments

We should be promoting this to help to allow those who are no longer driving the chance to keep on going out.If there is somewhere in particular which is not within the current area where this now travels to - and you think others might choose to go there too - why not draw their attention to it?

Philippa Bond ● 2273d

Change takes time and it is something that needs to be advertised hard to reach the people who need it most who probably don't use much technology or all use different types.  I know this system works in other places.Yes it is disappointing that it is diesel but change to electric buses is very expensive and it is coming.

Philippa Bond ● 2274d

It is an experimental service and currently there are no diesel buses of that size that are hybrid or electric.Currently electric buses are costing a fortune to run against diesels and the green credentials are more smoke and mirrors. The batteries manufacture alone creates more toxins than a fossil fuel bus can in it's working life. All that happens is the problem is pushed somewhere abroad out of sight out of mind.  Except this is a global problem. So where is the responsibility?  In the bank balances of those riding the gravy train.If the service were a success and expanded then it's odds on that a purpose vehicle probably a hybrid would be viable.It's fundamental a good idea.But the Mayor and his acolytes at TfL do not support bus design or construction in the UK preferring to spend in China even though the costs are huge in terms of environmental damage and loss of jobs in other parts of the UK. More to do with closed deals and half cocked policies of spite rather than any sort of common sense pragmatism.

Raymond Havelock ● 2274d

Anyone can use them, the problem for the future of this service is that so few are using it.

N V Brooks ● 2275d

They are for everyone but have limited area in which they operate.I think Tony hit the nail on the head when he mentioned his Freedom Pass. Those of us who don’t have one are less likely to use such forms of transport, especially as you have to pay for children too. It’s more expensive than the bus and also more than an Uber if there are several of you travelling. What probably seemed a good idea on paper has proved less so in practice.While I have no problem with other people using this, it’s not for me. Plus, we should really be utilising existing bus services better. Passenger numbers have dropped off considerably.And I think they missed a trick by not making Slide carbon neutral.

Simon Hayes ● 2275d

Can anyone use it or is the target audience those with mobility problems  and can't use public transport?

Philip Coe ● 2276d

Presumably they will be a lot less empty if more people start to use them.Which is, I presume, the purpose of this thread.My better half has been at me for months to apply for my Freedom Pass and this new initiative may just be the thing that pushes me over the edge.For sure they are in desperate need of customers.  They will go under if they do not get them.

Tony Colliver ● 2276d

'Out and about' in Ealing this morning running errands I have spotted 'Slide' Diesel buses (it may have been the same one) on seven occasions between 09:00 and a few minutes ago.
The total number of passengers counted.....drum roll...... TWO!
None of the buses was parked but all were simply empty, what a waste of Diesel.

N V Brooks ● 2276d

It might also be better if they weren’t diesel powered. At the very least they should be hybrid rather than simply diesel. Despite the good intentions they are just another polluter on the roads (as defined by Ealing Council).

Simon Hayes ● 2276d

Have spotted a number of Slide buses around but never with more than 2 passengers but more commonly none.

Philip Coe ● 2276d

Yes I agree, It says Borough wide but in fact stops short of many parts of it. Still, if its used they will keep it running and then probably expand

Barbara Ayres ● 2324d

It is a shame that it isn't covering the greater area but it is an interesting addition to the transport in the area.I promoted it on here and would encourage everybody to talk about it as a lot of the people it may be very useful for may be people who are not online and who may need help to start using this.  We are all at different stages in our use of IT.  Technology has changed a lot.  FIL and friends as children used to go out to see what sort of car was coming when they heard an engine as they were so unusual.  My children's generation are not as interested in cars as our generation was and there just isn't the same cachet in owning a car.

Philippa Bond ● 2325d

Thanks, it's good to get a users viewpoint.

N V Brooks ● 2326d

I have used this at least 10 times since it started and with free rides if you have the freedom pass.  Otherwise its £3.50 per journey and if two subscribers book together the second person pays only £2.  An even better experience if you download the app where you can see the progress of your bus to your pick up point, so you leave the house with little or no wait time.  Pick ups are less than 30 steps away from my front door.  Whats not to like? ....I encourage people to use it otherwise it will not continue.

Dorothea Tsoflias ● 2326d

Waiting to pick someone up at St. Mary's church today a Dial-A-Ride bus went past with three passengers on board followed a few minutes later by a green ECT 'PlusBus' minibus with passengers. In the time that I sat there three Blue 'Slide' buses went by with not a single passenger.I wonder if it will actually last the 12 months of the trial.

N V Brooks ● 2326d

https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/buses/demand-responsive-buses/

Philippa Bond ● 2327d

I think it would be 100% more successful if branded as a Bus service in London Bus red with the universally identifiable London Transport  roundel.It looks like a private transport hospital / disability service of which several have long existed locally and the association with that - is it not accessible for anyone.One wonders if it is set up to fail. Other websites mention a rather unsavoury raft of profiteering from a previous trial in Sutton that failed.This could work but it needs to be recognisable as a London Bus service. And watch out for the long term plans by the current Mayor and TfL to remove the over 60's free travel post election.  One thing they won't be discussing in the forthcoming elections. Smoke and Mirrors is their forte.

Raymond Havelock ● 2328d

This is a TfL limited 12-month research trial, so not LBE, but years ago didn't we have Ealing Community Transport doing something similar?

Fred Hunt ● 2332d

I found  that out when I tried to go into Acton and was surprised. I did say there is a map on the website to show the boundaries,  its a pilot scheme for a year so I suppose if it takes off and they keep it, it may well expand.

Barbara Ayres ● 2332d

Thank you.The service does not currently cover Acton (east of the North Circular Road), but it does cover Southall.I wonder why?!!  😉

Rosco White ● 2332d

I am glad that it it working for you but potential users need to be aware that it really only covers part of the borough. No service to Notholt, the parts of Greenford north of the Western Avenie or any part of Acton as examples.

N V Brooks ● 2332d