TFL BUS STOP FLAGS – CENTRAL + WEST Croydon – 2019_2024 Changes By Year
Request ID: FOI-3588-2324 Date published: 24 January 2024
You asked
Dear Transport for London,
TFL have just announced changes to bus routings and bus stop arrangements in central Croydon from middle January 2024.
The stopping arrangements have changed repeatedly over recent years, and it is very confusing for bus users and others, notably for those who might think of switching to bus after some years away.
Please provide JPG’s of each bus stop flag, showing the routes that serve that stop, or some other clear visual way to show which buses stop there – including any that merely drop off – alighting point only.
These need a map showing the bus stop, along with their letters.
Data is required for:
Bus stops in November 2019
Bus stops in November 2020
Bus stops in November 2021
Bus stops in November 2022
Bus stops in November 2023
Bus stops from mid January 2024
Why is Kx used for stops in central Croydon?
The stops required are:
Those in London Road near West Croydon station.
Those in Tamworth Road.
Those at or near West Croydon bus station.
Those in Poplar Walk.
Those in Wellesley Road
Those in Park Lane
Those in Park Street
Those in St George’s Walk
Those in Katharine Street
Those in High Street / South End
Those in Dingwall Road
Those in George Street, including East Croydon station bus station Those in Cherry Orchard Road
This information is very useful if planning to change buses somewhere, especially for those with limited mobility, who need same or near stop changing.
Will TFL consider adding this information to TFL Spider maps?
-
East Croydon station is one of the key transport interchanges across London.
Why does TFL no longer publish a Spider Map for this location – or include it in another one?
Please provide a copy of the TFL Spider Map from 2012 for East Croydon – maybe ref 2012/58243 - TFL21577.02.12
Will TFL consider producing a Spider Map for East Croydon station?
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-3588-2324
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 8th January 2024 asking for information about bus stop flags and spider maps. Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
Specifically you asked:
“Dear Transport for London,
TFL have just announced changes to bus routings and bus stop arrangements in central Croydon from middle January 2024.
The stopping arrangements have changed repeatedly over recent years, and it is very confusing for bus users and others, notably for those who might think of switching to bus after some years away.
Please provide JPG’s of each bus stop flag, showing the routes that serve that stop, or some other clear visual way to show which buses stop there – including any that merely drop off – alighting point only.
These need a map showing the bus stop, along with their letters.
Data is required for: Bus stops in November 2019 Bus stops in November 2020 Bus stops in November 2021 Bus stops in November 2022 Bus stops in November 2023 Bus stops from mid January 2024
Why is Kx used for stops in central Croydon?
The stops required are: Those in London Road near West Croydon station. Those in Tamworth Road. Those at or near West Croydon bus station. Those in Poplar Walk. Those in Wellesley Road Those in Park Lane Those in Park Street Those in St George’s Walk Those in Katharine Street Those in High Street / South End Those in Dingwall Road Those in George Street, including East Croydon station bus station Those in Cherry Orchard Road
This information is very useful if planning to change buses somewhere, especially for those with limited mobility, who need same or near stop changing.
Will TFL consider adding this information to TFL Spider maps?
- East Croydon station is one of the key transport interchanges across London.
Why does TFL no longer publish a Spider Map for this location – or include it in another one?
Please provide a copy of the TFL Spider Map from 2012 for East Croydon – maybe ref 2012/58243 - TFL21577.02.12
Will TFL consider producing a Spider Map for East Croydon station?
I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require. However, I am afraid that it is not possible to source all of that information within the costs limit for responding to FOI cases, as set out under section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act. Under section 12, TfL is not required to provide information if it would cost more than £450 to determine if the requested information is held, and to then locate, retrieve or extract it from elsewhere. This is calculated at a rate of £25 per hour, equivalent to 18 hours work.
In this instance the costs exemption applies because the requested information has not been collated before and there is no quick, efficient or automated way of doing so. Rather, we would have to spend time identifying the bus stops in question (noting that you have listed the relevant roads only, raher than the stops – including the more general description of “..those at or near West Croydon bus station”). Having identified the relevant stops we would then have to manually check records for each stop for each of the six years you have specified. This would be a convoluted and time consuming task, and while it is difficult to put a precise figure on it colleagues estimate it would take in excess of the 18 hour limit.
In order to bring your request within the costs limit you may wish to reframe it to narrow its scope and focus on the information that is of most importance to you. You may also wish to consider whether the FOI-route is the best approach to address your concerns. If you believe that the changes to routes and stopping patterns are ‘confusing’ and may deter people from using buses, this may be something best addressed by our Customer Services team. You can contact that team here: https://tfl.gov.uk/help-and-contact/contact-us-about-buses
Finally, please note, in relation to spider rmaps, unfortunately we do not generally keep archives of older versions of our bus spider maps. The maps we do still hold can be found on our website here (note the list of boroughs to the right of the page):
The East Croydon spider map was last issued in March 2017 and was withdrawn in November 2019. We do not currently have plans to reintroduce this spider map. In 2019 we reviewed the number of spider maps we issue to ensure resources are being prioritised sensibly. More effective information sources like TfL Go, Journey Planner, iBus and Countdown means that there is now less demand for spider maps, with only 1% of customers saying they still use spider maps. We now only maintain spider maps in locations most likely to generate unfamiliar journeys. The hub map must feature either a hospital; or five or more bus routes and two or more of the following:
a nearby significant place of interest (e.g. a university or visitor attraction)
a transport facility (e.g. Tube or rail station)
a significant shopping centre/high street.
Spider maps that do not meet these criteria have been discontinued. If you would like help planning a journey, please visit our webpage at tfl.gov.uk/travel-tools, download the TfL Go app or contact us on 0343 222 1234 (charges may apply).
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
