Aberdeen bus and train stations
Discussion
Has anyone had the pleasure of trying to drop off or pick up anyone from either Aberdeen bus or train station recently?
My girlfriend quite often goes home to Edinburgh so I am in one or the other quite often. Since the new bus station opened I have been driving in from the Market Street entrance to pick her up, and parking towards the Guild Street exit where all the other cars are parked. Last night, after having done that, I was approached by someone who obviously works there and asked had I not seen the no entry signs as I came in?
My honest answer is no, I've never noticed no entry signs at the Market Street entrance, and to be honest, I've never looked because I've seen so many vehicles drive in there.
He then had a go at me for the speed I was going, saying it's a 5mph limit for a reason - I was doing 10mph, because that's what is painted on the ground.
He then asked what the police would have done if I'd driven through a no entry and told them I hadn't seen it, and answered his own question by telling me I would have been charged. If there are indeed no entry signs at both entrances, surely that means that all the buses and any of the other parked vehicles are breaking the law every time they enter the bus station?
I then asked him where I was meant to pick someone up from that was getting off a bus? He pointed in the vague direction of Guild Street and said there. Assuming he meant the train station I pointed out that you're not allowed in the train station car park either, and you certainly can't stop anywhere on traffic light city that is Guild Street. 'Not my problem' was his response.
So I then asked why, when building a whole new bus station, wasn't there somewhere included for people to drop off and pick up passengers. 'I didn't design it'.
At this point I was getting wound up at the guy's complete unhelpfulness so got in my car and left.
But it's made me realise how badly designed that whole area is! There are some not very visible signs at some of the traffic lights as you approach the train station that say only taxis can enter, and that passenger drop off and pick up is to be made from South College Street car park. The first time I spotted that I drove round to SCS car park to be confronted by a 'Car Park Full' sign and the place closed!
Anyway, sorry for the long winded post, just had to get the moan off my chest and wondered if anyone else had noticed that Aberdeen City Council (or whoever is responsible) have managed to revamp the bus and train hubs for the city with no decent access for private vehicles needing to drop off or pick up passengers?!
My girlfriend quite often goes home to Edinburgh so I am in one or the other quite often. Since the new bus station opened I have been driving in from the Market Street entrance to pick her up, and parking towards the Guild Street exit where all the other cars are parked. Last night, after having done that, I was approached by someone who obviously works there and asked had I not seen the no entry signs as I came in?
My honest answer is no, I've never noticed no entry signs at the Market Street entrance, and to be honest, I've never looked because I've seen so many vehicles drive in there.
He then had a go at me for the speed I was going, saying it's a 5mph limit for a reason - I was doing 10mph, because that's what is painted on the ground.
He then asked what the police would have done if I'd driven through a no entry and told them I hadn't seen it, and answered his own question by telling me I would have been charged. If there are indeed no entry signs at both entrances, surely that means that all the buses and any of the other parked vehicles are breaking the law every time they enter the bus station?
I then asked him where I was meant to pick someone up from that was getting off a bus? He pointed in the vague direction of Guild Street and said there. Assuming he meant the train station I pointed out that you're not allowed in the train station car park either, and you certainly can't stop anywhere on traffic light city that is Guild Street. 'Not my problem' was his response.
So I then asked why, when building a whole new bus station, wasn't there somewhere included for people to drop off and pick up passengers. 'I didn't design it'.
At this point I was getting wound up at the guy's complete unhelpfulness so got in my car and left.
But it's made me realise how badly designed that whole area is! There are some not very visible signs at some of the traffic lights as you approach the train station that say only taxis can enter, and that passenger drop off and pick up is to be made from South College Street car park. The first time I spotted that I drove round to SCS car park to be confronted by a 'Car Park Full' sign and the place closed!
Anyway, sorry for the long winded post, just had to get the moan off my chest and wondered if anyone else had noticed that Aberdeen City Council (or whoever is responsible) have managed to revamp the bus and train hubs for the city with no decent access for private vehicles needing to drop off or pick up passengers?!
