The Tappins S2... 

• Boundary between Tappins and Rufty Tufty Ltd
  We (Rufty Tufty Ltd) select the route, set the timetable and fares, process payments, and issue tickets. We sub-contract the supply of the bus and driver to Tappins.
  
  Tappins are responsible for the day to day operations of the Bus. Tappins are the people to contact if you have a query such as, "The bus is late, where is it?", or "There is snow on the roads, is the bus running?". The number to use is on the Contacts page.

• Catching the bus for the first time
  Confusion can arise when a passenger catches the bus home from school for the first time. Sometimes the child stands on the wrong side of the road, or on a different road altogether. Here are some tips:
  • Look at the photos on the Timetable page, maybe print one for your child to have with them.
  • The Oxford street maps on the Maps page shows the bus route across the city with the bus stops marked.
  • Some schools have bus-buddies to help new children find their way. Check with your school.
  • Perhaps take them to the school the weekend before, and show them the bus stop.
  • Perhaps travel with your child for the first afternoon (you will need a single-trip bus ticket).

• Morning pick-ups
  Our four years of operation has shown the bus to be very punctual in the morning. Here are some guidelines:
  • It is important that passengers are standing at the bus stop when the bus pulls in, in order for the bus to remain on schedule. Tappins advise being at the stop three minutes before the bus is due.
  • The bus will wait at each stop where it can until the expected passengers have boarded or the departure time is reached - which ever comes first. In some cases it can not wait because of blocking the road. At those stops, it is advisable to be early in case the bus is slightly ahead of schedule.

• Afternoon drop off time
  In the afternoon the drop off times can vary, depending on daily fluctuations in traffic and passengers. The drivers get to know the passengers well enough that they are aware who hasn't caught the bus in the afternoon due to an after school activity. This allows them to bypass some stops on some days, such as not coming through Great Milton, and/or bypassing Chalgrove. This can mean the bus will arrive at stops near the end of the line as much as twenty minutes ahead of schedule. Parents meeting the bus need to be prepared for this - by far the best way is to let your child have a mobile phone to text or call you from a set point each day.

• What happens if you are not there to meet your young child as normal...
  If you normally meet your child at the afternoon bus stop and you are not there, the driver will use his common-sense and follow this policy:
  • The driver will ask the child if he wants to wait on the bus or get off. Assuming the child stays on the bus...
• The driver will telephone his office. The Tappins office will call the emergency contact numbers you have provided. If you have not provided these numbers, or given your permission for them to be forwarded to Tappins, then Tappins will not be able to contact you.
• Meanwhile, the driver can wait until he has reached the scheduled drop-off time. Then he must continue his journey.
• If you have not arrived by the scheduled time the driver will continue his journey with your child on board, eventually returning the child to the bus depot at Didcot. You will need to go there to collect him/her.
• Please note, the driver will not leave your son or daughter beside the road unless the child asks to get off, or you have sent instructions via Tappins.

• Tickets must be shown to the driver
  No ticket, no ride. Okay, your child has lost their ticket during the day at school, or left it at home, the driver recognises the passenger and out of common sense will let them on. But no free rides, and no riding consistently past your paid-for stop. Occasional extensions are okay (you are going to your friend's house for example) but if it is regular than please be fair and pay for it. If you want to bring a friend home, why not buy a single trip ticket?

• Ticket Design
  Tickets will have codes on them indicating days and times of travel, and pick up point. You will be asked to provide a passport style photo of the ticket-holder, ideally in school uniform. The photo will be added to the pass.  See the Example ticket page.

• Lost Property
  Tappins deal with property left on the bus. Parents will need to collect the item from Tappins depot in Didcot. Tappins will charge an administration fee which they choose to donate to charity. Details of the fee charged can be seen on the Lost property page.

• Payment for tickets
  Credit or debit card only please, and debit card is preferred to reduce bank charges. Tickets purchased by credit card cost 3% extra to offset the transaction fee at cost. Not cheques please. Cheques mean a trip to the bank, and that is not convenient for speed of clearing, nor good use of my time.

• Cancellation / Refunds
  Once term starts there is no refund. Any cancellation of a pre-paid ticket before term starts will incur a £25 administration charge.  I run this bus in my spare time, and being self-employed, time is money. The refund policy in full (and amounts) can be found on the Refunds page.

• Renewal of tickets each term
  I much prefer parents purchase an annual ticket. This means just one payment, one ticket produced, one invoice, one mailing, and no chasing for renewals each term.
  
  If this is not possible, the next best is parents tick the "continuous payment authority" on the application form. This means I have your permission in advance to take payment for the second term (in November) and the third term (in March). The payments will be taken, a ticket produced, and all posted to you by the end of the current term - and you will not be involved in that process.
  
  Otherwise, I'll e-mail you and you have to respond to grant me authority to take payment for the next term. This system is fraught with difficulties for everyone when the parent does not respond, and is my least favourite.

• Renewal of tickets for the next school year
  In essence children already on the bus will have priority if they renew in time (a date in March/April). After that, the remaining seats are allocated to new bookings as well as late renewals. It pays to get your application in early. See the Booking order tab for more details.

• Replacement tickets
  Will cost £10.

• Term dates & end of term
  The bus will run Mondays to Fridays when one or more of the following three schools are fully open: Headington Girls, Magdalen College School and Oxford High School.
  
  On the last day of term, due to earlier finishing times, the bus will not run in the afternoon.

• Behaviour on the bus
  If a passenger on the bus misbehaves to an extent that Tappins or I need to contact the parents (primarily with safety in mind), that becomes a first warning. If a second complaint is made, those involved will be banned from the bus for one week. If a third compliment is made, the child or children will be banned from using the bus. No refund will be provided.

• Bad weather policy
  Snow or flooding brings a level of uncertainty to the early morning. There is a snow policy which has evolved by experience. Please see the Snow Snow Route tab

• Flooding between Stadhampton and Little Milton
  The road between Stadhampton and Little Milton is prone to flooding and closure. Passengers who board at Little Milton church in the morning should be aware this can happen, and will need to be proactive in checking this. If the road closed signs are up, they need to wait at the Pine Lodge bus stop instead of the Church. The bus will be late that day by some 5 or 10 minutes, for it will have to divert around the flood.

Also see the FAQ.