You could use the pick up drop off area in the train station or park in teh train station car park which is on the lower levels of the college street car park and is free for 20 minutes.
It is sign posted so I don't really see why you are complaining other than you drove in to a part you weren't meant to be and are upset that someone challenged you on this.
It is sign posted so I don't really see why you are complaining other than you drove in to a part you weren't meant to be and are upset that someone challenged you on this.
Come to think of it, you're absolutely right.
Never thought about it really, but there isn't really any drop off/pick up areas.
I mean, there's a Union Square car park, and the Denburn, and college street, but they're not exactly for picking up/dropping off.
It's maybe worth phoning the bus or rail station and asking them if they actually have specific drop off/pick up zones.
ETA, nick stated there is in college street, but to be honest, don't think i've noticed.
Never thought about it really, but there isn't really any drop off/pick up areas.
I mean, there's a Union Square car park, and the Denburn, and college street, but they're not exactly for picking up/dropping off.
It's maybe worth phoning the bus or rail station and asking them if they actually have specific drop off/pick up zones.
ETA, nick stated there is in college street, but to be honest, don't think i've noticed.
Edited by standfree93 on Monday 7th June 11:24
standfree93 said:
Come to think of it, you're absolutely right.
Never thought about it really, but there isn't really any drop off/pick up areas.
I mean, there's a Union Square car park, and the Denburn, and college street, but they're not exactly for picking up/dropping off.
It's maybe worth phoning the bus or rail station and asking them if they actually have specific drop off/pick up zones.
College Street car park is the official car park, there is a link to the train station from the lower level. There are different barriers to go through to get in to the car park and they have a different tarrif for parking too.Never thought about it really, but there isn't really any drop off/pick up areas.
I mean, there's a Union Square car park, and the Denburn, and college street, but they're not exactly for picking up/dropping off.
It's maybe worth phoning the bus or rail station and asking them if they actually have specific drop off/pick up zones.
Where the taxis sit, in the railway station, at least 6 weeks ago there were drop off points too.
My understanding of the 2 yellow signs by the traffic lights as you approach the train station is that only taxis are allowed in, no other traffic, not even for pick up/drop off - that wasn't the case when the train station first reopened after refurb, but the signs have appeared since.
I didn't even know there were 2 sections of the College street car park, where's the entrance to lower section? I thought the only entrance was over the bridge, round the corner and up to the lights, turn left?
So my complaint stands, even if there are 2 sections to the college street car park, there are no signs at the bus station regarding this, so how is anyone supposed to know that is where they are meant to go?
As much as the guy who challenged me was totally unhelpful and pretty rude, he was undoubtedly just doing his job so my gripe is not so much with him as the lack of planning that seems to have go into what is a very recent development.
I didn't even know there were 2 sections of the College street car park, where's the entrance to lower section? I thought the only entrance was over the bridge, round the corner and up to the lights, turn left?
So my complaint stands, even if there are 2 sections to the college street car park, there are no signs at the bus station regarding this, so how is anyone supposed to know that is where they are meant to go?
As much as the guy who challenged me was totally unhelpful and pretty rude, he was undoubtedly just doing his job so my gripe is not so much with him as the lack of planning that seems to have go into what is a very recent development.
Tinohead said:
I didn't even know there were 2 sections of the College street car park, where's the entrance to lower section? I thought the only entrance was over the bridge, round the corner and up to the lights, turn left?
There is only one enterance/exit to the College Street car park.Once you have entered the car park you turn left and there are two ramps, one up and one down, both off to the right. The up one is for access to the rest of the NCP part of the Multi Storey (and the New Telecoms House parking), the down ramp leads to the rail parking, there is also another lower level with more spaces. There is a barrier which you'll need to take a ticket from and is free if you spend less than 20 minutes there.
I've often seen the carpark full sign up when there are spaces, so I think they just leave the sign there all teh time.
motoGF said:
It's probably like that by design rather than a lack of design. It's all part of the grand plan to rid the streets of Aberdeen of those nasty cars.
You're probably right but it still makes no sense. Surely by allowing easier access for passengers to the bus and train stations, you actually increase the use of public transport across the country?It is total BS... When the new revamp first opened i was allowed to freely pick up whoever i was at the train station through the pick up/drop off zone. I always tried my best to be punctual and never actually sat there for more than 5 mins... Never really had a problem with that until a few months back ago when i tried to pick up my sister in the same fashion...
Taxi driver went ape at me and said that there was no cars allowed in this area... I was shocked to say the least, i explained why i was there, apologized for being an inconvenience and then went on to ask where there was a pickup zone for me to pick up my sister who was carrying quite heavy luggage... He just said, "dont care, just not here", So in response to that i just gave him the finger and drove off... IMO i was being polite, asking a genuine question so that i do not become an inconvenience to him... yet he responded in a t
ttish attitude.
Taxi driver went ape at me and said that there was no cars allowed in this area... I was shocked to say the least, i explained why i was there, apologized for being an inconvenience and then went on to ask where there was a pickup zone for me to pick up my sister who was carrying quite heavy luggage... He just said, "dont care, just not here", So in response to that i just gave him the finger and drove off... IMO i was being polite, asking a genuine question so that i do not become an inconvenience to him... yet he responded in a t
ttish attitude.So im not the only one.
I used the entrance by Union Square, driving through the wee tunnel and dropped off my 61 year old mum to catch her train. There are painted "drop off" areas there.
When i went to pick up my mum, i used the same place ..... i have not noticed any signs! I was then approached (he was actually driving his taxi and nearly run over my mums suitcase!) by a taxi driver who then said, "for future reference this is drop off only". I then politely answered that my mum is 61, with bad arthritis and this was the easiest place to pick her up, (no stairs). The taxi driver than went on to speak something else, at which point i ignored him and put my mums suitcase in the boot of my car. The taxi driver left.
Sorry but if taxi drivers think they own the train station areas, they can think again! That driver was nothing but arogant and ignorant to peoples needs.
I would have loved a transport policeman to come over!
I used the entrance by Union Square, driving through the wee tunnel and dropped off my 61 year old mum to catch her train. There are painted "drop off" areas there.
When i went to pick up my mum, i used the same place ..... i have not noticed any signs! I was then approached (he was actually driving his taxi and nearly run over my mums suitcase!) by a taxi driver who then said, "for future reference this is drop off only". I then politely answered that my mum is 61, with bad arthritis and this was the easiest place to pick her up, (no stairs). The taxi driver than went on to speak something else, at which point i ignored him and put my mums suitcase in the boot of my car. The taxi driver left.
Sorry but if taxi drivers think they own the train station areas, they can think again! That driver was nothing but arogant and ignorant to peoples needs.
I would have loved a transport policeman to come over!
Tinohead said:
Just a small update on this - I was driving down Market Street on Saturday so decided to have a look for the no entry signs I apparently missed going into the bus station....there are none!
Hopefully I'll bump into the same guy next time I'm in.
Was this chap an official of any sort? Hopefully I'll bump into the same guy next time I'm in.
The Civic Planning in Aberdeen City has been for many decades, utterly appauling. Its a shame as the historical base of the city is fantastic and its endlessly short sighted, lets hope the ASCEF are genuinely more forward thinking.
Tinohead said:
Has anyone had the pleasure of trying to drop off or pick up anyone from either Aberdeen bus or train station recently?
But it's made me realise how badly designed that whole area is!
Welcome to Aberdeen: home of the worlds most incompetent local authority But it's made me realise how badly designed that whole area is!
And FWIW, you're absolutely right; picking people up at the train station involves running the never-ending gauntlet of people crossing right at the entrance/exit of a tunnel where visibility is at its poorest. Well done guys
Not to mention of course, the twenty-something consecutive speed bumps before and after...Then, once inside the car park/entrance, where are we supposed to collect people? All I see is a taxi only bay and a minuscule car park which is always full
The day Aberdeen Council mange to provide/perform something which isn't to the detriment of our city, I'll probably collapse with shock.
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